Packet explainer
This packet explainer covers the July 8, 2026 council meeting, which includes public hearings on housing development code changes, right-of-way dedications for Knox Butte Self Storage, and a verbal report on the automated license plate reader (ALPR) ordinance.
291
Packet pages
Agenda, land use staff report, public hearing materials, ordinances, resolutions, and maps.
235 pages
Code amendments
Ordinance #1 and Ordinance #2 implementing housing and crisis care laws.
21 pages
Bridge funding
Preliminary engineering agreement for 3rd Ave Calapooia River Bridge, currently rated 3 out of 100.
4
Liquor licenses
OLCC retail applications approved in the consent agenda bulk item.
Official packet
Keep the official packet nearby while you use the plain-language guide below. Agenda cards link back to the first source page for each item.
Start here when you need the shape of the packet before reading item-by-item.
Agenda guide
Council action
Open the meeting and lead the pledge of allegiance.
Plain-language read
The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
Why this matters
This is the formal start of the meeting, marking the beginning of the public record.
Source trail
Council action
Record attendance of council members.
Plain-language read
Staff will record which council members are present to establish a quorum for votes.
Why this matters
At least four councilors must be present to vote on ordinances and resolutions.
Source trail
Staff: Marcia Harnden
Council action
Approve retail liquor license applications for Fay's Cafe, Discount Cigarette, and two US Market locations.
Plain-language read
The council will approve four liquor licenses: on-premises sales at Fay's Cafe (Burger Queen, LLC) at 1002 Queen Avenue SW, and off-premises sales at Discount Cigarette (2230 Santiam Highway SE) and US Market (1005 Queen Avenue SW and 105 Clover Ridge Road NE).
Why this matters
These licenses have been approved by the Albany Police Department and require local council sign-off before being finalized by the state OLCC.
Source trail
Open official pageStaff: Aaron Hiemstra / Paul Trombino III
Council action
Approve resolutions accepting right-of-way dedications from Knox Butte RV Park, LLC for Land Use Case SP-04-25.
Plain-language read
The city will accept deeds dedicating land for Expo Parkway and Timber Street as conditions of approval for Knox Butte Self Storage at 215 Expo Parkway. Due to Timber Street improvements being untimely, a waiver of remonstrance is required for future assessment.
Why this matters
These dedications provide necessary right-of-way widths to extend Expo Parkway (TSP L17) and Timber Street (TSP L18). Not accepting them would halt development of the self-storage facility.
Records note
The staff memo on page 7 is dated June 26, 2026. The following page, headed 'Page 2 of 2,' is dated June 24, 2026.
Source trail
Open official pageStaff: Anne Catlin / Matthew Ruettgers
Council action
Hold public hearing and adopt Ordinance #1 and Ordinance #2 amending the Albany Development Code.
Plain-language read
Ordinance #1 reduces notice areas and appeal rights for residential projects (SB 974, HB 4037) and sites crisis stabilization and child care facilities. Ordinance #2 updates duplex, triplex, and fourplex definitions to allow detached units in any configuration and adds bonuses for accessible or affordable housing (HB 2138).
Why this matters
These changes update city zoning to reflect the notice and review requirements set by the listed state laws, changing how much notice is given for residential land-use applications and who can appeal clear-and-objective residential approvals.
Records note
Finding 1.5 on page 26 of the official staff report describes Climate Friendly Area block length limits. The proposal under review in this hearing (DC-02-26) concerns residential notice areas, crisis care siting, and middle housing configurations under the state laws listed above, a different subject than the text of Finding 1.5. Three other items appear in the exhibit text: page 120's ordinance-history footnote reads 'Ord. 2010, 7/1/23,' while the identically numbered citation on page 112 reads 'Ord. 6010, 7/1/23.' Separately, Ordinance #2's Section 22.280 (Single-Dwelling Units) appears twice in the exhibit text — once numbered (1)-(3) and once numbered (4)-(6) — and the 'Exceptions' subsections in the second instance are lettered (e)-(h) rather than starting again at (a). And on page 254 the 'Duplex' and 'Fourplex' definitions both refer to the 'Oregon Residential Specialty Code,' while the 'Triplex' definition on page 255 refers to the 'Oregon Residential Special Code.'
Source trail
Open official pageTerms
Council action
Receive general public comments on items not on the agenda.
Plain-language read
Residents can address the council on any civic matter. Testimony becomes part of the permanent public record.
Why this matters
This allows residents to raise community concerns directly to city officials in an open session.
Source trail
Staff: Staci Belcastro
Council action
Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 15.06 to incorporate Senate Bill 974 requirements.
Plain-language read
The council will amend municipal rules governing how private developers build public streets, water lines, and sewers to match the streamlined processes mandated by SB 974. Once a developer's final engineering plans are deemed complete, the city will have 120 days (extendable to 245) to finish review — SB 974 allows courts to award attorney fees to applicants if the city misses that deadline on a residential project. Staff used the update as an occasion to revise all of AMC Article 15, unchanged since 1993.
Why this matters
Updates infrastructure building standards for private residential developments to match the state review timeline, and adds a review deadline that can result in attorney-fee awards to applicants if the city's review runs past the deadline on a residential project.
Records note
The staff memo introducing this ordinance (page 256) states SB 974 'was signed into law June 16, 2026.' The ordinance's own recitals (page 258) and the enrolled bill attached to the packet both state it was signed on June 16, 2025. This does not affect the ordinance's substance or its July 1, 2026 effective date.
Source trail
Open official pageStaff: Staci Belcastro
Council action
Approve a resolution accepting Local Bridge Program funding from ODOT for preliminary engineering.
Plain-language read
The city will sign an agreement with ODOT accepting $1,640,000 in Local Bridge Program funding — $1,471,572 federal, with a $168,428 local match from street capital and restoration funds — to complete preliminary engineering only (not construction) for the 3rd Avenue bridge over the Calapooia River. The staff memo discloses that the bridge currently carries a 30-ton load restriction and a federal sufficiency rating of 3 out of 100, with documented scouring around its support piers.
Why this matters
This preliminary engineering is the first step toward repairing or replacing the 3rd Avenue bridge, Albany's main route to Bryant Park and the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway. If the bridge were closed or further restricted, the memo says the detour would run more than five miles via Queen Avenue, Riverside Drive, and Bryant Drive SW.
Source trail
Open official pageStaff: Sean Kidd
Council action
Receive a verbal report from the City Attorney regarding local ALPR regulation options.
Plain-language read
City Attorney Sean Kidd will deliver a verbal update on local regulation options following the council's May 27 vote to cancel the APD's Flock Safety contract.
Why this matters
This report addresses the legal boundaries of regulating private surveillance networks on public roads and details state-level preemption rules under SB 1516.
Source trail
Council action
Hear updates and comments from councilors.
Plain-language read
Elected officials can raise neighborhood concerns, request future agenda items, or report on committee activities.
Why this matters
This is a key coordination lane for councilors to highlight issues in their respective wards.
Source trail
Staff: Peter Troedsson
Council action
Hear administrative and operations updates from the City Manager.
Plain-language read
The City Manager provides a brief report on ongoing city operations, timelines, and staff actions.
Why this matters
Maintains clear communication between the professional administration and the legislative council.
Source trail
Council action
Close the meeting.
Plain-language read
The meeting is formally closed.
Why this matters
Adjournment marks the conclusion of the official public record for the July 8 session.
Source trail