Bend City Council Regular Meeting, Work Session, and Executive Session - March 6, 2024
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Bend City Council Regular Meeting, Work Session, and Executive Session - March 6, 2024
The Bend City Council met on March 6, 2024, starting with a work session at 5:00 p.m. on the transportation fee following listening sessions, followed by an executive session on real property transactions, and then a regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. The regular meeting included proclamations, public comments, approval of the consent agenda, a memorandum of understanding with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the removal of a member from the Human Rights and Equity Commission (HREC).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes for the February 21, 2024 work session and regular meeting.
- OLCC Report – accepted as presented.
- Monthly Financial Report for January 2024 – accepted.
- Lease Extension with Cookson, LLC – authorized the city manager to extend the lease for property at 709 NW Wall Street for 36 months with an option for an additional 24 months, at a total cost of $1,745,776.80.
- Radio Purchase from Motorola Solutions, Inc. – authorized purchase of 23 radios and accessories for up to $180,587.95.
- Vehicle Equipment Purchase from Wire Works, LLC – authorized purchase of vehicle equipment and labor for up to $625,000.
- All consent items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marge Kalama Gabriel (in person) – Expressed support for the MOU with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and requested that the city recognize the tribe’s authentic Native American art studio to help verify authenticity and steer away from foreign works. She provided information about an upcoming art show.
- Doran Tai (via Zoom) – Criticized the city’s management of the Bend Municipal Airport, citing low-flying aircraft, noise, lead pollution, harassment by flight schools, and lack of monitoring. Asked for action to protect residents.
- Nora Heron (via Zoom) – Spoke as a young person concerned about climate change; urged the council to enact appliance standards to electrify the city and protect health. She referenced a climate march and letter delivered to the council.
- Diane Hodiak (via Zoom) – Executive Director of 350 Deschutes; highlighted health risks from gas appliances (formaldehyde, NOx), citing a Stanford study and increased asthma risk in children. Supported zero-NOx standards for appliances and cited benefits of electric heat pumps (up to 40% energy cost savings).
- Foster Fell (in person) – Expressed concern about the lack of public information regarding charges against Joanne Mina and urged that she be allowed to respond before any removal. He praised Mina as a courageous progressive activist.
- Lindsay (in person, from Ben’s Preschool) – Promoted a free preschool program for working families with income up to $62,000 for a family of four, underutilized due to lack of awareness.
Discussion Items
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation – City Manager presented the MOU, which arose from a joint work session on November 1, 2023. The MOU establishes a framework for government-to-government relations on water resources, land use, cultural resource protection, and sustainable economic development. It includes annual meetings between the CEO and city manager, and rotating meetings between tribal council and city council. A June visit to Warm Springs is being planned. The council voted unanimously to authorize the mayor to sign the MOU.
- Removal of HREC Member – Mayor Kebler moved to remove Joanne Mina from the Human Rights and Equity Commission, citing communication and behavior that hindered the group’s work and safety. She stated that she had asked Mina to change her behavior in late January, and when it did not change, asked for her resignation on February 26, which Mina refused. Mayor Pro Tem Perkins seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Councilor Campbell expressed hope that Mina would continue as a community activist.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda approved unanimously.
- MOU with Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs authorized by unanimous vote (moved and seconded, all in favor).
- Removal of Joanne Mina from HREC approved unanimously.
- Committee Updates: The Community Building Subcommittee discussed the Bend Bikeway and Neighborhood Street Safety Program (17 projects built, $3.5 million remaining for 10–12 more projects). The Stewardship Subcommittee will meet March 25 to discuss neighborhood code changes and other updates.
- City Manager’s Report: Provided an update on Safe Parking programs (three sites by REACH and one by Central Oregon Villages; 390 shelter nights provided at 93% utilization; five people transitioned to permanent housing). Also reported that the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld most of the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules, invalidating only the rule requiring cities to perform enhanced review of TSP projects and the rule allowing LCDC to invalidate non-compliant TSPs.
- Future Work Session: A work session on appliance standards is scheduled for the next council meeting in two weeks.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Ready? All right. So we will call to order the Ben City Council regular meeting. We're gonna go through our roll call. Start with you, Councillor Campbell. Barb Campbell, I prefer she and her pronouns. Ariel Mendez, he, him. Anthony Broadman here. Melanie Keebler, she, her. Megan Perkins, she, her. Mike Riley, he, him. Megan R. And then we have our um opening statement and lightning calls from Councillor Campbell. Thank you. The Ben City Council would like to thank the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs for offering this land acknowledgement for us to read during our meetings. We encourage everyone watching to learn about the indigenous people whose homelands we occupy. We would like to acknowledge that the beautiful land known as Bend, Oregon, north to the Columbia River, is the original homelands of the Confederated Tribes of Dwarm Springs. The Confederated Tribes ceded this land in the Treaty of 1855 while retaining regular and customary hunting, fishing, and gathering rights. The Wanalama or Warm Springs and Wascu or Wasco and Northern Paiu people inhabited this area in certain seasonal times that clearly established their presence. It is also important to note that the Klamath Trail ran north through this region to the great Salilo Falls trading grounds. This trade route expanded the impact of commerce between tribal nations. We acknowledge and thank the original stewards of this land. It is our hope that guests continue to honor and care for this land. Thank you, Councillor Campbell. So we will move into our good of the order, and the first item is our absolutely incredible Kid Day proclamation. Um so I think we have Nadia and I don't see Keisha, so Joey. And Joey, hi. Um, if you guys want to come up and get seated up here, I'll go ahead and read the proclamation. So this is for Campfire's Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Whereas on March 21st, 2024, the National Youth Development Organization Campfire, joined by Campfire Central Oregon, will celebrate the 28th annual Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. And Campfire provides a nurturing, encouraging, and fun environment for young and people to for young people to explore and discover their skills, passions, and unique attributes. And as part of the celebration of children on this day, adults are encouraged to write and post letters of love and appreciation to young people in their lives. And the Campfire Mission pledges a firm commitment to provide the experience youth need to discover who they are. And parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, mentors, and adults alike are urged to participate in absolutely incredible kid day and make a difference in the life of a child. Now, therefore, we the Benn City Council do hereby proclaim March 21st, 2024 to be absolutely incredible kid day in the city of Bend. I live to accept this proclamation. Second. Okay. Moved and seconded. All those in favor? Thank you, everybody. Um Joe, if you want to say a few words and talk about what's happening on an incredible kid day. Yeah, uh, first of all, thank you so much for recognizing the important role that we all play uh in the future of our youth and our young people. Um this proclamation provides an opportunity to celebrate and tell a young person in your life why they matter. Our words are powerful, and uh absolutely incredible kid day is a chance to say to a young person in your life, you matter, you are an incre you are incredible, and here's why. Uh in celebration of absolutely incredible kid day, Campfire Center Oregon. Uh, would like to invite everyone to join us on Wednesday, March 20th at the pavilion in Bend from 1 to 345 p.m. for ice skating activities and cake. Uh and be sure to get there early because Campfire will pay for the cost of skate rentals for the first 200 young people uh ages 18 and under.
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