Corvallis e-News | July 2026
In this issue: Groundbreaking in Avery Park, a bump from Moody's, and summer road resurfacing
(View this newsletter in your browser.)
City breaks ground on new Park Maintenance Facility in Avery Park
City officials broke ground in June on a new, 34,567-square-foot Park Maintenance Facility in Avery Park. The purpose-built facility will house employees, equipment and supplies used to maintain the City's portfolio of parks and natural areas.
The Parks & Recreation Department manages 1,800 acres of parks and natural areas, including 24 miles of trails, 29 playgrounds and play areas and 28 sports fields. A total of 35 staff work at the Park Maintenance Facility.
The $35 million project will replace an aging collection of sheds and other temporary structures that had served as the department's maintenance yard for many years. Portions of the current facility date back to the 1930s. Most existing buildings lack adequate electricity, ventilation, and HVAC capacity.
The new Park Maintenance Facility is the latest in a series of projects aimed at improving public facilities citywide. Since approving a long-term facilities strategy in 2022, the City has renovated two fire stations and developed plans to replace the existing City Hall and Police Station facilities downtown. Additional improvements are planned for city utility operations and public safety facilities.
"This is just one project in a long-term process," Mayor Charles Maughan said at the groundbreaking ceremony. "I hope everybody continues to support the work we are doing and continues to support our community."
Mayor Maughan was joined by Parks & Recreation staff, city elected leaders, general contractors and project architects at the June 18 groundbreaking ceremony. The construction timeline is expected to be about 16 months. Read more about the Park Maintenance Facility on the City website.
Moody’s upgrades City’s bond rating, citing ‘prudent budget management’
Moody’s Ratings, the international credit ratings firm based in New York, issued a rare bond rating increase to the City of Corvallis. Citing the City’s “robust financial position and growing local economy,” the ratings agency upgraded the City’s bond rating from Aa2 to Aa1.
It’s the first rating increase for the City in nearly a decade. Prior to this upgrade, the City had maintained its Aa2 rating since 2017.
The assessment from Moody’s that accompanied the rate increase described the City’s relatively low debt positions and a diverse revenue mix that supports community services in Corvallis.
“The city has annually increased fees in line with expenditures, and property tax revenue has steadily grown as OSU and the city remain a strong draw for students and business activity,” Moody’s stated in a recent press release about the ratings improvement.
The rating improvement comes as the City Council nears a decision about funding options for municipal facilities, as well as a budget shortfall that is anticipated to arrive in the next biennium. The newly announced rate increase has the potential to reduce by hundreds of thousands of dollars the price that the City of Corvallis would pay to borrow money for future capital projects. The rating improvement also increases the pool of investors interested in purchasing bonds issued by the City.
“This bond ratings increase is a huge vote of confidence in the direction that Corvallis is headed as a government organization,” said Finance Director James Inglis. “Moody’s has recognized our thoughtful, future-focused financial decisions and policies, and the result is a rating improvement that will save Corvallis taxpayers money for years to come.”
Summer construction season gets underway with resurfacing projects in Corvallis
The annual summer road construction season is underway in Corvallis, with two projects that will focus on maintenance at five different locations around Corvallis. Resurfacing work starts this month on portions of Highland Drive, Grant Avenue, Walnut Boulevard, 11th Street and 13th Street.
Work includes asphalt grinding and paving, restriping, and safety improvements. Specific locations and improvements for each area are described below.
Highland, Grant, and Walnut
This project will include grinding and repaving street surfaces, replacing failed stormwater inlets and upgrading sidewalks and pedestrian crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. Lanes will be reconfigured for enhancements to pedestrian crossings and buffered bike lanes. This will include curb extensions, marked crosswalks, and a pedestrian refuge island.
Blocks involved in these projects include:
- Highland Dr. from Grant to Cleveland
- Grant Ave. from 29th to 31st
- Walnut Blvd from Circle to Belvue
Work in this area is expected to start on June 22, with periodic street closures in August and early September. More information on these improvements can be found on the project page: Street Resurfacing & Reconstruction - Highland Dr / Grant Ave / Walnut Blvd
11th and 13th Streets
This project will include grinding and repaving the street surface, replacing failed stormwater inlets, and upgrading sidewalks and pedestrian crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Blocks involved in these projects include:
- 11th St. from Jefferson to south of Adams
- 13th St. from Lincoln to Buchanan
This phase of construction is scheduled to begin on June 12 and continue through July. More information on these improvements can be found on the project page: Street Resurfacing - 11th St & 13th St
Scope of Work
Typically, work will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with occasional work on Saturdays as needed.
Travelers can expect periodic traffic impacts in these areas from July through September.
Services such as mail delivery and garbage collection will remain available.
Corvallis Transit Service (CTS) will continue to serve these areas. Any changes to CTS stops or routes will be posted on the City’s website at www.corvallisoregon.gov/cts. Bus riders can also sign up to receive service alerts via email.
As always, this schedule is subject to change due to impacts from weather and unforeseen delays. Thank you for your patience as we make the most of our short summer road construction season in Corvallis.
Contact Grant Livingston, project manager, with any questions at 541-766-6731 x 5265 or grant.livingston@corvallisoregon.gov.
Annual water quality report now available
The City of Corvallis Public Works Department’s annual water quality report is now available to download at www.corvallisoregon.gov/waterquality
The report offers a snapshot of the municipal water system in Corvallis, including an overview of how water is produced, treated, stored, distributed, and tested regularly to ensure a safe, secure, and affordable water supply for City customers.
As Corvallis looks ahead to the summer season, Public Works officials advise residents to save water by watering wisely. Visit the City website for more water conservation tips.
For more information on the Corvallis municipal water system and tips on reducing water use, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/water.
Changes coming to land use public notifications
During this year's legislative session, state lawmakers passed House Bill 4037, which contains a variety of new housing-related rules that are to be implemented starting July 1, 2026.
Among the changes to be made in accordance with H.B. 4037 are procedures for public notice and appeal associated with the development of housing. To review the text of H.B. 4037, visit the Oregon State Legislature here: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB4037/Enrolled
Due to these changes to state law, as of the implementation data of July 1, 2026, the City will be beholden to the following rules:
- Notice: Notice will only be delivered to owners of property within 100 feet of certain housing developments (or within 500 feet for housing developments with 20 units or more).
- The City may not send certain public hearing notices to Neighborhood Associations for some land use actions.
- The City may not send notice to renters either.
- Hearing: The City is prohibited from requiring a public hearing before making a decision (but may allow a hearing in the event of an appeal).
- Appeals: Local appeals to certain housing developments and/or land use decisions can only be made by the applicant.
For more information, you can check out page 284 of the electronic packet for the June 15, 2026 meeting, linked here: CC 06-15-2026 Packet
The Community Development Department believes strongly that the community should be able to access information about development projects occurring in the City, regardless of housing ownership status or physical location. The City maintains many online tools to assist the community in understanding development activity if interested. These tools can be accessed via our Community Development Resources webpage, linked here: Community Development Resources | Corvallis Oregon
Election season is underway in Corvallis
Election season is underway in Corvallis. Candidates for public office may contact the City's Elections Office for more information about filing paperwork to appear on the ballot in the November 2026 general election.
A running tally of candidates who are in the process of qualifying for the ballot is available online. More information about the upcoming November 2026 election is available on the City website.
Meals on Wheels seeking volunteers
Meals on Wheels of Corvallis is looking for volunteers to either work in the kitchen or deliver meals.
Volunteers work 1-2 days a week. Each volunteer shift is about 2.5 hours in length. Kitchen volunteers package food for delivery and serve in-person diners. Drivers deliver meals and connect with clients, helping to make sure they are safe in their home.
To volunteer, please contact: king@ocwcog.org or call 541-924-8432 or visit the program website at: https://mealsonwheelslbl.org
Summer @ Your Library
Summer reading is underway at the Library for kids, teens, and adults!
Find out more and get started: cbcpl.net/summeratyourlibrary
See our summer events: corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com
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.
Date |
Meeting |
|---|---|
| July 20, 2026 | Regular Meeting |
| July 23, 2026 | Work Session |
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.
