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Published By Your City Hall |
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Efforts Will Continue to Build New Library
Bond is unsuccessful, but supporters will stay the course
Election Day has past and most of the votes have been counted. While there may be some additional ballots yet to be received and added to the count, the outcome of Coos Bay Library Bond appears to be clear. The bond measure aimed at funding the needed, new combination library and 9-1-1 Communication Center was not approved. I understand and respect the hard decision by the voters.
While there are many who support the library and understand that the foundation of the current library building has failed, we are in difficult economic times with inflation affecting us all. There is no doubt that influenced how some voted. For others, change is difficult and the idea of moving the essential services out of the downtown area was troubling. No matter the outcome, I want to thank everyone who participated in the election by voting.
I also want to thank the Coos Bay Library staff, members of the Coos Bay Library Board, Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, Library Steering Committee, City Council, and many others for all their help in researching possible locations, conducting a needs assessment, putting together a strategic plan, participating in numerous public meetings, consulting experts, and evaluating options over the last seven plus years.
 Based on the outcome of the recent vote, we did not have an agreement on how to fund the new and much needed community facility. While that is the case, I am sure we can all acknowledge the great benefit the library provides to the community, the importance of having an adequate 911 communication facility, and the need to create a space that can provide for emergency gathering / feeding services in the unfortunate circumstance such as the Cascadia event. What we might have missed in these initial discussions can now be expanded upon, given the fullness of time the election results provide. We can expand the discussion, outlining that the library is the City facility receiving the most annual visits at over 180,000 each year. I am thrilled to live in a community in which the library holds this rank, rather than the city hall/ police station! We can also take this time to expand the concept of a library, which is a rather antiquated term and not reasonably used to identify what our library is to this community. The library is more than books, so let’s identify the scope of this facility and properly address it. Perhaps the title community resource and event center is more appropriate, especially with the addition of the 911 communications center and the capacity to provide post-disaster services to our community.
At the end of the day, the work towards achieving the needed community goal to build the new facility is not over. We will need to continue working to meet the need, explore other funding alternatives, and conduct additional community education about the declining condition of the current library, a building which is living on borrowed time.
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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Front Street Blueprint Presentations
 Over time the Front Street area has undergone private and public improvements from Ivy Street to the area just past Market Avenue adjacent to the Boardwalk. These improvements reflect a vibrant waterfront community vision developed by the Coos Bay community. Culmination of this vision has been captured in the Front Street Blueprint which was developed over this past year with engagement of community, businesses, property owners, the Front Street Advisory Committee, and the Planning Commission.
The Blueprint outlines a detailed strategy for public improvement potential with a key focus on identifying opportunities for the important connection between the waterfront and the downtown core. Showcased in the Blueprint are waterfront businesses, amenities and redevelopment celebrating Front Street’s industrial heritage and natural history. It also notes project improvements anticipated to enhance bicycle and pedestrian safety, access, intersection improvements, and enhanced wayfinding. The Blueprint identifies opportunities and locations for public art, pedestrian pathways, Bay overlooks, connectivity improvements, and parking opportunities. The Blueprint also includes investment strategies, potential funding sources, implementation actions and a summary of community outreach.
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Honoring National Police Week
The City of Coos Bay celebrates National Police Week May 15-21, 2022, in recognition of the dedication and service police offers provide to the community. In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. |
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This is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. Here in Coos Bay, let us demonstrate our appreciation for the unsung heroes who nobly wear the badge and put their lives at risk to protect people each and every day.
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Coos Bay Police Officers Participate
in Gift of Literacy
 On Wednesday May 11, Coos Bay Police Officers Theran Coleman and Amanda Collins participated in the Gift of Literacy at Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC). Since last fall, all first-graders in the Coos County and Reedsport elementary schools have been reading a collection of books carefully selected by local librarians. Nearly 400 of these first graders assembled in two groups at SWOCC for a special event that included a short skit, having two books read to them by “celebrity” readers, and then each young student received a gift bag with the book each selected to take home as their very own. Gift of Literacy is a cooperative project undertaken annually by our local Rotary Clubs with a grant for Rotary District 5110. This year also included generous sponsorship support from First Community Credit Union. The project would not be possible without the strong support from SWOCC, Southcoast ESD, local school principals and first-grade teachers.
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Marshfield Sun Printing Museum Open This Summer
 Why do we call capital letters “upper case” and the other letters “lower case”? Why do we call it “typing”? Find the answer to these and much more any Thursday through Saturday afternoons when you visit the Marshfield Sun Printing Museum on Coos Bay’s historic waterfront this summer.
The Sun’s original—and now historic—printing presses and other fascinating equipment can be viewed up close as skilled volunteers interpret and demonstrate how they work. Printing Museum volunteers also answer questions about the Museum’s exhibits on printing and office technology, as well as on the life of the Sun’s founder, Jesse Luce.
Combine a visit to the Marshfield Sun with a visit to the nearby Coos History Museum for a jam-packed afternoon of interesting local history.
The Marshfield Sun Printing Museum is a unique printing museum located in that building at the north end of Front Street on Coos Bay’s historic waterfront. The unusually shaped building was built as the home for the Marshfield Sun newspaper and print shop in 1911. The Marshfield Sun was a working newspaper office and print shop from 1891 to 1944—and is today essentially as it was left in 1944 with additional exhibits on the walls and upstairs.
The Marshfield Sun Printing Museum’s regular summer hours begin the day after Memorial Day and go through Labor Day: Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are encouraged; masks are optional at this time.
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Father’s Day Rose Sunday
 The Friends of Shore Acres is pleased to announce the return of our annual Father’s Day Rose Sunday. The Southwest Rose Society will have beautiful rose specimens on display in the garden house at the Shore Acres Gardens on Sunday, June 19 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Experts will be on hand to answer questions on rose growing. Coffee, punch, and cookies will be provided by the Friends of Shore Acres.
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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Engineering Technician
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of Engineering Technician. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office. City applications are available from the City Manager’s Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by telephone 541-269-8912, or listed under Government, Job Openings on the City’s website. This job is opened until filled. For complete announcement and application packet, click button below.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Planner I
The City of Coos Bay seeks to hire a Planner I for our busy and fast paced Public Works/Community Development Department. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a City application, supplemental application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office. Applications are available from the City Manager’s Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by telephone 541-269-8912, or listed under Government, Job Openings on the City’s website www.coosbay.org. All information must be submitted for the application to be accepted. For complete announcement and application packet, click button below.
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