CELEBRATE SAFELY!

Believe it or not, the Fourth of July is right around the corner!

And while the use and sale of fireworks are prohibited in Bend, there are plenty of other ways you can celebrate safely!

You can check out the Bend Pet Parade, which is set to return this year, or leave the show to the pros and enjoy the firework display at Pilot Butte.

The City is asking for the community’s support in keeping Bend safe by complying with the ban on fireworks.  

To report the use of personal fireworks in the City of Bend, please call non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 or email fireworks@bendoregon.gov. Emails are not constantly monitored and do not necessarily prompt a police response but can help us collect information about violations.

TWO NEW COUNCILORS APPOINTED

Bend City Councilors appointed Stephen Sehgal and Mo Mitchell to fill Council vacancies at their June 9 special meeting.

Sehgal, a victim advocate for Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, is a member of the City’s Human Right and Equity Commission.

Mitchell owns Mo Mitchell Psychotherapy, Inc., provides mental health counseling services to adults, and also volunteers on the Human Rights and Equity Commission.

Following the resignations of Mayor Sally Russell and Councilor Rita Schenkelberg in May, Councilors appointed Gena Goodman-Campbell as the new Mayor, which vacated her Council seat. The appointments filled Goodman-Campbell’s seat and Schenkelberg’s seat.

Both Council seats will be on the ballot in the November general election, at which time both need to be filled by election. Sehgal and Mitchell will serve on the Council until the newly elected Councilors take office on Jan. 4, 2023.

Read more in the news story here.

HOUSELESSNESS UPDATE

Because of the broad community interest in housing and houselessness, the City Council added a standing agenda item to Council business meetings to provide regular updates on City Council’s work on addressing houselessness.

Here is Councilor Megan Perkins’ Houselessness Update from June 1 which focuses on an agreement with Central Oregon Villages related to an Outdoor Shelter (see story below).

Here is Perkins’ June 15 update which discusses an upcoming effort to develop a code to regulate unsanctioned camping in City rights-of-way.

Outdoor Shelter Contract

Councilors approved a $45,300 agreement with Central Oregon Villages for Phase 1 of temporary Outdoor Shelters operations. Central Oregon Villages is proposing a high-barrier shelter program requiring sobriety, with temporary Pallet shelters at 62010 SE 27th Street.

The Phase 1 scope of work includes community outreach, developing a Good Neighbor Agreement, finalizing the lease for the site and refining the shelter program, including identifying barriers to entry and a creating a guest code of conduct. Specifics of the shelter design and program operations will be refined by Central Oregon Villages throughout Phase 1. This scope of work does not fund or authorize operation of a shelter.

If Phase 1 work is completed and the House Bill 2006 application is approved, an amendment will be presented for Council’s consideration for Phase 2 – shelter development and operations.

More details about where the funding comes from, and an overview of the scope of work and the proposal is in this issue summary. Here is the presentation that presentation Council received.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OPENINGS

The City of Bend is seeking applicants to fill positions on the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance, an advisory committee to the Bend City Council.  

The Neighborhood Leadership Alliance provides the Bend Neighborhood Associations an opportunity to address issues of citywide concern, and provides them with an opportunity for providing input to the City Council from a neighborhood and community perspective.  

Learn more about the opening and how to apply.

MIDTOWN CROSSINGS OPEN HOUSE

Interested in learning more about what is in the works for better east-west walking and biking options?

Come check out the Midtown Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Feasibility Study open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22, at the Open Space Event Studios at 220 NE Lafayette Ave.

The open house will include an overview of the project, design concepts, timelines and an opportunity to speak to the project team. This study is the first step in the project and will help inform all future action to make a crossing over the parkway a reality.

Can’t make it in person? Visit the online open house at bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossings now through July 3, 2022.

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INSIDE BEND: TRANSIENT ROOM TAX

Around this time of the year we start to see an uptick in tourism in the region. The local Transient Room Tax was set up to bring in revenue to the City’s general fund each time a hotel room is booked or a vacation home is rented and benefits the community.

On this month’s episode of the Inside Bend podcast, we are joined by Business Advocate Ben Hemson. He breaks down the Transient Room Tax, the revenue it brings into the City and tourism’s impact on the region.

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

STEVENS ROAD TRACT

The Bend City Council approved a concept plan to develop the Stevens Road Tract, a 261-acre parcel of land located southeast of Bend, adjacent to the Bend’s city limits. 

During the June 1 City Council meeting, the City Council passed a resolution approving the plan, which lays out a strategy for future development of a Bend neighborhood that would include space for housing, recreation, and commercial and industrial use.

Learn more about the concept plan.

WATER

Drinking Water Quality Report

Are you interested in learning more about the City’s drinking water?

Look no further than the City of Bend’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report!

In it, you’ll learn more about what the Utility Department Laboratory tests for, where the water comes from and how the City’s working to protect this precious resource.

Check out the report.

Clean Water Works Video Contest Winners

Drumroll please!

The City of Bend, BendFilm and Central Oregon Daily are pleased to announce the student winners of the 2022 Clean Water Works Video Contest. Students were asked to submit 30-second commercials for public education on the topic of: “Love Your River – A How To Guide.”

Entries were judged on educational content, audience appeal/creativity, cinematography, and editing.

Congratulations to our 2022 Winners:

• Grand Prize Winner: Betsy Stonich, Summit High School
•  7th – 9th Division: Devin Barnes, Bend High School
• 9th-12th Division: Quincey Smith, Bend High School

You can view the videos here: bendoregon.gov/cleanwaterworksKIDS

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OWN YOUR ZONE: ZONE THREE

Living with wildfire means every person needs to take personal responsibility and actions to protect their home from the threat of wildfire.

Did you know at least 50% of home ignitions from wildfire are caused by burning embers?

Bend Fire & Rescue’s “Own Your Zone” campaign helps provide easy tips to protect your home! In last month’s Bend Current we highlighted Zone 2 with three things to do within five to 30 feet from your home.

So, here’s a reminder about Zone 3, the one thing you can do within 100 feet:

• Break up continuous fuels to create spaces in your trees and vegetation

Learn more at ownyourzonebend.org.