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Published By Your City Hall |
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 I wanted to take a moment to thank all those who attended this week’s Town Hall meeting regarding the local impacts of homelessness. It was standing room only in the Council Chambers with over a hundred in attendance. A good many more watched online. According to YouTube, the video recording of the meeting has been viewed by more than one thousand people since Monday.
The meeting lasted nearly three hours and many community members shared their frustrations and their desire for change. The meeting not only provided an opportunity for citizens to share their thoughts, it provided the panel representing the City an opportunity to share recent changes in federal law (Martin v. Boise), which provided those who are homeless the ‘de facto right’ to sleep on public property throughout the western United States. In addition, there is newly enacted state legislation, HB3115 and HB3124, which have impacted local government’s ability to manage homeless camping on public lands here in Oregon.
The meeting also provided the opportunity to share some of the contributing issues which collectively are hampering our community’s ability to address/reduce homelessness. Those include the lack of low income and/or affordable housing, the state’s broken mental health system, and what appears to be escalating addiction rates, etc. In addition, Chief Chapanar provided some background on what some have termed as a “catch and release” criminal justice program here in Coos County due to the Coos County Jail operating well below the facility’s capacity.
 Changing the situation won’t be easy and it will take time. While the City is doing its part, much of what needs to be changed is outside the hands of city government. The good news is, work is underway locally to increase the number of low income and/or affordable housing options (see related articles: A happy ending for Englewood School in sight, Englewood School Brownfield Clean-Up in Progress and Making Way for a New Housing Development). Others in the community are working to address needed changes to mental health services locally and more importantly with the state’s mental health system. In addition, work is being done to open and operate a sobering center. There will also be an opportunity later this year for voters to increase funding to expand jail capacity (Commissioners advance public safety levy towards ballot in Coos County | KMTR (nbc16.com).
In the meantime, the City Council, and its Homeless Work Group, along with our community partners will continue to seek ways to reduce homelessness and its impacts, but we can’t do it alone. Your help is needed. If you want more jail beds available, vote in November. Contact your state and federal representatives and ask for their help! Oregon cities need funding to address homelessness and to increase available housing. The state needs to address their failing mental health system or provide more resources to communities for sobering centers, residential treatment facilities, and supportive housing, etc. Outlined above, you will find contact information for our Oregon representatives.
Together, we can make a positive difference to improve the collective lives of all of our citizens (both our sheltered and unsheltered community members).
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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 Join us for the 31st annual Charleston Seafood Beer and Wine Festival located at the Charleston Marina on Oregon’s Adventure Coast! Come on out for food, fun, music, and crafts on August 12- 14, 2022. Enjoy over 50 vendors selling food, Craft Beer, Regional Wines, crafts, shirts, trinkets, and lots more. Great music all weekend with the K-DOCK 92.9 FM CLAM JAM featuring live Rock and Roll, Blues, Oldies, and more! Bring the kids and let them enjoy our Fire Truck Super Slide! Or let the kids catch their own trout with the ODFW Good Guys and the Trout Pond!
This three-day event is sponsored by the Charleston Volunteer Firefighters Association, Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, and K-DOCK Radio.
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Registration Open for Cruz the Coos
Coming up in September, Let's Cruise! The Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club presents the longest-running and largest cruise on the Oregon Coast! The “Cruz the Coos” is scheduled for September 17 and will run through the streets of downtown Coos Bay. Register online today for a weekend of fun on Oregon's Adventure Coast! Additional information is available at https://2022cruzthecoos.eventbrite.com.
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 This three-day event at The Mill Casino/Hotel will feature up to 20 food trucks from the Pacific Northwest. Feast yourself on the goods while the trucks compete for Judges Choice and cast your vote to see which truck will win the People’s Choice. All trucks will have at least one $3 sample item available for purchase and will also serve from the entire regular menu.
Tickets on sale at Ko-Kwel Gifts inside The Mill Casino Hotel. Cost is $5 general admission per day (portion will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon)
Entertainment Schedule
Friday, August 5, 2022 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. - Rekless Kompany
Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Adam Gabriel & the Cavaliers
2:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.: The KOZ
Sunday, August 7, 2022 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. - The KOZ 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. CRBQ
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 How are Wastewater Treatment Plants upgraded? It is quite a lengthily process. The first phase of a Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade is a facility plan. The facility plan summarizes the service area and wastewater characteristics, identifies the components of the existing wastewater collection system and treatment system, evaluates the performance of the treatment system with respect to water quality and regulatory standards, and analyzes alternatives for improvements that will remedy system deficiencies and accommodate future growth. In 2011 a facility plan was created for Plant 1. In 2017, there was concern expressed by DEQ that an amendment was needed to the 2011 plan as technology and permit requirements had changed since 2011. The amendment efforts began in 2018 and the were completed in 2020.
During the process of the amendment, a value analysis was performed in 2019. This was an in-depth effort of having a different engineering firm review and comment on the facility plan amendment. This effort went well, and a plan was solidified with approval from DEQ. This upgrade has been evaluated to be more financially manageable if constructed in three phases.
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Minimizing Mercury Pollution
 Mercury is commonly found in wastewater; the City of Coos Bay has created a Mercury Minimization Plan to help reduce the amounts of mercury in our wastewater. Mercury is an element that has many uses but never breaks down.
What can you do to help prevent mercury pollution?
- Use appropriate disposal methods or recycle mercury-containing products.
- Learn about common products containing mercury:
- Thermometers with silver-colored liquid inside
- Thermostat – non-electric
- Fluorescent and other mercury vapor lighting – HD (high intensity discharge), metal halide, high-pressure sodium and neon bulbs.
- Automotive headlamps – blue tint when lit
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Parks Master Plan
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Facilities Survey
 A key City Council goal is to update of the 2013-2023 Parks Master Plan. The Plan provides information and planned efforts for various City parks, recreation, and cultural facilities. Work is underway to update the current Master Plan. Please take a few moments to fill out a short survey sharing your thoughts and priorities on our community “jewels”.
Watch for more articles in upcoming Friday Updates on our beautiful parks, recreation, and cultural facilities.
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 It is the time of year when gardens are planted, and flowers are blooming, and both require water. The City of Coos Bay provides six months of summer sprinkling/irrigation sewer rates for individually metered single-family sewer users who are customers of the Coos Bay - North Bend Water Board.
The sewer rates for this group of residential sewer users are placed on a sprinkling rate during the May through the October billing cycle. The rate is a flat rate, calculated from the average water consumption for the prior six-month billing cycle of November through April. During the May through October billing cycle an individually metered single-family dwelling will pay this flat rate or their actual rate, whichever is less.
The City is divided up into several different billing cycles because the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board is not able to read the entire City’s water meters in one week. That means the May through October billing cycle for the residents throughout the City will vary. Some customer’s May through October billing cycle will start at the end of May and others will start in June; each customer is provided six months of sprinkling rates.
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 National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. There is a National Night Out Community Block Party planned this year on August 5, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Eastside Park. Hope to see the community there!
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 From Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum
Have you received an email with the subject line "Thank you for your purchase!" that looks like it came from McAfee, a computer security software company? The email claims your account has been “re-approved” and your credit or debit card was charged hundreds of dollars. At the very end of the email, it encourages you to call a specific phone number if you would like to cancel. DON’T DO IT!
These emails pull out all the stops to look official: They appear to be from a company you’re familiar with to exploit your trust and gain personal or financial information. The truth is that they are fakes.
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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
9-1-1 Dispatcher – Certified and Entry Level
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of certified and entry level 9-1-1 Dispatcher. It should be noted that preference points will be given to certified dispatchers applying for this position. In addition to preference points, certified applicants would be eligible for a $7,500 hiring bonus ($3,500 after being hired and $4,000 after successful completion of probationary period) as well as the possibility of up to $1,000 moving expense reimbursement. For Entry Level candidates, this position will be open until August 8, 2022. For Lateral candidates they must apply by August 1, 2022, to be considered in the lateral process. For complete announcement and application packet, click below.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Contracts Administrative Specialist
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of Contracts Administrative Specialist. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or by email at administration@coosbay.org. 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. The deadline for submitting an application is 5 p.m. August 11, 2022. For complete announcement and full application packet, click below.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Records Specialist
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of Records Specialist. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or by email at administration@coosbay.org. 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 www.coosbay.org. The deadline for receiving applications is 5 p.m. August 2, 2022. For complete announcement and application packet, click below.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Collections Supervisor
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of Collections Supervisor. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or by email at administration@coosbay.org. 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. The deadline for receiving completed applications is 5 p.m., August 10, 2022. For complete announcement, click below.
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Codes/Planning Specialist (Full-Time)
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of Codes/Planning Specialist. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or email at administration@coosbay.org. 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. The deadline for receiving applications is 5 p.m. on August 5, 2022. For complete announcement, click below.
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