Corvallis e-News | February 2024

In this issue: Corvallis Police 101, ADA ramps, and CDBG grants - it's an alphabet soup of news from the City of Corvallis!

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Corvallis Police 101 Kicks off in April

Registration opens soon for Corvallis Police 101, the Police Department's ten-week program that provides 30 hours of instruction, discussion, participation, and fun. Classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m.

Corvallis Police 101 is like an extended open house. Participating in the program is the best way to get to know your police officers, and to learn about all facets of your police department, the services it provides, and how it delivers those services.

Class members historically represent a cross section of our community, and we encourage a diversity of viewpoints. As a class participant, you will see firsthand how the Corvallis Police operates. You will come to understand how police are governed by laws, community values, policies, accreditation standards and by the way courts adjudicate cases.

Corvallis Police 101 informs you about police training, authority, practices, and services. It builds effective community-police partnerships that increase community involvement, especially crime prevention, community safety, and police policy decisions. Corvallis Police 101 is also an excellent forum for you to make direct input on police-related issues important to you.

Registration is OPEN! Visit the Corvallis Police 101 page on the City website to read more and sign up.

Let's Celebrate our Bike-Friendly Designation!

Recently, the League of American Bicyclists announced that Corvallis has been renewed as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC), one of only 34 communities to achieve Gold Level status to date. The Gold Level BFC award recognizes Corvallis’ commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in bike education programs, bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, and bike infrastructure.

Since the program began in 2003, Corvallis has been recognized as a Gold Level community. We’re proud to be one of the 480 Bicycle Friendly Communities across the United States.

Curb Ramp Project Gets Underway This Spring

It seems like only yesterday that we were struggling through snow and ice, but we're already looking ahead to the summer road construction season. There's a big project on tap for Corvallis - the Oregon Department of Transportation will be rebuilding or installing as many as 237 curb ramps throughout Corvallis, mostly along state highways such as Highway 99W, Highway 34, and U.S. 20. 

This project will increase accessibility around Corvallis by ensuring these curb ramps meet American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. As part of the project ODOT will be looking at existing crosswalks to see if they should remain or be removed. Project planners may also add curb ramps where they don’t currently exist or pedestrian push buttons at some crosswalks.​

This will be a big project, and different bits of the work will take place throughout Corvallis. Visit the ODOT project page to read more about what's on tap this year. 

City Budget Flowchart

How does the City's annual budget get built each year? A lot of hard work and fiscal planning goes into our annual budget. Check out this flowchart for a timeline of key activities and decisions, plus opportunities to plug in and share your feedback along the way!

February 5 Due Process Hearing Postponed

The due process hearing to consider the possible violation of the City Charter by Councilor Charlyn Ellis scheduled for February 5, 2024, has been postponed.

The attorney representing Councilor Charlyn Ellis in the due process filed a lawsuit on January 22, 2024 in Benton County Circuit Court. Along with seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, the lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to stop the hearing process. The due process hearing is postponed until this filing is resolved.

See the Corvallis City Council three-month calendar for more information on upcoming meetings.

Water Off While You Brush to Save Gallon Each Month!

A message from the Public Works Department: Turn that water off while you're brushing your teeth, and you can save up to 4 gallons a minute. Little actions like this add up and can save you water, and even money on your water bill, in the long run.

Check out other Indoor Water Conservation tips on the Public Works website!

City Seeking Proposals for $2.3 Million in Federal Housing and Community Development Grants

The City of Corvallis recently published three requests for proposals for a combined $2.3 million in funds available for housing and community development projects that serve low-income Corvallis community members.

The grants come from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), which are administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Eligible projects will generally be focused on housing and/or community development activities that serve low-income Corvallis community members.

The estimated grant funds to be available are:

• CDBG Human Services Fund ($82,000)
• CDBG Capital Project ($1,200,000)
• HOME Capital Project ($1,100,000)

In Corvallis, CDBG and HOME funding has historically supported housing and community development projects from public or private nonprofit agencies, authorities, developers, and organizations that serve low-income community members. Recent projects in Corvallis that received funding include:

• $625,000 to Corvallis Housing First for the acquisition of four units of permanent supportive housing;
• $6,429 to Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) for critical upgrades to a shelter for survivors of domestic violence;
• $81,652 in operational support to Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, Community Outreach, Inc., and South Corvallis Food Bank; and

The available grant amounts listed above are estimates based on what the City of Corvallis anticipates receiving from HUD later this year. The actual amount of grant funding may vary. Following an Annual Action Plan approved by Corvallis City Council and HUD, funding typically becomes available in fall 2024.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the request for proposal packets, which are available online at www.corvallisoregon.gov/CDBGandHOME. The initial deadline to submit a grant proposal is March 7, 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 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:   1^st 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.

• Nerf Night for Adults:  February 2, Monroe entrance.  Snacks, crafts, and Nerf games after hours in the library for adults 18 and older!

• AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteer Opportunities:  February 2 12-1, Main Meeting Room.  Join the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG) to learn about AmeriCorps Volunteer opportunities for Seniors 55 and older.

• Puzzle Swap:  February 10  12:00-1:30, Main Meeting Room.  Bring your puzzles to swap!  All ages and levels welcome.

• Random Review:   February 14 , 12-1pm, Main Meeting Room .   Karen Holmberg   reviews Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

• Games Day:    February 17  1-4pm,  Main Meeting Room.  Drop in and play board, card and video games for all ages.

• Marian Anderson String Quartet:  February 4, 10-11am.  Marian Anderson String Quartet  presents a family concert around the topic of music in Black History Month.   Presented by Chamber Music Corvallis.

• 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!

• 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!