Bend City Council Meeting - April 5, 2023: Work Session and Regular Meeting
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Bend City Council Meeting - April 5, 2023: Work Session and Regular Meeting
The Bend City Council held a work session starting at 5:00 p.m. followed by a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. on April 5, 2023. The work session included presentations on the Bend Police Department's 2023 Community Survey, a proposed Right-of-Way Code, and the Transportation Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update. The regular meeting featured proclamations, public comments on homelessness, consent agenda approvals, quasi-judicial hearings on the Wildflower Master Planned Development and a right-of-way vacation, and approval of a grant to the Environmental Center. The Bend Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) met immediately after to approve meeting minutes and adopt two new assistance programs for the Core Area.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda (minutes, OLCC report, monthly financials, agreements for Aune Street Extension feasibility study ($196,283), REACH Out NP amendment ($60,000), and Riverfront Street reconstruction IGA with BPRD ($346,750)) with item F pulled for discussion. Councilor Campbell requested clarification that the Riverfront Street project would not preclude a people-priority design. Staff confirmed all options remain on the table. The IGA was then approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Allie Stoddard (Bend resident): Urged council to reconsider enforcement of camping codes against unhoused individuals, citing a case where a disabled woman was forced to move a propane tank and table, creating safety risks. Stated code enforcement and police are not trained for trauma-informed interactions.
- Eric Gardi (Prineville, works in Bend): Representing ACLU and Bend Equity Project, argued that encampment sweeps and vehicle tows violate the ADA and Ninth Circuit precedent. Noted a woman with MS lost her vehicle and medication access.
- David Jordan (Bend resident): Requested enforcement of Bend City Ordinance 4.20.030 prohibiting camping in residential zones, citing conflicts with police guidance not to move campers living in RVs. Reported drug dealing and trash on private property.
Discussion Items
- 2023 Bend Police Department Bi-Annual Community Survey: Chief Krance presented results. Key findings: nearly 80% of respondents trust BPD; 96% would call police if victim or witness; 32% feel less safe than in 2021. Public safety priorities: drugs/alcohol, property crimes. Survey recommended realigning police responsibilities with resources, expanding alternative responders, and improving communication. Police Chief’s Advisory Council members Hans Jorgensen and Laura Winberry spoke: Jorgensen advocated for staffing increases (currently <1 sworn officer per 1,000 residents; state average ~1.5), while Winberry emphasized need for equity in outreach to marginalized communities and alternative responses for homelessness and mental health.
- Right of Way Code: Associate City Attorney Michael Selkirk proposed replacing individual franchise agreements with a uniform code to streamline management and ensure fair compensation (~$13M annually). Council directed staff to proceed with drafting and a 45-day stakeholder comment period.
- Transportation CIP Update: Engineering Director Ryan Oester presented the five-year, $38M Transportation Capital Improvement Program, funded primarily by SDCs. Key projects: Wilson Avenue corridor ($5M in next biennium), Third Street/Reed Market intersection improvements, Galveston corridor design, and bike/pedestrian greenways. Council noted the connection to the GO Bond program.
- Wildflower Master Planned Development (Item 6, Quasi-Judicial): Public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 4.8 acres from Mixed Employment (ME) to Residential Medium Density (RM) and amend the master plan for 586 units of middle housing. Applicant Evergreen Housing presented a reduced commercial concept (1.4 acres ME with flexible flex zone). Planning Commission recommended denial of the rezone due to reduction of commercial land, but recommended approval of text amendments. Council heard extensive public testimony: 8 speakers in favor (citing need for housing, safety concerns from encampments) and 4 opposed (favoring complete communities, retaining commercial potential). Council approved the motion as amended: (1) added a phasing requirement that the flex area (buildings M1 and F1) be held for potential commercial use and developed only after phase one completion; (2) rejected the applicant’s proposal to expand drive-through allowance (retained existing “coffee huts only” language). First reading passed.
- Sisemore Road Right-of-Way Vacation (Item 7): Uncontested first reading to vacate an undeveloped historic right-of-way segment in Skyline West subdivision. Approved.
- Environmental Center Grant (Item 8): Council authorized a $41,965 grant agreement for the Rethink Waste Community Innovation Fund to support waste reduction projects aligned with the Community Climate Action Plan. Councilor Riley recused due to conflict of interest (he is executive director of the Environmental Center). Approved.
- Deschutes Plat Alley Vacation (Item 9): Second reading and adoption of ordinance to vacate a portion of an alley right-of-way bound by NW Arizona, Bond, Colorado, and Wall Streets. Approved by roll call.
- Bend Urban Renewal Agency (BURA): Approved minutes from February 15, 2023. Received update on annual performance reporting framework (14 metrics). Adopted Core Area Business Assistance Program (grants up to $50,000) and Core Area Development Assistance Program (grants up to $750,000) as recommended by the Core Area Advisory Board, with direction to ensure accessibility for undercapitalized and BIPOC-owned businesses.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the 2023 Police Survey findings and directed staff to continue efforts on alternative response and community engagement.
- Directed staff to draft a Right-of-Way Code and return for first reading by fall 2023.
- Advance the Transportation CIP as presented; will be incorporated into biennial budget process.
- Approved (with amendments) the Wildflower MPD rezone and text amendment (first reading). The motion included a phasing condition for potential commercial flex space and rejected the drive-through expansion.
- Approved the Sisemore Road right-of-way vacation (first reading).
- Approved the $41,965 grant to the Environmental Center for the Rethink Waste Community Innovation Fund.
- Adopted the Deschutes Plat alley vacation ordinance (second reading, roll call 7-0).
- Appointed David Johnson to the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance.
- BURA: Adopted Core Area Business and Development Assistance Programs; approved February 15, 2023 meeting minutes.
Meeting Transcript
So let's begin our April 5th work session, Chief Krance. Good afternoon. Uh Mike Krance, Chief of Police, Ben Police Department. Um Council, today I have the opportunity to present to you the twenty twenty three community attitudes regarding public safety uh survey. And really I'm gonna give you an overview of the key findings, a very high level overview of the key findings, as is a pretty substantial report, and we have 30 minutes. Um the tech and the and the uh paper. Yes. Um I will uh I will introduce Hans Jorgensen and Laura Winberry, members of the police chief's advisory council, and they're gonna have an opportunity here and just uh provide a little bit of input. Um today uh the survey was completed in twenty twenty-three biennium, so it's for this biennium. Uh we've conducted a biannual survey since twenty seventeen. This is the fourth survey. The largest survey done, this is the largest survey done in the city on community sentiment around public safety, and it's uh statistically valid at ten thousand surveys going out with approximately fifteen hundred in return. Uh the results of the community input is used to provide direction and developing goals within the police department as as well as within the city. Uh for instance, as a result of the last survey, uh police uh Ben Police Department developed police chiefs advisory council consistent with the uh increased desire for community engagement and input. We developed something called the spider tech system, which I'll talk a little bit about a little later in the survey, which is a uh feedback um information sharing system that was highly needed or or wanted um based on the last survey. And um, like I said, we developed the police chief advisory council, and I'm gonna have uh Hans and Laura introduce themselves and have a couple minutes to talk about uh their perception of the survey. Hans? My name is Hans Jorgenson. I'm a member of the police chief's advisory council, as the chief said. Uh just a few thoughts that I want to share with you based on the survey, uh also in connection with the draft goals for public safety. Um some recommendations perhaps on long-term staffing strategy. Uh I would say that survey fatigue is real and uh seeing fifteen hundred responses. I'd I think that's pretty significant. I think it's representative, and I think we can draw conclusions that are consistent with the community as a whole. Uh regarding council draft goals for public safety. I I think they're very well aligned, and that's exciting. That's really encouraging to me. Um reduced service demands. The thing that really stuck out to me under the reduced service demands was the need for education. We talked about this in the PCAC. Um, we just cannot afford for any department, especially a relatively in my opinion, short staff department like BPD. We can't afford to send resources that aren't necessary or aren't appropriate. Sometimes only a uniform will work. That's a fact. And sometimes the uniform is may exacerbate a situation. So I think that we should consider making a bit of a an effort to message and educate our community on how to get the right resource. And that goes beyond just BPD. I mean, sometimes it's hard as trying to figure out I want to get a permit, who do I talk to? But but we're talking about BPD tonight. Um staffing strategy, we all know it's everyone wants to feel welcome and safe. One of the things that that came out of the survey, as I read responses was for some people, safe means being more aware of police presence, seeing cops more often in their daily routine. And uh that just that comes down to staffing. Um technology to not technology is great. I mean, we have great technology, uh, but drones can't go to a domestic violence call. I mean, there's just certain limitations for technology. That's a reality. Um I think statistically, I don't like average, that's a not a very good tool statistically. But if we're gonna talk averages nationally, FBI data shows that police departments have 2.4 sworn per thousand. 3.4 in total, meaning about 30% of a department is typically non-sworn. Um that's the national average.
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