Corvallis e-News | November 2024

In this issue: Election results, the new city logo, the Library's new carpet, and more!

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Election Results Release Plan

It's Election Day in Corvallis! Just a reminder — Benton County elections staff will release the unofficial election night results for all races after 8 p.m. on Election Day, with an update on unofficial election results on Wednesday, November 13. For ranked choice voting contests (Ward 6 and Ward 7 City Council seats), the first-choice rankings will be reported in these unofficial results.

If no candidate for Ward 6 or Ward 7 receives more than 50% of the vote, the Benton County Elections Office will proceed with tallying second-choice votes for each of those contests. The official and complete ranked choice voting results will be released with the final election results, expected by Wednesday, November 27.

For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions about ranked choice voting, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/elections.

New City Logo Is Here!

It's official — the new look for the City of Corvallis has arrived! A brand new city logo, along with a comprehensive brand system, officially launched on November 1. You'll start seeing the new logo appear on documents, forms, signs, and other high-visibility areas of city operations. (The old logo will remain in use for a while during this transition process.)

You might be wondering ... why a new logo? Well, in the almost 40 years since the existing logo made its debut, the communications and community engagement needs of local governments (like Corvallis) have changed quite a bit. A logo that used to primarily be featured atop printed documents, letter, and bills has given way to a municipal identity that is used across a wide variety of platforms like websites, digital apps, and social media. Community members are just as likely to encounter the brand on their mobile device screen as on a printed piece of paper.

Last year, we engaged Madison Avenue Collective (MAC), a local design firm with extensive experience creating new brand identities for government agencies, to assist with a long-overdue brand refresh. The goal of the project was to create a modern, consistent brand system that included a recognizable primary logo, together with plenty of creative icons, graphics, and colors to help enhance City communications and outreach. 

The new design and visually rich supporting elements lend themselves well to branding and placemaking. The City logo will look right at home alongside logos from partner agencies, educational institutions, events venues, and other community organizations.

Look for our new logo and brand to start popping up around town later this year and early next year. We're excited to bring a fresh new look to the City of Corvallis!

Library Closure in November (New Carpet!)

The Corvallis Public Library will be closed from November 3 through November 18 for a carpet replacement project. This will allow for the carpet on the first floor of the library to be entirely replaced, something that has not occurred for over 30 years in some areas of the library.

During this time, many areas of the first floor will also be rearranged, allowing us to create a play area for younger children, as well as a thoughtfully designed space for teens.

No items will be due during the closure, and all due dates will be extended automatically. Any holds will remain on the hold shelves until after we reopen. You can also have your holds sent to another location for pick up, or request delivery service. Anyone who lives within the library district service area can sign up for deliveries! https://cbcpubliclibrary.net/library-delivery/

You can continue to place holds as usual, but please note that access to some collections may be temporarily limited as we recarpet and rearrange, which may delay delivery. Staff will be available to respond to phone calls and emails as much as we are able to during the closure.

All branch libraries will still be open! This is also a great opportunity to check out our branch libraries in Alsea, Monroe, and Philomath. All branch locations will be open for their regular hours and offer many of the same services and programs, like weekly storytimes, computer access, and convenient holds pickup.

We greatly appreciate your patience during this upgrade of our building and we look forward to welcoming the community back into our new-and-improved space on November 19.

Annual Sustainability Report Now Available

This is our annual look at how the City of Corvallis has performed in five key categories related to sustainability. Each year, we build a work plan to help guide our staff as they carry out the work of delivering City services throughout our community. The annual Sustainability Report checks in on this work plan to see how we're making progress in meeting the City’s sustainability goals for municipal operations.

Over the years, we've found that the Sustainability Report offers a great opportunity to pause and celebrate successes, large and small, that contribute to our climate action goals. Sometimes we get too focused on wrapping up projects and moving on to the next item on our punch list. The Sustainability Report provides a chance to revisit our work and reflect on what we've accomplished.

In the pages of this year's report, you'll find data on goals and metrics, as well as short narratives and stories that provide some context for our work over the past year. It's a breezy read that comes in at just 23 pages. Not to mention — the new report was one of the first documents produced using the City's new branding and style, and we think it looks fantastic! 

Check out the 2024 Sustainability Report on the City website.

Osborn Aquatic Center Closed for Structural Evaluation

City maintenance staff drained the main indoor pool at Osborn Aquatic Center on November 1 to allow a contractor to install temporary support structures to shore up the roof of the indoor pool before additional structural testing can be performed. That testing is anticipated to start later this month.

The City's pool facility has been closed since October 2 after a preliminary inspection that revealed corrosion in the roof. A follow-up examination by a structural engineer has shown that additional repairs will be needed. Shoring up the natatorium roof will enable engineers to safely explore and assess the roof system and formulate a plan for repairs.

At this time, the Aquatic Center remains closed until further notice. Additional information on repairs will be shared with the community as it becomes available. We look forward to resuming operations at the pool as soon as possible.

Fall Leaf Collection Now Underway

The City of Corvallis Fall Leaf Collection Program is now underway. During this period, Republic Services will pick up leaf piles in the street once a week, generally on the same day as normal garbage collection.

The final leaf pickup for a property will be on its scheduled service day the week of December 23, 2024.

New for 2024: Free community leaf drop sites

For the Fall 2024 leaf collection season, the City and Republic Services are partnering to offer additional leaf collection options. We have designated four sites across the community where Corvallis residents may drop off their leaves, free of charge. The following locations will be available for leaf drop off:

• Dr. MLK, Jr. Park – gravel parking lot at 4905 NW Walnut Blvd
• Pioneer Park – gravel parking lot at 1300 Philomath Blvd (US20/OR34)
• 2392 NW Garyanna St – asphalt parking area across from NW Havengreen Place
• Crystal Lake Sports Park – gravel lot at 100 SE Fischer Ln

Community members are asked to help by following these simple guidelines to ensure a successful leaf collection program:

Leaf drop sites:

• Leaf drop sites are open to Corvallis-based Republic Services residential customers only; they are not for commercial use.
• Please observe all signs including open hours (typically 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Closures may occur periodically for site cleaning and special events.
• Please drop un-bagged leaves only, no sticks, branches, bags, or trash.

In-street collection:

• Use your yard debris cart as the first choice for disposing of leaves.
• Only rake leaves into the street if you run out of room in your yard debris cart. Consider piling excess leaves and placing them in your cart the following week.
• If you need to rake leaves into the street, place them there in piles the evening before your scheduled leaf pick up day.
• Place leaf piles one foot from the curb to allow space for rainwater to run off along the street curb line.
• Ensure that leaves do not block or cover catch basins or storm drains.
• Avoid parking vehicles near leaf piles, as Republic Services cannot collect leaves blocked by vehicles.
• Out of consideration for the bicycling public, please do not place leaves in bike lanes. For those of you who live adjacent to streets with bike lanes and no parking, this means using one of the new leaf drop-off sites, or your yard debris carts for leaf disposal. Contact Republic Services for additional options to handle the volume of leaves on your property.

The Fall Leaf Collection Program is the only time leaves may be deposited in piles in the street. Using blowers to scatter leaves into the street is not allowed at any time. Other debris, such as grass, branches, limbs, are strictly prohibited from being placed in the street at any time and will not be picked up by Republic Services.

In conjunction with the Fall Leaf Collection Program, Public Works will expand its street sweeping to include both day and night shifts. Neighborhoods are scheduled to be swept once every two weeks.

More information can be found here: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/leaf-collection

City Honored as Finalist in Voice of the People Awards

The City of Corvallis has been named a finalist for the 2024 Voice of the People (VOP) Award for Excellence in Mobility. The award recognizes the City's data-driven approach to transportation that led to a $664,000 grant from the federal government for street safety.

The VOP Awards are the only nationally recognized honors given to local governments based on resident input, government performance, and community data in decision-making. This is the 16th year of the awards, presented by Polco and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Corvallis was nominated for the Excellence in Mobility award after receiving consistently high marks year over year on The National Community Survey (NCS). The NCS is a nationwide community livability assessment with the largest database of its kind and nearly a thousand participating municipalities over the last thirty years. The database represents the perspectives of more than 50 million Americans, and well over 100 jurisdictions conduct the survey each year.

The nomination packet from Corvallis described how the City's Public Works Department took action to address transportation safety by seeking a $664,000 grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding was awarded for specific planning projects that reflect community priorities identified through various transportation system plans. These projects will address key focus areas on the City's biennial community survey related to transportation safety and infrastructure.

"We're so pleased to receive this honor from Polco and ICMA in recognition of the grant funding we were able to bring into the Corvallis community," said Patrick W. Rollens, the City's Public Information Officer. "Mobility is an important category of public services, and this grant will help us engage in data-driven decision-making to improve our overall transportation system."

Revolving Loan Fund Program Available for Businesses in South Corvallis

A new Revolving Loan Fund Program has launched to support new and existing businesses and encourage commercial investment in the South Corvallis Urban Renewal District. The first funding cycle application closes Friday, December 27 at 5 p.m. Applications will be accepted in person at City Hall or by emailing economic.development@corvallisoregon.gov.

Eligible projects include building and façade renovations, new construction, and renewable energy improvements at commercial properties within the South Corvallis Urban Renewal District. Low interest financing up to $100,000 per business or property is available. $250,000 is available to serve requests this funding cycle. Projects will be competitively evaluated based on their ability to meet some or all of the following criteria:

• Proposed business will improve food access in South Corvallis
• Project is ready to submit for permits or begin construction within 3 months of grant award and be completed within one year of loan issuance.
• Building has been vacant for 1 year or more but will become occupied as a result of the project.
• Project significantly improves energy efficiency of the building or improves renewable energy production.
• The applicant has not received previous public grant or loan awards at this location within the last 3 year and certifies the project would not be financially feasible without support.
• Project helps bring building or site up to current code compliance.
• Applicant’s entity is COBID (Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity) Certified or otherwise self-identifies as eligible.
• Project adds green spaces, improves public amenities and/or reduces impervious surface area.
• Business education course completion with partner org within last 12 months.
• Proposed business will have its first location at project site.

Projects do not need to meet all goals to be eligible. Projects will be ranked and the top scoring proposals meeting at least a 60/100 score threshold will be awarded as funding allows. Those who meet this threshold yet do not receive funding will be recommended and included in an upcoming cycle. Revolving Loan Fund Program awards will be announced in January 2025.

This new loan program was made possible by the South Corvallis Urban Renewal District, which was approved by Corvallis voters in 2019 and is intended to catalyze economic growth in this area of the community for years to come. For more information on the South Corvallis Urban Renewal District visit https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/business/page/urban-renewal-south-corvallis.

Civic Campus Task Force Issues Final Report

The Civic Campus Community Engagement Task Force has issued its final report to the Corvallis City Council with recommendations about improvements to the collection of buildings that house city services in downtown Corvallis. The report is available on the City website.

The Task Force was created by the Council earlier this year and was asked to seek community input about two possible options for improving the Civic Campus, which includes four buildings (including the current City Hall building) that house services such as urban planning, building permits, financial billing, municipal court, information technology, and city administration. These buildings lack welcoming, accessible customer service areas and modern staff work spaces. Improvements to the Civic Campus represent opportunities to address efficiency, collaboration, and urgent space needs, and also to create a long-term investment in downtown Corvallis.

The Civic Campus Community Engagement Task Force is made up of community volunteers representing a wide variety of stakeholder groups. The Task Force developed an engagement plan that gathered feedback from many different groups and individuals over the spring and summer of 2024. The Task Force members weighed this feedback and developed their final recommendations at a series of public meetings earlier this year. Data and findings from this outreach are included in the final report.

Recommendations from the Task Force report will be considered by the Council alongside other aspects of technical feasibility, financial viability, and environmental compatibility as they approach a decision on the Civic Campus proposal and other projects in the citywide facilities project. For more information, visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/facilities.

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?

• Storytime:  10:30am Tuesday-Friday, Main Meeting Room .  Tuesdays: Infant, Wednesdays: Toddler,  Thursdays: Preschool, Fridays, Family.  Drop in.
   
• Tech Help Lab:    November 20, 2-3pm , 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
   
• Digital Life Classes:  1^st and 3^rd Saturdays, 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays, 11:00am:  Learn about various technology topics with library staff.  Free, drop in.
   
• November Novel Writing Challenge Sessions:  Drop in and write!
   
• 2024 Champinefu Series:  November 6, 7-8:30 pm, virtual.  OSU Anthropology Professor Molly Carney presents how and why camas is a cultural and ecological keystone plant for Kalapuya. 
   
• Craft Night for Adults:  November 19 , 5:30-7pm, Main Meeting Room  For ages 16+.   This month’s craft: watercolor/oil pastel (mixed media) painting
   
• Random Review:  November 20  12-1pm, Main Meeting room and streamed online  Evan Gottlieb reviews The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
   
• Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin:  November 20, 6-7pm, Main Meeting Room.   Experience a multimedia journey along the Columbia River from source to sea with conservation photographer and author David Moskowitz. 
   
• Game Night at the Library: November 21, 5-6:30pm, Main Meeting Room.  Board games, card games and video games for all ages! 
   
• OSU MFA Reading Series: November 1 , 5-6pm, Main Meeting Room. In partnership with Oregon State University, the MFA Reading Series brings a monthly rotation of free literary readings to the library! 
   
• 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!