New Council Members Sworn In

At a ceremonial meeting on Jan. 4, 2023, Mayor Melanie Kebler and councilors Barb Campbell, Mike Riley and Ariel Méndez took their oaths of office and selected Megan Perkins as the Mayor Pro Tem.

On Jan. 11, 2023, the Council chose Megan Norris to fill the seat on the Bend City Council that was vacated when Melanie Kebler won the November election for Mayor. Norris will fill the seat for the remaining two years of Kebler’s term.  

Read more in this news release.

Council Goals

The Council now begins its goal setting process in which Councilors take input from the community, in the form of survey results, listening sessions, roundtables and more, to help establish two-year goals. Council goals influence City operations and the General Fund budget.  Goal setting meetings occur January 23 and 24.

Inside Bend: Creating Council Goals and the City Budget

On this month’s episode of the Inside Bend podcast, we’re joined by City Manager Eric King as he explains the process for goal setting, the creation of the City budget and how you can get involved in that process to help shape the work City Council will tackle over the next two years. 

Listen at bendoregon.gov/inside-bend or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify! 

City Council Updates

An Update from Mayor Kebler

Mayor Melanie Kebler gives an update on some of the work that the City Council accomplished this past month.

Community Survey Results

Every two years, the City of Bend commissions a Community Survey, which serves as one of many inputs to City Councilors as they embark on their two-year goal setting process. Council goals provide direction to City staff and influence the City’s two-year budget. 

Bend residents like living in Bend—strong majorities have positive things to say about their quality of life in the city: seven in 10 respondents rate the city as a good or excellent place to live. At the same time, residents have become less positive about the quality of life in Bend over the past two years, which DHM Research said is not unique to Bend and reflects the mood in communities across the state.

Recent survey respondents in Bend said addressing homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable housing were top concerns they want to see addressed.  Transportation has receded as an issue since the last biennial survey, with relatively strong levels of satisfaction about road conditions and fewer concerns about congestion.

Residents are still feeling the pressure of population growth, according to the survey responses. They prioritize long-term planning and want to see planning that addresses housing affordability, transportation and community safety.

Read more about the Community Survey results and access the final reports.

Parking

On Jan. 18, the Bend City Council voted 4-2 to no longer require that developers create a minimum number of off-street parking spaces for new developments to help reduce the cost of new housing, reduce vehicle emissions and encourage more walkable communities.

Read the news story.

Push-in Ceremony

A new fire engine is now in service!

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Bend Fire’s first new engine in 22 years! The new engine, referred to as “Engine 326,” will be operating out of the newest station, off of 15^th Street near Pilot Butte, bringing crucial emergency fire services to the core of Bend.

Nine firefighters were hired with temporary, one-time funding that runs out in June 2024. If approved by voters, the new levy would kick in at this time, allowing Bend Fire & Rescue to maintain it’s current staffing levels. 

As Bend grows, the demand for emergency services also grows. Over the last several years, we’ve seen up to an 18% increase in calls.

As Mayor Kebler stated at the ceremony “This is an immediate need right now, and we are so happy to be putting this engine into service today, but we have to maintain these great survival rates and response times, and that’s going to depend on our community helping us pass what I anticipate will be a levy on the May 2023 ballot continuing to fund these essential services.”

Winter Quarter Average

Looking to save some money on your utility bill? 

Every winter the City calculates your sewer bill for the rest of the year based on the water you use from December through February. During this time, your water use is averaged to determine your sewer charge. The more water you conserve, the more money you will save!

And we’re here to help you save water indoors with a free indoor conservation kit from the City of Bend! The kit includes a Water Sense Showerhead, faucet aerators, a pre-rinse nozzle, and a shower timer.

To request an indoor kit, visit WaterWisetips.org – while supplies last.

For more information on the Winter Quarter Average, call or email the Water Wise Conservation program at 541-317-3000 ext. 2, or conservation@bendoregon.gov.

Newport Closure Update

Work continues on the Newport Corridor Improvements project. Beginning Jan. 9, 2023 (weather permitting), Newport Avenue will be closed from Knoxville Boulevard through 14th Street. Please note the 14th Street roundabout will be closed during this phase of construction.  This is the final segment of stormwater, water, sewer, and transportation improvements to provide reliability, safety and connectivity enhancements for all users.

Construction of the entire Newport Avenue corridor is anticipated to be completed in May 2023 (weather permitting).

You can learn more about the project by heading to bendoregon.gov/newportimprovements.