Corvallis e-News | July 2025

In this issue: Browse the new City budget, learn about indigenous creek names, and more!

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Your Input: Downtown Facilities Funding Options

The City of Corvallis is inviting community members to participate in a questionnaire to gather feedback about options for funding critical improvements at two key public facilities located downtown: the Police Station and the Civic Campus. Feedback gathered through the survey will be weighed alongside financial feasibility and other considerations to help shape the direction of future investments.

Take the questionnaire: https://bit.ly/CorvallisFacilities

The questionnaire asks for input on a range of funding and financing tools—such as taxes, bonds, and other public finance strategies—to support much-needed improvements to the aging collection of buildings that make up the Civic Campus downtown, as well as the 50-year-0ld Police Station on 5th Street. The goal is to develop a sustainable funding approach that aligns with community values, long-term service needs, and fiscal responsibility. 

“This is an important opportunity to plan ahead and incorporate community feedback into this complex and far-reaching infrastructure funding process,” said City Manager Mark Shepard. “The City Council is committed to modernizing our public facilities, including the Police Station and Civic Campus downtown, so that they are safe, efficient, and accessible. That investment should reflect community priorities as well as technical considerations.”

The public questionnaire is now available online and asks community members to weigh in on their  funding preferences, civic and public safety priorities. 

The questionnaire is part of a financial feasibility study being conducted in partnership with Clearwater Financial. The study is expected to conclude later this year, with findings presented to the City Council in the fall.

For more information, visit www.corvallisoregon.gov or contact the Finance Department at finance@corvallisoregon.gov. 

City Council Adopts $558 Million Biennial Budget for 2025-2027

The Corvallis City Council voted in June to approve a biennial budget totaling $558,042,373 for the 2025-2027 biennium. Council’s action was the final step in the annual budget process, which began in May with a series of Budget Commission meetings and included deliberations, analysis, and public input.

The new budget goes into effect on July 1, when the City of Corvallis begins its new fiscal year.

The new budget represents a critical transition for the City as it moves onto a biennial budget schedule. Developing a balanced budget on a two-year cycle gives the City more capacity for long-term planning and investment. The City's biennial budget also aligns with the State of Oregon's biennial budgeting cycle. 

“Forecasting two years into the future comes with inherent uncertainty, especially in today's dynamic economic environment,” said City Manager Mark Shepard. “However, this new approach also provides greater flexibility to face these challenges. The biennial framework gives us room to conduct mid-cycle adjustments and respond to changing circumstances while maintaining our longer-term perspective.”

The budget maintains existing service levels for vital community services such as public safety, water utilities, and livability services from the Library and Parks & Recreation. Through prudent fiscal management and forecasting, Corvallis was able to maintain these critical services even as other public agencies in western Oregon cut staff and reduced services.

For more information on the budget process for the City of Corvallis, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/budget.

City Allocates $480,000 for Social Service Providers

The City of Corvallis voted last month to allocate $480,000 in social services funding to local nonprofit service providers for the 2025-2026 grant cycle. The funding is provided annually through the livability services local option levy, which was approved by voters in 2023. At that time, funding was increased from $360,000 annually to $480,000, giving a big boost to city support for local providers.

Social services funding is distributed to providers based on goals and priorities established by the Council. Earlier this year, the Council adopted a new policy that dedicated half of its annual funding to services that directly reduce the number of unsheltered people in the community. As a result, the funding recommendations that were adopted on June 16 reflected that revised policy goal of increased support for providers serving unsheltered people.

The City of Corvallis contracts with the United Way of Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties to manage the application and grant review process as well as the funding distribution. A list of grant recipients is available on the City website.

New Signs Identify Indigenous Creek Names in Rock Creek Watershed

The City of Corvallis Public Works Department installed permanent signs in the Rock Creek Watershed earlier this year, identifying four creeks by their native Kalapuya names, following a recent renaming effort involving Tribal Governments with cultural ties to Marys Peak.

The creeks were previously unnamed tributaries that make up the Rock Creek Watershed. The City of Corvallis produces about one-third of the community’s drinking water from a water treatment plant located on the watershed, about 15 miles outside of Corvallis in the lower slopes of Marys Peak.

The renaming process began in 2017 and involved the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, as well as local government agencies and land management partners. The Marys Peak Alliance facilitated several stakeholder meetings to gather input and develop names for these remote waterways, many of which are located deep in undeveloped forest land. Much of the work to convene and lead these meetings was led by David Eckert, a Corvallis community member and longtime advocate for the Marys Peak area. Eckert worked tirelessly over a period of years to connect partners and build public awareness of the creek renaming project.

A total of 10 creeks were selected for renaming. Four of these waterways are located on City-owned land in the Rock Creek Watershed, in an area that are the ancestral homelands of the Ampinefu or Marys River Kalapuya.

Signs installed in May of 2025 by the Corvallis Public Works Department identifies the creeks by their Kalapuya names. They are:

• Ahngeengeen (The Flint)
• Ahnhoots (The Panther)
• Ahntkwahkwah (The Frog)
• Ahshahyum (The Grizzly)

These signs are the first of several planned sign installations coming soon from other land partners in the area.

”These names will help hold place for the Kalapuya on the slopes of this sacred mountain in a way that can be shared with the public,” said David Harrelson, The Grand Ronde Tribal Historic Preservation Officer.

“We’re excited to help support the cultural identity of this important location in western Oregon by installing these signs,” said David Gilbey, the City’s Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Supervisor. “Land management partners engage in a variety of scientific and conservation work on the Rock Creek Watershed, and these signs will help create connections between that work and the presence of the Kalapuya people in the area.”

The portion of the Rock Creek Watershed owned by the City of Corvallis is known as the Corvallis Forest. It is a protected area that is carefully managed to ensure water quality and to promote ecological diversity.

Two Workshops in July for Economic Development Incentives

The Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Office has scheduled two grant workshops in July to discuss potential projects for commercial property and business owners in South Corvallis. The workshops are open to the public, and prospective applicants are encouraged to attend.

• July 10, 4-6 p.m., Tunison Community Room, 365 SW Tunison
• July 24, 4-6 p.m., Tunison Community Room, 365 SW Tunison

The workshops will share information on the newly announced South Corvallis Urban Renewal Grant Fund, which is intended to provide funding for building maintenance, energy efficiency upgrades, and code compliance improvements for businesses and commercial property owners in South Corvallis. Grant amounts of up to $250,000 will be considered through this program. Applications will be accepted beginning on Monday June 30, 2025 and close on Friday September 5, 2025.

This program joins the South Corvallis Urban Renewal Revolving Loan Program, which is now accepting applications up to $250,000 to support new and existing businesses in the area. 

For more information on these economic development incentive programs in South Corvallis, email economic.development@corvallisoregon.gov.

We're keeping an eye on emerging regulations related to PFAS and phthalates — two groups of chemicals that have been widely used in industrial and consumer products since the 1930s. They are known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body.

Small changes can reduce your exposure to PFAS chemicals. For example: avoid re-heating foods in fast food packaging and take-out containers; look for take-out food packaging that is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI); replace non-stick cookware with alternatives that don’t contain PFAS; look for “PFAS-Free” when buying waterproof or stain-resistant items, and dental floss, cosmetics, or other personal care products; and choose household cleaning products with EPA Safer Choice, UL Eco-Logo, or Green Seal labels. Learn more about PFAS by visiting the City website.

Streamside Plant Grant Program Accepting Applications

Got a creek running near your property? If it borders City of Corvallis property, you may be eligible for the Streamside Plant Grant!

Apply now to receive up to $300 in native plants to help restore streambanks, improve habitat, and shade local waterways. You can enhance your streamside property and support a healthier creek!

Apply on the City website, or email pwesra@corvallisoregon.gov.

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. 

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 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):

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?

• Summer @ Your Library: June 1-August 31. For kids, teens, and adults! Find out more and get started: cbcpl.net/summeratyourlibrary

• See our summer events: corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com

• Outdoor Storytime: 10:30am Tuesdays and Thursdays in June, July and August. Storytime is moving to Central Park for the summer!    Rain location:  Main Meeting Room

• Infant Storytime: For babies 0-1.  Wednesdays at 10:30 in the Main Meeting Room. 

• Tech Help Lab: 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday 2^nd 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.

• Free Employment Help: June 4, second floor classroom, 10am-noon, drop-in.  Job-seekers can drop in to meet with an Employment Specialist from Worksource Oregon.

• Comedy with Angel Ocasio: July 2,  5:30pm, Main Meeting Room.  A bilingual English/Spanish, high energy, very funny one man variety show, for children and families.

• Power Play for the Planet: July 9,  1:30-3pm, Main Meeting Room.  Join the Museum of Natural and Cultural History for games, puzzles and challenges exploring the environment.

• Craft Night for Adults: July 15, 5:30-7pm, Main Meeting Room  For ages 16+.     This month’s craft: cyanotypes.

• Puzzle Swap: July 19,  12:00-1:30, Main Meeting Room.  Bring your puzzles to swap!  All ages and levels welcome.

• Level Up with Retro Gaming: July 25, 1-3pm, Main Meeting Room For all ages:  Nintendo! Check out some retro consoles and play a game on them! We will also have videogame themed Books, Crafts, Snacks and more!

• Retro Gaming for Adults:  July 25, 6-8pm, Main Meeting Room.  Retro and modern video games for adults 18+  Plus crafts!

• Mariachi Cuervo July 30, 6-7pm  Starker Arts Park.  a free family concert by Mariachi Cuervo from Eugene! 

• 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!

• Home Delivery Service:  Get your holds delivered to you!  Delivery is available to patrons with current library cards who live within the library service district.

• Books & More from Home:  Read ebooks, download audiobooks and magazines, or watch streaming 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!