Bend Current, Newsletter for the Community, July 2022
Wilson and Ninth Street RoundaboutThe Wilson Avenue and Ninth Street roundabout is now open! We created this video to help explain how to navigate Bend’s first-ever bicycle-protected roundabout. The roundabout works the same as a single-lane roundabout, but has a protected bike lane around the outside, between the sidewalk and vehicle lane. If you’re riding a bike you’ll have the option to ride in the protected bike lane or the vehicle travel lane. If you want to learn more about this new intersection you can head to bendoregon.gov/wilson.
City Council Update
Camping Code
Councilors gave City staff guidance on how to proceed with developing a Bend Municipal Code to regulate unsanctioned camping on City rights-of-way, such as streets, sidewalks and landscape strips. Unsanctioned camping is the type of camping the City hears a lot of concerns about – unmanaged campsites popping up along City streets and sidewalks. The Bend Municipal Code currently does not ban camping on public property or rights-of-way. Council is beginning discussions on how to regulate camping on City rights-of-way. Upcoming Council meetings will consistently include discussions and decision points on drafting a code. The code would be outlined based on Council policy direction and next steps will include public outreach and roundtable discussions with a diverse representation of community members, partners and public agencies. Public input will be channeled directly to Council. Check out the Unsanctioned Camping Code project page and you can sign up for email updates on this topic at bendoregon.gov/enews.
Houselessness Update
Here is Councilor Megan Perkin’s update highlighting achievements in addressing houselessness by increasing shelter capacity and supporting services that people need to get back on their feet and into stable housing.
Council Filing Period
Three City Council seats and the position of Mayor will be placed on the ballot for the November 2022 election. Bend residents interested in being elected in November to serve on the City Council can file now through August 30, 2022. Information about filing, including forms, can be found here. Candidates must reside within the city limits of Bend for at least one year prior to taking office and be a registered voter. Home Energy Score The City of Bend is considering a Home Energy Score Program to improve transparency around the energy cost of homes and encourage energy-efficient homes and is seeking feedback on the proposed program. Learn more about the Home Energy Score Program and provide feedback. Smart Irrigation Month
Even with some welcome late-season precipitation, most of Deschutes County is experiencing drought conditions for the third year in a row. As we move into our peak summer months of July and August, these conditions are forecast to continue. Conservation remains an effective tool to mitigate the effects of seasonal drought conditions and keep the demands on our water supplies in check. There are a few easy ways we can leverage smart technology to prevent water use and bills from getting out of control.
The City of Bend’s conservation program has an updated webpage that holds helpful water savings information, native pollinator information, and smart irrigation equipment rebates. Learn more at waterwisetips.org. Noxious Weeds
Have you spotted some of these common invasive weeds in your neighborhood? Help us improve native plant habitat by eradicating noxious weeds in your own backyard! They could be noxious weeds, which are non-native, aggressive plants brought to the U.S. accidentally or on purpose. These plants are invading vast areas across the West, Deschutes County and the City of Bend. Noxious weeds increase soil erosion, reduce habitat for wildlife, rob native plants of water, nutrients and light and are potentially toxic to humans and other animals. When they die, they also become a fire hazard risk. Some examples include Orange Hawkweed, Dalmatian Toadflax, Spotted Knapweed, and others. When pulling the weeds, be sure to wear gloves. Do not dispose of the weeds in your compost! Instead, put the weeds into a plastic bag and dispose of the weeds at the Deschutes County Landfill. For more information on how you can help prevent the spread of noxious weeds, visit bendoregon.gov/weeds. Inside Bend: Stevens Road Tract
As the City continues to grow, so do the options for expanding the City’s Urban Growth Boundary and the ability to create more housing options. In this month’s episode of the Inside Bend podcast we talk to Brian Rankin, the City’s long range planning manager about the Stevens Road Tract Concept Plan. Rankin breaks down what the vision is for this development, explains what the impacts will be of adding this 261-acre piece of land to the City, and shares how this concept plan hopes to help create more housing options in Bend. You can listen to the podcast at bendoregon.gov/inside-bend or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. Public Safety Tips
Fire Emergency RemindersEmergency Alerts Emergencies, including fires, flooding and hazardous materials incidents can happen with little or no notice at any time of day or night. Deschutes Alerts allows you to receive emergency notifications about threats to your safety. You can opt-in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messages, email, and more based on the locations you care about Visit our partners at Deschutes County at deschutes.org/911 to register for alerts. In case of an evacuation it is important to understand the what the three evacuation levels mean. Evacuation Levels Level 1 – “BE READY!” for potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area and monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information. Level 2 – “BE SET!” to evacuate. You must prepare to leave at a moment’s notice. This level indicates there is significant danger to your area. Level 3 – “GO!” evacuate now. Leave immediately! Learn more at deschutes.org/emergency. Preventing Car Break-insThere are few things more infuriating than coming to your car to find it has been broken into overnight. Thieves are looking for easy targets, commonly called “smash and grabs,” that will allow them to quickly grab valuables and move on to the next car. While we can’t prevent 100 percent of these incidents, there are simple steps you can take to deter thieves. The top way to prevent your car being broken into is by locking the doors and rolling up the windows. Don’t leave your keys in the car, either. Next, make sure valuables are out of sight. That means off the seat, dashboard, floorboard or center console. Thieves are looking for shopping bags, purses and wallets, laptops, backpacks, phones, electronics, keys, even change and cash – a cupholder full of change may not seem like a big deal to you, but could be an impetus for a thief to break in. When parking your car, find a well-lit area and look for spots with lots of people around. If you have to leave valuables in the car, lock them in the trunk, and do so prior to parking, because sometimes thieves will already be watching when you’re moving stuff to your trunk before locking the car and leaving. If you are the victim of a car break-in, call nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 to report the incident. You can also file an online report at BendPoliceReports.com if the incident took place in the City of Bend. If your wallet was stolen, call your banks to cancel your cards – this will help you avoid being revictimized. Internet Safety TipsIn collaboration with kidshealth.org, the Bend Police would like to extend some basic guidelines for how parents and guardians can supervise kids’ online use. Once you’ve opened the door with a discussion about appropriate internet use, kids will have a good understanding of what is acceptable — even when you’re apart.
If your child discloses anything suspicious with online activity, you can always call the Bend Police to discuss this with an officer and determine whether a crime has occurred. The nonemergency dispatch line is 541-693-6911 Does this newsletter look different?The City recently assessed its graphics, fonts and colors used for outreach materials. To be more accessible, inclusive and consistent in our outreach, we made some updates. Watch for more changes to our materials in the coming months!
|
||||||
|
(541) 388-5505 communications@bendoregon.gov |
||||||
| Visit bendoregon.gov/bend-current to find past issues of the Bend Current. | ||||||
|
||||||
|









