NORTH BEND —  It could be said North Bend city officials are truly taking the sesquicentennial into their hearts. So much so, they’re already looking forward to the bicentennial.

With a time capsule they hope to fill and seal by the city’s annual July Jubilee event, they plan to leave an offering from the past for the city’s future leaders. The capsule is to be reopened on Feb. 14, 2059.

“In 50 years who knows how much life is going to change,” said Councilor Bill Richardson.

Richardson plans to place a copy of “Oregon’s 100 years and Pictures: 1859-1959” in the capsule to give the future mayor and others another vision of the past.

City Recorder Joann Thompson, who is coordinating the effort, said she’s still taking recommendations from Mayor Rick Wetherell, the council and others associated with the municipality as to what else should be throw in.

“I’m certainly open to suggestions,” said Thompson, whose been gathering items since Jan. 12. “It’s just a fun project for the city and the citizens.”

The box will definitely include a city pin, goodwill wishes, photos and current city goals, which are to be approved at the council’s meeting on Tuesday. A letter, emblazoned with a commemorative Oregon stamp and addressed to the future mayor, will be placed near the box inviting him to open it on Oregon’s 200th birthday and to consider creating a similar capsule for 2109.

Regarding city goals, Thompson said it will be interesting for North Benders to see how their forefathers impacted the city.

“I’m expecting there will be a lot of changes over the next 50 years,” she said.

City Administrator Jan Willis said the goals, which include exploring and likely implementing energy conservation programs, completing the waterfront project, expanding the visitors information center, and designing and constructing a streetscape on Highway 101 from Connecticut to Washington in 2011, will show the effort leaders put forth to make the city better. City officials believe the waterfront project will definitely transform the look of the area. It’s been a city goal since the ’90s and is expected to be completed in 2010.

“It will be here 50 years from now when somebody opens this capsule,” Willis said.

Richardson said including the goals is a neat idea because only time will tell if the city can fulfill them.

“Our goals are a work in process, hopefully our long terms goals will be met before they open the capsule,” the councilor said.

The box will eventually be placed in a glass case inside city hall near its west entrance, where it will likely sit for five decades.

Thompson said the idea for a capsule in honor of the Oregon’s sesquicentennial originated with MJ Koreiva, who serves on the volunteer marketing committee for Oregon 150. She also is a volunteer with the Oregon Museums Association.

Koreiva, who is based in Coos Bay, said she brought the notion up at a meeting in December or January. For some reason it took off in North Bend. Other communities are participating, including those in the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon, Koreiva said, but isn’t aware of any others on the South Coast.

Thompson said she’s excited by the capsule, which may also include contributions from the community — but that decision is up to the mayor and council. Either way, the public will be able to see the contents for July Jubilee, she noted.

 “It’s really a snapshot of what we are doing today for them to see 50 years from now,” Thompson said.