HOUSELESSNESS UPDATE

Because of the broad community interest in housing and houselessness, City Councilors have added a new standing agenda item to Council business meetings to provide regular updates on City Council’s work on addressing houselessness. The City aims to increase Bend’s capacity of temporary housing options. The Council Goal is to develop facilities and housing for 500 individuals experiencing homelessness.

Here is the update from January 5, and here is a summary of news from January 19 and its accompanying video.

Council meetings are livestreamed on the first and third Wednesday of each month, and videos are available after meetings too at bendoregon.gov/councilagenda.

Rainbow Motel Acquisition

City Council approved buying the Rainbow Motel on Franklin Avenue for $4.55 million. The purchase of the motel is an opportunistic public investment that could meet a variety of short-term and/or long-term community needs, including but not limited to an immediate need for transitional shelter as well as a future possible site for City Hall, affordable housing, a civic plaza or other public uses.

Read the press release here.

Project Turnkey Open House

The City of Bend will be hosting a virtual community open house to share an update about Project Turnkey-Bend from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25.

The open house will include an update on the City’s plans for remodeling a recently-purchased motel to create emergency shelter units, including images of the proposed renovations and a timeline for completing the improvements. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

The registration link and livestream of the virtual open house are both available at bendoregon.gov/project-turnkey.

INSIDE BEND: LAND USE

Have you ever wondered why developments around town are located where they are?

With the City of Bend continuing to grow it’s important to understand how development in the state of Oregon works. In this month’s episode of Inside Bend, Community Relations Manager Makayla Oliver shares information on Land Use education materials and how your Neighborhood Association can help get you involved in the planning and development processes.

You can listen at bendoregon.gov/inside-bend or the podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.

NORTH SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

The City accomplished a major milestone recently by completing Phase 2 of the North Interceptor Sewer Project! 

The four-year effort which included Phase 1 and Phase 2 replaced failing sewer infrastructure and constructed a new, large diameter sewer transmission line bringing sewer to the northern area City limits and investing in the community long-term to meet anticipated sewer demand. Construction on the third and final phase of project is to be determined. 

Learn more: bendoregon.gov/north-interceptor

SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS MAP

When it snows in town, the City of Bend’s snowplow operators are ready and have a plan. See how staff prioritize which streets get plowed first at bendoregon.gov/snow!

INDOOR WATER CONSERVATION

Want to save water and save money?

It’s as easy as installing a new free City of Bend WaterSense Indoor Water Conservation Kit to your faucets and showerheads.

Not only will you save on your water and power bill this winter, but you can also reduce monthly sewer charges all year long. Water use during the winter months of December, January, and February determines your Winter Quarter Average, which sets your sewer rate for the rest of the year.

Request your free kit or you can fill out the form through your WaterSmart portal.