This evening the Steering Committee representing Oregon State University and the City of Corvallis held an "Organizational first meeting", so stated Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning.
The Steering Committee is made up of eighteen individuals representing Corvallis City Government, Oregon State University, the Corvallis Community at large and student representatives from OSU.
This group, a result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by OSU President Ed Ray and Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning in 2011, is tasked with dealing with growth issues that have been and continue to cause repercussion's in the City of Corvallis.
"This Steering Committee will be a three year effort", stated OSU President Ed Ray. Ed Ray went on to say that one of the goals of this committee is to deal with the "unintended consequences" of growth at the University.
Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning praised President Ray for his "Leadership throughout the process." Mayor Manning also stated, "Citizens will be able to address the steering committee at future meetings by way of visitors' propositions."
Early on in the meeting President Ray posed the question, "What percentage of Corvallis' population resides within the area that was marked off on the City map?" Corvallis Community Development Director Ken Gibb was uncertain of the number but would find out and get back to the Steering Committee.
Oregon State representative Vincent Martorello stated that "Three tracks, neighborhood parking & Traffic, neighborhood planning & neighborhood Livability would be the focus of his work as they went forward."
Jim Moorefield, committee member and Director of Willamette Neighborhood Housing asked Vincent Martorello, "What is intended and what will be?", referring to the outcome of the plan.
Another Committee member Jock Mills opined, "Members of the planning commission should be in attendance". He further stated "They [the planning commission] tend to make decisions on black & white issues."
Committee member Trish Daniels spoke of her concern for neighborhood housing density. Daniels went on to say she lives within the areas affected.
Ken Gibb, Community Dev. Dir., responded to Ms. Daniels by saying "What do we expect in terms of livability is the question?" "Enhanced code enforcement and funding are key to the issue", stated Gibb.
Jock Mills wondered if more parking districts were necessary?
OSU Representative Vincent Martorello spoke of the Campus MasterPlan Meeting held at La Sells in November 2011. He opined that it was poorly attended. As information there were four major meetings that same evening. This reporter was only able to attend two, the Corvallis Master Plan Meeting and the Corvallis School District meeting. One can reasonably conclude that citizens were hard pressed in scheduling and were unable to attend.
Mayor Manning noted that "Summary minutes from each meeting wood ultimately be available on the new website in the near future."
For an organizational meeting there was actually quite a bit of information shared. The next meeting of the Steering Committee will be Monday, February 20th at 5pm at the Fire Station on Harrison. Note it is Presidents Day, but the meeting will take place as indicated.
