CELEBRATE SAFELY AND LEGALLY

We are headed into summer, which for many people means thinking about the Fourth of July! Before you buy illegal fireworks Bend Fire & Rescue asks you to consider the risks: fines, injuries and fires that can happen when using illegal fireworks. So many things can go wrong. Illegal fireworks can cause serious injuries and devastating fires.

Before you buy illegal fireworks...watch this video!

What are illegal fireworks in Oregon? Generally, it’s those that fly off the ground, explode or eject balls of fire. If you shop at a local licensed outlet you’re good to go! Or check out safety tips at this Bend Fire & Rescue webpage.

We need the community’s help to keep our neighborhoods safe when celebrating this Fourth of July: Help us spread the word that illegal fireworks are dangerous and unsafe. Illegal fireworks are those that explode, fly high, or act in an unpredictable manner, such as M80’s, mortars and cherry bombs. Remind others that Illegal fireworks are subject up to a $750 fine.  

Get fireworks safety tips here!

TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation Bond Oversight Committee

In November, Bend voters passed the 2020 Transportation General Obligation (GO) Bond investing in priority projects in every part of the city to improve traffic flow, east-west connections and neighborhood safety. 

Part of the 2020 Transportation GO Bond included the formation of an oversight committee, appointed by City Council, to monitor, track and report to the community on the 2020 Transportation GO Bond project expenses, progress and benchmarks. The 11-member Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC) will also recommend metrics for prioritizing the projects, project scheduling and project sequencing.

The first Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC) meeting was held on May 18, where members moved forward with a recommendation to continue with design of the Wilson Avenue Corridor project.

For more information on future meetings, you can head to bendoregon.gov/TBOC.

To learn more about all of the bond-funded projects, bendoregon.gov/safe-travel

Murphy Corridor Improvements Ahead of Schedule

The modernization work of Murphy Road between Country Club and Parrell Road is three months ahead of schedule and is set to open the evening of Friday, May 28!

Crews are hard at work paving Murphy Road this week. One lane of the road will be maintained on Murphy Road from Country Club Drive while the road is being paved one-half at a time. During this time crews will also be prepping and pouring sidewalks and continuing work on the landscaping and irrigation.

Construction is set to move on to the next and final phase of the project with the BNSF bridge overcrossing and extension of Murphy Road connecting Brosterhous Road to 15^th Street. This phase includes improvements such as shared-use paths, safe crossings and bIke lanes.

To learn more about the project you can head to bendoregon.gov/murphyproject.

Columbia Roundabouts Update

Work on the Columbia Roundabouts project continues as the Columbia Street and Colorado Avenue roundabout opened on May 14.

The focus now shifts to the Columbia Street and Simpson Avenue intersection which was closed for roundabout construction on May 17. All work on Columbia Avenue is expected to be complete by August.

Learn more about the project and the detours in place by heading to bendoregon.gov/columbia-roundabouts.

Newport Corridor Improvement Project Update

Construction continues on Newport Avenue to address a failing and deficient storm drain system serving the drainage basin on the south side of Awbrey Butte.

Every Tuesday the City will host an informational kiosk in front of Newport Market from noon to 1 p.m. Please feel free to stop by with your questions for City, design and construction management team members.

You can always learn more at the Newport Corridor Improvement Project webpage.

HOMELESSNESS SOUNDING BOARD

The Sounding Board to House Our Neighbors has been meeting to tackle issues related to homelessness, with the goal of helping City staff develop a strategy to allow varying types of shelter and transitional housing in Bend.

To learn more about the City’s work supporting our unhoused community members, visit: bendoregon.gov/homelessness.

PROJECT TURNKEY

At the Bend City Council meeting this week, Mayor Pro Tem Gena Goodman Campbell read a statement and made two motions that passed unanimously.

Goodman Campbell said the City has been pursuing the purchase of a hotel to convert to a shelter through Project Turnkey grant funding, and the City had entered into two purchase and sale agreements earlier this month. “No matter what happens with these motels and Project Turnkey funding, the City remains committed to increasing options for temporary, transitional, and workforce housing in Bend, including through public and private partnerships in the Bend Central District,” Goodman Campbell said.

The Council directed staff to:

• negotiate with the owner of the Bend Value Inn to extend the due diligence period and negotiate the sales price, to further investigate the condition of the facility and the availability of Project Turnkey or other funding.
• to terminate the purchase and sale agreement for the Rainbow Motel.

CITY OF BEND BUDGET PROCESS

The City’s Budget Committee conducted its budget deliberations on May 11 and 12 for the proposed biennial budget for 2021-23. The Council’s final adoption of the budget will come in June.

Learn more about the Budget Adoption Process.

MORE HOUSING CHOICES FOR BENDITES

The City is in the process of making important code changes that will provide more housing choices for Bend residents! 

In 2019 the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 2001 which requires Oregon cities with over 25,000 population to allow the development of certain types of “middle housing” such as duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, within residential zones.  

To view the proposed amendments and for more information on Bend’s HB 2001 implementation, visit bendoregon.gov/HB-2001.

AFFORDABLE BROADBAND ACCESS

The Bend City Council’s goals include partnering with agencies and organizations to increase affordable broadband access, and we have some helpful information about discounts for households struggling to afford broadband services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible families and households who are struggling to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying households on Tribal lands can receive a discount of up to $75 per month for service. Eligible households can also receive a discount of up to $100 for the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. For more info, please visit: fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

SIGNS OF THE SEASON

It’s the time of year when we see signs for election campaigns, yard sales and garage sales popping up all around town. Do you know where you can post those signs? 

Within the City of Bend, a property may have one or more temporary signs displayed in the yard or on a building, beginning 60 days before any election date. Posted signs must be removed ending seven days after the election date. In a residential zone the sign(s) must not exceed six square feet in area and if placed in the ground the sign height must not exceed six feet.  

The Bend Sign Code does not regulate signs based on content or the message displayed, because in Oregon governments cannot regulate speech. Instead, signs are regulated based on duration of display (temporary versus permanent) number on a site, size, placement and sign type (wall signs, window sign, freestanding sign, etc.).  

Temporary signs placed in a yard or on a building are allowed as long as the sign is in compliance with current sign code standards and regulations. The standards and regulations also apply to yard sale and garage sale signs people post around town this time of year. 

City of Bend Sign Code.

NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH

May is National Historic Preservation Month!

Bend has come a long way from the small lumber town of the early 1900s that it once was – however, remnants of Bend’s history are still found throughout much of the downtown and older residential areas of the City. Take a look at some of the historical buildings and structures still standing today using the City of Bend’s Historic Resource Story Map.