Corvallis e-News | May 2024

In this issue: Green grants, Adopt a Path, Volunteer Opportunities, and more!

Apply Now for a City Advisory Group Appointment

It's that time of year - we're recruiting for volunteers to serve on the City's network of advisory groups. There are more than a dozen different boards, commissions, and committees recruiting right now, including our brand new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Advisory Board! We've also got vacancies on many long-running boards such as the Climate Action Advisory Board, Library Board, and the Community Police Review Board.

We're also seeking volunteers to serve on the city's Planning Commission and Historic Resources Commission. These two opportunities are a little different than the rest of our advisory group positions, so be sure to visit the Planning Commission or Historic Resources Commission pages and read all about the vacancies.

Take a look at all the vacancies and apply online on the City website.

Join us for the Monroe Avenue Corridor Study Open House

The City of Corvallis and Oregon State University (OSU) are collaborating on a project which will develop a conceptual improvement plan for Monroe Avenue between 14th and 26th Streets. Both the City and OSU recognize the importance of this corridor as a connection between the community, the university, and businesses and organizations that share its frontage. The plan will focus on enhancing the safety and comfort for people walking, biking, driving, and accessing transit as they travel along Monroe.

Join us for a community open house to learn more about the plan and how it will benefit the Monroe Avenue corridor.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
6:00—8:00 PM
Corvallis Community Center (C3)
Chandler Ball Room
2601 NW Tyler Avenue

OSU and City staff, along with the consultant team from Kittelson and Associates, will be sharing information gathered from the interactive mapping exercise and survey, as well as some initial corridor improvement concepts. The event is free and open to the public.

If you would like to be included on our interested parties email list for future meeting notices, just send an email to monroeave@corvallisoregon.gov, and we will make sure to keep you informed of future events.

Applications Open for Green Grants from the City!

The City is accepting applications for the 2024 Green Grants program through May 13, 2024. This year, the program has $5,000 available for small dollar grants to make sustainable improvements related to recycling, green space, energy efficiency, active transportation, water conservation, community gardens, and other topics from the Corvallis Climate Action Plan.

The funds may be used by applicants for programs and projects that address the community actions in the Corvallis Climate Action Plan.

Read more about the Green Grants program here: corvallisoregon.gov/green-grants

City Receives 40,000 Gallon Portable Water Treatment System

The City of Corvallis has bolstered its emergency preparedness efforts with the recent receipt of a grant-funded portable water treatment system capable of producing up to 40,000 gallons of potable water per day.

The trailer-mounted purification system was custom built for the City using a grant from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) grant program. Grant funding in 2019 initially provided just over $100,000 for a portable water treatment system that was intended to provide mobile fresh water for localized areas that might lose their connection to the citywide water system during a disaster.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the impact to global supply chains heavily affected the timeline to purchase and construct the water treatment trailer. During 2021 and 2022, the manufacturer was forced to pause work as essential components proved difficult to obtain. The total cost eventually rose to about $160,000 for the completed trailer system.

The last piece of equipment was installed in February 2024, and staff in the City’s Public Works Department received training to operate the complex treatment system. As currently configured, the portable treatment trailer would be able to pull water from a river or creek and produce up to 40,000 gallons of treated drinking water per day. Distribution of the treated water would be coordinated by community volunteers, such as Corvallis CERT.

“We’re grateful to the Oregon Legislature for funding this grant program that eventually helped Corvallis acquire this critical piece of infrastructure,” said Emergency Planning Manager Dave Busby. “In spite of the pandemic delays and cost overruns, the wait was worth it. This water treatment system will give us an important new tool in our toolbox in the event of a disaster.”

The Corvallis water treatment system was one of 10 other portable water trailers delivered to tribal, county, and city agencies through the $5 million SPIRE grant program.

Contractors' Summit Coming Up May 17

The City of Corvallis Development Services Division will be hosting a Contractors’ Summit on Friday, May 17 from 7:30 - 9 a.m. Development Services staff will be presenting a variety of information, including building code updates, tips for applying for permits, erosion/grading best practices, and changes to the City’s stormwater requirements. The event will be held at the Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Avenue.

Development Services staff will also be available after the presentation to answer questions. To RSVP, send an email to Development.Services@corvallisoregon.gov. See you on May 17!

May Is Historic Preservation Month in Corvallis!

Corvallis is full of events for Historic Preservation Month! This year's theme is Trails Through Time. Some events require registration, all are free.

Events are posted online at https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/cd/page/historic-preservation-month

This events schedule is a collaboration between the Benton County and Corvallis Historic Resources Commissions, the Albany Heritage Commission, and PreservationWORKS. All events are operated by volunteers – please thank them for their service. Benton County and Corvallis will be celebrating our volunteers at an annual ceremony, which takes place on May 30 at the LaSells Stewart Center on OSU campus this year.

Celebrating Sister Cities Month

During May, the Corvallis Sister Cities Association is celebrating Sister Cities Month and the importance of developing friendship, awareness and understanding between Corvallis and our Sister Cities of Uzhhorod, Ukraine and Gondar, Ethiopia.

During May we invite you to:

Visit us at the Farmers Market on Saturday May 4 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Join the Corvallis – Gondar Walk for Water, Saturday May 18, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Benton County Fairgrounds. For more information or to register, go to https://sistercities.corvallis.or.us/gondar-walk-for-water/
Take a walk in Central Park (across from the Benton County Library) to see our sister city flags.
Become a member of our Sister Cities Association. You can join through our website at https://sistercities.corvallis.or.us/membership/
Consider volunteering for the Corvallis Sister Cities Association board of directors or for the Uzhhorod or Gondar councils. For information email the Sister Cities Association at CorvallisSCA@gmail.com

Save the Date for Open Streets in July!

Open Streets returns on Sunday, July 21, 2024 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join us for our 6th annual, free street festival that re-imagines our shared public spaces – streets and parks – as places where people want to walk, bike, and play.

This year’s car-free route travels between Garfield Park and Cloverland Park with a mid-route activity hub along the northern edge of Porter Park.

Click here for more information about Open Streets!

Adopt a Path in Corvallis!

The City of Corvallis Adopt-A-Path program has new path segments available for adoption!

Help keep our shared use paths clean and free of vegetation, with select segments open NOW for immediate adoption.

How it works is simple:

Adopt-a-path on behalf of yourself, your family or an organization.
Agree to two years of service and complete three clean-ups per year.
We provide all necessary tools and materials for path maintenance. You provide the coordination, the volunteers, and the cleanup.

Your participation toward making our paths more enjoyable, encourages active travel and earns you an acknowledgment sign that recognizes you or your group.

Interested in learning more? Visit https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/adopt-path-program

OR 99W South Corvallis Facility Plan Online Open House

The Oregon Department of Transportation is hosting an online open house for members of the community to learn more about plans to improve safety and mobility along OR 99W in South Corvallis.

The City of Corvallis enjoys a reputation for livability, which includes community characteristics supporting a high rate of walking and biking. However some areas of the City, like OR 99W south of U.S. 20, have transportation facilities that could better support active modes of travel. The purpose of this project is to determine how best to improve safety and mobility in this corridor.

A combination of factors make meeting the various travel demands in this corridor and improving safety and user comfort challenging, particularly for walking and biking. The challenges include:

Five lane wide highway in an urban and suburban setting.
Limited north-south local street connections that provide alternative routes.
Few crossings of the Marys River and railroad.
Automobile-oriented development that favors driving.

This planning effort will inform how investments can be made to improve the transportation system in south Corvallis. It will address the safety, comfort, and attractiveness of walking and biking in south Corvallis as well as vehicular safety, mobility, and access on OR 99W.

Click here to explore the online open house (available through May 15, 2024).

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):

Upcoming Government Comment Corner Dates
Date	Name
May 4, 2024	Gabe Shepherd
May 18, 2024	Sami Al-Abdrabbuh
June 1, 2024	Charlyn Ellis
June 15, 2024	Briae Lewis

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.
Digital Life: Saturdays, 11am-12:15pm, 2nd Floor Classroom. Learn about a different technology topic each week.
Author Event: The Sea Hides a Seahorse by Sara T. Behrman: May 4, 10:30am, Main Meeting Room. Join a debut author for a reading, crafts and songs! Perfect for ages 4-8.
Pride Storytime with Haus of Dharma: May 8, 6:00pm, Main Meeting Room. a special evening storytime celebrating Pride with drag performers from Haus of Dharma! This event is for families of all ages.
Random Review: May 8 , 12-1pm, Main Meeting Room Kourtni Rader reviews Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Puzzle Swap: May 18 , 12:00-1:30, Main Meeting Room. Bring your puzzles to swap! All ages and levels welcome.
Craft Night for Adults: May 21, 5:30-7pm, Main Meeting Room. For ages 16 +. This month’s craft is paper flowers.
Robotics Day: May 25 2-5pm, Main Meeting Room. Experience robotics and fun STEM-related activities with the robotics teams from local schools in our community.
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 video, all from the comfort of your home with your library card!
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