Corvallis e-News | November 2025

In this issue: Meet our award-winning staff, safe streets for all, and more!

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Corvallis City Manager Honored with Statewide Award for Exceptional Contributions

Corvallis City Manager Mark Shepard received the Herman Kehrli Award from the League of Oregon Cities at the organization's 100th annual conference in Portland over the weekend. The prestigious award is given to one (1) city employee in Oregon each year who has made exceptional contributions to local government and produced lasting benefits for their community.

Shepard's award comes as he marks 10 years as city manager in Corvallis. Over the last decade, the City of Corvallis has made great strides in fiscal stewardship. Under Shepard's leadership, the City identified and implemented a number of revenue and funding measures to support vital community services. Corvallis also weathered the pandemic without the hiring freezes and layoffs that other cities dealt with.

Shepard remained focused on long-term needs as well. In 2021, the City launched a multi-year facilities project to address decades of under-investment in key public buildings in Corvallis. An increasing focus on housing production helped Corvallis add nearly 350 units of affordable multifamily housing in recent years, with more on the way.

“Serving the Corvallis community, a place I have called home for the past 33 years, is an honor," Shepard said. "I consider success a team sport, and the City is served by an amazing team of dedicated staff. It is my privilege to lead the organization that delivers vital services each and every day to our community."

The unique structure of the Corvallis City Council — all nine council seats are on the ballot every two years — means that Shepard has had the distinction of working with 30 different elected officials over the last decade (28 Councilors and 2 Mayors). That perspective has helped him understand the benefits of remaining focused on strategic planning to ensure sustainable community services and efficient City operations.

About the Herman Kehrli Award

From 1933 to 1966, Herman Kehrli served as executive secretary of the League of Oregon Cities and director of the University of Oregon’s former Bureau of Governmental Research and Service. His work set the standard for excellence for local government officials in Oregon, and the League of Oregon Cities gives out an annual award in Kehrli's honor to celebrate those who continue that work.

Corvallis Community Survey Open to All Residents

The Corvallis community is invited to share their input on public services and quality of life topics in the biennial Corvallis Community Survey. The City conducts the Corvallis Community Survey every two years to gather statistically valid public input about community satisfaction in several broad categories in Corvallis.

The survey began last month, with a random selection of 3,000 households invited to complete a mailed survey. The survey expands on October 20, with an opportunity for anyone in Corvallis to share feedback through the open participation survey, available in English and Spanish.

  • English: polco.us/corvallis2025op
  • Spanish: polco.us/corvallis2025sp

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey captures opinions on the economy, transportation, urban planning, utilities, public safety, natural environment, community engagement, and other elements that contribute to livability in Corvallis. The results will help the City Council determine how to best direct City resources to deliver community services. Corvallis leaders will also have an opportunity to see how the City's performance compares to national benchmarks across the country. 

Information gathered from the survey will be received and analyzed by Polco, a public opinion data consultant that specializes in community polling. Later this year, Polco will compile the response data and produce a final survey report, which will be delivered to the City Council. The report will be posted on the City website at www.corvallisoregon.gov/surveys when it is available.

For more information on the survey, please contact Patrick W. Rollens at 541-766-6368 or patrick.rollens@corvallisoregon.gov.

Street Safety Open House Set for November 4

The City of Corvallis and Benton County are working together to make our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, takes transit, or drives in our community. Through the federally funded Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program, both the City and the County are creating Transportation Safety Action Plans (TSAP) that use crash data and community feedback to guide safety improvements.

Join Us at the Open House

The next open house is scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, from 5–7 p.m. at the Corvallis Community Center (C3) Ballroom. You’ll see draft recommendations for high-priority safety projects and strategies in both Corvallis and Benton County, learn how crash data and community input has helped shape them, and share your thoughts on these safety improvements.

The open house will also feature findings from the Walnut Boulevard feasibility study, which looked at possible changes to the corridor.

Light refreshments and family-friendly activities will be provided, and bilingual staff will be available to support Spanish-speaking attendees.

Share Your Feedback Online

If you can’t attend in person, you will still be able to participate through the online open house, available on the project website from November 4 through November 25 at corvallisoregon.gov/SS4A. The online open house will provide an overview of the draft recommendations and an opportunity for you to share your feedback.

 

Fall Leaf Collection Program Underway

The City’s Fall Leaf Collection Program for 2025 is underway. During this period, Republic Services will pick up leaf piles in the street once a week, generally on the same day as normal garbage collection.

The final leaf pickup for a property will be on its scheduled service day the week of December 22, 2025.

Continuing in 2025: Free community leaf drop sites

During last year’s leaf collection season, the City and Republic Services partnered to offer additional leaf collection options. We have are again designating four sites across the community where Corvallis residents may drop off their leaves, free of charge. The following locations will be available for leaf drop off:

  • Dr. MLK, Jr. Park – gravel parking lot at 4905 NW Walnut Blvd
  • Pioneer Park – gravel parking lot at 1300 Philomath Blvd (US20/OR34)
  • 2392 NW Garyanna St – asphalt parking area across from NW Havengreen Place
  • Crystal Lake Sports Park – gravel lot at 100 SE Fischer Ln

Community members are asked to help by following these simple guidelines to ensure a successful leaf collection program:

Leaf drop sites:

  • These sites are open to Corvallis-based Republic Services residential customers only, they are not for commercial use.
  • Please observe all signs including open hours (typically 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Closures may occur periodically for site cleaning and special events.
  • Please drop un-bagged leaves only, no sticks, branches, bags, or trash.

In-street collection:

  • Use your yard debris cart as the first choice for disposing of leaves.
  • Only rake leaves into the street if you run out of room in your yard debris cart. Consider bagging your excess leaves and putting them in your cart the following week.
  • If you need to rake leaves into the street, place them there in piles the evening before your scheduled leaf pick up day.
  • Place leaf piles one foot from the curb to allow space for rainwater to run off along the street curb line.
  • Ensure that leaves do not block or cover catch basins or storm drains.
  • Avoid parking vehicles near leaf piles, as Republic Services cannot collect leaves blocked by vehicles.

Out of consideration for the bicycling public, please do not place leaves in bike lanes. For those of you who live adjacent to streets with bike lanes and no parking, this means using one of the new leaf drop-off sites, or your yard debris carts for leaf disposal. Contact Republic Services for additional options to handle the volume of leaves on your property.

The Fall Leaf Collection Program is the only time leaves may be deposited in piles in the street. Using blowers to scatter leaves into the street is not allowed at any time. Other debris, such as grass, branches, limbs, are strictly prohibited from being placed in the street at any time and will not be picked up by Republic Services.

In conjunction with the Fall Leaf Collection Program, Public Works will expand its street sweeping to include both day and night shifts. Neighborhoods are scheduled to be swept once every two weeks.

More information can be found here: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/leaf-collection

Sign up for the Turkey Trot!

Build a hearty appetite for your Thanksgiving feast by participating in this family friendly event. This flat course runs through and near Crystal Lake Sports Park. Runners, walkers, kids in strollers and dogs on leashes are all welcome. Electronic timing services provided for 5k and 10k! All ages welcomed. 

For any questions regarding registration or event details please contact turkeytrot@corvallisoregon.gov. 

Pricing & Registration

  • 5K & 10K Run/Walk – $40 (Register Before November 2nd to receive a Free Race T-Shirt)
  • 1K Little Gobblers – FREE - Registration is Required to participate & receive a swag bag and finisher medal (Limited Space)
  • Early-Bird Registration:  Register before November 2nd to receive a Free Race T-shirt
  • Online Registration Closes: Monday, November 24th at 8 am 
  • In-Person Registration Only: Starting, November 25th during Early Packet Pick Up (at Osborn Aquatic Center) & Day of (at Crystal Lake, Event Village)
  • Racer Categories: Male, Female, and Non-Binary

Read more and register online: Turkey Trot Registration

Wastewater Master Plan Open House Set for November 19

We're building a plan to guide future investments in the Corvallis sewer system! Join us for an open house to learn about all about the city’s wastewater system and the master planning effort that is currently underway.

This project has been chugging along for 3 years. Read more about the project on the City website.

The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 19 at the Corvallis-Benton County Library Main Meeting Room, 645 NW Monroe Ave.

At the event, you can drop in at anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. to speak directly with City staff on a variety of relevant topics. 

Check Out the Proposed 9th Street Pedestrian Crossing

Overhead schematic showing proposed configuration of a new pedestrian crossing on 9th Street in Corvallis.The Public Works Department is finalizing a plan to build an enhanced pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 9th Street and NW Cornell Avenue. The crossing will feature a concrete pedestrian island controlled by Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), similar to other crossings along 9th Street.

This fall, planners unveiled a conceptual design for the pedestrian crossing. The location is roughly halfway between existing signalized crossings at Grant and Buchanan Avenues.

➡️ View the conceptual design

This location was chosen due to pedestrian activity in this area, as well as opportunities to connect with existing neighborhoods and businesses.

This location is also the most direct connection for the future Beca Avenue Neighborhood Bikeway from the City’s Transportation System Plan and its connection to the shared use path under and adjacent to Highway OR 99W on the east end of Cornell.

Read more about the 9th Street pedestrian crossing on the City website. 

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. 

Upcoming Council Meetings and Work Sessions
Date Meeting
November 3, 2025 Regular Meeting
November 6, 2025 Work Session
November 17, 2025 Regular Meeting
November 20, 2025 Work Session

 

Government Comment Corner at the Library

Decorative graphic of a dark green Camas plant.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 most Saturdays. 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
November 1, 2025 Charles Maughan, Mayor
November 15, 2025 Alison Bowden, Ward 6 Councilor

 

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?

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