City Bridges Masthead
News & Information from the City of Albany, Oregon
November 2013

General Obligation Bonds on November 5 ballot

 

Albany voters are being asked to consider amending the City Charter to authorize $20.3 million in general obligation bonds for construction of a new downtown Fire station and a new Police station.  Here is the language that appears as Measure 22-221 on ballots for the election that ends November 5, 2013:

 

Caption:

 

City of Albany General Obligation bond authorization

 

Question:

 

Shall Albany issue up to $20.3 million in general obligation bonds for public safety facilities?  If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

 

Summary:

 

This measure amends the City Charter to authorize up to $20.3 million in principal amount of City general obligation bonds to finance capital costs related to new, seismically sound public safety facilities, including a police station and a main fire station.  The City estimates that the levy for these bonds will be at the same rate as the City levies for its outstanding general obligation bonds (about 43¢ per $1,000 of assessed value).


City recruiting appointees to advisory boards, commissions, committees

 

The Albany City Council is conducting its annual recruitment for volunteers to serve on its 14 City boards, commissions, and committees.  Applicants must be residents of the city of Albany unless otherwise specified.  Of 91 positions, 29 terms will expire December 31, 2013, or are vacant due to resignations:

  • Airport Advisory Commission:  Three positions, appointed by Councilors Collins, Coburn, and Kellum.  No fewer than four members shall have their principal place of residence within the city limits.  By policy, Council does not appoint persons who have a significant financial interest in the anticipated considerations of this commission.
  • Albany Arts Commission:  Two positions.
  • Albany Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission:  One position.
  • Albany Budget Committee:  Three positions,  appointed by Mayor Konopa and Councilors Olsen and Coburn.  Appointees need not be residents of those wards but must be city residents.
  • Building Board of Appeals:  One position.  Applicants must be qualified by experience and training to pass on building construction matters.
  • Central Albany Revitalization Area Advisory Board:  Two positions, appointed by Councilors Collins and Johnson.  Appointees need not be residents of those wards but must be city residents.
  • City Tree Commission:  Two positions.  Applicants who own property or maintain a business within the city of Albany do not need to be city residents.
  • Human Relations Commission:  Two positions, appointed by Mayor Konopa and Councilor Collins.  Appointees need not be residents of those wards but must be city residents.
  • Landmarks Advisory Commission:  Three positions.  Applicants must have demonstrable knowledge, interest, or competence in historic preservation and in one of the following:  architecture, landscape architecture, history, art history, education, construction, real estate, development, urban planning, archaeology, law, finance, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, local history, or related disciplines.
  • Parks & Recreation Commission:  Two positions.
  • Planning Commission:  Two positions, appointed by Mayor Konopa and Councilor Kellum.  Appointees must be city residents from the respective Councilor's ward.  The Mayor's appointments are at large.
  • Public Safety Commission:  Two positions, appointed by Councilors Kopczynski and Kellum.  Appointees need not be residents of those wards but must be city residents except for the rural fire districts' representative.
  • Senior Center Endowment Committee:  Two positions.
  • Traffic Safety Commission:  Two positions.

Citizens are limited to serving simultaneously on only one of the panels that have the greatest influence on Council decisions:  Budget Committee, Library Board, Parks & Recreation Commission, and Planning Commission. 

 

Deadline for submitting an application is Friday, December 6, 2013.  For more information or an application, interested persons can stop by City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW; call 541-917-7508; or visit http://www.cityofalbany.net/city-council/boards-commissions.
Share your bling to support foster grandparents, RSVP

 

Albany Parks & Recreation is collecting unwanted, unused, precious costume or partial jewelry for its first Bling! fundraiser event Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9, 2013, to benefit Foster Grandparent and RSVP programs in Linn and Benton Counties.

 

Collection sites have been set up in Albany, Lebanon, and Corvallis for tax-deductible donations of unwanted, broken, or costume jewelry, jewelry parts, and jewelry boxes.  Tax receipts are available at all locations.

 

The Bling! sale event will be held 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 9, at the Wheelhouse Events Center, 421 Water Avenue NE.  Admission is free.

 

Want first pick?  A presale event will happen from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Friday, November 8, at the Wheelhouse.  Tickets are $20 and include appetizers and a specialty drink.

 

For more information, to donate, or to purchase tickets, call Albany Parks & Recreation at 541-917-7777 or visit www.lovebling.org.

 
Police Property and Evidence Specialist named Outstanding Public Safety Employee

 

Debbi Buchert, Property and Evidence Specialist for the Albany Police Department, is the Outstanding Public Safety Employee for 2013.  Buchert received the award at the October general membership forum of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.  The award is sponsored Security Alarm Corp.

 

Buchert has been employed by Albany Police since October 2004 and in her current position since November 2006.  She was instrumental in getting a bar coding system integrated into processing property and evidence; monitors an average of 14,000 items in the property and evidence inventory; established a timeline to purge more than 5,000 items earlier this year; and set up the Police Department to sell surplus, seized, recovered, found, and unclaimed property online, netting more than $13,000 for the City's General Fund so far.

 

Buchert makes sure that all items in evidence are properly packaged, labeled, weighed, and initialed and has volunteered to help at the department's front counter during times when staffing was short.

 

Police Lt. Chris Carter nominated Buchert for the award, saying she "epitomizes our mission of Excellence through Service.  She consistently holds herself to the highest professional standards and integrity that builds trust.  Her dedication to our department family builds unity and improves communications."
Human Relations Award nominations due November 29

 

Nominations are open for the Human Relations Award, sponsored by the City of Albany Human Relations Commission.

 

The Commission wants to recognize individuals and nonprofit organizations or nonprofit businesses in Albany that have worked to promote harmonious relations among the citizens of Albany.  Selection will be based on a demonstrated commitment to promoting human relations, diversity, and/or equality through community programs and activities.  Nominees need not be Albany residents.

 

Award recipients will be chosen in two categories:  "individual" and "nonprofit" organization/"nonprofit" business.  Up to two runners-up in each category will also be recognized.  Awards will be announced and presented at the January 22, 2014, meeting of the Albany City Council.

 

The first Human Relations award was presented in January 2012.

 

Nomination forms-in English and Spanish-are available on the City website, www.cityofalbany.net, and hard copies will be provided on request. 

 

Nominations are due no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 29, 2013.  They may be hand-delivered to Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW; mailed to Human Relations Award, P.O. Box 490, Albany, OR 97321; or faxed to 541-917-7511.

 

The Human Relations Commission was established in 2007 to promote harmonious relations among Albany citizens.  It was created to recommend programs, activities, ordinances, expenditures, and other appropriate governmental activities that serve the goal of maintaining respectful interactions within the community.  Annually, the Commission supports events or activities to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday; mental illness and mental health awareness; National Night Out; and Festival Latino.  The Commission also seeks opportunities to meet with groups or individuals throughout the community to learn about their experiences of living in Albany.

 

Commission members are appointed by the Mayor and City Councilors.
City Council reschedules meetings for holidays

 

The Albany City Council has changed its meetings schedule for November and December 2013 to accommodate the year-end holidays.

 

The Council will hold a work session at 4 p.m. Monday, November 4, and regular meetings at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays, November 6 and 13.  City Hall offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, for Veterans' Day and again Thursday and Friday, November 28-29, for Thanksgiving.

 

In December, the Council will hold regular meetings at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays, December 4 and 11, with a work session at 4 p.m. Monday, December 9.  City Hall offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, 2013, and Wednesday, January 1, 2014, for Christmas and New Year's Day.

 

City Council work sessions are held in the Municipal Court Room and regular meetings are in Council Chambers, both on the first floor of Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW.  All meetings are open to the public and fully accessible.

 

Meetings are also streamed live at www.cityofalbany.net, broadcast live on Comcast Ch. 28 in Linn County and Ch. 23 in Benton County, rebroadcast for two weeks on the Comcast channels and archived on YouTube and the City website.  For more information, call 541-917-7507 or e-mail marilyn.smith@cityofalbany.net.
Leaf pickup begins November 4

 

Republic Services will pick up autumn leaves over three 2-week periods, beginning November 4.  Thousands of trees drop leaves every year through the 17-plus square miles inside the Albany city limits.  Residents can help keep streets, gutters, and sidewalks free of leaves by raking and sweeping regularly and putting as many leaves as possible in the yard debris carts provided by Republic Services or collecting the leaves to use as winter ground cover for sensitive plants or for compost.

 

Allied Waste will pick up leaves:

Yard debris - leaves, grass clippings, branches, fertilizers - can lead to flooding when they are swept or blown into storm drains and gutters and water pollution as they work their way from storm drains into the rivers and creeks.  In addition to using yard debris for compost or disposing of it in yard debris carts: 

For more information on stormwater protection, call Kim Kagelaris, Environmental Services Technician, at 541-791-0087.

 

To report illegal dumping of yard waste, call 541-917-7600.

 

For information about residential yard waste collection, call Republic Services at 541-928-2551.

General Information
541-917-7500
 
Mayor
541-791-0300

Ward I Councilors
541-926-7348
541-928-2961

Ward II Councilors
541-928-0649

541-917-0490

 

Ward III Councilors
541-791-2494

541-791-0158

 

City Manager 
541-917-7505

Paddlers help clean up Willamette River

 

Clouds parted and showers held off for the bring-your-own-boat Great Willamette River Cleanup on Saturday, October 5, 2013.  A dozen eager paddlers put their three kayaks and four canoes in at Hyak Park and combed the river for debris, taking out at Bowman Park.  The volunteers filled half of a three-yard Dumpster, fished out four tires, and collected lots of plastic bottles.  Calapooia Brewing Company rewarded the effort with a tall cold one for each adult.  The event was coordinated by Willamette Riverkeeper with assistance from the City of Albany for this river section.  For information about future cleanups, contact kim.kagelaris@cityofalbany.net or call Kim at 541-791-0087.

Park rest rooms closed for winter; weekend rentals open in April

 

Rest rooms in Albany city parks have been winterized and are closed for the winter season.

 

Albany parks will be available for weekend rentals again starting in April 2014.  Park facilities may be rented daily beginning with Memorial Day weekend through the end of October 2014.  Park shelters may be reserved up to 13 months in advance.

 

Reservations may be made by phone with a MasterCard or Visa or in person at Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW.  For more information or to make a reservation, call 541-917-7777.

Parks & Recreation volunteers recognized

 

More than 120 volunteers turned out for the 2013 Parks & Recreation Volunteer Recognition dinner sponsored by NW Natural on Tuesday, September 17.  Rain did not dampen the party or the spirits of attendees as Parks & Recreation staff paid tribute to the volunteers who gave more than 36,000 hours in fiscal 2012-2013 to help to make programs and events possible for Albany residents. 

Another Albany college scholarship winner

 

Alejandro Mendoza is too young to attend school, but he has already started preparing for his college education at the Albany Public Library.  

 

Alejandro is one of 15 Oregon students to win a $1,000 college savings account from the Oregon College Savings Plan.  Each summer since 2010, Albany Public Library has awarded entry forms for the scholarship drawing to any child up to age 18 who has logged reading time on at least ten days during the Library's Summer Reading Program.  An Albany child has won a $1,000 scholarship account each of these four years, and each year the Library also received a $500 prize as well.

Become a Master Gardener

 

Master Gardeners have been essential to the ongoing success of the Willamette Community Garden, located on City property at First Avenue and Main Street NE.  Oregon State University Extension Service is taking applications now for the 2014 Master Gardener program.  To find out more, visit http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ linn/horticulture.
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