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In this Bend Current enewsletter you will learn about the City’s ongoing work to improve transportation in Bend. In particular, you will find updates on the Empire Corridor and Murphy Corridor Improvements. You will also find updates on the plastic bag ban, the Community Climate Action Plan online open house, an upcoming community cleanup effort for the Deschutes River, this year’s youth film contest winners, and much more!
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JULY 2019
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TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING
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The City has heard a clear message from the community that transportation – such as traffic congestion and neighborhood street safety - are top concerns.
The City is working to provide safe, reliable, transportation options.
The Empire Corridor improvements are under way, and we’re about to start Murphy Corridor improvements, both of which will provide new road extensions to improve east-west connections across Bend, help address traffic congestion, and provide safer walking and biking routes.
With the adoption of the 2019-21 budget in June, the Council approved an increase to transportation system development charges (SDCs) and franchise fees to bring in approximately $1 million per year for the Neff Road/Purcell Boulevard intersection, Reed Market Road/Bond Street roundabout, Highway 20/Greenwood Avenue sidewalks, Newport Avenue from College Way to 9th Street improvements, Simpson Avenue/Columbia Street intersection, Butler Market Road/Wells Acres Road roundabout, neighborhood greenways and more.
But there is much more work to do. The Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee will prioritize an updated list of needed projects that will move the community into the future.
Transportation is difficult to fund. There is no rate or charge for service to pay for transportation construction, like there is for sewer or water.
SDCs, also called impact fees, are collected when new development occurs in Bend. They are used to fund a portion of new streets, sanitary sewers and water, and are necessary to provide adequate funding for growth-related capital improvements. They can’t pay for ongoing maintenance, though. Since SDCs result from growth and development, revenues over time are volatile since they increase and decrease based on the amount of development going on in Bend.
Bend’s property taxes, already one of the lowest rates in the state, cannot be increased without a change of state legislation, due to Measures 5 and 50 passed in the 1990’s. Federal and state funding is limited and variable.
So, the City is exploring sustainable sources of funding to keep up with the needs. Stay tuned as we update the Transportation System Plan, which will identify our highest transportation needs and recommendations for how to pay for them!
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The Murphy Corridor Improvements Project will greatly improve and increase connectivity, emergency response times, and safety in Southeast Bend for neighborhoods, the traveling public, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Watch the video here.
This project includes two distinct segments:
- Murphy Road extended east from Brosterhous Road to 15th Street.
- Complete street upgrades between Parrell Road and Brosterhous Road, and the addition of a roundabout at the intersection of Country Club Road.
Construction of the 15th Street roundabout and sidewalk extension will begin in August and is expected to be completed in November.
You are invited to an open house prior to construction of the 15th Street roundabout and sidewalk extension. It will be held from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, at the Murphy Project staging area, directly across from the entrance of The Bridges at Shadow Glen neighborhood, 61155 SE 15th Street, Bend, OR.
For more information, visit the project website:
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Police officers and Fire inspectors teamed up for patrols several nights in late June and early July to respond exclusively to illegal fireworks calls as part of the Fireworks Taskforce. Efforts of the taskforce resulted in one arrest for the possession and sale of illegal fireworks and 256 calls for service related to fireworks.
The Fireworks Taskforce focused on areas in Bend where data showed more reports of illegal fireworks in the past. Social media comments and feedback also helped to identify additional areas to be patrolled. In fact, social media interactions helped identify two addresses that were allegedly responsible for illegal fireworks shows in the past. Taskforce members made contact with residents at those addresses prior to the July 4 holiday. Taskforce members were able to maintain compliance with fireworks laws at both addresses.
There was a significant increase in firework complaints through non-emergency dispatch this year, likely due to the taskforce’s community education efforts that directed people to call in and report what they see.
The taskforce has receive mostly positive feedback from the community on the effectiveness of its efforts this year. Some community members are asking for more patrols in the future and others are saying this year’s patrols worked well.
The taskforce will develop patrols next year using data from this year and will continue working with neighborhood associations to educate the community on the dangers of illegal fireworks. They may also work with City Council to review current City ordinance for possible enhancements.
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COUNCIL UPDATES
Council did not meet on July 3 due to the holiday.
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PLASTIC BAG UPDATE
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The Bend City Council voted to repeal a City ordinance intended to encourage the use of reusable bags and limit the use of carryout plastic bags. The ordinance went into effect July 1 and enforcement was going to begin Jan. 1, 2020.
Aside from the City ordinance, the State legislature recently passed a bill banning single-use plastic check out bags statewide that takes effect Jan. 1, 2020. The State bill is largely similar to the City’s ordinance. It’s different from the City ordinance because it also includes plastic restaurant take-out bags and the fee for bags provided to customers is at least five cents (compared to the City’s 10 cents). So confusing!
Councilors repealed the City ordinance to comply with the State law and help minimize confusion between the City ordinance and State law. Informational materials and enforcement will now be the State’s responsibility, but the City still encourages you to “Bring your bag, Bend!”
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There’s still a few days to participate in our online open house! The City and the Climate Action Steering Committee are inviting Bend residents to learn about the Community Climate Action Plan recommendations for reducing community fossil fuel use and provide feedback.
The online open house describes the committee’s recommended strategies for the Community Climate Action Plan and how the committee developed them. It also provides an opportunity for public comment on the plan. Community participation will help the City and committee set priorities for the best ways to voluntarily reduce fossil fuel use in the community.
The online open house is available at www.BendClimateAction.participate.online through July 31, 2019.
More information about the Community Climate Action Plan: bendoregon.gov/ccap.
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New utility rates went into effect on July 1, 2019. You may notice some changes in your bill as a result. Visit bendoregon.gov/utilityrates for more information.
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Join us in our support for the 23rd Annual Deschutes River Cleanup!
The City of Bend continues our sponsorship of this important cleanup day, and encourages everyone to join us at the annual cleanup event taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at Riverbend Park.
The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council is organizing cleanup activities both in and along the Deschutes River from Slough Campground to Drake Park. Attendees can help remove litter from the stream banks, pull invasive weeds, or bring their paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes to help Central Oregon Diving divers pull garbage out of the river.
Contact Kolleen from the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council at (541) 382-6103, ext. 33 for more information.
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July is Smart Irrigation Month, it also happens to be our peak month for outdoor water use and a good time to make sure you’re using irrigation efficiently. Inspecting your system can help you identify leaks, uneven watering and situations which waste water.
Sign up for a free Sprinkler Inspection and find ways to save water from the City of Bend’s WaterWise team. Call (541) 317-3000 (option 2) or email us at conservation@bendoregon.gov to get started.
Follow a few simple water saving tips this month:
- Review you system monthly to check for leaks and needed adjustments. Sign into your WaterSmart account at bendoregon.gov/watersmart to customize water use alerts and learn where you use the most water.
- Repair irrigation leaks & breaks as soon as possible.
- Schedule irrigation in the evening or early morning.
- Adjust sprinklers to keep water on the landscape to prevent waste.
- Use your seasonal adjust % feature on the irrigation controller to make monthly adjustments to runtimes.
- Use new technology such as Smart Irrigation Controllers to help with ease of accessibility and scheduling adjustments.
- Learn more ways to save at waterwisetips.org.
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Local students were recognized at the July 17, 2019 City Council meeting for their talented filmmaking skills in creating 30-second public service announcements. The topic this year was flushable wipes, with 24 entrants sharing what does and doesn’t go down the toilet to prevent sewer system clogging, backups, and environmental and human health issues.
Judges from sponsoring partners City of Bend, BendFilm, and Zolo Media’s Central Oregon Daily selected the winners:
- 2019 Grand Prize: Cedar Vickery, Summit High School
- 5th-8th Grade Division: Ella Schubert, Pacific Crest Middle School
- 9th-12th Grade Division: Colin Brown, Bend High School
Cedar Vickery's entry, "The Issues with Flushable Wipes" cleverly demonstrated that wipes do not dissolve in our sewer system. As part of the grand prize, Vickery received prize money, a gift card for his teacher, plus the opportunity to work in-studio with Central Oregon Daily producers to turn his video into a professional commercial. The commercial will air locally and screen at the BendFilm Festival Future Filmmakers event in October. Vickery also won the People’s Choice award.
“The students were creative in their explanation of what should and shouldn’t go down into the sewer system and why,” says Wendy Edde, City of Bend Stormwater Program Manager. “If pumps and pipes become clogged, the sewer can back up into our streets and enter our separate storm drains that lead directly to our river or towards our underground drinking water, causing harm and significant repair costs.”
“The kids clearly understand that toilets are not trashcans and wipes should not be flushed,” says Christina Davenport, City of Bend Industrial Pretreatment Program Manager. “Congratulations to all of our winners for teaching our community what they have learned. We are proud of every participant; and appreciate their enthusiasm. They did an amazing job!”
For more information or to view the winning videos, visit the City of Bend website at bendoregon.gov/cleanwaterworkskids.
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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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