Corvallis e-News | January 2025

In this issue: New Council takes office, the FYI about PFAS and Phthalates, new city service fee rates, and more!

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New Council Takes Office on January 6

The new 2025-2026 Corvallis City Council will be sworn into office at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the year on January 6, 2025. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Municipal Judge Larry Blake will administer the oath of office for new and returning elected officials:

• Ward 1 Councilor Jan Napack
• Ward 2 Councilor Briae Lewis
• Ward 3 Councilor Jim Moorefield
• Ward 4 Councilor Ava Olson
• Ward 5 Councilor Charlyn Ellis
• Ward 6 Councilor Alison Bowden
• Ward 7 Councilor Paul Shaffer
• Ward 8 Councilor Carolyn Mayers
• Ward 9 Councilor Tony Cadena

City Councilors will serve a two-year term from 2025 to 2026. The Mayor took office in 2023 and is currently serving a four-year term. 

To sign up for email notifications about upcoming City Council meetings, please visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/notify and select "City Council" under the "Calendar" header.

First All-Inclusive Playground Opens at Avery Park

People of all ability levels are invited to explore the new, all-inclusive playground that opened last month at Avery Park in Corvallis. The $1 million playground project was the result of a year-long community engagement process to assess community needs and desires, followed by a six-month construction process. The playground — complete with accessible swings, sensory play equipment, and special surfacing for people using mobility devices — is the first dedicated play area in Corvallis to be designed from the ground up to serve people of all ability levels.

The City of Corvallis Parks & Recreation Department led the makeover effort that upgraded the decades-old main playground area in Avery Park. Funding came from a combination of sources, including $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $532,000 grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department.

The new playground layout leans into the concept of inclusive play, says Parks & Recreation Director Meredith Petit.

“Inclusive Play is all about integrated play spaces so that kids, adults, and caregivers can play together,” Petit said. “It’s not about just meeting the bare minimum by providing a few accessible elements in one section of the playground.”

Visitors to the playground will notice colorful, nature-inspired design elements that complement the site’s location in Avery Park (the oldest park in Corvallis, located along the Marys River). Ramp access and a specially designed surface grants easier access for kids or caretakers who use mobility devices. A sensory-focused play space encourages visitors of all ages to engage in rambunctious play, while also providing quiet areas to spend time alone or socialize in small groups.

The project also features site improvements that will serve the broader park patron community. A new restroom building with two individual, all-gender toilet rooms, drinking fountain and water bottle filler has been installed adjacent to the inclusive play area. Also included is a new picnic shelter with four wheelchair-compatible picnic tables and ample circulation area.

Perimeter fencing adjacent to the parking lot and driveway adds additional safety measures to minimize any potential conflict between the playground and moving vehicles. The popular kid-focused musical equipment, which was installed several years ago, has been reused in the new playground. Integrated shade umbrellas provide shelter over the play structure.

City Service Fees 2025 Rate Adjustment

City service fees are monthly charges that appear on the City of Corvallis City Services bill. Fees represent a small charge shared among all Corvallis billing customers to pay for specific services. Rate adjustments are considered annually by the City Council.

Each fee is used to pay for a specific service, and funds collected for one service cannot be used to pay for other services. For example, the City does not use money collected through the Sidewalk Maintenance Fee to pay for Police Department expenses.

The current fees are:

• Water – Fee collected based on usage to pay for City water service and related infrastructure.
• Wastewater – Fee collected to support the City’s wastewater (sewer) infrastructure and operation.
• Stormwater – Fee collected to support the City’s stormwater system, including urban streams and pollution mitigation.
• Street Maintenance (TMF) – Fee goes to support regular maintenance on the City’s most-used streets.
• Sidewalk Maintenance – Fee used for sidewalk maintenance and repair.
• Transit Operation Fee – Fee supports fareless service on Corvallis Transit System. This fee is adjusted once a year based on the price of a gallon of gasoline.
• Urban Forestry – Fee supports maintenance of the City’s urban tree canopy.
• Police Services – Fee maintains current service levels at the Police Department.
• Fire Services – Fee maintains current service levels, including enhanced coverage by adding personnel to staff a new ambulance unit.
• Low-Income Assistance Fee – This fee goes into a fund for income-eligible customers who need assistance paying their monthly City Services bill.

Fees are reviewed annually by staff and the City Council as part of a public process to ensure that they are operating as intended to generate adequate revenue for municipal services that the community relies on.

Rate increases for 2025 are displayed in the chart on this page, showing the previous rate and the new rate that takes effect on February 1, 2025.

Low-Income Assistance Program Enters Fifth Year Serving Corvallis Community Members

The City of Corvallis Low-Income Assistance Program, launched in January 2021, is entering its fifth year of operations. Over the last four years, the program has provided financial assistance to 849 income-eligible households — an average of 212 households per month.

Financial assistance initially provided a credit of $25 per month to qualifying community members on their monthly City Services bills. Over the last four years, that amount has been increased by the City to meet community needs. The current assistance credit provides $53.55 per month and is reviewed annually by the City Council.

How to Apply

To apply, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/billassistance. Applications are processed throughout the year, and eligible community members typically begin receiving credit on their City Services bills about one month after their application is processed by the City.

Eligibility is determined based on household income, and applicants will need to show proof of eligibility through enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),  Oregon Health Plan (OHP), or direct certification through Corvallis School District 509J. This is an annual program and must be renewed each year by submitting a new application.

The program is funded through a 96-cent surcharge that appears on the monthly City Services bill.

The FYI About PFAS and Phthalates

Here at the City of Corvallis, we’re always looking ahead to upcoming environmental regulations and rules that could impact services in our community. One topic that’s been the subject of recent discussion at the state level involves PFAS and Phthalates — aka "forever chemicals" that you might have read about in the news. These chemicals are byproducts of some common manufacturing processes for clothing, cookware, and food packaging. They don’t break down easily in the environment, so they often end up being detected in the air, soil, and water.

We’re excited to launch a comprehensive online resource on the City website to help the community understand what PFAS and Phthalates are, why you should care, and how they have not been detected in Corvallis drinking water.

The web page includes links to the latest information from state and federal sources. And, a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page will help keep you in the know. We'll be sharing more material in the weeks and months to come. 

Development Services Division Quarterly Newsletter

What's new in the building department? We don't have a "building department" per se, but development and permit activity is handled by the capable team in our Development Services Division. They recently released their quarterly newsletter full of information for the development & contractor community. 

It's a great way to stay up-to-date about changes to building codes, services, and fees. Check out the newsletter on the City website. If it's helpful to you, the Development Services team would appreciate any feedback you have. You can reach them anytime at development.services@corvallisoregon.gov.

Upcoming City Council Meetings

Catch up with your elected officials at their regularly scheduled meetings and work sessions. Upcoming meetings are listed below, along with links to calendar entries with more information. You don't have to attend to share feedback on any topic that's important to you. Feel free to use the Public Input Form to get in touch with the Council anytime, anywhere. 

Government Comment Corner at the Library

Meet your local government officials and chat about whatever's on your mind at Government Comment Corner. Each two-hour session takes place at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon each Saturday. A rotating cast of elected leaders from Corvallis and Benton County will be available for open, honest, one-on-one conversations with anyone who wants to stop by. Bring your questions about public services, and learn more about how to volunteer and get involved!

Here's the schedule (subject to change):

FYI: Council Three-Month Calendar

The City Council's three-month calendar is a good way to track topics and learn about upcoming business items. The three-month calendar is available on the City website.

The schedule is subject to change, so be sure to contact your City Councilor to learn more about any particular topic you see on the calendar.

What's New at the Library this Month?

• Winter Reading Bingo:  Through January 15.  For all ages.  Complete a bingo card and receive a small prize!

• Storytime:  10:30am Tuesday-Friday, Main Meeting Room .  Tuesdays: Infant, Wednesdays: Toddler,  Thursdays: Preschool, Fridays, Family.  Drop in.

• Tech Help Lab:     January 15, 3-4 pm 2nd floor Classroom, Drop in for free, basic, one-on-one tech help from a library staff member. Bring your computer or device or use one of ours

• Free Employment Help:   January 15 , 10am-noon, 2nd Floor Classroom, drop-in.  Job-seekers can drop in to meet with an Employment Specialist from Worksource Oregon.

• Digital Life Classes:   various Thursdays and Saturdays, 11:00am:  Learn about various technology topics with library staff.  Free, drop in.

• Pride Storytime with Haus of Dharma: January 4, 10:30-11:30 AM.  Join us for an all ages Pride storytime with performers from Haus of Dharma! 

• Random Review:  January 8   12-1pm, Main Meeting room and streamed online   Cleavon Smith reviews  Hell of a Book: A Novel by Jason Mott

• Puzzle Swap:  Jan 11-, 12:00-1:30, Main Meeting Room.  Bring your puzzles to swap!  All ages and levels welcome.

• Game Night at the Library: January 16 5-6:30pm, Main Meeting Room.  Board games, card games and video games for all ages! 

• Craft Night for Adults:  January 21  , 5:30-7pm, Main Meeting Room  For ages 16+. This month’s craft is mixed-media bookmarks.

• Discussion of I Lived to Tell the World by Elizabeth Mehren:  Jan 18 and 25, 2-3pm, Main Meeting Room.  The OSU Center for the Humanities presents moderated book club conversations.  Books available at 2^nd floor reference desk.

• Puppet Show:  Snow Soup:  Jan 30, 1:00pm, Main Meeting Room.  Join Pegasus Puppets for a  wintry rendition of Stone Soup!

• Get a Library Card: Sign up for a library card and get access to all services and materials including placing holds on materials,  downloadable books, audiobooks, magazines, streaming movies and more!

• Home Delivery Service:  Get your holds delivered to you!  Delivery is available to patrons with current library cards who live within the library service district.

• Books & More from Home:  Read ebooks, download audiobooks and magazines, or watch streaming video all from the comfort of your home with your library card!

• Library Newsletter: Want to get monthly updates, upcoming events, and other library news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our email newsletter!