Bend Current. News from The City of Bend.

START THE GROWING SEASON RIGHT WITH WATER CONSERVATION TIPS

You can save water (and money!) by getting your irrigation system on track. Make regular adjustments to irrigation schedules, check for unnecessary irrigation over-spray and runoff and opt for low-water plant types when possible. We all play a role in protecting this resource and stretching our water supplies further.

For more information visit waterwisetips.org, stop by the information desk at City Hall anytime or the Utility Department booth at the Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 21, to pick up a variety of guidebooks, kid’s activity booklets and more.

As you start off the growing season, remember these guidelines for irrigating your landscape:

Irrigation is not allowed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Even numbered addresses are allowed to irrigate on even days.
Odd numbered addresses are allowed to irrigate on odd days.

Water conservation ad from the Utility Department stating 9-5... Great for work. Not for watering. #GreatWaterGreatLife

Group shot of 2017 Bend Oregon City Council in Council Chambers.

MEET YOUR COUNCILORS

Stay up-to-date with what's going on and learn more about your elected leaders at bendoregon.gov/citycouncil. Councilors meet the first and third Wednesdays each month. You can livestream meetings from the comfort of home, too!

COUNCIL UPDATES

GROWTH PLAN PROGRESS

What's known as "the elbow" in southeast Bend and the central core areas of Bend are the most ready of the areas identified for redevelopment in the City's Growth Plan.

Councilors this month expressed interest in completing the Murphy Road and Empire Avenue corridors, which will help the City make progress on developing lands identified as priorities in the Growth Plan. A plan to fund those projects will include increased system development charges and franchise fees, but the specifics of a funding plan won’t be refined until the next meeting.

At its next meeting, the Council will consider a resolution to initiate an area development plan for Southeast Bend. Acting as the Bend Urban Renewal Agency, the Council will also consider an urban renewal district to help develop the Core areas around the Central District.

Growth Plan Video

DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FUNDING

Following a public hearing, the Council adopted a new assessment of 25 cents per square foot of commercial property in the downtown area. The new assessment will increase the funds available to provide services to downtown businesses by the Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA).

The 2018-2021 assessment will maintain existing services and expand services to the Downtown Economic Improvement District including: high pressure sidewalk cleaning, a Bend Cares campaign, increased security (pending successful pilot project), holiday decorations and marketing and fundraising efforts.

Issue Summary

MAY ELECTION INFORMATION

The City of Bend has three measures on the May 15, 2018 ballot.

Measure 9-115, if it passes, would renew a five-year operating levy for fire and emergency medical services.
Measure 9-118, if it passes, would amend the Bend Charter to have the voters directly elect the Mayor to a four-year term.
Measure 9-119, if it passes, would amend the Bend Charter to have council member and mayor compensation set by Council ordinance.

Measure 9-115

Prior to 2014, the Bend Fire Department’s staffing was less than recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency.

In 2014, voters passed a local option operation levy at a rate of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. It generates about $2.6 million a year for the Fire Department and is spent on staff, equipment and training. The Fire Department also employed 24 emergency medical technicians and staff on two basic life support ambulances.

Subsequently, the Fire Department shortened response times by more than a minute on average in the last four years. Witnessed cardiac arrest survival rates went from 33% in 2012 to 71% in 2016.

Measure 9-115, if passed, would renew the five-year operating levy for fire and medical services. If the levy passes, revenue from the levy would be used to maintain current staffing levels. It is expected that this would continue the current response levels and response times. See the Council resolution here. If the levy passes, the estimated revenue over five years would be approximately $12.5 million.

If the levy does not pass, the levy would not be assessed. The rate of assessment would be $.20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. If the levy does not pass, fire and emergency response staff would be reduced, and emergency response times could increase.

No other funding sources were considered due to the fact that this is a renewal of an existing funding source.

Measure 9-118 and 9-119 are related. These measures, if passed, would result in changes to the Bend Charter of 1995.

Measure 9-118 pertains to whether voters would directly elect the City of Bend mayor for a four-year term. If the measure passes, the first Mayoral election would occur in November, 2018.

This would change the existing system of the Mayor being chosen by fellow Council members for a two-year term. Here is the Council resolution for more information.

The mayor is a member of the seven-person Council with the same power of a Council member, in addition to the duties of the mayor. If this measure does not pass, the mayor would continue to be selected by the Councilors from amongst the Councilors.

This measure does not affect Mayoral or Councilor compensation and has no fiscal impact.

Measure 9-119

If passed, Measure 9-119 would remove Councilor member compensation from the Charter. If passed, Councilor compensation would be set by ordinance. Setting ordinances is a public process conducted by the Council.

The question before voters will be: Shall the Bend Charter be amended to have council member and mayor compensation set by ordinance? The Council resolution with more information is here.

Currently, the Charter states that all seven Councilors receive $200 per month. If this measure does not pass, Councilor compensation would remain established in the charter at $200 per month. Nothing would change from how Councilors are currently compensated.

If the measure passes, current Councilors would continue to receive $200 per month until the end of their terms. Any changes would affect compensation only for Councilors or Mayors elected at or after the November 2018 election.

If Measure 9-119 passes, the Council indicated it would receive input on compensation from a citizen advisory committee which would also include former Mayors and Councilors. Input from that committee recommended that council members receive $533 per month and a directly-elected mayor receive $1,066 per month. The committee recommended that this take effect in January of 2019 if ballot Measure 9-119 passes.

Under Measure 9-119, voters would not determine compensation amounts. Voters are asked to consider whether compensation should be removed from the charter and be established in an ordinance, which is a public process of the Council’s, separate from the May election.

The measures, if passed, are not expected to cause an increase in the current tax rates or fees charged by the City. Funding for Councilor and Mayoral compensation comes from all City departments. All City departments (including, but not limited to: police, fire, utilities, community development and economic development) contribute to the cost of city-wide administration, including costs associated with the Bend City Council.

If Measure 9-119 passes and Measure 9-118 does not pass, the mayor would continue to be selected by City councilors but could still receive the higher compensation noted above.

Information about the May 15 election is available on the Deschutes County Clerk’s election webpage.

Old photo of a car from the early 1900s.

CELEBRATE DESCHUTES COUNTY HERITAGE IN MAY

May is National Preservation Month. The Deschutes County Historical Society, Deschutes County Historic Landmarks Commission, Redmond and Bend Landmarks Commissions, the Tower Theatre Foundation, the Deschutes Land Trust and other volunteers partner each year to celebrate the many ways that historic preservation enhances our quality of life. With a full schedule of events, there are many ways to celebrate the heritage of Deschutes County.

Visit deschuteshistory.org for a complete list of events taking place all month long.

CLEAN WATER WORKS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Interested in discounts at local businesses? Want to support water quality? Read more!

The Utility Department’s Clean Water Works Partnership program works with local businesses and nonprofit organizations to reduce stormwater pollutants and share best practices for wastewater management. This helps protect our river quality, underground drinking water quality, and prevent clogging of our storm drainage facilities.

Clean Water Works partners do what they can to protect water resources. They also provide discounts to the public for their goods and services throughout 2018.

Visit the Utility Department booth at the Earth Day festivities on April 21 to get your free discount card or print your discount card online.

Got kids? Check out the Utility Department’s Kid’s Page at bendoregon.gov/cleanwaterworks for information on our video and poetry contests. Deadline for entries is April 30, 2018.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE OPENING

The City of Bend is seeking applicants to fill one position on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.

The City of Bend’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee members are appointed by City Council for four-year terms. This Committee provides policy, code and funding recommendations to City Council in alignment with the goals outlined in the City’s Consolidated Plan.

Members are expected to have a high degree of technical expertise in affordable housing development or operation, or services that accompany affordable housing operation. Consideration shall be given to include representatives of the various geographical parts of the City of Bend. Applicants must be residents of the city of Bend.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018.

More info at bendoregon.gov/committees

(541) 388-5505
communications@bendoregon.gov

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To obtain this information in an alternate format such as Braille, large print, etc., please contact Anne Aurand at: communications@bendoregon.gov; Relay Users Dial 7-1-1.

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