Corvallis e-News | March 2024

In this issue: Fair housing questionnaire, Coffee with a Cop, beaver dam check-in, and more!

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Corvallis Fire Assists with Water Rescue in Philomath

Rescue swimmers and medics from the Corvallis Fire Department (CFD) carried out a successful water rescue near the Marys River Park in Philomath on February 20. The incident began with a 9-1-1 call that came in shortly after 3:30 p.m. with a report of people in the water requesting assistance.

Philomath Fire & Rescue, along with local law enforcement, were first on the scene. First responders located two individuals in the water and began working their way through heavy brush to gain access. At this point, Philomath Fire requested rescue swimmers and additional support from Corvallis Fire.

CFD personnel deployed their portable raft and three rescue swimmers, who then traveled upstream to retrieve one victim and one dog from the river. A second victim with a second dog along the riverbank was reached by ground crews who cut a path through heavy brush and helped the victim walk out on foot.

Both victims (and their dogs) received examinations from on-scene medical staff. They were not injured and were not transported via ambulance. Based on preliminary investigations, it appears the incident began when one of the dogs was swept away by current in the river. Both victims entered the water without flotation devices and were then unable to get out of the river.

This incident was a close call that highlights the importance of practicing water safety, particularly in the winter when area waterways tend to run fast and deep

Your Input: Fair Housing Questionnaire

The City of Corvallis is updating its Fair Housing Plan, and as part of that work, we're asking for your feedback regarding your experience with renting and owning within the City, especially in regards to fair housing practices. Please consider completing the following questionnaire at the link below. The results will assist the City in updating its Fair Housing plan. The survey will close on March 17 at 9 p.m.

LINK: English | En Español.

Meet Your Local Police Officers on March 14

Join your Corvallis Police Department staff at New Morning Bakery for the return of Coffee with a Cop! The event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, March 14. We look forward to seeing you and enjoying some great local coffee and treats. The casual atmosphere offers the chance for our community members to connect with the officers who serve Corvallis.

The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the community members they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.

What's Up with the Beaver Dam at Starker Park?

It's time to check in on the new beaver dam leveler at Starker Park!

Last summer, workers from multiple local agencies and volunteers installed a beaver dam pond lever in Dunawi Creek, which runs through Starker Park. This simple and low impact device allows water to flow through the beaver dam, allowing beavers to build dams while minimizing local flooding. You may have seen our fun video from last fall explaining how this cool new piece of urban stream infrastructure helps beavers coexist alongside humans.

Research in the last 20 years has shown that beaver dams provide numerous environmental benefits to the surrounding area. Currently more than 3,000 beaver dam levers are used in the United States, successfully retaining the benefits of beavers and their dams while minimizing flooding. Local agencies and volunteers will continue to monitor the functioning of this device on Dunawi Creek and make changes as necessary.

Parks & Recreation ADA Accommodation Request Form

Need to request an accommodation to take part in an activity, program, class, or other event hosted by the Parks & Recreation Department? Connect with us via this handy ADA Accommodation Request Form. We'll gather some information and get in touch with you about available options.

CIP Draft Available for Review

There's still time to review the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) draft document for next year. Take a peek at the draft right here: https://apps.corvallisoregon.gov/webdocs/showdoc.aspx?docID=4055715

If you would like to provide comments on the proposed CIP, please submit them to CIP@corvallisoregon.gov. Questions and comments should be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on March 8, 2024.

The CIP is a planning level document and an important communication tool for the community. The CIP identifies infrastructure projects planned to be initiated over the next five fiscal years. The CIP is developed using various technical resources and requirements, and balances competing priorities within financial constraints to efficiently address the growing number of infrastructure deficiencies across the City. The CIP also informs the City’s budget process, since projects identified in the first year will be incorporated into the FY 2024-25 budget.

Although heavily influenced by technical analysis and best management practices for the industry, providing opportunities for public review of the CIP remains a high priority. The proposed CIP is currently available for public review and will be considered by City Council during a joint meeting with the Budget Commission on March 21, 2024.

The document is also available in hardcopy for review at the Public Works Administration Building, Library, and City Hall.

Indoor Water Conservation Starts with the Toilet! 

How do you use water indoors? Well, the average household uses the most water inside on - you guessed it - toilets! About 24% of indoor water use is due to toilets. The next biggest water use is showers (20%) and faucets (19%). Washing machines come in fourth at 17%, and leaks waste 12%, with "other" used coming in last at 8%. Comment below if you're surprised by these statistics, and if you plan on making changes to save more water!

It's important to know how your water is used, because then you know where to save water. For example, installing a high efficiency toilet to replace a pre-1990s model toilet could save the average household up to 14,000 gallons of water a year. That's why the City runs a toilet rebate program: replacing old toilets is a great way to reduce water use, reduce wastewater, save on your water bill, and prevent hidden leaks. Learn more about the toilet rebate program on the City website. You can read more about Indoor Water conservation on the Water Conservation program City website.

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 city 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.

• Free Employment Help: 1st Wednesdays, 10am-noon, 2nd Floor Classroom, drop-in. Job-seekers can drop in to meet with an Employment Specialist from Worksource Oregon.

• Tech Help Lab: 1st and 3rd Wednesday, 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

• Family Concert: A Musical Picture Book Tour:  March 9 11-12, Main Meeting Room. Corvallis-OSU Piano International presents A performance of delightful piano pieces with narration, inspired by the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen.

• Password Management: March 9, 11:00-12:15, 2^nd Floor Classroom.  Learn how to make strong passwords and some simple ways to keep them safe.

• Random Review:  March 13 , 12-1pm, Main Meeting Room. Virginia Weis reviews  The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee.

• Meet LEGO Masters Contestant Kelly Bartlett! March 15 2-4pm, Main Meeting Room. Hear from LEGO Masters contestant Kelly Bartlett about what life is like on a reality show!  Includes a Q&A and meet-and-greet session!

• Online Privacy:  March 16, 11:00-12:15, 2^nd Floor Classroom. Learn about tools, resources, and practices to protect your privacy online.

• Games Day: March 16  1-4pm,  Main Meeting Room.  Drop in and play board, card and video games for all ages.

• 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!

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