Every once in a while we receive an inquiry regarding the US Chamber of Commerce - or occasional rages about US Chamber actions, wanting to know if we are part of it all. While it may be tempting to make the assumption that your local Chamber is in lockstep with a national organization, that is certainly not the case for us. We do not belong to the US Chamber, and are in no way affiliated with them.  We do not participate in their activities, and quite frankly they don't care about ours. But that's because we are local, and we care about what happens here in Corvallis and Benton County - in our local business community, not in a far-flung state. 

Be assured that our political interests are local -  based only in encouraging a strong local economy, arguing for fair business regulations, and wanting to ensure Corvallis continues to be a great place to work and conduct  business.  We tackle local issues for our local business members, and we like it that way.

Our Government Affairs Committee (GAC) works to provide information and  resources to the local business community to make working with the City of  Corvallis and Benton County more understandable.  We enjoy a collaborative relationship  with our local government leaders, and are working toward the common good for  our community.  In fact,  members of the City Council and County Commission serve as representatives to our Board and GAC and they are incredibly helpful as we strive to better understand local government.

The GAC also helps facilitate some of our Chamber Lunch Forums with state officials and others who provide information on programs and proposals that matter to local businesses.  They are a great way to get information, and to network and increase your client or customer base at the same time!
 
If you are not a Chamber member, we hope that you will consider joining the Corvallis Chamber to lend your voice to the work that we do on behalf of the Corvallis business community.   We believe the business community is a vital part of  our city, and that we are stronger working together.

To provide easy access to information about how Corvallis is addressing concerns about single-use plastic bags, Corvallis Public Works has created a page on the City’s Web site where you may find background on the issue and process, meeting minutes, compiled feedback (e.g., Council email) and other information. They will update the page as the process continues. 

Addressing Single-Use Plastic Bags in Corvallis: http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4850&Itemid=5086

Last week the City's Adminstrative Services Committee met to discuss the timeline for evaluating the goals and options for limiting single-use plastic bags in Corvallis.  As you will recall, the Sierra Club and others provided over 1,000 signatures and a proposed ordinance to the City Council last month that would have implemented a ban on the bags.
The Chamber spoke to the Council and to the Adminstrative Services Committee about the ban, urging them to take time to ensure all stakeholders have the opportunity to be engaged in discussion of the ban or some alternative that would limit the impact of single-use plastic bags on the environment.  Our concern is the impact a ban would have on small businesses, and the need for educating consumers about any ordinance enacted.

As proposed, the ordinance would exempt many single-use bags, such as newspaper bags, bags used to take out food from restaurants, and produce bags.  The proposed ordinance also calls for businesses to charge a 5-cent fee for those consumers who opt for a paper bag - which must be 40%+ recycled content.  Because that has to be printed on the sales receipt, that will require programming and employee training, additional hidden costs.

While many people like their plastic bags and use them to cover bike seats, serve as trash bags, and tote muddy shoes around, we believe the City Council will take some action toward at least reducing the volume of bags next year. That's why we need to hear from you.

What do you tihnk of the proposal?  Are there alternatives that we could consider?  What other ideas should be on the table?  Let us know in the comment section below.  Thanks!

Last week the Corvallis Planning Commission unanimously voted to forward a proposal for annexation to the Corvallis City Council.  The property in question is the McFadden Farm property on Hwy 20, adjacent to the Hewlett-Packard campus.  Chamber staff testified in support of the annexation for a number of reasons.

The location of the property makes sense for industrial development.  With easy access to the highway, access to electrical power (there is a substation on the HP campus), and as the largest parcel of bare land in Northwest Corvallis, the property is well-positioned for development.  It is currently zoned general industrial within the County, and the applicant has requested the same zoning with the City.   

Over the years, the Chamber has received inquiries from businesses that are looking for large buildable sites.  The Corvallis Municipal Industrial Airport has some large sites, but there remain questions about access to reliable power, concerns about commercial traffic through a school zone (Lincoln Elementary) and the distant location from other commercial properites, for employee acess to restaurants and services.  The airport has been a hard sell.  The McFadden on the other hand does not share those concerns.

Annexation will provide City fire protection, access to City water and sewer, and all the other amenities that come with being within the City limits. It will make the property more appealing to business locators - which may result in more jobs for our region. 

All in all, it is a win for the City and our community.  We support annexation of the McFadden property.

Today  the City Council will receive the petition requesting a ban on plastic bags at  point of retail sale. The proposed policy will prohibit single-use bags at all  retail stores; will allow only paper bags containing at least 40% recycled fiber
(for a cost of 5 cents per bag to the customer), and allow retail stores to  provide reusable bags either at no cost or for sale.

Excluded from the  ban are: bags used by consumers inside stores (i.e., produce bags); bags  containing or wrapping frozen foods or meats; those containing flowers or  plants; unwrapped prepared foods or bakery items; Pharmacy prescription bags;  newspaper bags; door-hanger bags; laundry dry cleaning bags; and product bags. 

That's a lot of exclusions, but there will still be an impact on local business that the 5 cent per paper bag fee (which by the way has to be itemized  on the customers' receipt) may or may not offset. It will also take a little  more time at checkout.

Other communities have enacted bans with varying  fee structures for paper. The closest to home is in Portland which targeted  national chain stores, but not small business. The Portland policy was also  formed by a coalition of businesses, environmental groups, and city staff. I  don't know if the Sierra Club -- who is proposing the ban -- conferred with the  business community, but I know they did not confer with the Chamber. Our  Government Affairs Committee would have liked to weigh in on the proposal to  help educate and learn from our members about the impact this may have on local  business.

There will be enforcement costs for the City, and fines may be  assessed to cover for the cost of the enforcement. Who will be asked to do that  enforcement? How will the city -- with a current budget crisis -- afford to add  to the job duties of staff? With so many exclusions, will only certain  businesses be monitored? That hardly seems like a City policy to encourage business.

There will be costs incurred by businesses over and above the cost of the bag. There will have to be additional programming for cash  registers, and training for employees, just to get started. The City will also  have to expend resources to explain the new policy and educate the business community. Again, in a cash-strapped City government, cost and the timing is questionable.

I hate plastic bags flying around as much as anyone, but  shouldn't we educate rather than legislate? Why should we impose new restrictions on business rather than create an incentive? Tell us what you think.

Last week your Chamber introduced a new polling feature on our website.  Our hope is that this polling tool will give us insight into our members perspectives and help us make some decisions on direction of the Chamber, from programs and promotions to public policy.

Our first question asked participants whether they supported or opposed the proposal to ban single-use plastics bags that will be coming to the Corvallis City Council. Not surprisingly, the results were mixed: 54% in favor, 38% opposed, and the rest wanting to know more. 

Now this certainly wasn't a scientific poll as participants self-selected, and it doesn't numerically reflect the majority of our membership much less the voters of Corvallis.  But it does tell us how people are thinking on issues facing our community, and therefore it's an important data point as we begin looking into this issue. 

Your Chamber's Government Affairs Committee will most likely be discussing this issue as many of our members utilize plastic bags for products they sell.  We will need to know more specifics of the proposal and who will be affected.  We will need to know how the ban impacts them and what their alternatives are.  Hearing first hand from our members will help us evaluate if the Chamber takes a position on this issue., and will comunicate what decision is made.

We take your business seriously and want to work with City, County, and State goverments to make doing business a little easier. We are your advocates every day.  We're all for business!

January may seem far away, but to the team coordinating Celebrate Corvallis, it's right around the corner.  Nominations for the outstanding volunteers, businesses and non-profits that make Corvallis such a great community are now open!  Who do you know that should be recognized this year?  Here are the award categories:

- First Citizen
- Future First Citizen
- Junior First Citizen
- Senior First Citizen
- Robert C. Ingalls Business Person of the Year
- Business of the Year
- Patron of the Arts
- Jim and Ruth Howland Special Achievement Award
- Community Organization/Non-Profit of the Year

In a departure from prior Celebrate Corvallis events, this year's celebration will be held Friday, January 20 at Reser Stadium on the Club Level.  The theme is "Celebrate the Decades," and will be special as it is also the Chamber's Centennial celebration!

Sponsorships are also now available, with a special category to recognize businesses in the community by sponsorship of the "decade" they were founded!  This will be a fun way to honor the many long-time businesses who have contributed so much to Corvallis over the years. 

Nominations will onlly be open until November 14, so visit www.celebratecorvallis.com now!