Local elected officials face a daunting list of issues: climate change, mental health, affordable housing, graduation rates, economic development, transportation, and more. To inform their decision making, policy boards depend on thoughtful analyses of best practices, options and projected impacts. Citizen volunteers can provide valuable assistance to the process through research-based perspectives, analyses and recommendations.
At the January 10 City Club of Corvallis meeting, speakers from the City Club of Portland and from the Oregon State University Policy Analysis Laboratory will describe how they do research and develop recommendations on issues facing local governments. Their experiences will guide consideration of a policy analysis initiative for Corvallis decision-makers through the City Club of Corvallis and other local partners.
Chris Trejbal is the communications director at the City Club of Portland. He has served as interim research and advocacy director. Prior to joining the City Club, he was an editorial writer and columnist at daily newspapers in Bend, Minneapolis and Roanoke, Va. After leaving daily newspapers, he founded Opinion in a Pinch, where he writes editorials and opinion pieces for newspapers and websites. He also provides public policy and political consulting services.
Erika Wolters is the program coordinator for the Oregon Policy Analysis Laboratory at Oregon State University. She received her Ph.D. in environmental science at Oregon State in 2012 and has coordinated Ecampus courses for the department of Political Science since 2009. Her research has focused on energy, water, land use and other environmental policy issues.
Come to hear how the City Club of Corvallis is exploring how to address this need and how you can participate!
Doors will open at 11:30 at the Boys & Girls Club, 1112 NW Circle. The meeting is free and open to the public and will begin at 12 noon and conclude by 1:15. A catered lunch (soup, sandwich and salad) is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. To reserve lunch, send email to info@cityclubofcorvallis.org by Friday, January 6. You can also pay for lunch online with your credit card.