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Published By Your City Hall

January 20, 2023

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of giving what was termed as the “State of the City” presentation at the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wednesday Business Connection meeting. I spoke about the many pieces to the puzzle of building a better community and I took the opportunity to identify and thank some of the people and organizations who are helping to bring the pieces of the puzzle together. Those include, but are not limited to the following:

• Southwestern Oregon Community College led by Dr. Patty Scott and their work to realize the much-needed Health and Science Technology building.
• Coos Bay School District and the leadership of past Superintendent Brian Trendell and current Superintendent Charis McGaughy who, with the approval of the Coos Bay voters, have built new schools (Eastside Elementary and Marshfield Middle School), remodeled a third (Madison Elementary) and are making plans for capital improvements to the Millicoma School.
• Greg Drobot, the developer of the new commercial complex on Coos Bay’s waterfront, Coos Bay Village, and his upcoming commercial development, Teakwood Plaza which will be situated just north of Ace Hardware.
• Robb Crocker and his partners who have purchased a total of four commercial buildings in downtown Coos Bay (Tioga, Koski, Buggy Bank, and the Fletcher buildings), making improvements and continuing to enhance those buildings.
• Heidi Sause who has over the last few years purchased four commercial properties in the Front Street area: the building now home to Front Street Provisioners, 999 Front Street (formerly called the Flora building), Coos Bay Iron Works and 161 Date Street. Two of the buildings have been restored, inside and out, and there is work in progress to do the same on the other two.
• Karl Jernstedt who made the investment to grow his business by purchasing and improving an underdeveloped vacant building (the property was formerly the home to Kings Table).
• Rick and Danni Stevens who invested in our community when they purchased the property on Bayshore Drive which formerly housed Marshfield Bargain House and later Marshfield Mercantile and have opened two new businesses: Real Deals and Front Street Food Trucks. I should share they also operate a third business, Triple J Auto, which is located across the street from their other two businesses.
• Brad Woodruff, the owner of Red Moon Development and Construction, who is undertaking a number of housing developments to include new condos at Brookside Estates, high end homes at The Bluffs subdivision, and Timber Cove (a proposed 400 home housing development).   
• Wes and Pamela Plummer, who own and operate Tri-County Plumbing, but also have been responsible for a number of new housing construction projects in the area to include a six-plex multifamily housing project on Norman Street near their shop/showroom.
• Adam Rutherford, the owner of Tahoe Pacific Capital, who under his leadership a number of new homes have been built in the Coos Bay and North Bend area, including the nine-plex multifamily housing complex on S Wasson Street behind the Empire Fire Station.
• Our partnership with Coos County, Northwest Housing Alternatives, and Oregon Coast Community Action, who are working together with the City of Coos Bay on a low-income housing project to be built where the former Englewood School once stood.
• Tara Johnson and the Devereux Center, who along with their grant funders, operate Coal Bank Village (transitional housing).
• Community Coalition of Empire and their work to improve the historic district of Empire with their community art projects (new mural on the Star of Hope and their utility box art project).
• The Coos Bay Downtown Association and Pacific Power partnership to improve the look of downtown with their utility box art projects.
• The Coquille Indian Tribe, City of North Bend, and Coos County who all partner with Coos Bay on tourism development through the City of Coos Bay – North Bend – Charleston Visitor and Convention Bureau.
• Travel Southern Oregon Coast and the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation who funded the new ADA kayak launch in John Topits Park.

The above people and organizations, along with many others, are all working to put the pieces of a better Coos Bay together. I should also share that Mayor Engelke also presented on the exciting developments in North Bend. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the great relationship I have with Mayor Engelke and the working relationship our management staff, and employees have with their counterparts in North Bend. My thanks to you all!

-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay

The City of Coos Bay has two Urban Renewal districts: Downtown and Empire. Each district has an adopted plan, focused on economic development and curing blight, which is done through tax increment financing. Tax increment financing is used in areas where private development has stagnated or is not feasible without public sector investment and partnership. Public investment through urban renewal is one way to change those conditions. The types of urban renewal activities undertaken generally include land assembly and development of infrastructure and public amenities, as well as façade improvement grants. As the result of publicly funded efforts, investment becomes feasible for private developers. Developments consistent with the City’s Urban Renewal Plan then gain forward momentum and stagnated areas become renewed.

Urban renewal, as a mechanism to jump-start area growth and improvement, starts with a point-in-time freeze of the assessed value within the designated urban renewal area. As the improvements and growth happen, the assessed property values within the urban renewal area increase above that frozen base, creating “incremental revenue” which is entirely distributed to the urban renewal agency. Urban renewal agencies use debt to fund the improvement projects as part of their plan. This debt, either through standard bank/financing options or through du jour financing (a short “daily” internal loan), is then repaid from the incremental tax revenue. As the urban renewal agency sunsets, this incremental value is then distributed, along with the frozen base revenue, to the overlapping government units.

The creation of an urban renewal agency does not result in assessment of an additional tax. Instead, during the agency’s lifespan, overlapping taxing districts “forego” a portion of their permanent rate. Once the urban renewal area is terminated, the taxing jurisdictions receive their full permanent rate of taxes, plus the incremental tax revenues generated by the urban renewal area improvements. The School District and Education Service District are funded through the State School Fund on a per pupil allocation. There is no direct impact of urban renewal on their funding. The State School Fund is funded through property tax allocations, but also through other state resources.

The City of Coos Bay established the Downtown Urban Renewal District in 1988 and the Empire Urban Renewal District in 1995.The Coos Bay Urban Renewal Agency Board (Agency) is comprised of the City Council; and through bi-annual goal setting and the budget process, it is determined what projects will be funded. Urban renewal funds benefit Coos Bay through the projects and programs that play a major role in revitalizing and curing blight within the urban renewal areas. 

As required by ORS 457.460, an urban renewal agency must prepare a statement for the governing body and citizens. This statement, or report, must include a financial recap of the preceding year, the budget for the current fiscal year, and an analysis of the impact of carrying out the urban renewal plan on each of the overlapping governmental units within the urban renewal area. The City’s report is meant to meet that requirement, as well as expand upon the minimum requirement and provide the reader more detailed information about the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Coos Bay and its activities during the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022 (FY22). The report can be found on the City’s website:

 2021-2022 URA Annual Report

Questions regarding the annual report or urban renewal can be directed to the City Manager’s office at 541-269-8912.

Coos Bay land use regulation changes and new programs for housing development and rehabilitation have been established, but more work is ahead.  As the City Council works towards completing a “Housing Production Strategy” (HPS), efforts continue to learn about your housing concerns and ideas for Coos Bay. The HPS will identify new regulations and program options for the expansion of housing opportunities for households of all income levels.

To learn your thoughts, an on-line questionnaire has been available for public comments and ideas. The questionnaire (see the box below) is open until midnight, Wednesday, January 25, 2023. To date 164 individuals have provided responses with a variety of new ideas. Consider spending a few minutes to click to the questionnaire below. All responses are confidential.  

Future public hearing dates and times for review of the HPS will be announced in February 2023. In the meantime, questions and comments can be provided to Carolyn Johnson at cjohnson@coosbay.org or 541-252-2861.

Empire Begins Utility Box Art Project

The Community Coalition of Empire (CCE) is pleased to once again be working with the City of Coos Bay and the Coos Art Museum to bring art to the Empire District. The Community Coalition of Empire has identified 13 city owned utility boxes in need of local artists to develop and hand paint their visions of our nautical theme, “Historic Empire with a Focus on the Waters.” Artists may use the completed Empire Mural to draw inspiration, or they are free to use their imagination. The color palette will be blue, red, white, black, and yellow, and can be mixed according to the artist’s discretion.

This project will happen in two phases with an estimated completion date of July 23, 2023. Artists will be given all supplies necessary to make their vision a reality. In addition, each artist will receive a stipend of $100 and will be honored at a reception upon completion of the project. This project is open to all artists. Submissions must be original and may be submitted via:

• Mail to CCE P.O. Box 3452 Coos Bay, OR 97420
• Email via pdf format to moss_joanne@yahoo.com
• Dropped off at Star of Hope Activity Center 657 Newmark, Coos Bay

Submission deadline for PHASE I is MARCH 17, 2023. PHASE II deadline is MAY 31,2023. Questions may be directed to louanndewater@sohoregon.org

Entry Deadline: January 31, 2023

Opening Night Reception and Awards Ceremony – Friday, 14 April 2023, 5-7 p.m. Coos Art Museum, 235 Anderson Ave, Coos Bay, OR 97420

Eligibility Artists residing in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are invited to provide up to three submissions.

ELIGIBLE ART MEDIUMS: Allowed with the following criteria:

Paintings – limitation of 48 inches in any direction – this includes the frame.
Drawings – limitation of 48 inches in any direction – this includes the frame.
Hand pulled prints – limitation of 48 inches in any direction – this includes the frame.
Mixed media – limitation of 48 inches in any direction – this includes the frame.
Fiber & textiles – limitation of 48 inches in any direction – this includes the frame or mounting device.
Fiber & textiles – wearable – must supply display device Small sculptures – weight limitation of 50 lbs. and 48″ inches in any direction.
Glass – blown, fused or leaded stained – if to be suspended, must include a secure hanging or display device. 
Turned and carved wood – weight limitation of 50 lbs. and 48″ inches in any direction. Jewelry – only if ALL elements were created by the artist. Any and all themes of expression define the parameters of acceptable entries.

Click here for General Rules

The City of Coos Bay is seeking volunteers to fill positions on the Budget Committee, Planning Commission, and Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board.  Applications are available from the City Manager’s Office at City Hall, requesting via email at administration@coosbay.org, or on the City’s website. Applications will be accepted in the City Manager’s Office through 5 p.m. January 20, 2023. Applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews with the City Council, potentially at the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting.    

Budget Committee – The Budget Committee is comprised of the full seven-member City Council and an equal number of Coos Bay citizens. Qualified citizens are those who have resided within the city limits of Coos Bay for one year and legal elector for Coos Bay. Terms on the Budget Committee are for three years, with staggering of member terms. The Budget Committee typically meets annually, in the month of May. There are two expiring positions on the Budget Committee.

Planning Commission – The Planning Commission is comprised of the seven-members appointed by City Council. Eligible members shall have been residents of the city for at least one year, except that two members may reside outside the city limits but within Coos County, if they own property within city limits. The Planning Commission meets once a month, typically on the second Tuesday. There are currently two expiring positions on the Planning Commission, both four-year terms.

Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board – The City Council appoints two individuals to the Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board governing body with a four-year term of appointment, staggered by two years for each member. Interested applicants must be a resident of the City of Coos for one year prior to appointment. There is currently one appointed Water Board position expiring.

Join the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce celebrating a year of community and business for our annual awards banquet on Saturday, January 28 beginning at 6 p.m. at The Mill Casino.

We have a a variety of awards to give away including the Citizen of the Year award and Business of the Year. The Chamber will honoring our hardworking educators and the are thrilled to announce that the Prefontaine award is back! The Liberty Theatre will be bringing the entertainment with a fun filled showcase for you to enjoy.

Tickets are available online on the Chamber of Commerce website.

A Marshfield High School (MHS) tradition will return February 5, 2023 at 3 pm when the MHS Charity Program hosts is annual pageant in the school auditorium.

The MHS Charity Program is a student-led program that raises money all year long to donate to worthy causes at Marshfield High School. For the 2022-23 school year, the charity program is donating its funds to the ARK Project. The ARK Project works to ensure homeless students have access to the same educational opportunities as other students, while also providing resources such as food, clothing, and the ability to shower to the students.

For the current school year, there are more than 200 students within Coos Bay School District that qualify as houseless, and more than 300 students within Coos Bay and North Bend, all who are eligible for services from the ARK Project.

Both young men and young women from Marshfield High School will take to the stage February 5 in the good-natured event that shines the light on the work being done by Marshfield students to help the less fortunate.

Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the door.

City of Coos Bay 500 Central Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420

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