Facility Investment Preview: The City of Corvallis could see some upgrades to several facilities in the upcoming year. The council will look at funding options, at their Jan. 17 council meeting, for construction of a new park’s maintenance yard, a remodel of the current city hall building, construction of a new administration building, and the remodeling of a portion of Fire Station #1.
The conceptual design work began back in December, and then the architectural consultant team met with city staff to discuss the three projects, said City Manager Mark Shepard in a memo to council.
“In 2021, the city conducted a facility needs assessment targeting 17 city facilities/sites from which employees provide services to the community. The Assessment revealed that the current space is distressingly inadequate to accommodate the staffing, materials, equipment, and storage needs of city operations at all 17 locations,” said Shepard.
The council adopted the Citywide Facilities Strategy (CFS) in Jan. 2022. The CFS recommended eleven projects to address the deficiencies identified in the assessment, and that was then narrowed down to three during the Priority Phasing Plan which was adopted in June 2022.
“Staff will bring forward continued discussions with the council on funding mechanisms and options for the facility projects, to expand the Council’s knowledge and understanding. Presentations from the City’s Bond Counsel and Underwriter are planned for work sessions during this time. Staff will develop funding strategies that will be brought back to the council for discussion and approval, with a target of initiating facility project designs in the fall of 2023,” said Shepard.
For a copy of the council’s agenda and information packet ahead of their upcoming meeting visit, https://archives.corvallisoregon.gov/public/ElectronicFile.aspx?dbid=0&docid=3290096
Shelter Funding: Also, on the agenda for the Jan 17 Corvallis City Council meeting, councilors will look at a request from city staff to grant $166,500 to the Benton County Health Department to utilize one-time Oregon Legislature funding to support inclement weather shelters.
A memo to council outlines that the submission from the county is a response to the city’s prior Request for Proposal for fiscal year 22-23. At the time, the council directed that the dollars from Oregon Legislature would go toward emergency shelter, transitional housing, or permanent supportive housing in Corvallis.
At a work session on June 23, 2022, council offered support for a narrower focus of “new heads in new beds,” for large grant awards.
“Currently, the county has budgeted $50,000 of its own funding, which will be allocated to cover the initial cost of hotel sheltering during weather events. The Benton County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with FHC at its Jan. 3, 2023, meeting,” said Community Development Director Paul Bilotta.
If the council approves this request, it will reduce the amount of State funding available by $166,500, leaving $833,500 still available for redeployment to the other proposed funding concepts received, according to Bilotta.
By: Jennifer Williams
