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In this Bend Current enewsletter you’ll learn about the City Council Goal Setting process, the City’s budget and hear from Bend’s two new Councilors. You’ll find updates on the Mirror Pond parking lot improvements, efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel use and other recently awarded contracts for infrastructure improvements. You will also get the latest on the Empire and Murphy Corridor projects, Bend’s Transportation Plan and the City’s Annual Finance Report.
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FEBRUARY 2019
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CITY COUNCIL GOALS
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The 2019-21 City Council Goal Setting process is underway. In February, the new Council began discussing top issues and priorities. At the end of the goal setting workshop, Councilor priorities looked like this:
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Now, City staff will organize these categories of topics, reconcile potential goals with funding available and determine resources needed to accomplish the work. Goals will be translated into action items in coming weeks and will be considered further by Council in March.
The City’s budget process, which will reflect Council goals, begins in May, and the budget is adopted in June.
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BUDGET EXPLANATION
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Taxes and fees allow the City to provide the core services you need to live your life – streets, water, sewer, public safety and much more.
Watch this short, animated video to learn about the budget:
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NEW CITY COUNCILORS
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The City of Bend has two new Councilors: Gena Goodman-Campbell and Chris Piper. And, Sally Russell is the newly elected Mayor.
Watch this video and meet the new Councilors:
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MIRROR POND PARKING LOT
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Council approved a $487,000 contract to rebuild the South Mirror Pond Parking Lot to improve the parking lots conditions and increase safety and functionality. Construction is anticipated to begin in March and be completed in early June. See the Council's issue summary here.
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CITY ENERGY MANAGEMENT
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Council approved a $3.8 million contract to help the City improve energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel use. Savings from reduced energy costs is expected to fully cover the costs for improvements. Projects will improve energy efficiency in nine City facilities. Read more about the energy savings work here.
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We’ve made considerable progress on Empire Avenue between 18th Street and Purcell Boulevard. We’ve been working on landscaping as weather has permitted and landscaping work will continue for the next several months.
We are poised to begin work on the new roundabout at Empire and Purcell as soon as weather allows – recent snow storms and cold weather delayed the start of this next stage of construction. The completion of the roundabout will require the closure of the intersection of Empire and Purcell. The intersection closure will start this spring and will last up to eight weeks.
Work on the extension of Empire from Purcell to the Butler Market and 27th Street intersection will start this year and be completed in 2020. The design of the intersection at Butler Market Road and 27th Street is currently under analysis – intersection construction should also be completed in 2020. For more information, visit bendoregon.gov/empire.
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Do you live or travel in southeast Bend? You’ll want to attend an Open House at Jewell Elementary School:
Come find out what’s going on! Staff will be available to discuss the project and its goals and solicit community input at this public event.
The $32 million Murphy Corridor Improvements Project is part of the City of Bend's Transportation Plan. Murphy Road is a busy collector route located in Southeast Bend. The project includes transportation improvements along the existing corridor from Parrell Road to Brosterhous Road and the extension of Murphy Road from Brosterhous Road, over the BNSF Railway, connecting to 15th Street at Golden Gate Place.
Later this year we plan to start construction at 15th Street and Murphy, and we’ll be completing some sidewalk connections and safer crossings in the area too.
Keep track of the project at: bendoregon.gov/murphyproject.
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The City recently published a summary of the progress made so far on Bend’s Transportation Plan update. The first phase of the plan update is completed! (An online Phase One Report is available here.) We’ve created Transportation Goals, which set the overall vision for the transportation plan, developed a list of citywide transportation projects, and taken a preliminary look at the most feasible ways to fund the needed projects.
During Phase One, the City received over 2,400 comments from more than 1,000 participants sharing their thoughts and ideas about transportation in Bend. City staff have given 12 presentations to neighborhood and community groups.
Phase Two of Bend’s Transportation Plan, which identifies neighborhood transportation needs, is now underway. Over the spring, summer, and fall of 2019, the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee will be working on policies, evaluating and prioritizing projects, and developing a funding plan. More info: bendoregon.gov/tsp.
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Bend’s Finance Department has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association for 25 consecutive years!
Auditors recently presented the City Council with results from the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The annual audit resulted in a “clean opinion” which means the financial statements are accurate and no instances of fraud, waste or abuse were identified. The report and other financial documents can be found here.
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The City is now livestreaming Bend Planning Commission meetings through the City website, similar to how City Council meetings have been provided online. Learn more about how to watch your local government working for you, from the comfort of your own home. Read the news release here.
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Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities
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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