Corvallis e-News | March 2023

In this issue: Empowerment Grants, Police 101, and the new Strategic Operational Plan

New Strategic Operational Plan Available

The City's new 2024-2028 Strategic Operational Plan is now available for review. The five-year plan represents the City Council's policy priorities over the next five years, along with the programs, services, and initiatives needed to accomplish those goals.

While it is important to be flexible and adaptive to changing needs, it is equally important that the SOP maintain longevity and consistency to allow long-term efforts time to develop and mature. This way the City can continue to make progress in spite of unforeseen challenges.

The Corvallis community will continue to change in areas such as population, demographics, and economic conditions. Many of these changes will be outside our control — but how the City responds is firmly within our control. The Strategic Operational Plan allows the City to respond to changes while maintaining a focus on long-term expectations.

Empowerment Grant Applications Open on March 15

The popular Empowerment Grant program will begin accepting applications on March 15. As in prior years, the program will make available $10,000 in small cash grants from the City of Corvallis to fund projects around the community. The grant program is inviting applications from the community in two broad categories:

Neighborhood Empowerment Grants are focused on improving geographic areas in Corvallis. Past projects have included landscape improvements, neighborhood events, public art installations, education programs, and training services.

Community Empowerment Grants are focused on assisting individuals and organizations doing enriching work throughout Corvallis. Example grants include cultural events, guest lectures, and outreach campaigns. Often this work cuts across different geographic areas and may serve diverse community groups.

Empowerment grants are typically in the range of $250 to $600 each. Anyone can apply for an Empowerment Grant, though some restrictions and guidelines may apply. Visit www.corvallisoregon.gov/empowerment to learn more.

Police Citizens Academy Recruiting Now

The Corvallis Police Department is sponsoring Police 101, a 10-week introduction to the workings of the Corvallis Police Department. The free classes are held in-person each Wednesday evening starting April 5, 2023 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Law Enforcement Center. More information on the program available on the Department’s website at: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/police/page/corvallis-police-101.

Anyone in the community is welcome and encouraged to take the course. Apply online right here: https://forms.corvallisoregon.gov/Forms/PD-CPD-Event-Registration

ODOT To Repair Damaged U.S. 20 ramp in Corvallis

Travelers should plan extra travel time and use alternate routes as Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) continues to repair damage to the eastbound U.S. 20/OR 34 ramp to northbound OR 99W in Corvallis.

In the coming weeks there will be traffic shifts, lane and road closures under the bridges at the U.S. 20/OR 34 and OR 99W interchange.

Work will be done during the day and at night as specified, here's what you can expect:

March 2 through March 6 – a full closure of OR 34 to the northbound OR 99W ramp. Work will be done during the day and at night.
March 2 through March 6 - Full closure, nightly, of southbound OR 99W.
March 4 – two lane closure of southbound OR 99W for daytime work.
March 7 through March 10 – nightly two lane closure of southbound 99W.

The U.S. 20/OR 34 ramp was damaged in November when it was hit by a truck going southbound on OR 99W. The vehicle owner will be charged for the repairs. Schedules may change due to weather or construction plans. Check TripCheck.com for current road information.

Free Lifeguard Training at Osborn Aquatic Center

Gain the skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies as a Lifeguard. Students will receive a Lifeguard & Waterpark Certificate when you pass the entire course successfully. A Lifeguard Certificate is required to work at area aquatic facilities - and Osborn Aquatic Center is hiring!

The training class requires a pre-course certification. To schedule your pre-course check, please contact Brycen McConnell at Brycen.McConnell@corvallisoregon.gov or 541-766-6305. Be sure to include a variety of date/time options that you are available.

MLK Park Project Inspiration

The designers of the new Martin Luther King Jr. park project are seeking inspiration from the community. Share your favorite quotes, poems, images, or leaders who inspire you. Input from the community will help inform the park's art and interpretive elements.

Share your feedback today at www.mlkparkcorvallis.org/.

Share Your Feedback on Climate Friendly Areas

Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) Rules were adopted by the Oregon Legislature in July 2022. As part of these new rules, local governments are required to study, identify, and designate "climate friendly areas" to help provide local residents with more housing and transportation choices while also meeting Oregon’s Climate Pollution Reduction Targets for 2050. These rules require some cities to update their transportation and land use plans and development codes to accommodate walkable, mixed-use development.

A Climate Friendly Area (CFA) is intended to be a place where residents, workers, and visitors can meet most of their daily needs without having to drive. These places may be urban mixed-use areas such as downtowns and main streets. For Corvallis, this means a minimum of 25 dwelling units per acre and buildings no less than 85 feet tall for the primary area, and 15 dwelling units per acre and buildings no less than 50 feet tall for the secondary areas -- with commercial uses allowed throughout each CFA.

The goal of this survey is to hear from you about the potential CFAs. Please take 10 minutes to complete this survey by Friday, March 10. Responses will be kept confidential and reported in aggregate.

Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CorvallisCFAs

For more information on local implementation of the CFEC rules, visit the project website: www.corvallisoregon.gov/climatefriendly

What's New at the Library this Month?

There's a lot going on at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. Check out any of the events below to learn more!

Storytime: 10:30am, Main Meeting Room, drop-in. Tuesdays: Infants, Wednesdays: Toddlers, Thursdays: Preschool. See all dates here
Free Employment Help: Wednesdays, except March 1, 10am-noon, 2^nd Floor Classroom, drop-in. Job-seekers can drop in to meet with an Employment Specialist from Worksource Oregon.
Tech Help Lab: 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday, 2nd floor Classroom, except March 1 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.
Random Review (Virtual): March 8 noon. Bruce Thomson and Charlie Fautin review The Premonition: A Pandemic Story by Michael Lewis.
Liftoff to Mars!: 3-4pm, March 17, Main Meeting Room. Join us as we learn about the spacecraft currently exploring our red planet through crafts. For elementary school students
Games Day: 1-4pm, March 18, Main Meeting Room. Drop in and play board, card and video games for all ages.
Get a Library Card: Sign up for an All-Access e-card to 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!

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