A LETTER FROM THE POLICE CHIEF:

Mike Krantz, City of Bend Police Chief

Hello,

My name is Mike Krantz. I was sworn in on August 10 as your new chief of police. I am proud to be the 10th police chief in Bend and am looking forward to building on the strong foundation of trust that the Bend Police Department has worked so hard to establish here. 

As many of you already may know, on my third day at work here, I responded to a large public First Amendment event involving an immigration detainment and responding federal agents. This occurred before I could even get to know my team and or learn the software systems we use at the City. This week was truly a learning experience for me and allowed me to get to know a lot about this community in a very short time.

As I said on the night of the event and continue to be grateful for, I was thankful for the people who were there to express their rights in a peaceful way. The example they provided is a roadmap to safe expression for all communities. I know how polarizing feelings and beliefs are around immigration; however, I feel that the peaceful expression galvanized the Bend community and did show others what can be done without violence.

I look forward to the coming months when I will be able to spend time getting to know the incredible community members who work inside the Bend Police Department. I am also looking forward to getting to know and creating relationships with the people in our welcoming and beautiful town and the greater Central Oregon area.

I am committed to being inclusive in moving forward with all community members, to developing partnerships and relationships in an effort to evolve as a police department that will continue to serve Bend’s needs, reflect the values of Bend and increase overall public safety.

Engagement from the community is important to work through needed changes. This work and collaboration with the community will continue to grow trust and increase the legitimacy of public safety throughout the country and in every community. 

I’m honored to lead the Bend Police Department as it continues its nationally-renowned work in community-based policing and to advance its diversity and inclusion work.

-- Mike Krantz, Police Chief

The City of Bend and its Police Department have received a number of questions related to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal authorities in Bend, and the City’s response to the peaceful protest last week. We have compiled Frequently Asked Questions and links to other information at bendoregon.gov/police-faq to help the community better understand what happened.

En Español: bendoregon.gov/respuesta-policial.

COVID-19: MASK REQUIREMENTS IN BEND

The City will only be enforcing the existing statewide guidelines. The Oregon Health Authority requirements were already in effect and were enforceable, but the City Council took actions that allowed local enforcement of the July 15, 2020 statewide guidance on mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The violation could result in the possibility of a civil infraction and fine from our local enforcement staff.

The City of Bend’s Code Enforcement division has set up a hotline to report mask violations in the City of Bend. The new phone number 541-323-7155 goes to the City of Bend complaint line for businesses that are not adhering to the statewide mask requirement that was put in place on July 15, 2020.

Callers must leave a message regarding the business name, date and time of the violation and what was seen. Anonymous calls are not accepted.

This remains in place until the Governor’s mask order is lifted or until Deschutes County enters Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan, whichever comes first.

For more information and statewide guidance head to coronavirus.oregon.gov.

EMPIRE PROJECT UPDATE: TRAFFIC CHANGES AT BUTLER MARKET ROAD AND 27TH STREET

New Roundabout at NE Butler Market Road & 27th Street (looking east on Butler Market, the new Empire Avenue extension leads to the left)

As part of the Empire Corridor Improvements Project, the new roundabout at Butler Market Road and 27th Street is now open to north-south traffic as of mid-August. This is the first of a series of traffic and detour changes along Butler Market Road as three new roundabouts near their completion in early fall. 

The opening of the eastern Butler Market approach will coincide with completion of the Butler Market Road and Deschutes Market Road roundabout September 1. The full-opening of the new roundabout at Butler Market Road and 27th Street will occur in late September or early October.

Updates on the timing of the opening and a map of upcoming detour changes will be posted at bendoregon.gov/empire.

COUNCIL UPDATES:

Transportation System Plan Adoption

Council adopted (with a first reading) Bend’s new Transportation System Plan (TSP), which addresses current community concerns of improving traffic flow and safety in Bend. The TSP is the City’s vision and guide for transportation improvements that will contribute to an economically vital, healthy and equitable community over the next 20 years. Bend’s new TSP, last updated in 2001, is the result of over two years of research and public involvement led by the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), a 21-member committee of Council-appointed community members who represented a wide array of values. The plan considers transportation priorities for those who drive, bike and walk around Bend. Read more on Council's adoption of the TSP.

Transportation Bond

Councilors agreed to put the $190 million transportation bond on the November ballot. Bond projects address traffic flow, east-west connections and neighborhood safety improvement projects. Sensitive to today’s COVID-related economic struggle, taxes won’t be levied until 2022. See bendoregon.gov/safe-travel for project lists. Council also committed to allocate potential bond revenues toward the identified project list and declared an intent to create a bond Oversight Committee. Learn more in this issue summary from the Counil meeting on August 19.

Core Area Increment Finance Plan Adoption

Council adopted the Core Area Tax Increment Finance Plan and established the Core Area Tax Increment Finance Area. The plan identifies up to $195 million in tax increment financing for projects that support the development and redevelopment of the 637-acre Core Area over a 30-year period. The Core Area primarily includes the Bend Central District, East Downtown, inner Highway 20/Greenwood, and KorPine opportunity areas from the 2016 Urban Grown Boundary expansion and Comprehensive Plan update, which identified the need for about 1,900 new housing units and about 1,700 new jobs to meet our state-mandated housing and employment goals. Revenue generated from tax increment financing (TIF) are to be invested in capital projects, such as:

• Transportation, streetscape and utility infrastructure
• Affordable housing assistance, partnership and support
• Business assistance, partnership and support
• Open space, facilities, amenities and wayfinding
• Plan administration, implementation, reporting and support

Find out more details about the preliminary approval from this early August press release on our News page.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Goal Update

On Wednesday, August 19, City Council voted to establish a permanent Council commission focused on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) called the Human Rights and Equity Commission. The action came after Council received an update on its diversity, equity and inclusion goal (page 11) and discussed potential structures for a permanent DEI commission. 

The City worked with local consultants Allyship in Action to interview community stakeholders and convene a DEI Short Term Task Force to provide recommendations to Council on a proposed structure for the Human Rights and Equity Commission. Here are the report and recommendations the consultants shared during the Council meeting.  

Establishing a permanent commission to develop a DEI action plan is one of four actions in the Council’s DEI goal. Allyship in Action has also provided DEI training to City Council, City staff leadership, local elected officials and multiple City departments, in addition to convening the DEI Short Term Task Force. Allyship in Action is also completing an organizational baseline DEI assessment of the City, which is expected to be completed by the end of September. 

For more information on the DEI Council goal, visit bendoregon.gov/council.

STREET PRESERVATION SEASON 2020 IS WRAPPING UP

The 2020 seasonal work for street preservation will be wrapped up by the end of August. The Streets and Operations Division of the Transportation and Mobility Department preserved 78 lane miles of streets in Bend using chip, slurry seal and paving techniques. This week, the crews finished paving in the Tanglewood neighborhood, and will wrap up its season in the East and West Campbell neighborhoods.

NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING BENEFIT DISTRICT PILOT PROJECT TO BEGIN THIS FALL

Old Bend Parking Benefit District Map

The City will launch a new Neighborhood Parking Benefit District pilot project in the Old Bend Neighborhood this fall. 

Old Bend experiences an influx of people from the downtown shopping district, nearby parks and special events. These lead to safety issues and limited parking for local residents. 

The residential parking permit program aligns with a Council Goal to develop a community-wide parking program and a 2018 parking study. 

Old Bend was chosen after the City heard complaints from the Old Bend Neighborhood about parking congestion, nuisance and safety issues, sparse parking enforcement, downtown employees parking to avoid paying monthly fees, rude behavior from park visitors and RV and camper parking. The City held meetings with neighbors and business owners to develop a recommendation for a Parking Benefit District Pilot Program for the Old Bend Neighborhood.

A Parking Benefit District is a geographic area where portion of generated parking revenue is returned to the district to finance improvements that enhance the quality of life and promote neighborhood safety. The area included in the Old Bend Parking District is bounded by the Downtown Parking District, the Deschutes River, the Bend Parkway and Arizona Ave. 

Goals for the district, which should be launched in October, are to prioritize parking availability for Old Bend residents while allowing some visitor permits for other uses and to create some time-restricted parking around small business corridors and public parks.  

More FAQs and information about the Parking Benefit District can be found at bendoregon.gov/parking-district.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE SURVEY & EDUCATION RESULTS

Earlier this spring, the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA) put out a community survey on land use. Many of our Bend Current readers responded to this survey, and the results are now available online at bendoregon.gov/nla.   

We’ve heard community members consistently say that land use in Oregon is difficult to understand. Oregon’s unique land use policies can be confusing. As part of 2019-2021 Council Goals, City Council established a goal for developing land use education resources to help the community gain a better understanding of the topic. 

This anonymous survey helped the NLA to better understand the Bend community’s knowledge of the Oregon land use planning program and contributed to the development of a Land Use Education Plan. This plan identifies resources that will be developed over the next year, as well as community outreach to aid in the launch of these resources. The plan includes the development of new webpage on the City’s website, an interactive zoning and land use application map, educational videos and frequently asked questions, as well as multiple “How to” documents that will help community members navigate the City’s databases and processes.