Councilors vote to back footbridge

Despite residents' concerns, the Salem City Council voted Monday to support a footbridge from downtown to Minto-Brown Island Park.
The council agreed to provide $250,000 in matching funds that will allow the grass-roots group pursuing the bridge to seek a $500,000 state grant.
Downtown groups, runners and bicyclists have expressed support for the footbridge, saying that it will provide easier access to one of the city's great natural resources.
Downtown sports-store owner John Gallagher envisioned an unbroken trail from Minto-Brown park to Riverfront Park to Wallace Marine Park, all connected via bridges.
"I believe this would rival any park in the entire nation in terms of what it offers," he said.
However, some residents who testified Monday night said they are concerned that the bridge could affect the deer and other wildlife in the park.
Betsy Belshaw reminded the council that the park is a statutory wildlife refuge and that one of the potential bridge paths would take it into a relatively pristine part of the park.
"It's the only place (animals) have left, and you can't take it away from them," she said.
Richard Chesbrough, captain of the Willamette Queen, said that the footbridge could shut off navigation of the Willamette Slew, an area his ship cruises when high water makes the main channel too hazardous.
"If this route was shut down to us, we wouldn't be able to operate for four months out of the year," he said. "It would shut us down."
The councilors acted on the footbridge despite the concerns because the state grant application must be filed by April 15. Delay would have meant waiting two years before the city could reapply.
They reassured the public that all outstanding issues will be considered before the a project is approved.
"There are quite a few people who have asked us to go slow tonight," councilor Bruce Rogers said. "I think knowing this council, I have every confidence that we will go slow."
The bridge is expected to cost $2.5 million to build. In-kind donations of $300,000 have been pledged, and $1.25 million in potential commitments and grants have been identified.
In other action, the council:
Approved a rule change that reduces the amount of required information that property owners seeking annexation must provide to voters.
Passed an ordinance that strengthened protection of trees in Salem.