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In this Bend Current enewsletter you will learn about what the City is doing to curb illegal fireworks, including creation of the Fireworks Task Force, transportation improvement updates, the 2018 Water Quality Report. You will also find updates from the recent City Council meeting, including the recently adopted biennial budget and updated fees, some updates to the City’s parking program, Mirror Pond preservation, and more!
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JUNE 2019
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ILLEGAL FIREWORKS TASK FORCE
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Police officers and Fire inspectors will team up for several nights in late June and early July to respond exclusively to illegal fireworks. The Fireworks Task Force will patrol areas where data have shown a higher use of illegal fireworks.
“If you’ve had a lot of fireworks in your neighborhood in the past, you can expect to see some patrols this year,” said Fire Department Battalion Chief Dave Howe. Read our recent news release here.
Fireworks that explode, fly more than 12 inches in the air or move laterally more than six feet are illegal to possess and use in Oregon. Get more fireworks information and details about illegal fireworks here.
Those who witness the use of illegal fireworks can call non-emergency dispatch at (541) 693-6911. Please do not call 911 to report fireworks unless there is a confirmed fire or injury. Calls to non-emergency dispatch will not always result in emergency response from fire or law enforcement.
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BEFORE YOU BUY ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
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Illegal fireworks can result in fines, injuries and fires that can wipe out a house or a community. Many things can go wrong. Make the decision to save yourself a lot of money and trouble.
Watch the "Before you buy illegal fireworks..." video:
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BEFORE YOU LIGHT THE FUSE
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If your actions result in fires or injuries you can be responsible for steep fines and end up with a criminal record. Choose not to light the fuse on illegal fireworks.
Watch the "Before you light the fuse..." video:
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BUDGET AND RATES
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In June, the Council adopted its two-year, $887 million budget following public hearings and a work session that went over a staff presentation about the fees and charges for 2019-20 which are part of the 2019-21 budget.
To implement the Council’s goals and to invest in transportation improvements across the City, this two-year budget reflects a 5 percent increase in revenues for the first year and a 4 percent increase for the second. Additional revenues are anticipated from increases in citywide tax assessed property value as well as rates and fees increases. Rate and fee increases include System Development Charges, ambulance charges (the phase-in of fee increases approved by Council in 2017), utility revenue increases (stormwater: 3 percent, water: 1 percent and sewer: 6 percent), and building and planning development fees: 3 percent.
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PARKING
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At a meeting in June the Council also amended its 2019-21 Goals to add a community-wide parking program to help address issues such as access and parking turnover, when identified in residential or business areas. This means the approved budget includes funding to create a self-sustaining Parking Services Division, to develop parking permit programs for residential and business parking districts where needed, and to use data to modernize parking management and the customer experience in Bend.
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Council took a step toward creating a “temporary parking restriction area” near McKay Park. Council preliminarily approved an ordinance to create temporary parking restriction areas to address immediate parking issues of concern, in a temporary manner, while longer term solutions are developed. The issue summary explains that the City Manager can create temporary parking restriction areas when parking issues are identified within 500 feet of the Deschutes River between Reed Market Road and Mount Washington Drive.
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To promote parking turnover in areas not otherwise governed by parking districts or temporary parking restriction areas, the Bend City Council amended the parking code to reduce the amount of time cars can remain parked on the public right-of-way from five calendar days to three business days. Here is the ordinance and here is the issue summary Bend Police volunteers respond to complaints made to the hotline. Volunteers issue a notice to the vehicle in question, and once it is confirmed the vehicle had not moved within three business days it is subject to impound.
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MIRROR POND
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Councilors passed a resolution describing the agreement with Bend Park and Recreation District related to the preservation of Mirror Pond. It says the City will commit to providing up to 50 percent of the Mirror Pond preservation project, or $3 million, whichever is less. The funding would be paid over a 10-year period. The Park District would agree to manage and oversee any project to dredge Mirror Pond. Here's the resolution.
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Voters support the City Council asking residents to fund projects that reduce traffic congestion and improve neighborhood street safety, according to a statistically valid telephone survey of registered voters of the City of Bend.
The purpose of the survey was to assess registered voters’ priorities for local transportation investments. Topics included participants’ perceptions of the City of Bend, transportation issues, and safety issues related to transportation. Survey findings will be considered when the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee prioritizes transportation projects for the Transportation System Plan and considers potential funding packages to support the proposed projects.
For more information on the Transportation System Plan, visit bendoregon.gov/tsp.
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For those who didn’t receive a survey phone call, we still want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to take the online transportation survey here. This short survey, open until July 19, is about transportation issues in Bend. The City of Bend is considering making strategic investments to reduce traffic congestion and improve the safety of neighborhood streets. These improvements could require an increase in local taxes or fees. Nothing has been decided yet – there will be many opportunities to engage in community discussions in the coming months and this online survey is just one of many inputs. Thank you for taking the time to share your views!
Want to learn more about what’s going on with Bend's Transportation Plan? Visit bendoregon.gov/tsp.
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It’s another great report card for Bend’s drinking water! The City of Bend is pleased to report 100 percent compliance in every public health requirement—over 100 drinking water quality standards—set by the Oregon Health Authority and the U.S. EPA.
Learn about City of Bend water quality testing, award-winning conservation efforts and other important information in our Annual Water Quality Report at bendoregon.gov/waterreport. Customers may also request a printed copy online or by calling (541) 317-3000, ext 2.
For more information on Bend’s award winning drinking water, please visit the City of Bend website at bendoregon.gov/water.
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The Bend City Council adopted an ordinance in December of 2018 to encourage the use of reusable bags and limit the use of carryout plastic bags. It was set to go into effect in July with enforcement beginning Jan. 1, 2020. However, earlier this month, the state legislature also passed a bill banning single-use plastic check out bags statewide that takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. The bill is largely similar to the City’s ordinance but it also includes plastic restaurant take-out bags and the fee for bags provided to customers is at least 5 cents (compared to the City’s 10 cents). In July, Councilors will vote to repeal the City law to comply with the State law. Informational materials and enforcement will become projects of the state government, but the City is still supportive and will encourage you to “Bring your bag, Bend!”
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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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