Bend City Council Meeting – June 4, 2025

The Bend City Council held a work session from 5:00 PM and a regular session from 7:00 PM on June 4, 2025, at City Hall. The work session covered a transit update from Cascades East Transit, a council goal work plan revision, and a fee resolution presentation (SDCs, planning fee recalibration, solid waste fees). The regular session included proclamations for Gun Violence Awareness, Pride Month, and the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday; public testimony; consent agenda approval; and final action on several ordinances and resolutions. Key outcomes included first readings for housing code amendments and an emergency parking ordinance delay, adoption of a climate action partner grant program and electric-first fleet policy, and approval of the Visit Bend budget, while the Neighborhood Street Safety Program contract was not authorized, and staff were directed to pursue alternative approaches.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from May 7 and May 16, 2025, council meetings.
• Accepted the OLCC report.
• Approved the April monthly financial report.
• Authorized an amendment with Oxarc, Inc. for water treatment chemicals up to $307,749.15.
• Authorized a contract with Olson, LLC for Phase 15 of the Residential Meter Box Upgrade Project, up to $342,500.
• Authorized a five-year agreement with GSI Water Solutions, Inc. for water rights consulting, up to $525,000.
• Approved an amendment to the 2023 childcare accelerator grant with Central Oregon Community College.
• Adopted a resolution authorizing $4 million in HUD Pathways to Remove Obstacles to Housing grant funds for affordable housing competitive applications.
• Adopted a resolution amending the Safe Parking Pod Grant Program to expand allowed uses.
• Authorized purchase from Hughes Fire Equipment for up to five Horton Medic unit remounts, total up to $1,311,146, plus up to $65,600 for unanticipated chassis price increases.
• Approved the Municipal Judge Employment Agreement appointing Erin Zemper for a two-year term.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Transit Update (Work Session): Bob Townsend, Cascades East Transit Director, provided a legislative update on service expansions (6 AM–7:30 PM effective Monday), proposed fare structure ($2 full, $1 reduced, $4 dial-a-ride), transit pass introduction, and legislative priorities (QE entity language, payroll tax increase). Councilors and staff discussed reduced fares for low-income riders, student discounts, and the importance of building ridership data before major route changes in spring 2026.
• Council Goal Work Plan (Work Session): Stephanie Betteridge (Chief Innovation Officer) and Russ Grayson (Chief Operations Officer) presented revisions. Council adjusted metrics for water conservation (165 gallons per day per capita) and prioritized tree canopy plan, gas leaf blowers, and dark sky initiatives as capacity allows. Support was expressed for delaying the energy navigator program a year to focus on electrification policy.
• Fee Resolution (Work Session): Dan Quick (Budget Manager) previewed proposed fee increases: water rates 4.9%, water reclamation 1.8%, stormwater 8%, solid waste 3.9%, and SDC annual inflation increase of 2.3%. Planning division fee recalibration aimed at recovering costs for 70% of permits that generate only 30% of revenue. Councilor Franzosa raised concerns about efficiency and block party road closure fees.
• Regular Session – Public Comments (Item 9): Multiple residents opposed the proposed Century Drive crossing at Mammoth Drive, citing safety concerns, lack of community outreach, loss of turn lanes, and limited access to the Hall Road Trail. Some supported the Chamberlain Neighborhood Connectivity project but questioned the use of NSSP funds for paving. One resident supported all three projects, noting the danger of crossing Century Drive.
• Regular Session – Public Hearing (Item 5 – Housing Code): Three speakers (Austin Masolini, Ryan Starr, David Welton) expressed strong support for the code amendments (second ADU, row houses, second kitchen), highlighting increased housing options and infill potential.

Discussion Items

• Transit Update (Work Session): CET Director Bob Townsend reported expansion of service hours starting June 2, 2025 (6 AM–7:30 PM), launch of Route 8 in Northeast Bend (July 14), direct airport route (4 AM–noon trial), transit pass introduction (summer 2025), and fare reintroduction (target October 2025). Proposed fares: $2 full, $1 reduced, with three-trip daily max. Legislative updates: qualified entity (QE) language to reduce administrative loss; payroll tax increase proposals ranging from 0.18% to 0.5%. Council discussed the need for data-driven route adjustments by spring 2026.
• Council Goal Work Plan (Work Session): Staff walked through revisions to the 2025-2027 council goal work plan. Changes included: removing gas leaf blower and dark sky actions from the main plan (to revisit as capacity allows); delaying the energy navigator program one year; adopting a per capita water conservation metric of 165 gallons/day instead of “no net increase”; and adding walkshed/bikeshed analysis metrics. Council also discussed exploring separate work session and business meeting days for future efficiency.
• Fee Resolution (Work Session): Staff presented the draft fee resolution for citywide fees, solid waste rates, and SDCs. Planning and building fees were recalibrated to address structural deficits; a one-time 8% increase plus targeted adjustments (total ~10%) was proposed for planning fees, with no planned increase in January 2026. Building fee increases were dialed back. Councilor Franzosa emphasized efficiency improvements before fee hikes.
• Executive Session (Work Session): Council met in executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(h) for legal consultation on current litigation or litigation likely to be filed (10 minutes).
• Item 5 – Housing Code Amendments: First reading of an ordinance amending BDC to allow: (1) a second kitchen in a dwelling unit; (2) a second accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a lot (800 sq ft max for one, 500 sq ft for the other); (3) row houses as a new detached dwelling type. Planning Commission recommended unanimously. Council debated eliminating the 800/500 size distinction; majority (4-3) kept the smaller second ADU to encourage diverse housing types. Motion passed unanimously.
• Item 6 – Parking Code Emergency Ordinance: First reading of an emergency ordinance delaying implementation of the new parking code (adopted December 2024) from July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, due to vendor integration and testing issues. Also extends continuous parking on streets from 24 to 72 hours. Unanimous.
• Item 7 – Climate Action Partner Grant Program: Resolution adopted establishing a grant program funded at $150,000 annually (FY25-27 budget). The Environmental and Climate Committee will review applications and recommend awards up to $250,000; city manager makes final approval. Unanimous.
• Item 8 – Electric-First Fleet Policy: Resolution adopted directing the city manager to develop an administrative electric-first policy for fleet vehicles under 9,000 lbs GVWR (light/medium duty). Allows hybrids if no EV available; exemptions for single vehicles (city manager) or entire class (council). Unanimous.
• Item 9 – Neighborhood Street Safety Program Contract: Motion to authorize $1,258,996 contract with K&E Excavating Inc. for three projects (Archie Briggs sidewalk infill, Chamberlain Street connectivity, Century Drive crossing at Mammoth) failed due to lack of majority support. Council instead directed staff to (1) pursue a self-perform option for Archie Briggs sidewalk, (2) look at Silver Lake and Chamberlain improvements holistically with a future project, and (3) reevaluate alternative safe crossing options on Century Drive.
• Item 10 – Visit Bend Budget: Council approved the FY25-26 business plan and budget of $4,976,200 for Visit Bend. Discussion included marketing strategies to address declining summer occupancy (due to wildfire/smoke) and enhanced collaboration with the city. Unanimous.
• Item 11 – Tax Increment Finance Plans (Second Reading): Adopted ordinances for Britta Ridge, Century, and Veridian TIF areas. All passed on roll call (Councilor Franzosa voted no on Britta Ridge and Century; yes on Veridian).
• Item 12 – Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Second Reading): Adopted amendments to BMC Chapter 7.16 to update operating license provisions. Passed on roll call (Councilor Perkins abstained).
• Item 13 – Boards and Commissions Amendments (Second Reading): Adopted ordinance allowing ex-officio and alternate members. Passed on roll call (Councilor Perkins abstained).
• BURA Meeting: Cancelled; items postponed to June 18, 2025 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda (unanimous).
• Approved first readings of housing code amendments (unanimous) and emergency parking ordinance delay (unanimous).
• Adopted resolutions for the Climate Action Partner Grant Program (unanimous) and Electric-First Fleet Policy (unanimous).
• Did not authorize the Neighborhood Street Safety Program contract; directed staff to pursue alternative approaches on the three subprojects (Archie Briggs self-perform, Chamberlain/Silver Lake holistic review, Century Drive corridor crossing evaluation).
• Approved Visit Bend FY25-26 budget of $4,976,200 (unanimous).
• Adopted TIF plans for Britta Ridge, Century, and Veridian areas (roll call votes).
• Adopted short-term rental ordinance amendments (roll call, Perkins abstained).
• Adopted ordinance on ex-officio and alternate board members (roll call, Perkins abstained).
• Appointments: Fenix Van Tassel to HREC (alternate); Chris Cheng, Kim Curley, Sam Johnson, Kristin Reidelberger, Alex Mann, Chase Reynolds, Dave Howe, Mason Lacy, Travis Widdifield to Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (approved).