Natural Gas Agreement: The Corvallis City Council will look at a proposal for a renewal agreement with NW Natural Gas Franchise at their meeting on Monday, Dec. 19.
Corvallis Public Works concluded preliminary negotiations with Northwest Natural Gas (NWNG) in October 2022 for the renewal of their non-exclusive natural gas franchise, according to Kris Kelly, Internal Services Division Manager.
“Currently, the City receives 5% of gross sales of natural gas within the service area, $600,000 annually in General Fund revenues from the existing franchise. The proposed agreement increases the franchise fee to 5.75% resulting in an anticipated increase of $90,000 annually,” said Kelly.
The city has received several comments from the public opposing this agreement saying this does not align with the city’s 2016 Climate Action Plan and that residents are having their “hands tied” with this agreement.
“The city has acknowledged that there is a climate emergency. With that in mind, please allow the franchise agreement with Northwest Natural Gas to lapse. At most agree to a 3-year term. Also, we do not want gas hookups in the new construction. Remove the language which allows NWN to expand their system,” said one public comment to council.
If the city agrees to move forward with the agreement it would be effective on Jan. 1, 2023, and would be in place for 10 years. For meeting info and access, click here.
Another Behavioral Health Facility for JSIP Bond: A new addition to the Justice Improvement System Improvement Project (JSIP) includes funding for expansion and relocation of the county’s Children and Family Program Behavioral Health Center.
The Benton County Board of Commissioners will get a first look at this latest proposal to add to the JSIP at their Tue., Dec. 20.
Part of the proposal asks the county to consider relocating the children and family program, which is currently in leased space in downtown Corvallis, to the county’s sunset building. According to Project Manager, Nick Kurth, the sunset building was chosen because the cost of renovation is consistent with bond funding constraints.
Currently, children and family program services are bursting at the seams in a small leased space with increased wait times and multiple staff sharing a single space, according to Kurth. Following a community engagement survey for the JSIP project, the consensus showed a desire for expanded mental health services for children and youth.
“The fund expanded mental health and homelessness services facilities for approximately $3 to $5 million, with approximately $1.5 million allocated to the expansion/relocation of the Benton County Children and Family Program and $1.5 to $3 million for the homelessness and housing services navigation center,” said County Administrator Joe Kerby in a memo to the commission.
The County is currently estimating a total JSIP bond measure of approximately $100 million. Cost to taxpayers with a home at the mean assessed value of $266,000 is in the range of $138 to $160 annually, depending on the final bond amount, according to Kerby.
Voters will see the finalized bond amount for the project on their May 2023 ballot.
For meeting info and access, click here.
By: Jennifer Williams
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