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Yes. After dark and during limited visibility conditions, a cyclist must have a white light in front and a red light or red reflector in the rear. This also applies when riding on sidewalks. ORS 815.280

In the summer, water usage increases most with single family residential customers. A single family residential customer is equal to an average of 2.38 people per household. As a comparison, a single family residential customer uses approximately 234 gallons per day during the winter months. During the summer, a single family residential customer uses approximately 341 gallons per day. That is an increase of 46%! 

As you can image, this adds up to a lot of water use in the summer. In Corvallis, we have less rainfall during the summer months than Houston, Texas! Although, we have not experienced a substantial drought condition in recent years, it could very well happen if customer demand for water during the hot, dry summer months exceeds the treatment plants' capacity. In such a situation, customers may be asked to voluntarily reduce their water use on a temporary basis until drought conditions subside. 

To get a trial date changed you must write a letter to the Judge requesting a continuance and the reasons why. Your letter must be received in the Court office within 10 days of receiving your trial notice. 

You may request a court appointed attorney at your arraignment date. Keep in mind, however, that only misdemeanor charges qualify. You will be required to fill out an affidavit that states your financial status. The court will then decide if you qualify. 

No. In order to remain fair and impartial to all people, the Municipal Court Judge must discuss all cases while acting in his official capacity as Judge, in the courtroom during regularly scheduled court times. 

Yes, we do. In 1952, the citizens of Corvallis voted to have fluoride added to City drinking water. Several years later, a group of residents wanted the City to stop adding fluoride, so a second vote was held in 1960. Citizens voted 2-to-1 to continue adding fluoride to the water. 

Fluoride, known for its cavity-fighting benefits, is of special interest to parents with young children. Studies have shown that it strengthens tooth enamel and inhibits acid production by decay-causing bacteria in dental plaque. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm in drinking water. Our target fluoride level is 0.8 ppm. 

The most effective way to report concerns or requests to the City is through the online Report A Problem system at http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/report Staff will investigate and determine if there is an issue that needs to be addressed, and if so, how it compares with competing priorities, and whether there is staffing and budget capacity to address it. Examples of more easy-to-implement improvements include lower cost signs and pavement markings, when and where appropriate. In contrast, if the request would result in the installation of substantial new features or could result in a larger project, the City does not typically have un-budgeted funding readily available. These types of efforts are subject to the City’s annual public budgeting process and Council approval.

Drinking water is perishable. That is why the City of Corvallis takes steps to prevent water quality degradation from the time the water leaves the treatment plant until it gets to your tap. Laboratory professionals take routine samples from sampling stations strategically located in the distribution system. Routine sampling lets the staff confirm that our water is free from harmful bacteria and that there is sufficient chlorine for continued disinfection throughout the system. Automated, continuous water quality monitoring stations also take real-time samples from the distribution system throughout the entire day, every day, all year long. The data are continuously relayed to water system staff to assist them in optimizing water quality. See the annual Consumer Confidence Report for more information about our water quality and testing.

There will be no additional fees to rate payers as a direct result of this ordinance. The implementation of this ordinance, in addition to other programs aimed at reducing stormwater pollution, is funded through stormwater utilities fees, which you can see on your monthly utility bill. 

It's true! In the early spring, the soil has all the water it can hold. As the temperatures warm and the daylight hours lengthen, plants increase the amount of water they remove from the soil, and the amount of water that evaporates from the soil also increases. The amount of water that you apply to your lawn or landscape should equal the amount of water lost through evaporation and transpiration, often called evapotranspiration, or simply ET. Corvallis averages about 34 inches of rain and 34 inches of ET each year. Theoretically, nobody should ever have to water their lawn at all! Of course the rain comes when plants are not growing as rapidly, so many people irrigate. While one inch per week is a good average for the growing season, the amount of irrigation you apply should change from week to week. Your plants need more water in July than in May or September. Check out the Smart Irrigation and A Golden Landscape and Water Efficient Plant Guide for more information about irrigation, lawns, and conserving water.

Bottled water can be a good source of drinking water during an emergency, but it does not store well for long periods of time. Generally, bottled water does not contain a disinfectant, so microbes may grow in it over time. Because of this, bottled water should be treated as a perishable food product. Tap water does contain low levels of disinfectant and should be stored in capped plastic or glass containers. However, even properly stored tap water will not last indefinitely and should be replaced every 6 to 12 months. 

Trials are set for Mondays and Thursdays. Cases are set in advance about two months. If you plead not guilty today, your case will be set within approximately two months. 

Like tap water, the safety of bottled water depends both on the source water and the treatment process. Because bottled water is considered a food product, it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Starting this year, the FDA will require bottled water manufacturers to test their source water and the finished product once a year; however, the quality of the finished product is not government monitored. Any bottled water that contains contaminants in excess of the allowable level is considered mislabeled unless it has a statement of substandard quality. If you use bottled water, consider it a food product and refrigerate it after opening. 

The use of bottled water or home treatment devices is a personal choice, which may be based on taste preferences. If however, you use these products for health reasons, we suggest that you thoroughly research the product you are selecting to assure that it offers the level of protection you are seeking. 

Dioxin is one of a group of chemicals called chlorinated organics. These compounds form when chlorine reacts with organic materials, like leaves, woody material, or decaying plants, in the water. Formation of these compounds depends on several factors including: the amount of organic material present, the concentration and form of chlorine, and the amount of time the chlorine is in contact with the organic material. Dioxin is a highly complex compound that generally only forms when large quantities of organic material and chlorine are in contact for long periods of time. The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for dioxin in drinking water is 30 parts per quadrillion (ppq). We have been testing for the presence of dioxin in city water since 1991. To date, dioxin has not been detected in our finished drinking water. 

The Taylor and Rock Creek facilities both treat the water with chlorine. Low doses of chlorine act as a disinfectant protecting you against disease-causing microorganisms in the water. We are required by law to add disinfectant in order to meet state and federal regulatory mandates for safe drinking water. 

If you find the chlorine taste unpleasant, try filling a container with water and keeping it loosely capped in the refrigerator. 

A few common example violations include dumping used car oil or washing paint brushes into City storm drains, connecting a sink drain to the City storm system, or dumping litter or yard debris directly in a Corvallis stream. This is, however, not a comprehensive list of violations. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to review the ordinance to learn what personal activities may be affected by this new ordinance. 

If your incident is an emergency, call 911. If you need non-emergency assistance, please call 541-766-6924.

Since 2004, the City has taken steps to improve water quality and reduce The City is Doing It's Part Preventing Stormwater Pollutionstormwater pollution in a variety of ways. We've enacted land development codes that protect waterways from pollution that can occur from urban development and created a robust program to monitor construction activities to ensure best practices. In addition, the City Stormwater Program regularly educates and engages Corvallis residents, students, and businesses in preventing stormwater pollution prevention. For more information, please visit the City Stormwater Program. 

The Municipal Court Judge can grant you a continuance for you to get legal advice. You must ask the judge, at the arraignment time set by the officer, to get additional time and to have a new date to appear assigned to you. Neither the Judge nor court staff can give you legal advice.

 If this took place on a state freeway please call the Oregon State Police Office nearest you.

A known suspect is when you, or someone you know, has information that you believe will identify the person(s) who committed the crime.  This could include video surveillance, someone who can identify the suspect, or license plate information for the suspect's vehicle.  If there is a known suspect, please call us at 541-766-6924 so we can investigate the incident.  

An arraignment is the first appearance before a court to answer to a charge. When you receive a citation, you must enter a plea of either guilty, no contest, or not guilty to the court. This entry of plea is done at arraignment. 

The purpose of this policy is to clarify and describe the City’s snow removal and sanding priorities and the level of service that is intended to be provided by City crews. The City does not guarantee that streets will be free of snow and ice after plowing and/or sanding. Bare, dry pavement should not be expected. The City will attempt to maintain adequate traction for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions.

Residents are asked to remove their parked vehicles, boats, and trailers from city streets if possible. The City will not be responsible for vehicles parked on the street that are isolated by snow piles due to plowing operations. 

Arraignments are:

Mondays

• 1:30 p.m. Traffic/Parking Arraignments

• 3 p.m. Criminal Arraignments

Thursdays

• 1:30 p.m. Traffic/Parking Arraignments

Sanding will begin as soon as slick street conditions materialize. Sanding operations will stop if snow accumulations are covering over applied sand, making sanding operations ineffective.

All sidewalks and walkways adjacent to City-owned and maintained property and public parking lots are cleared by the City. Public sidewalks and private parking lots are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. Sidewalks not cleared within 24 hours after the snow and/or ice event has concluded can be subject to code enforcement actions (Municipal Code 5.04.050, Nuisances affecting public safety). 

The Corvallis storm system connects most of our City to waterways via storm drains. This means that all residents, businesses, and industries could be potentially impacted by this ordinance. 

A green bike lane enhances the visibility of a bicycle lane in places where there is a potential for conflict with motor vehicles. In Corvallis, we add these to bike lanes where automobile traffic crosses a bike lane. The dashed green strip shows a mixing zone where all users must be most cautious.

Discolored water is often the result of old plumbing. As pipes get older, corrosion begins to take place and bits of rust may eventually flake off. You may want to periodically flush the faucets in your home to help remove any rust that may be building up inside the pipes. Also, check the screens on faucet aerators and showerheads, as small bits of rust may accumulate there and restrict the flow of water. 

Public Works Utilities crews routinely flush water mains and fire hydrants throughout the city to help improve water quality. These flushing activities scour the inside of the distribution system and can cause discolored water to appear at your tap. If we plan on flushing in your neighborhood, you will be notified prior to the event. If discolored water appears at your house, flush the plumbing for several minutes until the water clears. If the color persists, call 766-6932 for more information.

Even when the water supply is adequate, conservation is simply a wise use of a precious resources. Conservation can contribute to a healthy environment, reduce your water bill, and ensure an adequate water supply for years. Using water wisely just makes good $ense! 

You may drive on the street, but on-street parking will be prohibited. Sidewalks will not be closed. Postal, garbage, and recycling services will be notified before work begins, and there should be no or minimal interruption of these services during the work. 

Un sospechoso conocido es cuando usted (o alguien presente) conoce a la persona o donde encontrar a la persona que cometió el crimen o el número de la patente del auto donde iba el sospechoso.

Si el incidente ocurre en una Autopista Estatal por favor llame a la Patrulla de Autopistas de más cercana.

The budget for Corvallis is comparable to similarly sized cities, though a straight apples-to-apples comparison can be difficult. The City’s comparators include Albany, Bend, Springfield, Tigard, and Medford. In some of those communities, Parks and Recreation, Library, and Fire services may be provided by a separate taxing entity. This can make city-to-city comparisons more difficult. But where comparisons can be made, we line up.

Salary and benefits for most City employees are negotiated with the four labor unions that represent them (Police, Fire, 911 and General Service Employees). The only group not represented by a labor union is management staff and a few confidential employees who are exempt employees.

Negotiations with the labor unions must meet the requirements set forth in the Oregon law, known as the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act. This law requires us to look at what similar sized comparator agencies are paying in total compensation. In addition, the City has a compensation policy that states the City will be within +/- 5% of the average of our comparators.

The City is unable to decrease salaries or withhold negotiated pay increases without bargaining those changes with the labor unions that represent City staff.

All newly developed property is added to the tax rolls at lower than real market value as a result of tax laws in Oregon. Multi-family property added in 2016 has an assigned assessed value of 62% of the real market value, so if you look at an apartment with a $1 million value, the assessed value would be $620,000 and that tax bill for the City’s permanent rate would be $3,166.

As an example, The Retreat at Oak Creek, which was added to the tax rolls with fully developed real market value of $95 million has an assigned assessed value of $58.5 million. The taxes they will pay for the City’s permanent rate total $299,000, not the $485,140 they would have paid if assessed at full market value.

Yes. However, state law does not allow it. OSU contributes to Transit Operations, Fire Prevention, and funds three police officers. OSU also pays all required fees (e.g., building permits, transportation maintenance fees, system development charges).

The City has made significant investments in efficiency automation for the Police department over the years, including investigative technology, online self-reporting of certain allowable offenses, social media and text-to-911 for emergency dispatch. The City implemented e-citations for both Police and Parking with automated download features. In short, the Police Department is a technologically advanced department and currently maximizes allowable public safety technology.

Fareless Transit was implemented by the City Council to achieve several goals.

One was to increase ridership by creating a barrier-free system, especially for low income residents. This goal has been achieved by a system generating more than 1 million rides a year in a town of 58,735 people.

Another goal was to improve the system’s on-time operation by eliminating the time it took for people to drop fares in the box and obtain transfer tickets. The efficiencies gained in this area have been somewhat offset by the on- and off-boarding of more passengers. However, there have been staff time savings from not having to process the coinage and produce transfer tickets. The Transit Operations Fee has the added benefit of being able to match federal transit operating grants, while fare box revenue cannot. This ensures we are able to use 100% of our federal grant allocation and not leave any federal funding on the table unspent.

Parking in Corvallis is managed by the City to balance the availability and convenience of public parking in neighborhoods and business districts throughout the community. Public parking is not intended for long-term vehicle storage, nor does any business, neighborhood, or household “own” the public parking spots in front of their property. The Corvallis community is also interested in minimizing vehicle trips to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adjusting the pricing for public parking meters in Corvallis is one of the tools that can help achieve those goals.

All fees collected from parking customers stays in the Parking Fund and is used to maintain, operate, and regulate parking facilities. Parking Fund money doesn’t go to pay for police cars or fill potholes or replace streetlights. Rates are adjusted as needed to ensure that the system is used consistent with adopted goals and practices and to ensure that the fees collected cover the costs associated with managing parking for the entire Corvallis community. The City provides a transparent accounting of the Parking Fund each year as part of the annual budget process.

It could. Some communities around Oregon have been successful at implementing a local gas tax. However, there are challenges when one community in an area implements a local gas tax and other nearby communities don’t.

Meter rates haven’t been raised since 2008, while costs to maintain the system have increased. The Parking Fund can no longer sustain needed operations without borrowing from the General Fund, which is not sustainable.

The City operates the Economic Development Office through an intergovernmental agreement with Benton County. The office is charged with implementing the Economic Development Strategy.

While its focus is primarily assisting existing businesses, the Economic Development Office routinely responds to recruitment leads from the State’s Economic Development Department (Business Oregon), as well as leads from other sources. The Economic Development Office also looks for businesses to fill vacant spaces throughout Benton County, including buildings on the HP Campus. Unfortunately, there just has not been a market for 62,000 square feet of office space in the building mentioned.

Fees for meter and overtime violations (also known as parking tickets) have not been raised since 2003. Similar to meter rates, these fees no longer pay to cover the costs associated with managing public parking for all users, both residents and visitors.

No. All streets will remain open to vehicle traffic. Access to homes and businesses will be unaffected.

All local streets in Corvallis currently have a speed limit of 25 mph. Traffic calming may achieve lower speeds without changing posted speed limits.

No. Oregon State Law prohibits riding e-bikes and e-scooters on the sidewalk.

Slurry seal is a petroleum-based emulsion product mixed with fine aggregate rock to provide a new surface to an existing asphalt street. It slows down aging and significantly reduces vehicle road noise. 

Using slurry in conjunction with a crack seal program provides the most cost-effective method to prevent premature aging. First, sealant is applied to any cracks in the street to prevent water from entering the sub-base and causing further deterioration. Then a layer of slurry is applied. 

Oregon State University launched a one-year Shared Micromobility Pilot Project in August 2024. Current City Municipal Code prohibits shared micromobility to be parked in the public right-of-way, including on the sidewalk, in the street, or in a park strip (the space between the street and the sidewalk). Shared micromobility is allowed to travel on City streets, within the service boundary, and to be parked in designated areas on private property.

If you see a shared scooter or bicycle that is parked in the public right-of-way, please report it to hello@veoride.com. Please include the location, vehicle ID number and mention OSU in your email.

No insurance, license or registration is required.

Four of the locker stalls will fit a bicycle up to 87” in length. The locker doors are 45” tall and 30.75” wide.

To be a registered voter, you must be 18 years of age on the date of the next election, a resident of the State of Oregon (and the City of Corvallis for local measures and candidates), and a citizen of the United States.

If you have not been registered to vote previously in the State, you must file 20 days prior to the next election date. If you have voted previously within the state, you need to check with Benton County Elections and you may be eligible to vote immediately. All prospective voters register with Benton County.

A person who furnishes temporary overnight lodging is considered a lodging provider. Lodging facilities includes any hotel, motel, inn, condominium, house, cabin, apartment, public or private dormitory, fraternity, sorority, public or private club, space in a mobile home or trailer park, tent camping locations, or similar structures or spaces or portions thereof so occupied; provided such occupancy is for less than a 30-day period.

10^th Street and Grant Avenue are both classified as collector streets with marked vehicle, bike, and parking lanes. Collector streets have higher volumes of vehicles traveling through the intersection compared to the intersection of two local streets, such as 11^th Street and Tyler Avenue. This intersection, compared to 10^th Street and Grant Avenue, shows roughly 1/6^th the amount of vehicle throughput, making a traffic circle an appropriate treatment. Neighborhood traffic circles already exist within our community where two local streets intersect, such as at 11^th Street and C Avenue.

After Benton County’s successful use of ranked choice voting, in 2022 the City adopted the ranked choice voting method for elections for Mayor and City Council races with three or more candidates and for advisory questions.

• At the November 8, 2016 general election, Benton County voters amended the County Charter to elect officials using ranked choice voting. Measure text and explanatory statement for ballot measure 2-100. 11/8/16 election results.
• At the November 3, 2020 general election, Benton County voters used ranked choice voting to elect County Commissioners. 11/3/2020 election results.
• The Corvallis City Council explored how to implement ranked choice voting in 2021. 9/7/2021 City Council meeting minutes. 11/9/2021 City Attorney Report: Implementing Ranked Choice Voting for City Elections. 11/15/2021 City Council meeting minutes.
• The Corvallis City Council passed Ordinance 2022-02 on January 19, 2022, adopting ranked choice voting. 1/11/2022 City Attorney Report: City Election and Vacancy Procedures. 1/18/2022 City Council meeting minutes. 1/19/2022 Ordinance 2022-02.

Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/RHPupdate to register or update your rental property information or to request a Section 8 fee waiver. Please note: Failure to register a rental property can result in up to a $1000 fine per rental unit.

Voters mark their ballots in order of preference – 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice.

• Use blue or black pen.
• Fill in the ovals next to the candidates of your choice.
• Make only one choice per column.
• Do not skip columns.
• You may rank as few candidates as you would like.
• You may rank up to three candidates.

Voting instructions from Benton County.

The initiative process, which requires collection of signatures equaling 15% of the votes cast in the last mayoral election, is generally initiated by citizens. Examples include the measure to allow smoking in bars, the recall of an elected City official or a Charter amendment.

The referendum process, which requires collection of signatures equaling 10% of the votes cast in the last mayoral election, is used to refer legislation adopted by the governing body to a direct vote. Corvallis City Charter, Chapter 6, Section 32  

Initiatives and referenda are only permitted in May and November elections. House Bill 2957, passed at the 2015 Regular Session

A home energy score is an informational tool that provides potential home buyers with knowledge about how energy efficient a home is. Unlike getting a sample utility bill for that home, which measures individual behavior as much as efficiency, a home energy score more accurately represents how much energy will be lost or retained when a resident heats or cools the home.  There is also research that suggests that mandatory energy usage disclosure policies incentivize homeowners to invest in energy efficiency upgrades in their homes. 

Traffic circles are effective at reducing crashes at intersections because there are fewer conflict points. They also reduce speeds at the intersection and multiple traffic circles can help reduce speeds along an entire corridor.

The Public Works compound is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Borrowers can pick up and return racks only during open hours.

As currently proposed, if your home is within the Corvallis city limits and you are publicly listing or advertising your home for sale in any manner, you will need to get a Home Energy Score and Report before listing it. Common ways people advertise a home for sale include online listings, posters, yard signs and ads in print publications. Some homeowners are exempted from getting a Home Energy Score. Please see below for examples of exemptions. 

If you are selling your home privately between two parties and the home is never publicly advertised for sale, then the requirements do NOT apply.

During the slurry seal application, access to your street will be interrupted for a maximum of ten (10) hours — for one day only — unless the contractor is delayed due to equipment failure or rainy conditions. You may not park or drive on the street from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The post office, garbage service, and 911 emergency dispatch will be notified before work begins. We do not expect any interruption of mail delivery, garbage collection or emergency services. 

There are currently no incentives available for electric mobility devices open in Corvallis/Benton County. However, there are funds available for other neighboring communities and states. Keep apprised of the revolving door of funding by finding a website that tracks this information. We like this one from RideReview. 

Yes, your vote will still count if you rank only one or only two candidates. However, your ballot has more power if you rank all three choices. If you choose not to, your ranked vote may not be counted in later rounds if your top candidate(s) are eliminated and the lower choice position(s) are left blank.

1. Slow your speed as you approach the intersection. 15mph is ideal.
2. Stop in advance of the sidewalk if pedestrians are crossing.
3. Yield to vehicles that arrive first at the intersection.
   Yield to vehicles on the right if arriving at the same time.
4. Keep to the right and travel around the traffic circle in a counterclockwise direction.

• Reflective vest (10)
• Trash grabbers (11)
• Work gloves (5)
• Limb loppers (3)
• Pruners (2)
• Rakes (2)
• Shovel (1)
• Standard Broom (1)
• Push Broom (1)

Any residential rental unit within Corvallis city limits is subject to the fee. There are two exemptions, a landlord may request a fee waiver if they accept Section 8 (staff confirms this before the fee is waived) or if the rental unit has a deed restriction that requires the unit to be rented to low income.

Transient lodging providers and transient lodging intermediaries must collect and remit the tax. Under the law, whoever collects payment for occupancy is responsible for collecting and remitting the tax as the Lodging Tax Collector.

Political Action Committees (PACs) file contribution and expense reports with the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division on an established schedule. 

If candidates act as their own Treasurers and expect to spend or receive less than $750 during the entire calendar year, reports do not need to be filed. If candidates subsequently exceed that amount, reports do need to be filed.

Please visit the Secretary of State Campaign Finance page and review the Campaign Finance Quick Guide for instructions and a schedule of filing deadlines.

You are responsible for cleaning up the 3 feet adjacent to the path. No trespassing on private property is allowed.

Length: 10’, Width: 44”, Height: 36”

A minimum of 4 feet of space between the racks is recommended for comfortable maneuvering of bicycles.

That's fine. A Home Energy Score is simply an informational tool for property owners. There is no "passing" or "failing" a home energy score and there are no requirements that go along with a score. Your report will show you or any future property owners where there are opportunities for increased energy efficiency. 

No. If multiple candidates are chosen for the same ranking, the voter’s intent cannot be determined, and the ballot will not be considered.

Political signs shall be erected and maintained entirely on private property with the consent of the occupant of the premises.

No signs are permitted on public property, including rights-of-way, streets, boulevards, bridges, rights-of-way to bridges and streets, medians, parks, planting strips in front of parks, and any other public property.

The area between the sidewalk and the street is not private property; it is a public right-of-way and signs are not allowed.

Political signs shall not be erected prior to 60 days from the applicable election and shall be removed within 15 days after the election.

Corvallis Land Development Code Sections 4.7.50 and 4.7.70

A traffic circle is similar to an intersection with signals in which you need to signal the direction in which you are going to take. When turning right, you need to signal right, when going straight you do not signal, and when turning left or doing a U-turn you signal left. Whenever you exit a traffic circle you need to signal right to show you are exiting. Cyclists should use hand signals.

If it is a large amount of trash, you can arrange a pickup by City staff and place the bagged trash by the side of the path at a designated location. Otherwise, please bring the trash bags back to Public Works at the time of your equipment return.

The Rental Housing fee is established in Municipal Code Section 8.03.300.065.  The code states the annual fee will increase by $1 every odd numbered year. 

Residential rental properties within the City of Corvallis are assessed an annual Rental Housing fee. The fee is assessed on a per unit basis. Account balances that become 91 days old and 61 days past due are considered delinquent and are assessed a penalty fee of $100 per unit.

A property owner may appeal the penalty fee. Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis. To appeal the penalty fee, please follow the directions below:

• If your total statement is $400 or less, contact the City Finance Department by phone (541-766-6990) or by email.
• If your total statement is $401 or more, submit your request to Housing and Neighborhood Services (HNS) Division here. A

Gross lodging receipts are all amounts received, including all non-optional fees, other than taxes that are paid for lodging in Oregon. Rent includes all fees and assessments based on the number of occupants, human and pets (including but not limited to cleaning, pet, or smoking fees) for which payment is not optional to the occupant. If the operator offers a lodging package that includes something that is not associated with the actual lodging or is provided by a third party, the rent is the price of the package less the cost of the non-lodging portion of the package.

The laws passed in 2018 aim to ease the removal of discriminatory restrictions from property records.  Requests are submitted to the State's area Circuit Court using the procedure detailed in ORS 93.274. Efforts are underway to refine this process and our website will be updated as information becomes available. Please note this is not a City process. All inquiries should be directed to the Benton County Circuit Court.

• Procedure to Remove Discriminatory Restrictions (ORS 93.274)
• Form: Petition to Remove Discriminatory Provisions from Title to Real Property

Benton County Circuit Court

• Phone: 541.243.7850
• Website: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/benton/Pages/default.aspx
• Address: Benton County Courthouse
                   120 NW 4th Street
                  Corvallis, OR, 97330

It Starts with You

• Set the pace! Drive the speed limit. A National Highway Safety Council survey found 70% of drivers acknowledge they speed themselves.
• Utilize on-street parking. A narrow street can slow traffic. However, when possible please also be mindful of moving your vehicle on scheduled street sweeping days for your area. Learn more about sweeping here.
• If you have a neighborhood or homeowner’s association (HOA) ask them to include slow speed reminders in your neighborhood newsletters.
• Allow more time for travel. Accidents happen at any speed, but injuries and damage are more significant at speeds over 25 mph.
• Directed Patrol for targeted enforcement may be requested from Police here. However, please keep in mind that the ability for Police to respond is dependent on staffing and many other competing needs to keep the community safe. 

Signs and enforcement can only do so much to influence driver behavior. The most effective speed control is a safety conscious culture.

If you make a mistake in marking your ballot, place an X over the mismarked oval and fill in the oval of your preferred choice and circle that oval.

In Oregon, speed limits are set by and changed through specific procedures defined in state laws and regulations. The primary consideration of this process is the measured speeds of drivers on the street currently. This means that sometimes if a street is studied, the process may actually result in a higher speed limit being posted. The City may occasionally request review of speed limits through the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), however the process can take upwards of six months or more for a determination on whether or not any speed changes may occur. Information about the speed setting process in Oregon is available here.

Recent changes in state law now allow some cities in Oregon to complete speed studies themselves, subject to State oversight. However, the same statewide rules and regulations must be followed. Due to staff workloads and the time-consuming nature of speed studies, this is not something Corvallis plans to take on in the near future and will therefore continue to work with ODOT when considering speed limit evaluations.

At this time, before forwarding a request for a speed study to ODOT or not, the City considers the context of the street, recent speed data if available, changes to the street that may have an effect on speeds, law enforcement support, and the likelihood of the speed changing through the study process.

Contact the Benton County Elections Office for a replacement ballot.

The Benton County Election Office will tally ballots in accordance with the County and City’s ranked choice voting rules for implementation. A detailed description of the tallying process can be found on the Benton County’s Benton Better Ballot site.

Generally, there are no problems with snow or debris removal in traffic circle.

• Lodgers who spend 30 or more consecutive days at the same facility
• Any occupant who is a federal employee or an employee of a federal instrumentality (i.e., Red Cross) on official business.
• Any person who has diplomatic immunity.
• Non-profit charitable organizations for the purpose of emergency or temporary shelter.  See the City of Corvallis code 8.04.050.

Please note, property owners who rent a residential unit on a month-to-month or fixed term basis are required to register their unit with the City’s Rental Housing Program. Visit the Rental Housing Program for more information.

• Lodgers who spend 30 or more consecutive days at the same facility
• Any occupant who is a federal employee or an employee of a federal instrumentality (i.e., Red Cross) on official business
• Any person who has diplomatic immunity.

That's understandable! Please contact Kathryn Duvall at (541) 766-6423 or kathryn.duvall@corvallisoregon.gov.

When we analyze a span of road to implement a Neighborhood Bikeway, we look carefully at every element. Railroad crossings are no exception. We are aware that the condition of these crossings can pose a challenge for some street users. Although improvements may appear straightforward on the surface, crossings are actually located within railroad-owned land and require complex coordination, negotiation, approval, and agreements with the railroad and the State who regulates rail crossings. This makes the process very difficult, time consuming and quite expensive. So expensive, in fact, that the cost of crossing improvements alone can quickly surpass the budget for the entire project.

Due to the complexity of parties involved, high costs, and the desire to still advance other beneficial elements of the Neighborhood Bikeway network, we have elected to remove railroad crossings reconstruction from the current project phase. This does not preclude a later effort to attempt to tackle this complex work here and elsewhere.

Currently, we do not have any speed humps on Neighborhood Bikeways that have channels cut to accommodate for bicyclist and/or vehicles with larger axles, such as emergency vehicles.

While a good idea in theory, we have found that there are two main issues. When bikes and vehicles are sharing the road on local streets, and both a vehicle and bike arrive simultaneously at a speed hump, bikes may be squeezed out of their path of travel by vehicles so vehicles can drive through the channel too. This is when a chain of events can occur. While being closely passed, the rider is forced to move quickly and into crossing the speed hump gap at an angle, which could result in a crash due to the abrupt edges and elevation.

From a maintenance perspective, speed humps with channels are a challenge. The gap accumulates debris such as leaves in the fall, gravel in the winter, and other debris throughout the year. It is simply not possible to remove this material from this gap with our street sweepers. Eventually, it must be manually removed, which is time consuming from an automation standpoint. Since local streets are not swept as frequently as arterials and collectors, this will likely lead to frustration for cyclists.

We will continue to monitor and internally evaluate this topic but at the current time, there is no plan to change the current design of speed humps to accommodate channels.

For instructions on how to file the City of Corvallis, Benton County, and the State of Oregon Lodging Taxes, see the filing instructions here. https://www.oregon.gov/dor/forms/FormsPubs/publication-or-olt-ol_604-006.pdf

If you rent space exclusively through Airbnb, then you are only required to register with the Lodging Tax program. You are not required to collect and remit payment. Airbnb as the lodging intermediary for your reservations should collect and remit the lodging taxes on your behalf. 

If you rent space and collect payment from lodging customers directly, then you are required to both register with the City of Corvallis and to remit Lodging Taxes on those collections to the Oregon Department of Revenue. 

In 2013, the Oregon Legislature enacted Oregon House Bill 2656, which made two important changes to the state law on transient lodging tax. First, the tax must be paid on the full retail price of a room, including any charges added to the price. Second, transient lodging intermediaries, or “online travel companies” that take payment for the rooms they book must remit the tax directly to the state and local jurisdictions on those transactions, rather than forwarding that payment to the hotel or owner. 

Yes, please see Chapter 8.04 - LODGING TAX. 

Please visit Benton County Lodging Tax and Permits https://www.co.benton.or.us/lodgingtax

Yes. After dark and during limited visibility conditions, a cyclist must have a white light in front and a red light or red reflector in the rear. This also applies when riding on sidewalks. ORS 815.280

In the summer, water usage increases most with single family residential customers. A single family residential customer is equal to an average of 2.38 people per household. As a comparison, a single family residential customer uses approximately 234 gallons per day during the winter months. During the summer, a single family residential customer uses approximately 341 gallons per day. That is an increase of 46%! 

As you can image, this adds up to a lot of water use in the summer. In Corvallis, we have less rainfall during the summer months than Houston, Texas! Although, we have not experienced a substantial drought condition in recent years, it could very well happen if customer demand for water during the hot, dry summer months exceeds the treatment plants' capacity. In such a situation, customers may be asked to voluntarily reduce their water use on a temporary basis until drought conditions subside. 

To get a trial date changed you must write a letter to the Judge requesting a continuance and the reasons why. Your letter must be received in the Court office within 10 days of receiving your trial notice. 

You may request a court appointed attorney at your arraignment date. Keep in mind, however, that only misdemeanor charges qualify. You will be required to fill out an affidavit that states your financial status. The court will then decide if you qualify. 

No. In order to remain fair and impartial to all people, the Municipal Court Judge must discuss all cases while acting in his official capacity as Judge, in the courtroom during regularly scheduled court times. 

Yes, we do. In 1952, the citizens of Corvallis voted to have fluoride added to City drinking water. Several years later, a group of residents wanted the City to stop adding fluoride, so a second vote was held in 1960. Citizens voted 2-to-1 to continue adding fluoride to the water. 

Fluoride, known for its cavity-fighting benefits, is of special interest to parents with young children. Studies have shown that it strengthens tooth enamel and inhibits acid production by decay-causing bacteria in dental plaque. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm in drinking water. Our target fluoride level is 0.8 ppm. 

The most effective way to report concerns or requests to the City is through the online Report A Problem system at http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/report Staff will investigate and determine if there is an issue that needs to be addressed, and if so, how it compares with competing priorities, and whether there is staffing and budget capacity to address it. Examples of more easy-to-implement improvements include lower cost signs and pavement markings, when and where appropriate. In contrast, if the request would result in the installation of substantial new features or could result in a larger project, the City does not typically have un-budgeted funding readily available. These types of efforts are subject to the City’s annual public budgeting process and Council approval.

Drinking water is perishable. That is why the City of Corvallis takes steps to prevent water quality degradation from the time the water leaves the treatment plant until it gets to your tap. Laboratory professionals take routine samples from sampling stations strategically located in the distribution system. Routine sampling lets the staff confirm that our water is free from harmful bacteria and that there is sufficient chlorine for continued disinfection throughout the system. Automated, continuous water quality monitoring stations also take real-time samples from the distribution system throughout the entire day, every day, all year long. The data are continuously relayed to water system staff to assist them in optimizing water quality. See the annual Consumer Confidence Report for more information about our water quality and testing.

There will be no additional fees to rate payers as a direct result of this ordinance. The implementation of this ordinance, in addition to other programs aimed at reducing stormwater pollution, is funded through stormwater utilities fees, which you can see on your monthly utility bill. 

It's true! In the early spring, the soil has all the water it can hold. As the temperatures warm and the daylight hours lengthen, plants increase the amount of water they remove from the soil, and the amount of water that evaporates from the soil also increases. The amount of water that you apply to your lawn or landscape should equal the amount of water lost through evaporation and transpiration, often called evapotranspiration, or simply ET. Corvallis averages about 34 inches of rain and 34 inches of ET each year. Theoretically, nobody should ever have to water their lawn at all! Of course the rain comes when plants are not growing as rapidly, so many people irrigate. While one inch per week is a good average for the growing season, the amount of irrigation you apply should change from week to week. Your plants need more water in July than in May or September. Check out the Smart Irrigation and A Golden Landscape and Water Efficient Plant Guide for more information about irrigation, lawns, and conserving water.

Bottled water can be a good source of drinking water during an emergency, but it does not store well for long periods of time. Generally, bottled water does not contain a disinfectant, so microbes may grow in it over time. Because of this, bottled water should be treated as a perishable food product. Tap water does contain low levels of disinfectant and should be stored in capped plastic or glass containers. However, even properly stored tap water will not last indefinitely and should be replaced every 6 to 12 months. 

Trials are set for Mondays and Thursdays. Cases are set in advance about two months. If you plead not guilty today, your case will be set within approximately two months. 

Like tap water, the safety of bottled water depends both on the source water and the treatment process. Because bottled water is considered a food product, it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Starting this year, the FDA will require bottled water manufacturers to test their source water and the finished product once a year; however, the quality of the finished product is not government monitored. Any bottled water that contains contaminants in excess of the allowable level is considered mislabeled unless it has a statement of substandard quality. If you use bottled water, consider it a food product and refrigerate it after opening. 

The use of bottled water or home treatment devices is a personal choice, which may be based on taste preferences. If however, you use these products for health reasons, we suggest that you thoroughly research the product you are selecting to assure that it offers the level of protection you are seeking. 

Dioxin is one of a group of chemicals called chlorinated organics. These compounds form when chlorine reacts with organic materials, like leaves, woody material, or decaying plants, in the water. Formation of these compounds depends on several factors including: the amount of organic material present, the concentration and form of chlorine, and the amount of time the chlorine is in contact with the organic material. Dioxin is a highly complex compound that generally only forms when large quantities of organic material and chlorine are in contact for long periods of time. The EPA Maximum Contaminant Level for dioxin in drinking water is 30 parts per quadrillion (ppq). We have been testing for the presence of dioxin in city water since 1991. To date, dioxin has not been detected in our finished drinking water. 

The Taylor and Rock Creek facilities both treat the water with chlorine. Low doses of chlorine act as a disinfectant protecting you against disease-causing microorganisms in the water. We are required by law to add disinfectant in order to meet state and federal regulatory mandates for safe drinking water. 

If you find the chlorine taste unpleasant, try filling a container with water and keeping it loosely capped in the refrigerator. 

A few common example violations include dumping used car oil or washing paint brushes into City storm drains, connecting a sink drain to the City storm system, or dumping litter or yard debris directly in a Corvallis stream. This is, however, not a comprehensive list of violations. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to review the ordinance to learn what personal activities may be affected by this new ordinance. 

If your incident is an emergency, call 911. If you need non-emergency assistance, please call 541-766-6924.

Since 2004, the City has taken steps to improve water quality and reduce The City is Doing It's Part Preventing Stormwater Pollutionstormwater pollution in a variety of ways. We've enacted land development codes that protect waterways from pollution that can occur from urban development and created a robust program to monitor construction activities to ensure best practices. In addition, the City Stormwater Program regularly educates and engages Corvallis residents, students, and businesses in preventing stormwater pollution prevention. For more information, please visit the City Stormwater Program. 

The Municipal Court Judge can grant you a continuance for you to get legal advice. You must ask the judge, at the arraignment time set by the officer, to get additional time and to have a new date to appear assigned to you. Neither the Judge nor court staff can give you legal advice.

 If this took place on a state freeway please call the Oregon State Police Office nearest you.

A known suspect is when you, or someone you know, has information that you believe will identify the person(s) who committed the crime.  This could include video surveillance, someone who can identify the suspect, or license plate information for the suspect's vehicle.  If there is a known suspect, please call us at 541-766-6924 so we can investigate the incident.  

An arraignment is the first appearance before a court to answer to a charge. When you receive a citation, you must enter a plea of either guilty, no contest, or not guilty to the court. This entry of plea is done at arraignment. 

The purpose of this policy is to clarify and describe the City’s snow removal and sanding priorities and the level of service that is intended to be provided by City crews. The City does not guarantee that streets will be free of snow and ice after plowing and/or sanding. Bare, dry pavement should not be expected. The City will attempt to maintain adequate traction for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions.

Residents are asked to remove their parked vehicles, boats, and trailers from city streets if possible. The City will not be responsible for vehicles parked on the street that are isolated by snow piles due to plowing operations. 

Arraignments are:

Mondays

• 1:30 p.m. Traffic/Parking Arraignments

• 3 p.m. Criminal Arraignments

Thursdays

• 1:30 p.m. Traffic/Parking Arraignments

Sanding will begin as soon as slick street conditions materialize. Sanding operations will stop if snow accumulations are covering over applied sand, making sanding operations ineffective.

All sidewalks and walkways adjacent to City-owned and maintained property and public parking lots are cleared by the City. Public sidewalks and private parking lots are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. Sidewalks not cleared within 24 hours after the snow and/or ice event has concluded can be subject to code enforcement actions (Municipal Code 5.04.050, Nuisances affecting public safety). 

The Corvallis storm system connects most of our City to waterways via storm drains. This means that all residents, businesses, and industries could be potentially impacted by this ordinance. 

A green bike lane enhances the visibility of a bicycle lane in places where there is a potential for conflict with motor vehicles. In Corvallis, we add these to bike lanes where automobile traffic crosses a bike lane. The dashed green strip shows a mixing zone where all users must be most cautious.

Discolored water is often the result of old plumbing. As pipes get older, corrosion begins to take place and bits of rust may eventually flake off. You may want to periodically flush the faucets in your home to help remove any rust that may be building up inside the pipes. Also, check the screens on faucet aerators and showerheads, as small bits of rust may accumulate there and restrict the flow of water. 

Public Works Utilities crews routinely flush water mains and fire hydrants throughout the city to help improve water quality. These flushing activities scour the inside of the distribution system and can cause discolored water to appear at your tap. If we plan on flushing in your neighborhood, you will be notified prior to the event. If discolored water appears at your house, flush the plumbing for several minutes until the water clears. If the color persists, call 766-6932 for more information.

Even when the water supply is adequate, conservation is simply a wise use of a precious resources. Conservation can contribute to a healthy environment, reduce your water bill, and ensure an adequate water supply for years. Using water wisely just makes good $ense! 

You may drive on the street, but on-street parking will be prohibited. Sidewalks will not be closed. Postal, garbage, and recycling services will be notified before work begins, and there should be no or minimal interruption of these services during the work. 

Un sospechoso conocido es cuando usted (o alguien presente) conoce a la persona o donde encontrar a la persona que cometió el crimen o el número de la patente del auto donde iba el sospechoso.

Si el incidente ocurre en una Autopista Estatal por favor llame a la Patrulla de Autopistas de más cercana.

The budget for Corvallis is comparable to similarly sized cities, though a straight apples-to-apples comparison can be difficult. The City’s comparators include Albany, Bend, Springfield, Tigard, and Medford. In some of those communities, Parks and Recreation, Library, and Fire services may be provided by a separate taxing entity. This can make city-to-city comparisons more difficult. But where comparisons can be made, we line up.

Salary and benefits for most City employees are negotiated with the four labor unions that represent them (Police, Fire, 911 and General Service Employees). The only group not represented by a labor union is management staff and a few confidential employees who are exempt employees.

Negotiations with the labor unions must meet the requirements set forth in the Oregon law, known as the Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act. This law requires us to look at what similar sized comparator agencies are paying in total compensation. In addition, the City has a compensation policy that states the City will be within +/- 5% of the average of our comparators.

The City is unable to decrease salaries or withhold negotiated pay increases without bargaining those changes with the labor unions that represent City staff.

All newly developed property is added to the tax rolls at lower than real market value as a result of tax laws in Oregon. Multi-family property added in 2016 has an assigned assessed value of 62% of the real market value, so if you look at an apartment with a $1 million value, the assessed value would be $620,000 and that tax bill for the City’s permanent rate would be $3,166.

As an example, The Retreat at Oak Creek, which was added to the tax rolls with fully developed real market value of $95 million has an assigned assessed value of $58.5 million. The taxes they will pay for the City’s permanent rate total $299,000, not the $485,140 they would have paid if assessed at full market value.

Yes. However, state law does not allow it. OSU contributes to Transit Operations, Fire Prevention, and funds three police officers. OSU also pays all required fees (e.g., building permits, transportation maintenance fees, system development charges).

The City has made significant investments in efficiency automation for the Police department over the years, including investigative technology, online self-reporting of certain allowable offenses, social media and text-to-911 for emergency dispatch. The City implemented e-citations for both Police and Parking with automated download features. In short, the Police Department is a technologically advanced department and currently maximizes allowable public safety technology.

Fareless Transit was implemented by the City Council to achieve several goals.

One was to increase ridership by creating a barrier-free system, especially for low income residents. This goal has been achieved by a system generating more than 1 million rides a year in a town of 58,735 people.

Another goal was to improve the system’s on-time operation by eliminating the time it took for people to drop fares in the box and obtain transfer tickets. The efficiencies gained in this area have been somewhat offset by the on- and off-boarding of more passengers. However, there have been staff time savings from not having to process the coinage and produce transfer tickets. The Transit Operations Fee has the added benefit of being able to match federal transit operating grants, while fare box revenue cannot. This ensures we are able to use 100% of our federal grant allocation and not leave any federal funding on the table unspent.

Parking in Corvallis is managed by the City to balance the availability and convenience of public parking in neighborhoods and business districts throughout the community. Public parking is not intended for long-term vehicle storage, nor does any business, neighborhood, or household “own” the public parking spots in front of their property. The Corvallis community is also interested in minimizing vehicle trips to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adjusting the pricing for public parking meters in Corvallis is one of the tools that can help achieve those goals.

All fees collected from parking customers stays in the Parking Fund and is used to maintain, operate, and regulate parking facilities. Parking Fund money doesn’t go to pay for police cars or fill potholes or replace streetlights. Rates are adjusted as needed to ensure that the system is used consistent with adopted goals and practices and to ensure that the fees collected cover the costs associated with managing parking for the entire Corvallis community. The City provides a transparent accounting of the Parking Fund each year as part of the annual budget process.

It could. Some communities around Oregon have been successful at implementing a local gas tax. However, there are challenges when one community in an area implements a local gas tax and other nearby communities don’t.

Meter rates haven’t been raised since 2008, while costs to maintain the system have increased. The Parking Fund can no longer sustain needed operations without borrowing from the General Fund, which is not sustainable.

The City operates the Economic Development Office through an intergovernmental agreement with Benton County. The office is charged with implementing the Economic Development Strategy.

While its focus is primarily assisting existing businesses, the Economic Development Office routinely responds to recruitment leads from the State’s Economic Development Department (Business Oregon), as well as leads from other sources. The Economic Development Office also looks for businesses to fill vacant spaces throughout Benton County, including buildings on the HP Campus. Unfortunately, there just has not been a market for 62,000 square feet of office space in the building mentioned.

Fees for meter and overtime violations (also known as parking tickets) have not been raised since 2003. Similar to meter rates, these fees no longer pay to cover the costs associated with managing public parking for all users, both residents and visitors.

No. All streets will remain open to vehicle traffic. Access to homes and businesses will be unaffected.

All local streets in Corvallis currently have a speed limit of 25 mph. Traffic calming may achieve lower speeds without changing posted speed limits.

No. Oregon State Law prohibits riding e-bikes and e-scooters on the sidewalk.

Slurry seal is a petroleum-based emulsion product mixed with fine aggregate rock to provide a new surface to an existing asphalt street. It slows down aging and significantly reduces vehicle road noise. 

Using slurry in conjunction with a crack seal program provides the most cost-effective method to prevent premature aging. First, sealant is applied to any cracks in the street to prevent water from entering the sub-base and causing further deterioration. Then a layer of slurry is applied. 

Oregon State University launched a one-year Shared Micromobility Pilot Project in August 2024. Current City Municipal Code prohibits shared micromobility to be parked in the public right-of-way, including on the sidewalk, in the street, or in a park strip (the space between the street and the sidewalk). Shared micromobility is allowed to travel on City streets, within the service boundary, and to be parked in designated areas on private property.

If you see a shared scooter or bicycle that is parked in the public right-of-way, please report it to hello@veoride.com. Please include the location, vehicle ID number and mention OSU in your email.

No insurance, license or registration is required.

Four of the locker stalls will fit a bicycle up to 87” in length. The locker doors are 45” tall and 30.75” wide.

To be a registered voter, you must be 18 years of age on the date of the next election, a resident of the State of Oregon (and the City of Corvallis for local measures and candidates), and a citizen of the United States.

If you have not been registered to vote previously in the State, you must file 20 days prior to the next election date. If you have voted previously within the state, you need to check with Benton County Elections and you may be eligible to vote immediately. All prospective voters register with Benton County.

A person who furnishes temporary overnight lodging is considered a lodging provider. Lodging facilities includes any hotel, motel, inn, condominium, house, cabin, apartment, public or private dormitory, fraternity, sorority, public or private club, space in a mobile home or trailer park, tent camping locations, or similar structures or spaces or portions thereof so occupied; provided such occupancy is for less than a 30-day period.

10^th Street and Grant Avenue are both classified as collector streets with marked vehicle, bike, and parking lanes. Collector streets have higher volumes of vehicles traveling through the intersection compared to the intersection of two local streets, such as 11^th Street and Tyler Avenue. This intersection, compared to 10^th Street and Grant Avenue, shows roughly 1/6^th the amount of vehicle throughput, making a traffic circle an appropriate treatment. Neighborhood traffic circles already exist within our community where two local streets intersect, such as at 11^th Street and C Avenue.

After Benton County’s successful use of ranked choice voting, in 2022 the City adopted the ranked choice voting method for elections for Mayor and City Council races with three or more candidates and for advisory questions.

• At the November 8, 2016 general election, Benton County voters amended the County Charter to elect officials using ranked choice voting. Measure text and explanatory statement for ballot measure 2-100. 11/8/16 election results.
• At the November 3, 2020 general election, Benton County voters used ranked choice voting to elect County Commissioners. 11/3/2020 election results.
• The Corvallis City Council explored how to implement ranked choice voting in 2021. 9/7/2021 City Council meeting minutes. 11/9/2021 City Attorney Report: Implementing Ranked Choice Voting for City Elections. 11/15/2021 City Council meeting minutes.
• The Corvallis City Council passed Ordinance 2022-02 on January 19, 2022, adopting ranked choice voting. 1/11/2022 City Attorney Report: City Election and Vacancy Procedures. 1/18/2022 City Council meeting minutes. 1/19/2022 Ordinance 2022-02.

Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/RHPupdate to register or update your rental property information or to request a Section 8 fee waiver. Please note: Failure to register a rental property can result in up to a $1000 fine per rental unit.

Voters mark their ballots in order of preference – 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice.

• Use blue or black pen.
• Fill in the ovals next to the candidates of your choice.
• Make only one choice per column.
• Do not skip columns.
• You may rank as few candidates as you would like.
• You may rank up to three candidates.

Voting instructions from Benton County.

The initiative process, which requires collection of signatures equaling 15% of the votes cast in the last mayoral election, is generally initiated by citizens. Examples include the measure to allow smoking in bars, the recall of an elected City official or a Charter amendment.

The referendum process, which requires collection of signatures equaling 10% of the votes cast in the last mayoral election, is used to refer legislation adopted by the governing body to a direct vote. Corvallis City Charter, Chapter 6, Section 32  

Initiatives and referenda are only permitted in May and November elections. House Bill 2957, passed at the 2015 Regular Session

A home energy score is an informational tool that provides potential home buyers with knowledge about how energy efficient a home is. Unlike getting a sample utility bill for that home, which measures individual behavior as much as efficiency, a home energy score more accurately represents how much energy will be lost or retained when a resident heats or cools the home.  There is also research that suggests that mandatory energy usage disclosure policies incentivize homeowners to invest in energy efficiency upgrades in their homes. 

Traffic circles are effective at reducing crashes at intersections because there are fewer conflict points. They also reduce speeds at the intersection and multiple traffic circles can help reduce speeds along an entire corridor.

The Public Works compound is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Borrowers can pick up and return racks only during open hours.

As currently proposed, if your home is within the Corvallis city limits and you are publicly listing or advertising your home for sale in any manner, you will need to get a Home Energy Score and Report before listing it. Common ways people advertise a home for sale include online listings, posters, yard signs and ads in print publications. Some homeowners are exempted from getting a Home Energy Score. Please see below for examples of exemptions. 

If you are selling your home privately between two parties and the home is never publicly advertised for sale, then the requirements do NOT apply.

During the slurry seal application, access to your street will be interrupted for a maximum of ten (10) hours — for one day only — unless the contractor is delayed due to equipment failure or rainy conditions. You may not park or drive on the street from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The post office, garbage service, and 911 emergency dispatch will be notified before work begins. We do not expect any interruption of mail delivery, garbage collection or emergency services. 

There are currently no incentives available for electric mobility devices open in Corvallis/Benton County. However, there are funds available for other neighboring communities and states. Keep apprised of the revolving door of funding by finding a website that tracks this information. We like this one from RideReview. 

Yes, your vote will still count if you rank only one or only two candidates. However, your ballot has more power if you rank all three choices. If you choose not to, your ranked vote may not be counted in later rounds if your top candidate(s) are eliminated and the lower choice position(s) are left blank.

1. Slow your speed as you approach the intersection. 15mph is ideal.
2. Stop in advance of the sidewalk if pedestrians are crossing.
3. Yield to vehicles that arrive first at the intersection.
   Yield to vehicles on the right if arriving at the same time.
4. Keep to the right and travel around the traffic circle in a counterclockwise direction.

• Reflective vest (10)
• Trash grabbers (11)
• Work gloves (5)
• Limb loppers (3)
• Pruners (2)
• Rakes (2)
• Shovel (1)
• Standard Broom (1)
• Push Broom (1)

Any residential rental unit within Corvallis city limits is subject to the fee. There are two exemptions, a landlord may request a fee waiver if they accept Section 8 (staff confirms this before the fee is waived) or if the rental unit has a deed restriction that requires the unit to be rented to low income.

Transient lodging providers and transient lodging intermediaries must collect and remit the tax. Under the law, whoever collects payment for occupancy is responsible for collecting and remitting the tax as the Lodging Tax Collector.

Political Action Committees (PACs) file contribution and expense reports with the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division on an established schedule. 

If candidates act as their own Treasurers and expect to spend or receive less than $750 during the entire calendar year, reports do not need to be filed. If candidates subsequently exceed that amount, reports do need to be filed.

Please visit the Secretary of State Campaign Finance page and review the Campaign Finance Quick Guide for instructions and a schedule of filing deadlines.

You are responsible for cleaning up the 3 feet adjacent to the path. No trespassing on private property is allowed.

Length: 10’, Width: 44”, Height: 36”

A minimum of 4 feet of space between the racks is recommended for comfortable maneuvering of bicycles.

That's fine. A Home Energy Score is simply an informational tool for property owners. There is no "passing" or "failing" a home energy score and there are no requirements that go along with a score. Your report will show you or any future property owners where there are opportunities for increased energy efficiency. 

No. If multiple candidates are chosen for the same ranking, the voter’s intent cannot be determined, and the ballot will not be considered.

Political signs shall be erected and maintained entirely on private property with the consent of the occupant of the premises.

No signs are permitted on public property, including rights-of-way, streets, boulevards, bridges, rights-of-way to bridges and streets, medians, parks, planting strips in front of parks, and any other public property.

The area between the sidewalk and the street is not private property; it is a public right-of-way and signs are not allowed.

Political signs shall not be erected prior to 60 days from the applicable election and shall be removed within 15 days after the election.

Corvallis Land Development Code Sections 4.7.50 and 4.7.70

A traffic circle is similar to an intersection with signals in which you need to signal the direction in which you are going to take. When turning right, you need to signal right, when going straight you do not signal, and when turning left or doing a U-turn you signal left. Whenever you exit a traffic circle you need to signal right to show you are exiting. Cyclists should use hand signals.

If it is a large amount of trash, you can arrange a pickup by City staff and place the bagged trash by the side of the path at a designated location. Otherwise, please bring the trash bags back to Public Works at the time of your equipment return.

The Rental Housing fee is established in Municipal Code Section 8.03.300.065.  The code states the annual fee will increase by $1 every odd numbered year. 

Residential rental properties within the City of Corvallis are assessed an annual Rental Housing fee. The fee is assessed on a per unit basis. Account balances that become 91 days old and 61 days past due are considered delinquent and are assessed a penalty fee of $100 per unit.

A property owner may appeal the penalty fee. Appeals are considered on a case-by-case basis. To appeal the penalty fee, please follow the directions below:

• If your total statement is $400 or less, contact the City Finance Department by phone (541-766-6990) or by email.
• If your total statement is $401 or more, submit your request to Housing and Neighborhood Services (HNS) Division here. A

Gross lodging receipts are all amounts received, including all non-optional fees, other than taxes that are paid for lodging in Oregon. Rent includes all fees and assessments based on the number of occupants, human and pets (including but not limited to cleaning, pet, or smoking fees) for which payment is not optional to the occupant. If the operator offers a lodging package that includes something that is not associated with the actual lodging or is provided by a third party, the rent is the price of the package less the cost of the non-lodging portion of the package.

The laws passed in 2018 aim to ease the removal of discriminatory restrictions from property records.  Requests are submitted to the State's area Circuit Court using the procedure detailed in ORS 93.274. Efforts are underway to refine this process and our website will be updated as information becomes available. Please note this is not a City process. All inquiries should be directed to the Benton County Circuit Court.

• Procedure to Remove Discriminatory Restrictions (ORS 93.274)
• Form: Petition to Remove Discriminatory Provisions from Title to Real Property

Benton County Circuit Court

• Phone: 541.243.7850
• Website: https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/benton/Pages/default.aspx
• Address: Benton County Courthouse
                   120 NW 4th Street
                  Corvallis, OR, 97330

It Starts with You

• Set the pace! Drive the speed limit. A National Highway Safety Council survey found 70% of drivers acknowledge they speed themselves.
• Utilize on-street parking. A narrow street can slow traffic. However, when possible please also be mindful of moving your vehicle on scheduled street sweeping days for your area. Learn more about sweeping here.
• If you have a neighborhood or homeowner’s association (HOA) ask them to include slow speed reminders in your neighborhood newsletters.
• Allow more time for travel. Accidents happen at any speed, but injuries and damage are more significant at speeds over 25 mph.
• Directed Patrol for targeted enforcement may be requested from Police here. However, please keep in mind that the ability for Police to respond is dependent on staffing and many other competing needs to keep the community safe. 

Signs and enforcement can only do so much to influence driver behavior. The most effective speed control is a safety conscious culture.

If you make a mistake in marking your ballot, place an X over the mismarked oval and fill in the oval of your preferred choice and circle that oval.

In Oregon, speed limits are set by and changed through specific procedures defined in state laws and regulations. The primary consideration of this process is the measured speeds of drivers on the street currently. This means that sometimes if a street is studied, the process may actually result in a higher speed limit being posted. The City may occasionally request review of speed limits through the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), however the process can take upwards of six months or more for a determination on whether or not any speed changes may occur. Information about the speed setting process in Oregon is available here.

Recent changes in state law now allow some cities in Oregon to complete speed studies themselves, subject to State oversight. However, the same statewide rules and regulations must be followed. Due to staff workloads and the time-consuming nature of speed studies, this is not something Corvallis plans to take on in the near future and will therefore continue to work with ODOT when considering speed limit evaluations.

At this time, before forwarding a request for a speed study to ODOT or not, the City considers the context of the street, recent speed data if available, changes to the street that may have an effect on speeds, law enforcement support, and the likelihood of the speed changing through the study process.

Contact the Benton County Elections Office for a replacement ballot.

The Benton County Election Office will tally ballots in accordance with the County and City’s ranked choice voting rules for implementation. A detailed description of the tallying process can be found on the Benton County’s Benton Better Ballot site.

Generally, there are no problems with snow or debris removal in traffic circle.

• Lodgers who spend 30 or more consecutive days at the same facility
• Any occupant who is a federal employee or an employee of a federal instrumentality (i.e., Red Cross) on official business.
• Any person who has diplomatic immunity.
• Non-profit charitable organizations for the purpose of emergency or temporary shelter.  See the City of Corvallis code 8.04.050.

Please note, property owners who rent a residential unit on a month-to-month or fixed term basis are required to register their unit with the City’s Rental Housing Program. Visit the Rental Housing Program for more information.

• Lodgers who spend 30 or more consecutive days at the same facility
• Any occupant who is a federal employee or an employee of a federal instrumentality (i.e., Red Cross) on official business
• Any person who has diplomatic immunity.

That's understandable! Please contact Kathryn Duvall at (541) 766-6423 or kathryn.duvall@corvallisoregon.gov.

When we analyze a span of road to implement a Neighborhood Bikeway, we look carefully at every element. Railroad crossings are no exception. We are aware that the condition of these crossings can pose a challenge for some street users. Although improvements may appear straightforward on the surface, crossings are actually located within railroad-owned land and require complex coordination, negotiation, approval, and agreements with the railroad and the State who regulates rail crossings. This makes the process very difficult, time consuming and quite expensive. So expensive, in fact, that the cost of crossing improvements alone can quickly surpass the budget for the entire project.

Due to the complexity of parties involved, high costs, and the desire to still advance other beneficial elements of the Neighborhood Bikeway network, we have elected to remove railroad crossings reconstruction from the current project phase. This does not preclude a later effort to attempt to tackle this complex work here and elsewhere.

Currently, we do not have any speed humps on Neighborhood Bikeways that have channels cut to accommodate for bicyclist and/or vehicles with larger axles, such as emergency vehicles.

While a good idea in theory, we have found that there are two main issues. When bikes and vehicles are sharing the road on local streets, and both a vehicle and bike arrive simultaneously at a speed hump, bikes may be squeezed out of their path of travel by vehicles so vehicles can drive through the channel too. This is when a chain of events can occur. While being closely passed, the rider is forced to move quickly and into crossing the speed hump gap at an angle, which could result in a crash due to the abrupt edges and elevation.

From a maintenance perspective, speed humps with channels are a challenge. The gap accumulates debris such as leaves in the fall, gravel in the winter, and other debris throughout the year. It is simply not possible to remove this material from this gap with our street sweepers. Eventually, it must be manually removed, which is time consuming from an automation standpoint. Since local streets are not swept as frequently as arterials and collectors, this will likely lead to frustration for cyclists.

We will continue to monitor and internally evaluate this topic but at the current time, there is no plan to change the current design of speed humps to accommodate channels.

For instructions on how to file the City of Corvallis, Benton County, and the State of Oregon Lodging Taxes, see the filing instructions here. https://www.oregon.gov/dor/forms/FormsPubs/publication-or-olt-ol_604-006.pdf

If you rent space exclusively through Airbnb, then you are only required to register with the Lodging Tax program. You are not required to collect and remit payment. Airbnb as the lodging intermediary for your reservations should collect and remit the lodging taxes on your behalf. 

If you rent space and collect payment from lodging customers directly, then you are required to both register with the City of Corvallis and to remit Lodging Taxes on those collections to the Oregon Department of Revenue. 

In 2013, the Oregon Legislature enacted Oregon House Bill 2656, which made two important changes to the state law on transient lodging tax. First, the tax must be paid on the full retail price of a room, including any charges added to the price. Second, transient lodging intermediaries, or “online travel companies” that take payment for the rooms they book must remit the tax directly to the state and local jurisdictions on those transactions, rather than forwarding that payment to the hotel or owner. 

Yes, please see Chapter 8.04 - LODGING TAX. 

Please visit Benton County Lodging Tax and Permits https://www.co.benton.or.us/lodgingtax

Yes. After dark and during limited visibility conditions, a cyclist must have a white light in front and a red light or red reflector in the rear. This also applies when riding on sidewalks. ORS 815.280

In the summer, water usage increases most with single family residential customers. A single family residential customer is equal to an average of 2.38 people per household. As a comparison, a single family residential customer uses approximately 234 gallons per day during the winter months. During the summer, a single family residential customer uses approximately 341 gallons per day. That is an increase of 46%! 

As you can image, this adds up to a lot of water use in the summer. In Corvallis, we have less rainfall during the summer months than Houston, Texas! Although, we have not experienced a substantial drought condition in recent years, it could very well happen if customer demand for water during the hot, dry summer months exceeds the treatment plants' capacity. In such a situation, customers may be asked to voluntarily reduce their water use on a temporary basis until drought conditions subside. 

To get a trial date changed you must write a letter to the Judge requesting a continuance and the reasons why. Your letter must be received in the Court office within 10 days of receiving your trial notice. 

You may request a court appointed attorney at your arraignment date. Keep in mind, however, that only misdemeanor charges qualify. You will be required to fill out an affidavit that states your financial status. The court will then decide if you qualify. 

No. In order to remain fair and impartial to all people, the Municipal Court Judge must discuss all cases while acting in his official capacity as Judge, in the courtroom during regularly scheduled court times. 

Yes, we do. In 1952, the citizens of Corvallis voted to have fluoride added to City drinking water. Several years later, a group of residents wanted the City to stop adding fluoride, so a second vote was held in 1960. Citizens voted 2-to-1 to continue adding fluoride to the water. 

Fluoride, known for its cavity-fighting benefits, is of special interest to parents with young children. Studies have shown that it strengthens tooth enamel and inhibits acid production by decay-causing bacteria in dental plaque. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm in drinking water. Our target fluoride level is 0.8 ppm.