|
Published By Your City Hall |
|
   With Christmas nearly upon us, followed by the close of 2023 and the start of 2024, it is the perfect time to reflect with gratitude for all the blessings of this past year and begin to contemplate opportunities next year may bring. I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who either calls Coos Bay home or works within this great City. Your resilience, compassion, and sense of community continue to be the bedrock of our City, allowing us to weather the storms and celebrate the victories as one united community. Neighbors helping neighbors, businesses supporting each other, and individuals lending a helping hand – these acts of kindness have illuminated the true essence of Coos Bay.
This past week, several City Councilors and I presented City staff with a token of our appreciation for their efforts throughout 2023 to ensure the livability and safety of our community. We visited City Hall, bringing homemade goodies for each department. With over 130 employees representing five departments and five different locations, this involved a lot of cookies!
In the spirit of the holidays, may your homes be filled with warmth and laughter, and may the New Year bring with it new opportunities and renewed hope. Thank you, to everyone in Coos Bay, for being the heart and soul that makes our City truly exceptional.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
With gratitude,
Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
|
|
 The City of Coos Bay is seeking volunteers to fill positions on the Planning Commission, Parks Commission, and Budget Committee. Applications are available from the City Manager’s Office at City Hall, by calling 541-269-8912, or on the City’s website at www.coosbayor.gov. Applications will be accepted in the City Mangers Office through 5 p.m. December 26, 2023. Applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews with the City Council.
Planning Commission
Applicants 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 such persons own property within the city limits. These boards, commissions and committees are comprised of appointed community members and meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. There are three terms expiring on December 31, 2023, on the Planning Commission.
Parks Commission
The Parks Commission is comprised of one City Councilor, one Planning Commissioner, and remaining positions are filled by interested persons. Membership, if possible, should include a landscape design professional, landscaping business professional, design professional, parks management professional and a bicycle or pedestrian enthusiast with subject matter expertise. Applications must be a resident of the City of Coos Bay or own property in the City. The Parks Commission meets once a month.
Budget Committee
Applicants must be a resident of the City of Coos Bay, and they are appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. The meetings are held in April at 7 p.m. There are two terms expiring on December 31, 2023, on the Budget Committee.
|
|
 The Coos Bay City Council public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, 2024, has been POSTPONED to Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
A Coos Bay City Council, North Bend City Council, and Coos County Board of Commissioners joint work session is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 10, 2024m at 6 p.m. in the Coos Bay City Hall Council Chambers located at 500 Central Avenue in Coos Bay Oregon in advance of the public hearing. The Coos Bay City Council public hearing will follow the joint work session.
The purpose of the joint work session and public hearing is to consider the proposed CBEMP Phase I Updates including proposed amendments to the text of the City of Coos Bay Comprehensive Plan and Development Code and multi-jurisdictional Joint Resolution committing to pursue additional future updates.
The Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP) Phase 1 revision represents Coos County’s first step towards improving the plan’s ability to meet the needs of the communities and local governments encompassed by the plan.
CBEMP Phase 1 revisions are intended to:
1) improve plan usability
2) digitize the zone plan map
3) improve coordination between jurisdictions
4) update the 40-year-old plan with current agency names, laws, and regulations.
CBEMP Phase 1 revisions do not include any changes to zoning or management unit designations—those will be addressed in subsequent phases.To review the current draft CBEMP Phase 1 updates, go to:
https://www.co.coos.or.us/community-dev/page/am-22-005-coos-bay-estuary-management-plan.
To review the City of Coos Bay record to-date on Land Use Application #187-23-000165-PLNG, go to: https://www.coosbayor.gov/government/city-departments/public-works-community-development-department/pwcd-planning.
Written testimony can be sent to Chelsea Schnabel, City of Coos Bay Planning Administrator, at cschnabel@coosbayor.gov. Written testimony is DUE January 3, 2024, by 5 p.m. Oral testimony presented at the meeting will be limited to three (3) minutes.
For more information about how to participate in these proceedings or if you have questions, please contact the City of Coos Bay Planning Division at (541) 269-8916 or email cschnabel@coosbayor.gov
|
|
‘Tis the Season to Drive Sober:
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
It’s hard to have a happy holiday when you’re arrested for drunk driving. Keep the season merry and bright by following the law and refusing to drink and drive. During this busy winter holiday season, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Coos Bay Police Department (CBPD) to urge drivers to think twice before drinking and driving. NHTSA and CBPD want all drivers to remember this lifesaving message: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Drivers will see officers working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving from December 15, 2023, through January 1, 2024.
Tragically, December can be a dangerous time for people on the roads. During the 2017-2021 December months, there were more than 4,500 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Male drivers are far more likely to be impacted by drunk driving: In December 2021, drunk male drivers were involved in fatal crashes at a much higher rate (721) compared to female drivers (208), male drivers were almost four times more likely (721) to be alcohol-impaired and involved in a fatal traffic crash than females (208) in December 2021. More parties and festivities celebrating the season brings out more drunk drivers. NHTSA and Coos Bay Police Department urge drivers to always make a plan before heading out to a celebration.
 “Drunk driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal,” said Captain Tom Lindahl “Drivers have a choice to make: Follow the law and respect their fellow drivers by refraining from drunk driving. Or, make the choice to drive drunk, put others at risk, and risk your own mortality and wellbeing. We need a commitment from every driver to keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday,” Lindahl said.
According to NHTSA, 13,384 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021 involved alcohol-impaired drivers. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States for the year, and a 14.2% increase from 2020. In December 2021 alone, 1,013 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
CBPD and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. “Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior,” said Captain Lindahl. “It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for the party. There are too many resources to get you home safely. There are just no excuses for drunk driving,” he said.
There are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. If you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact CBPD or your local law enforcement agency.
Remember: a few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than a DUI, which can cost up to $10,000. Something else to consider: Don’t ever be too proud or embarrassed to ask for a ride. Allowing a sober driver to help you get home safely keeps you and others safe. What’s more embarrassing than drunkenly asking for a sober ride home? Spending the night in jail. Having your car impounded. Losing your job or your security clearance. Take your pick.
No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drunk driving. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get in the vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — they’ll thank you later. Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you will already be too impaired to make the right choices.
For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
|
|
|
Guided Painting for Teens & Tweens
This guided painting will be taking inspiration from Van Goghs still life of French Novels and Rose. The program will take place in the Myrtlewood Room on December 27, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. for ages 12-18. Everything you need will be provided. We recommend dressing accordingly, knowing that you might get paint on your clothes. Learn about composition and framing as well as some art techniques while we paint. This program is supported by a generous grant from Coos County Cultural Coalition. For more information call 541-269-1101 or visit coosbaylibrary.org/events/month.
|
|
|
|
|
