Ward 3 meeting - Our Collective Voice on Wednesday Dec 10th

[Jonathan Slack]

Dear Greater Crystal Lake Community Collaborative and South Corvallis Google group Folks,

As we prepare for the Ward 3 meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 6:30–8:00 PM at Lincoln School, I'd like to provide background to help focus our community voice, and propose a tone for this gathering.

Jim Moorefield is our advocate. He has supported the preservation of this community from day one. He is the reason that Scenario 2 was created. Our goal is not to convince him, but to provide him with a strong, clear expression of community solidarity and lived experience that he can carry forward to the full City Council, to City staff, and - indirectly (state law requires independence/distance) - to the City Planning Commission via the galloping lore of this historic meeting.

I have found City staff, City Councilors, and Planning Commissioners to be people of good faith. While our perspectives and obligations often differ, I believe constructive, in-person collaboration will lead to truly workable solutions.

Most people have never lived on a street like Crystal Lake Drive; it has become clear that what we aim to save, and what is at stake, is not well understood by some of the most pivotal, and least accessible, policy-makers. Speaking to share what it is that we treasure has power. Some will hear us tomorrow evening; with a collective request that the City Planning Commission meet with us in-person (online only currently; we'd appear as a tiny list of 120 names at the edge of their screens - no video, no presence, no connection) on the evening they craft the final configuration of SCAP Scenario 3 (this will occur in 2026), the last step before it is presented to City Council, would be game-changing.

About “this being the last chance to be heard”: There will be additional public comment opportunities later in the formal process. However, those occur much farther downstream—after staff drafts and institutional momentum are already well established. This Ward 3 meeting is our best high-leverage opportunity to shape the conversation before the next South Corvallis Area Plan draft (Scenario 3) is created. For those who want to understand how the process unfolds from here, and the nature of opportunities for public comment, see the simplified sequence below.

Finally, this is a Ward 3 meeting open to all constituents; residents may speak on any issue of concern—not only Crystal Lake Drive.

Looking forward...to tomorrow, and to our community's future,

Jonathan (Jono)

Simplified Timeline: How the South Corvallis Area Plan (SCAP) Proceeds

• Ward 3 Community Meeting – December 10
  • Community perspectives shared directly with Councilor Moorefield and attending City staff before the next SCAP draft is created.

• Technical Feasibility Reviews by City Staff & Consultants
  • Infrastructure capacity (sewer, stormwater, water, etc.) evaluated to inform revisions.

• Draft SCAP Scenario 3 Created by Planning Department
  • Based on technical review and prior community input.

• Public Release & Open House
  • Community invited to review the new draft and provide feedback at an in-person open house.

• City Staff Review & Revisions
  • Planning Department considers how to adjust the draft based on public input.

• City Council + Planning Commission Work Sessions
  • Internal coordination and fine-tuning of the draft plan.

• Planning Commission Public Hearing (Online only, unless we succeed at changing this practice)
  • Public testimony accepted; Commission votes on recommended changes before forwarding to the CIty Council.

• City Council Public Hearing & Final Adoption Vote
  • Final public testimony followed by Council deliberation and vote on adoption.

[Mr. Snrub]

It was really wonderful to see so many of us at the ward meeting last night. I was very impressed with the turnout and proud of my community for being willing to show up to fight for a cause they care about. 

I thought the woman that stood up at about 7:35 and read that beautiful statement about what our road means to us all and how widening it will negatively impact everyone in our community perfectly summed up what we were all feeling and hoping that someone would say. 

However, that same woman, before reading her statement, asked Jim point blank whether he would be taking our concerns to the rest of the city council as was advertised to us. His response was a pause and then a flat "...sure." Not exactly an inspiring response. Isn't the point of us having elected representatives for them to REPRESENT our views and concerns? 

I hope that that was just a fluke and that our views and concerns will be taken to the powers that be, whether it's the county, or ODOT, or the city, or the transportation committee or whoever. 

I was also disappointed that no transportation people were present. I understand that that wouldn't be usual for a ward meeting like that, but the mayor and city manager were there, and I think everyone knew what the major topic of conversation would be, so it would have been good planning to have had someone from public works present to answer questions about the transportation plan. 

Overall, I was proud of my community for turning out and trying to make our voices heard, but left feeling that the city was either unconcerned with our opinions or impotent to actually lobby for what we want. Maybe both. 

It seems that this fight is far from over and I hope that we can continue to advocate for our community to whoever it is that will listen. County, ODOT, Planning commission, whoever. Thank you to everyone for being there. 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Corvallis" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to south-corvall...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/south-corvallis/fd318c18-9236-4429-afda-ef2ebbe80db5n%40googlegroups.com.

[Sue Hirsch]

My understanding is that the councilor for a ward is not supposed to advocate specifically for that ward.  Each councilor is supposed to  be concerned about the best interests of the entire city.  What Jim did was to facilitate Us in getting our concerns and hopes and ideas expressed to the council and staff.  In our national, media-hyped politics, representative blatantly advocate for the their locale, and they also get pay & perks & lobbying jobs afterwards, ha ha.   We didn't stay for the whole meeting, but are certainly proud to be in an area that isn't known for being nimby, nor expecting to be served, but for being fair and creative and hardworking. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/south-corvallis/CALT2Kq7vjnQxNYk3-cVZzLdU0%3D4A7oHkioXq%2BkziNxOT0vi9JQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Charlyn Ellis]

Councilor from ward five here-- our job is to balance the needs of our ward with the needs of the city. How we balance that depends upon our personalities. I lean towards the ward, others towards the city as a whole. I just want to defend Jim a bit; he takes your concerns seriously and brings them forward. 

Charlyn

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/south-corvallis/d6962de2-77e9-48dd-82bc-4d4f187e3bcc%40zoho.com.

[Mr. Snrub]

That's a comfort. 

Thanks,

-Malachi

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/south-corvallis/CAJ7j5yK3t5i%3DaKpKnc4Z_y7qeV%2Bf0aBJeCowLVDLTTmqHTkQmw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jim Moorefield]

To quote a statement from above, I was asked “…point blank whether he would be taking our concerns to the rest of the city council as was advertised to us. His response was a pause and then a flat "...sure." Not exactly an inspiring response. Isn't  the point of us having elected representatives for them to REPRESENT our views and concerns?” That was an awkward response from me but not for the reason you’re thinking. I was trying to maximize time for people to speak so I gave the short answer “sure” instead of expanding on my answer. My longer answer would’ve been that I’ve ALREADY been representing CLD concerns before the Council and have said a number of times that I will continue to do so. In addition, the current draft of the SCAP keeps CLD zoning the same, in part because of my advocacy. This was communicated to many people before the meeting and I made the mistake of assuming this was understood more widely than it was. Thanks for your involvement in south Corvallis!

[Mr. Snrub]

Thank you for your response Jim, I apologize for my own lack of understanding regarding that context and appreciate you being an advocate for our community. 

Best,

Malachi

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/south-corvallis/f477a158-1cd7-488e-98aa-c54df465394dn%40googlegroups.com.

[Jim Moorefield]

No need to apologize. I was the one who was less than clear.

Jim 

On Dec 12, 2025, at 8:10 AM, Mr. Snrub <malache...@gmail.com> wrote: