HOUSING
Throughout her tenure in City Hall, Mayor Remy has championed expanding opportunities for people to live and work in MAC. As a near lifetime resident of McMinnville and small business owner, she is intimately aware that the extremely high cost of living makes homeownership unattainable for much of the local community. Small and large businesses alike continue to struggle to hire staff due to housing shortages.
While on the City Council, Mayor Drabkin pioneered the McMinnville Affordable Housing Commission (MAHC), through incredibly hard work MHAC:
Secured 2.1 Million dollars to have dedicated resources to address housing issues, such as a 36 bed Navigation Center that is set to open in summer of 2024.
Reformed policy and eliminated restrictive code regulations to make housing available for those earning 0 - 120% of the Median Family income.
As Mayor, Remy has used her position to build partnerships with state and local partners to raise money and unlock existing housing for almost 500 units of new housing:
Affordable Housing: Mayor Remy raised 7 million dollars to help fund the Stratus Village construction project which will bring 179 units which is the first housing authority project for low-income renters in over 20 years.
Workforce Housing: Mayor Remy worked closely with Representative Elmer to draft and pass HB 4134 Housing Oregon’s Workforce. This plan unlocked over 290 lots in McMinnville that were approved for development in 2007 and brought over $2 million in resources to the City for infrastructure improvements that will go toward housing for teachers and firefighters. This legislation passed the Oregon State legislature unanimously.
Safe Parking: Mayor Remy developed a Safe Overnight Parking Program in conjunction with a street use ordinance that has provided thousands of nights of overnight shelter while keeping people experiencing homelessness off our streets.
Transitional Housing: Mayor Remy resourced funding and drove development of a program that sheltered homeless individuals in motels at the start of the pandemic, this eventually became Project Turnkey, a transitional shelter with up to 45 rooms operated in McMinnville.
Equitable Design: Mayor Remy is currently developing resources through Mayors Institute on City Design and Harvard Graduate School of Design to inform equitable practices in the development of future City planning projects.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
As a local entrepreneur Remy understands the importance of the government supporting local businesses. She is working hard to limit government bureaucratic burdens on small businesses that slow down construction and present barriers to daily operations. Remy is championing economic development by:
Securing $850K for Third street infrastructure improvements through the Federal Government.
Fostering a relationship with Oregon State University focused on economic growth and development.
Focusing on sustainability through the Mayor’s Sustainability Summit, supporting local businesses building into an environmentally sustainable future.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Remy knows that it takes leadership, relationship building and accountability to get things done. As Mayor, Remy has worked hard to make local government more accessible and to communicate with State and Federal agencies about McMinnville’s needs. She is dedicated to making our government systems more inclusive, efficient and just. Mayor Drabkin has:
Reformed processes for appointments to commissions and committees, broadening civic engagement.
Launched a new standard of all city communications in both Spanish and English.
Initiated a working relationship with the County to better deliver behavioral health services to McMinnville.
Re-engaged the Council, and is leading a focused, working, respectful body.