The Hermiston City Council on Monday voted to partner with the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce to create an Adopt-a-Street program.
The program encourages community members and organizations to adopt a street to clean up. City Manager Byron Smith said a list of available streets will be developed from which groups can choose.
The city is funding the project and the chamber will be the administrator. Vest, tools, and garbage bags purchased by the city will be available at the chamber for volunteers. The initial plan calls for focusing on high-traffic streets, not residential neighborhoods. Groups will register with the chamber which will have a map showing available streets for adoption as well as which streets have already been adopted and by who.
All streets involved would be on public right of ways.
Smith said the program should only cost the city a few thousand dollars.
Mayor Dave Drotzmann asked what happens if a group fails to keep its adopted street clean. Smith said that group would lose its right to the street and another group would be able to adopt it.
Chamber Executive Director Val Hoxie and Smith have been discussing the program since last year.
For more information, call the chamber at 541-567-6151.
