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Published By Your City Hall |
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  The exterior of our Library can be deceiving. However, as I have shared many times over the last six plus years, the foundation of our nearly 60 year old library building has failed, as was documented in a 2014 Structural Assessment, and a more recent video documentation titled, Why the Library Needs a New Building. The failed foundation has resulted in the continued settlement or sinking of the building, which is damaging the floors, walls, and roof. While there was a solution to stabilize the foundation, the necessary fix was considered extreme in cost, included long term impacts to library operations, and the that proposed fix would not address many of the other identified structural, mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and technology deficiencies, etc. Given all that and the knowledge that our current Library is located in the FEMA Flood Zone and the Tsunami Inundation Zone, the decision of the City Council in 2014 was to begin taking the necessary steps to build a new facility. I was not the Mayor at that time, nor were any of the current elected officials on the City Council back in 2014, but collectively we agree with the decision that was made by those serving at that time.
The two major challenges to realizing the needed new library facility is finding a new location and obtaining the necessary funding to construct it. Several critical steps have been taken towards overcoming those challenges. Some of those steps, but not all, are listed below:
- The City Council created a Library Steering Committee consisting of representatives from the Coos Bay Library Board, Library Foundation, Friends of the Library, City staff, and the Council. The Committee was formed to assist the Council with the new facility planning. In addition to the Committee work, public opinions and input were solicited throughout the entire process.
- A strategic plan was created to identify current and future service needs which included a goal of obtaining a new facility.
- Hacker Architects was contracted to conduct a needs assessment for a new facility, which included identifying the size of the new facility and cost estimates.
- Cascadia Consulting Partnership was engaged to conduct a funding feasibility study. The feasibility study explored potential funding options which included local donations, foundation and governmental grants, and a General Obligation Bond (GO Bond).
- As to a location for the future library, after an exhaustive search and after taking input from the Library Steering Committee, Coos Bay Library Board, Friends of the Library, Library Foundation and the Community Coalition of Empire, a location within John Topits Park was identified. The site is outside both the flood and Tsunami zones and is owned by the City.
- The City Council wanted to take the opportunity to not only locate the Library outside the FEMA Flood Zone and the Tsunami Inundation Zone, but to also take advantage of the opportunity to relocate critical public safety services, specifically, the North Coos 9-1-1 Communication Center which is also currently located within the FEMA Flood Zone and the Tsunami Inundation Zone.
- The City hired Hacker Architects to undertake the schematic design process. The Schematic Design Report was completed and a video fly thru of the proposed new library was made to share with our citizens and potential funders.
In May of last year, the City asked the voters to consider a bond measure to fund the construction of the needed new facility, which was not approved. Some who had voted against the measure shared why they voted the way they did. The reasons I heard fell into one of the following categories:
 In regard to relevance of the Library, our Library, not unlike libraries across the nation, play an essential role in providing a safe and accessible place where everyone can access books (both paper and digital), movies, music, public computers, internet, and public gathering space, etc. Did you know that during this past year, there were over 139,000 visits to the Library and that more than 178,000 items were checked out? Our two community meeting rooms were used for 476 meetings. In addition, many participated in one or more of the Library’s 366 programs and/or used the Library’s wireless services.
As to cost, yes, building a large community facility will be expensive. I continue to marvel at the willingness of our citizens to invest in our community, which is evidenced by past ballot measures approving the building of the downtown Coos Bay Fire Station in 2008 and the Coos Bay School District Capital Bond in 2017. In an effort to lower the overall potential tax burden to our citizens, we are actively working with our state and federal elected officials in an effort to secure partial funding for the project. In addition, the Coos Bay Library Foundation has been successful in securing over $2 million dollars to date and are continuing their efforts to raise more.
As to concerns over the proposed location of the new library, we heard you! As I shared last year after the conclusion of the May election, the current library facility is living on borrowed time and as such we would need to continue working to meet the need to replace the facility, which included exploring other location options. To that end, the Library Steering Committee, along with staff and Hacker Architects, conducted a library site comparative analysis of four potential sites. Two potential sites were in the Empire area, one site in downtown, and the last is located in between downtown and the Empire area.
 Representatives from Hacker Architects will be presenting their report to the Coos Bay City Council at our next meeting on March 21. I would like to invite you to attend, in-person or virtually. The link to attend virtually via Zoom will be included in the agenda packet which will be posted to the City’s website by Friday, March 17, 2023. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting and the presentation will be available for viewing starting March 22 on YouTube. Staff will also post a link to the Coos Bay Public Library Site Comparative Analysis on the City’s website sometime next week after we receive the final report.
I, along with the entire Coos Bay City Council, will be interested in your thoughts about the four different locations and the project in general. At our upcoming Council meeting we will also consider using a survey consultant in an effort to gauge public support for the options available.
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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 Lieutenant Doug Vetter is celebrating 30 years as a City employee. Vetter was an intern and volunteer firefighter with the Coos Bay Fire Department (CBFD) for three years before being hired as a full-time Firefighter/Engineer in March of 1993. Vetter was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1996 and has been a productive member of the Fire Department throughout his career. Vetter has received several awards over the years, including the commendation for Excellent Emergency Medical Services from the Oregon Health Authority in 1995. Vetter is an EMT – Intermediate and is part of the Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team. He is a Marshfield High School graduate (class of 1987) and has a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. Vetter has been active in the community coaching baseball and soccer. He has been a referee for Southern Oregon High School (JV and Varsity) basketball for nearly 25 years.
Vetter officially retired from PERS at the end of December 2021, but has continued working for the CBFD as a contractual employee. His post-retirement contract will end in June.
When not working, Vetter enjoys fishing, camping, and spending time at the family farm with his wife Mindy along with their three boys. The City and the Fire Department would like to express our sincere gratitude to Doug Vetter for his many years of service to our community and honor him as he celebrates this significant milestone.
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  The City of Coos Bay has been actively making some repairs and improvements to the city owned boardwalk along the downtown waterfront. Over the course of the past couple of months the city has partnered with several contractors to make repairs to the facility. One project was the repair to the entry point to the boardwalk itself. Over the years there has been sloughing of materials from the sub-base of the paver section of the entry. This has been repaired and new masonry work has eliminated a tripping hazard. This welcomed repair to the boardwalk is the first of several projects.
The City of Coos Bay has continued the repairs and improvements to the boardwalk. The second repair that was performed was a new gang way to the north boat dock. The previous gangway has been patched and spot repaired in the past. Staff worked with a local contractor to replace the aging ramp with new sections.
This work was completed over the course of two days. This new ramp will serve the docks for many years to come.
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  Sometimes we just need to illuminate the past. The Coos Bay Boardwalk was constructed in 1994. As part of that project an interactive map of Coos Bay was installed as the floor of the Interpretive Pavilion. This interactive map has lights that illuminate when a button on the adjacent wall is pressed. This piece of the pavilion has not functioned for several years. Necessary repairs have been made and the interactive map is now functioning as designed. Several other projects are scheduled over the next couple of weeks.
If you have any questions on these repairs, please feel free to contact Operations Administrator Greg Hamblet at 541-269-1181, ext. 3541.
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  On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 6 p.m., the Coos Bay Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a Coos Bay Housing Production Strategy (HPS). The HPS includes strategies for the City to promote housing in the coming years for households of all income levels. These strategies are related to changes in City land use regulation changes and new housing programs. The draft HPS includes welcome feedback from many community members from a 2022 City sponsored on-line questionnaire regarding individual housing experiences and suggestions.
The HPS is on the City website at https://www.coosbayor.gov. The City invites you to participate in this March 14 public hearing in person or to contact Carolyn Johnson with your comments at cjohnson@coosbay.org or 541-252-2861.
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Run of Two Cities this Saturday
Mingus Park on Saturday, March 11, 2023, start time at 10 a.m.
South Coast Running Club members get an awesome discount at this and future races. Join today and save!
Cost for Members: 5K and 10K Preregistration– $15 (discount will appear at checkout), Day of Race – $20
Cost of Non-Members: K and 10K – $25, Day of Race – $30
Students: $5 when using code Student2023 to register. To avoid credit card charges, students will not be charged at on-line registration. Please bring $5 (exact change appreciated) to registration!
Coaches: bringing a team? We would love to accommodate you with special low pricing. Please contact us to let us know you’re coming.
Race Description
This was the club’s original race, and one of Pre’s favorites. That’s right, you can run in Prefontaine’s footsteps! And what did Pre love? Hills! This is a very hilly and challenging course that hits both Coos Bay and North Bend. Please note that while the course is designed to minimize street crossings, there are a few and the course is open to traffic. Please run safely! Packet-pickup is at the shelter beside Mingus Park. Please park by the softball field across the street.
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 Oregon Bay Area Beautification (OBAB), a local group of community volunteers whose mission is to make and keep the Oregon Bay area (Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston) beautiful, has a scheduled clean up event at on Saturday, March 11 at John Topits Park.
Come join OBAB and the Coos Bay Parks Department as they help beautify John Topits Park. We will be working on litter pick up, ivy removal, cleaning up abandoned homeless camps, repairing benches and painting if weather permits, trail maintenance and other beautification efforts. We have projects for every safety and comfort level.
Bring work gloves, loppers or clippers, trash grabbers, water, sunscreen. If you have a leaf blower or kayak you can help clear trails and pick up trash in water or near shore. Please wear clothes appropriate for paint projects if you wish to participate in that.
Youth, age 15 years and up, can participate with a release form signed by parent or guardian. Youth, 14 years and under, need adult supervision. Sign in begins at 12:30 p.m., clean up goes from 1 p.m. -3 p.m.
Go to OBAB’s Facebook page for more information about Oregon Bay Area Beautification and their monthly events.
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  The Energy Trust of Oregon is bringing energy savings to the Coos Bay community.
Currently, Energy Trust is offering a no-cost LED lighting upgrade opportunity for smaller businesses and commercial-type buildings, who are customers of Pacific Power. This includes inside and outdoor lights.
Buildings must be either less than 20,000 square feet OR have fewer than 20 employees.
Examples of qualifying types of businesses and non-profits buildings include stores and commercial businesses, restaurants, offices, service stations, motels, food banks, social and community services organizations’ buildings, churches/houses of worship or faith, clinics, and many others. Industrial facilities and common areas of multifamily/apartment property lighting may also qualify.
Energy Trust encourages participation from those organizations and buildings that have not been able to upgrade to LEDs and those that can most benefit from electric bill savings through these lighting upgrades.
Energy Trust will schedule with you to conduct an onsite review for eligible no-cost lighting upgrades. And the lighting installation contractor will work with your schedule.
To learn more or check your eligibility, call 1.800.326.2917 or email: lighting@energytrust.org.
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CITY OF COOS BAY PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Coos Bay is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations. Applications available from City Manager’s Office, 500 Central Ave., or csylvester@coosbay.org or 541-269-8912. Funding requests will be reviewed by the Budget Committee in May. Deadline to apply 03/27/2023.
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 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
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Water Quality Collections Operator
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for a Collections Operator position. This position can be filled as a Collections Operator-in-Training, I, or II, depending upon qualifications of selected applications. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a City application, resume, and letter of interest to the HR Office or by email at jspencer@coosbay.org. City applications are available from the Finance Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by email at jspencer@coosbay.org or on the City’s website at https://www.coosbayor.gov/government/job-openings.
Applicants must complete and submit the required City application packet by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023. All applicants will be notified of the final status of their application.
Salary/ Pay Rate
Operator-in-Training…………$3,665 – $4,549 DOQ
Operator I…………………………$3,768 – $4,696 DOQ
Operator II…………………………$4,011 - $5,005 DOQ
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Library ESO Outreach Technician - (extended)
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of full-time Library ESO Outreach Technician. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the HR Office or by email at jspencer@coosbay.org. City applications are available from the Finance Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by email at jspencer@coosbay.org or on the City’s website at https://www.coosbayor.gov/government/job-openings.
Applicants must complete and submit the required City application packet, resume, and letter of interest by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023, as specified in this job announcement. All applicants will be notified of the final status of their application.
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