2021 IS NEAR!

Even though 2020 has been a tough year, we want to remind you that some good things happened too! Despite a global pandemic, wildfires, social unrest, an economic recession and resulting budget reductions, the City has largely met its goals in providing service for the community.

SOME 2020 HIGHLIGHTS:

Housing

We know housing availability and cost is a primary concern for many members of our community. The City is exceeding at its goal of getting 3,000 homes permitted by next June! As of this month, 1,439 housing units have been built and issued a certificate of occupancy. Another 1,391 other are currently under review or in various stages of construction.

Transportation

Our community said traffic congestion and neighborhood street safety were other top priorities. This year, with the help of engaged members of the community, the City completed a community-supported transportation plan providing a vision and roadmap for improvements to accommodate our growing City to the year 2040.

And, together with the community we have identified funding to get it moving. Thank you to voters for approving the investment of a $190 million transportation bond! We also established a community bond oversight committee.

The Murphy and Empire Corridors Improvement Projects are on target and under budget! The first year of the Neighborhood Street Safety Program (NSSP) is coming to a close with the first four of eight projects completed.

COVID-19 Response

As the pandemic set in this past March and there was a sudden and unexpected rise in emergency-related needs, the City shifted gears. We changed operations to keep employees safe while maintaining core services, solidified partnerships throughout the community that served our community’s foremost needs, supported partners providing health care and social services and worked hard on economic recovery efforts. This included providing utility assistance, suspending parking enforcement, establishing new ways for businesses to provide outdoor eating areas, creating a ‘safe, healthy streets’ program, creating a community resource map for vulnerable populations, producing key documents in Spanish, connecting businesses to key resources and presenting information to neighborhood associations and other community groups.

Environment and Climate Action

Thanks to community involvement and Council direction, the City adopted a Community Climate Action Plan to guide both the City and the community as we work together to reduce fossil fuel use. City Council approved the new Environment and Climate Advisory Committee to help implement the plan, and the committee recently had it’s first meeting. (Photo of Climate Action Steering Committee is pre-COVID-19)

Community Input on Policing

Last summer, the City Council updated one of its goals to, “Be responsive and accountable to the changing needs and expectations of the community and increase Council awareness and public participation in law enforcement policy.” The Community Input on Policing Policies project started in September and included three different sources of input: online written public input, a virtual, live listening session, and input from Bend Police Department employees. A contracted consultant compiled the data into a summary report for the City Council (You can get the report here.) The City and Police Department are working on a a variety of efforts to gather feedback from the community to assess programs and guide priorities. Other inputs include a community survey on a number of City services and programs and a Police Department survey that was mailed to many households in Bend recently.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

I am so proud of all that this group of Council members has accomplished over the past two years. Most of us come to the table with incredibly different viewpoints, but a similar love for the City we serve. We worked hard to find common ground and build bridges between different groups with disparate values throughout our community.

The strength of this Council came from our differences: these days more than ever, we tend to associate with those around us with the same viewpoints. This Council was successful because we challenged each other to think outside the box and come together on key issues facing our City.

• We passed a historic Climate Action Plan.
• We created a Bend Central District/Core Area Plan.
• We established a Human Rights and Equity Commission and made Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work a priority.
• We passed our vital Transportation Bond this past November.
• We renewed and enhanced our Affordable Housing Fund and built or permitted nearly 3,000 housing units over the past two years.
• We created a Juniper Ridge Land Management Plan.
• We launched the Neighborhood Street Safety Program.
• We oversaw a compassionate and responsible COVID-19 response plan, including a mask mandate, CARES funding allocation, and establishing outdoor eating areas.

And we accomplished this all in the face of a global pandemic.

Each individual on this Council has shown their deep commitment to our greater community in the work that they have done.

Bruce Abernethy, Chris Piper, Justin Livingston and Bill Moseley deserve recognition for the special viewpoints they brought forward in Council work:

• Bruce’s dedication to the environment and housing and homelessness,
• Bill’s focus on neighborhood involvement and transportation,
• Justin’s diligence on housing, MPO (regional transportation) and BURA (Bend Urban Renewal Area), and
• Chris' people-centric focus, collaborative problem-solving and connections to the business community.

Thanks to each of these outgoing City Councilors for their service to our community.

Gena Goodman-Campbell, Barb Campbell and I will carry this work forward with the incoming City Councilors.

Sincerely,
Sally Russell, Mayor

COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS TO BE SHARED WITH COUNCIL

We want your input! Go to: BendCommunitySurvey.com. Before a Council sets two-year goals for the City and adopts a corresponding budget, the City seeks community feedback to guide priorities and direction. The City recently concluded a phone survey asking participants to answer questions about the City and City services. Those who didn’t get randomly chosen for a phone call can take a similar online survey available through December 27, so everyone can have an opportunity to provide input. The survey is available in English and Spanish.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUITY COMMISSION

Through Jan. 4, 2021, the City will be accepting applications to fill a maximum of 13 seats on the new Human Rights and Equity Commission, which aims to ensure historically marginalized and underrepresented people and communities in Bend have equal access to City programs and services, representation in City decision-making, and a venue to raise concerns and complaints about discrimination. Learn more about applying for the Human Rights and Equity Commission.

SANTA EXPRESS 2020

Santa Express has found a new way to collect food, clothing, and toys for families in need this year. Bend Fire & Rescue, the Bend Firefighters Association and the Salvation Army are teaming up once again to make the season a little brighter for those in Bend. Instead of driving through neighborhoods this year, drop-off boxes are available at locations around town. Find your nearest drop box.

ONLINE PERMIT CENTER

The City of Bend’s new Online Permit Center launched Monday, Dec. 14. The Online Permit Center is the service center for business registrations, building and engineering permits, land use applications, special event and fire permits, code complaints, room tax remittance, and other specialty licenses. Read the story here.

PREPARE FOR WINTER

Everyone has a responsibility to prepare for winter. That means getting resources and supplies lined up before a big storm hits. Learn what to expect and get information about street plowing, sidewalk shoveling and protecting your home at bendoregon.gov/winter.