All right, we will call um to order the city council business meeting for tonight.

Let's start with our roll call.

Um, start on your end, Councilor Franzoza.

Gina Franzosa, she her.

Ariel Mendez, he, him.

Melanie Keyboard, she her.

Megan Perkins, she her.

Megan Norris, she her.

She Platty.

And Councilor Riley is excused.

Um, okay.

So, first on our good of the order is a proclamation for the homeless persons memorial that may approach him Perkins is going to read this.

All right.

Whereas the winter poses hardship for unsheltered and inadequately inadequately housed low-income individuals and children in the state of Oregon.

And whereas the spirit of the holiday season of giving provides an opportunity for affirmation and renewal regarding our commitment to end homelessness.

And whereas December 21st has been designated National Homeless Persons Memorial Day by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.

I'm a so recognized by cities nationwide.

And whereas Central Oregon helps homeless people survive, find housing, and rebuild their lives, organizes the Central Oregon Homeless Memorial each year to honor and remember those who have died homeless in Central Oregon, and helps prevent future homeless deaths by raising awareness about fundamental solutions to end homelessness.

And whereas in this season of generosity and sharing, citizens of Central Oregon are encouraged to commit themselves to promoting compassion and concern for all brothers and sisters, especially those who are poor and homeless.

And whereas remembering those who have died on the streets, the cause of ending homelessness is kept urgent and is as is the city's collective commitment in preventing such deaths in the future.

Now, therefore, the Bend City Council does hereby proclaim December 21st, 2025 as homeless persons Memorial Day in Central Oregon, and asks all citizens to take a moment of silence in remembering those who have died homeless and encourage our citizens to support all local efforts to eliminate homelessness in our communities.

Move to accept the proclamation.

Second.

All right.

Motion by Councilor Mindes, second by Councilor Norris.

All those in favor?

Aye.

All right.

Great.

It looks like we have Michael Hancock from Bethlehem Inn and John Baker, and then Eliza Wilson, the chair of the homeless leadership coalition here today.

Thank you for the proclamation, and thank you all for giving us this time.

I'm Michael Hancock, the executive director of Bethlam Inn.

And I have with me our development director, John Baker.

And this is Eliza Wilson.

She is the executive director for an amazing organization called Rooted Homes that tackles the problem of affordable housing, as well as the chair of the board for homeless leadership coalition, our care of continuum for Central Oregon and the truly the backbone of all of our service providers.

Homeless Memorial Day has been on in the nation for 35 years, and I believe this is our sixth or seventh year here in Central Oregon.

It's a time for us to come together and acknowledge and celebrate the lives of people who unfortunately died alone on the street.

And also a chance for us to remember those who haven't passed away and to come together as service partners and community members and redouble our efforts to make sure that people don't die on the streets alone.

And there are too many adults and children on the street in our community, and we need to come together as a team to help solve that.

So thank you very much for your time, Eliza.

Yeah, thank you all.

Um we want to also extend uh the invitation to attend the memorial this Sunday at 5 p.m.

at Drake Park.

Um, we know as of today that we'll be reading 27 names of people who passed away in in 2025 in Bend.

Um, and just hope that we can all remember that um folks living outdoors are our neighbors and should be cared for and remembered um when they've passed, but also prior to that.

And thank you for all of you for paying attention to this issue.

Thank you for all that you do.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Take a picture.

Okay, so thank you guys.

Thank you.

All right.

So um that will move us in to council action and reports.

We had a late development today on an item that has been added that is an action out of our executive session from a little bit ago.

And Councilor Franzosa is going to read a motion.

Thank you.

The council has discussed an executive session, a possibility that the development known as Bachelor View 2 could develop in a manner that does not meet the city's interests in ensuring timely access and utility connections to an adjacent property.

To account for that possibility and to ensure orderly and efficient use of properties already designated for residential development, the council directed staff to negotiate a non-statutory development agreement obligating council to condemn the public access and utility easements on or over bachelor view two in the future if necessary to facilitate development of the adjacent property.

Those negotiations have occurred and the terms authorized by the council have been accepted.

So with that, I move to authorize the city manager and the city attorney's office to enter the non-statutory development agreement on the terms presented in executive session.

Second.

All right, a motion by Councillor Franzosa and second by Councillor Platt.

Any further discussion?

All those in favor.

Aye.

All right, unanimous.

Thank you very much.

There's one letter that came up that is on the agenda that we received from staff, but via um a local translation service, English to Spanish, around some advocacy with Pacific Source who canceled their contract, and they're worried about how that's going to affect language access to health care in our community.

So Councillor Riley, Councilor Norris were gonna work with staff on a letter there.

We just wanted to make sure council was okay having that letter come from full council.

Yes, um, regarding language access.

Looks like that's okay.

All right.

Okay, and then on to appointments.

You've got several rounds of appointments listed here for various um committees, planning commission, each recab.

Um this is just the last round of our appointments for this year to fill those spots.

So um have you have any questions or a motion?

Uh move to approve the appointments.

All right, motion by Councillor Briggs, second by Councilor Mendes.

All those in favor?

All right.

All right, great.

Okay, that brings us to councillor reports.

Councilor Franzosa.

Thank you.

Um it's December.

Um, a slow meeting, two weeks of meetings for me, thank goodness.

Um, but I did take some time to meet with some folks in our community.

And I just want to say um it's the end of the year, and thanks everyone for all of your involvement, those here in person, um, those listening, those maybe who will watch the recording at some point in time.

Um, it's uh it's been a great first year for me on council, and I just want to wish happy holidays uh to everyone and safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Look forward to seeing everyone again in January.

All righty, Councilor Mendes.

Yeah, we had uh the holiday parade on Saturday the 6th, which was so much fun.

I think it was a great reminder of just how great our community is.

I think everybody loves, I mean, we got to ride in the vintage fire truck, which uh you got to drive it.

Well, I would have a lot of fun.

Um and the vintage fire truck is pretty cool.

Um I also got to attend the menorah lighting uh at the old mill on Sunday, which was also another reminder of uh how important our community is when we come together, and great to see each other, people in person.

Um last Thursday the 11th.

I spent a couple of hours with some of our service providers at the temporary safe stay area, just learning about the services they provide firsthand, and it was I have to admit it was um it was pretty enlightening because the magnitude of the problems that we're facing is staggering.

Um so I'm I'm very glad to see us playing a supportive role there, and it definitely underscores the need to find a solution when we when we talk about closing that temporary safe stay area.

Um and that's it.

Great, all right, Council Burkins.

Yes, also a little bit of a light um couple of weeks.

Uh we had the regional housing uh coalition meeting on on Monday um where we are talking about our legislative uh policy priorities for um the upcoming session and the session after that.

Um, and uh those are very in line with the the priorities of the city of Bend.

Um and it today was able to attend uh a business round table and had a great conversation about the Central Oregon Innovation Hub along with some great feedback from the community.

Um with the theme that we have going on here tonight.

I just thought um be important to just share, you know.

We always say, okay, what can I do?

What can I do?

Um one of the things you can do is Shepherd's House is um going to be offering free Christmas meals for anyone in need, including you know anyone in their programs outside of the programs, local families.

And they will be having their meals on Monday, December 22nd, 12 to 2 at the men's center, and 5 to 7 at their Redmond Center.

And then on Tuesday, December 23rd, they will be having their Christmas meal at from 5 to 7 at the Lighthouse Navigation Center.

And they are looking for here, you got ready.

They need ham, they need prime rib, they need potatoes, they need beef broth, they need salad veggies, canned vegetables, croutons, dinner rolls, macaroni, coffee and creamer.

You can see all of this, I'm sure on a website.

And you can drop those off at any uh any time during uh regular hours at the men's center in Bend or at the Redmond Center.

Just want to share that.

Whoops, want to share that.

Okay, great.

Councilor Norris.

Great.

Um, yes, I was invited to judge the Yemby gingerbread contest.

It was um there were some great um great examples.

I would say that a lot of the creative ones were really great and had to do a lot with some of our um wonderful housing policies that we are putting forward.

There are some great middle housing examples, habitat or humanity did a great replica of some of uh their housing that they've done, um duplexes, and um it was just a really great evening, and um, it's a great organization that really supports housing in our community.

Um, and then we had the environment and climate committee met.

Um we had uh our communication staff came and presented on our new branding and our website that um we've all heard their presentation, and so they shared that um with the ECC and just opportunities to collaborate um with that committee.

Um, and then we are also uh the ECC got an update on some of the discussion and work sessions that we've had um on electrification, and then um just some more discussion uh with the coming year and biennium um on priorities for the ECC and setting goals.

All right.

Is that great?

Yeah, I just want to talk a little bit about external turn turbulence and what we're doing here locally to try to manage some of that.

Um I enjoyed the holiday parade, it was it was wonderful to be a part of that.

Felt it was important to attend the uh the menorah lighting uh at the old mill.

And I I want to thank our first our first responders because folks were concerned about attending that event in light of recent uh global events, and our first responders were there and they were present and they were making us uh aware of that, and they provided uh the blanket that we needed to feel secure in that in that event.

So well done there.

I also attended the the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee committee virtually, um, and I saw the engaged members of our affordable housing advisory committee struggling with what do we do given the the national level turbulence that we're having regarding the funding that comes to support these incredible programs that you're talking about right now, and they're still trying to find a way to use the dollars and use them in a defendable manner to all parties that are concerned locally or nationally, and still do uh good things for our community.

And it's I'll tell you it's a it's a thin needle to try to thread to get that, and and they're working hard uh in some very difficult circumstances.

So I appreciate their efforts uh for that.

And uh that's all I have to say.

Thanks.

Great.

Thank you, Councillor Platt.

Um I had quite a bit going on the past couple of weeks.

Um, was glad to be at the tree lighting, which was in a new place now.

You can actually see the tree because it's really big on the corner instead of buried in the back of the park.

Really well attended, really well done by um downtown Bend Business Association, um, who I was at their meeting this morning, um, and they're continuing.

I think um I'll report out at the end of this year, having seen sort of where they were at and where they are now, um, doing a really great job reorganizing, getting into a committee structure, setting some goals that are realistic, and really getting back to the core of what that EID should be working on.

Um, so I'm sure we'll be hearing more from them next year again, but I'm just really um pleased with how that organization is shaping up and the staff are doing a great job.

Um also was on Ask the Mayor last week.

I was trying to remember the questions, and they've all gone at this point, but also always really good questions on Ask the Mayor.

And if anyone's watching and you're submitting questions to ask the mayor, we don't get to get all the questions.

And if you if you put your email in, I'll email you or I'll try to.

If you don't put your email in, I can't email you back.

But um just know that if you're filling out the questions on KTBZ's website.

Uh last week I was in Corvallis for the League of Cities board meeting.

Um, and uh the one topic I think is of interest for us here was um their position on House Bill 3115, which is the statutory kind of floor for how cities can regulate um camping up public rights of way.

Um we we voted as uh as a board to move to a neutral position and to try to be a part of that conversation as that's happening at the legislature this year.

There's a movement to repeal that statute in its entirety.

Um but we have been able to function under that statute, but we also have some things that probably should be clarified for cities under that statute, too.

So stay tuned on how that um develops in the next session.

Um was able to have me pull up his name here, lunch with the brigadier general of the National Guard who was in town, um uh Alan Gronewald, um, and also got a tour of the um the National Guard's building here, which is actually in a pretty centrally located right near where to shoot spruce their beer.

Um, and that was great to talk with him about how we can have um good communication and close relationship between him and his folks and cities and leaders so that we um can stay connected and help them help understand how they can be more visible or just understand how they can um talk to the community about what it is they do most of the time.

Um, and I was pleased to hear uh the general say, you know, they're they're not interested in policing cities or policing civilians, they want to do good work and do good work in their community.

So they will follow legal orders, but otherwise they really want to work together with their community.

Um had a visit to Cascades Academy to visit with some sixth graders, always great.

They always have really good questions.

Um so that was really fun.

Um, also attended the regional business alliances housing workshop with some brainstorming and ideas around continuing to push forward on housing, um, including you know what it is we can ask the legislature to do in what's going to be a pretty short and tough session in regards to budget.

So um also on that theme, Central Oregon Cities Organization Coco Summit was this Monday.

It was really a round table discussion.

We had um our legislators from Ben and then also um Vicky Brace Iverson and Mike McLean, who are from neighboring county areas, um, and a good discussion about the realities of the upcoming session, how we can communicate to them about our priorities and some of the shared priorities between cities.

We talked about wildfire and water, we talked about shelter funding, which all of our cities rely on to help fund shelter space, um, and we talked about um uh Oda and transportation as well.

So um really good to connect with those legislative leaders.

We have a Central Oregon caucus now that they all work together in a bipartisan manner, so we should hear from them their priorities that are coming out of that caucus in January, and we're also gonna have Senator Broadman, Rev Levy, and Repcrop here at our meeting in January to talk with us right before the session starts.

So we'll have more to hear from them at that time.

Um I think that's it.

Oh, I was also at I was gonna finish out with the menorah lighting.

Um, I think uh that was a great event as usual with the community out.

Um, nobody mentioned this year they threw the gelt with the firefighters through the gelt off the top of the fire truck, which was really fun for the kids.

But I just I also want to echo what counselor Platt said, it was really important for our um our police to be there and to show that they are willing to help protect a community that is um under target unfairly, and um the horrific violence in Australia was on everyone's mind, I have to say.

Um, and it I did receive appreciation, and I know they appreciate everyone of us who came for showing up and standing with the community.

So um and I think that was really important.

So thank you for everyone who was able to make it to the minor lighting.

Okay.

That will move us on to our visitors section.

And so we have folks online and in person here tonight.

Um, this is a time to offer your public comment to council.

We do have some public hearings on the docket today.

Um, I don't see that anyone has signed up for those, but if by chance you are here for um item number five, six four seven, and you have a comment on those, I will call you to make your public comment at that time.

I'm noting that one person online put in a development number that was related to a master plan that was going to be on our meeting tonight.

It is not on our agenda that has been removed from our agenda, and we will not be having a public hearing on that.

That is the master plan at 15th and Murphy, not happening tonight.

Just want to let people know in case you were here interested in that.

Um, so I will ask people to come on up to the table or online.

I will um let you know you'll have a two-minute timer.

The timer's up here for people in person.

Um, please address us as a body and try to keep your comments to that two minutes so we can hear from everyone.

You'll see the red, yellow, and green.

The green is keep on going.

The yellow is hey, you have about 30 seconds, and the red means please wrap up.

Um, please know language or actions that would disrupt our meeting.

Um, and we want to hear from everyone here tonight, so please know reacting to other people.

That's just that everyone have their say.

Um, I don't think we're gonna have any problems with following the rules tonight.

But if you don't follow the rules, I'll let you know.

And if you keep breaking the rules, I may have to ask you to leave or in your time.

Okay, so let's start with our online folks tonight, Ashley.

I think we just have a couple.

All right, I want to start with um Michelle Martin, if she's online.

Let me check.

Okay, yeah, I see Michelle Martin.

So let's start with you.

Uh good evening.

So thank you for starting with me.

However, I was here for the uh plan, um, the master plan for the um 250374 in Southeast Bend.

And so I'd like to know has that been rescheduled if it's not tonight?

It has not been rescheduled yet, but there will be a public notice if it does get rescheduled.

Okay, thank you.

And then I would like to offer one comment that I was gonna say with that master plan, and I heard you all acknowledge it earlier, and that is the amazing work that the city of Bend and the Council has done on affordable housing.

That plan that I came to talk about tonight does include affordable housing, and I heard all the acknowledgments earlier about affordable housing.

Really grateful to everyone.

Oh, we lost you there, Michelle.

Oh, it's really grateful to everyone's hard work on affordable housing for all of these um uh master plans coming before y'all.

Thank you.

Thank you, Michelle.

Yep.

All right, next is Jamie Hampton.

And Jamie, you should unmute and go ahead.

Yep.

Thank you, Mayor and City Councillors, for allowing me to say a few words about the city's equity work.

I'm Jamie.

I'm speaking from Redmond.

When I started my business, um, every employee looked just like me, white, female, and cisgender.

Fast forward 14 years, and I'm now a minority on my team.

We're 50% people of color, 45% from the LGBTQ community.

But most importantly, 100% of our team say they feel valued and respected.

We've won three national awards this year for our DEI work.

It's fair to say have learned a thing or 20 about how white supremacy characteristics show up in a workplace.

I know how hard it is to understand how someone who doesn't fit the dominant demographic in central Oregon might have different experiences than our own.

You all hired an equity director who is a person of color, and then threw him under the bus when he shared in whatever form his experiences of racism while working for you.

You hired consultants from predominantly white firms and rallied around a white man in leadership and his dominantly white staff that work for him.

This illustrates how white supremacy characteristics can show up at work.

Your and Eric King's right to comfort, denial and offensiveness, fear of conflict, worship of the written word, that there is only one right way to move forward.

I encourage you to read Tema O'Koon's work on white supremacy culture to learn more.

You and all city staff need deep professional DEI training.

You must challenge yourself to listen to and learn from the experience of people around you who are not like you.

I have done this, I can tell you it works.

If you do, maybe one day you too can boast about your staff's diversity and the true sense of belonging that they and the community that you serve feel.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jamie.

And then our final online um commenter is Karim Boris.

Yes, hello, can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Great.

Thank you, Mayor Keebler and Council.

My name is Karim Bori, as you said, and I'm also calling from Redmond.

I run the same company that the previous commenter did.

We have 18 employees in six states.

I am saddened that council has seemingly accepted the results of the report that investigated the resignation of the city's equity and inclusion director.

So much of the report centers on hearsay.

It is so glaringly asymmetrical that it's shocking.

In this case, it's a typical he said he said scenario.

More importantly, though, is how this report doesn't take a step back once to acknowledge the broader context.

The reason you have this position in the first place is because Ben's population is almost 90% white.

That is a direct result of Oregon's legacy of racism and exclusionary laws.

Another important detail this report could have mentioned is the overt racist hostility that's been on full display at these very city council meetings since the pandemic.

Public comments that showed just how much work we have to do in the region to address rampant hate and prejudice, and that this staff person was on the front lines of receiving and helping you address these issues.

Do you really believe that Mr.

King?

Oh, white says gender middle class male and his predominantly white administration.

Understand racism better than one of the city's only black employees.

It seems to me like you'd rather we all pretend that equity and inclusion are alive and well in Bend.

This report may help you be legally compliant with employment and discrimination laws, but what it mostly shows is how resistant you potentially can be to taking care of your own house.

I'm talking about the international cultural dynamics within your organization as a business owner.

That would have been my first step before anything else.

How did I allow a single one of my employees to feel this unsafe under my watch?

So this episode is an important lesson on how performative a commitment to equity really is if you're only in it when it's easy.

This is a moment to look in the proverbial mirror and ask yourselves how do we do better than this?

And this deer council is what the kids mean by doing the work.

Thank you.

Thank you, Karim, and I apologize for mispronouncing your last name.

Okay.

Um we will move to in-person folks, and we can start with Kristen Riedelberger.

Good evening, Mayor, Council, and Borough members.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments.

My name is Kristen Reidelberger, and I'm speaking on behalf of Central Oregon Landwatch and Ben D.

Our organizations are working together to expand opportunities for neighborhood scale commercial development as a way to create more mixed-use walkable neighborhoods throughout Bend.

We see the Invest Bend plan and adjacent efforts as an important opportunity to advance these same goals.

Goals shared by the community, city staff, and city council.

We understand that part of the plan will involve a market analysis focused on the core area.

And this analysis will then be expanded to consider site-specific economic development opportunities citywide.

As the city works towards more complete neighborhoods, we encourage broadening how we think about where we need commercial uses in addition to urban renewal areas and identified prime market locations.

Following the market analysis, we understand there will be a high-level review of zoning and the development code to evaluate how current regulations support or limit economic opportunity.

We strongly encourage using this process to advance policy and code changes that support small scale entrepreneurship, a more equitable distribution of goods and services, and more climate-friendly, walkable communities across the city.

In particular, we're interested in seeing resident residential zones evolve through a more flexible neighborhood commercial code.

This approach allows residents to participate directly in shaping their neighborhoods without relying on large developers, major investors, or significant public subsidy.

Bend has already seen how middle housing code changes empowered individual property owners to meet community needs.

Small scale infill commercial could have a similar impact, especially in an entrepreneurial city like Bend.

Once more flexibility is added to the code, incentives and pilot programs can support neighborhood commercial where it's most needed.

Kristen, that's about two minutes.

Oh thanks.

Okay.

I guess I guess therefore we recommend that a mix of tools that the city utilize a mix of tools to support commercial and economic development and complete community citywide.

Thank you.

And we received your letter as well, so thank you for sending that.

Yeah.

Next is Michael Baker.

Good evening, Mayor Council.

My name is Michael Baker, and I have the honor of being the CEO for the boys and girls clubs of Bend.

And very excited about tomorrow.

Thank you, Mayor Cabler, for your attendance tomorrow.

It's going to be uh the I wish I could have recorded and shown everybody uh the atmosphere in the club today.

The kids are on just on fire with uh excitement about tomorrow, them receiving their gold cards.

Uh and again, just as a reminder, that's uh we'll have about 38 children that'll be receiving their gold membership cards, which is means that they've achieved 105 days or more of attendance, which we know is uh puts them on track to graduate high school on time, twice as likely to graduate high school in time and twice as likely to lead a healthy lifestyle.

So we're gonna be celebrating that tomorrow.

And for those of you that may be uh on the dais right now that uh have not been able to uh maybe your plans have changed and you become available, we'd love to have you attend tomorrow.

Uh we're gonna begin with a tour at 4:30 of the facility, and uh we'll end by 4450, where you will then meet your child that you'll be presenting their gold card to during the ceremony.

So really excited about tomorrow.

If you are able to attend and your plans have changed, please feel free to email me.

Uh you can reach me at Michael at BGC Bend.org.

Again, that's Michael at BGC Bend.org.

And again, I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support.

And I will say uh as an aside, I had a wonderful meeting um as well uh with uh city manager uh King on uh this this week and uh very extremely helpful uh in guidance and um very very fortunate to uh had that opportunity just wanted to share with you uh that I thought he was just incredibly respectful and supportive of the boys and girls clubs and everything that we're trying to do.

So with that, I want to thank you again, and hopefully we'll see many of you tomorrow.

Thank you.

Thanks, Michael.

Thank you.

All right, next is Abigail Schneider, and then will be Matthew Brynholt.

Hi.

Howdy.

Hi.

Um thanks for letting me talk to you guys tonight.

I really don't have a big speech written like everyone else, so I'm only going to take a couple of seconds.

But I just wanted to say that I'm as a citizen, I'm really uncomfortable with the use of flock cameras within Bend.

Um I feel worried for my community and who that can impact locally, um, maybe even on a national level.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you for being here.

Matthew Bradhold, and then after that, uh Nathan Jewell.

Uh thank you for letting me be here.

Uh I'm here to kind of reiterate the same point she had.

Um I guess I found out about flock cameras on the news.

You hear about all the surveillance state stuff.

You think it's something that's happening somewhere else.

Uh it's technically a license plate tracking system, but it's capable of tracking a lot more than license plates.

And to kind of reiterate reiterate Abby's point, uh, I'm very uncomfortable with the fact that there are flock cameras in Bend, and I think that it's really hard to put that genie back in the bottle once you let it out.

And I'd like to at least make sure that the people of Bend know that that is what's happening in this town.

Uh thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Nathan and Jewel, and after that, uh Jonathan Westmerland.

How's it going?

Uh I'm also here to talk about uh the use of uh these surveillance cameras in our communities.

I think that uh we're seeing you know a national trend toward this.

And the thing that scares me, and I think a lot of other people about these cameras is the people who control the cameras who get the data from these cameras are uh not people who our communities have a lot of influence over.

And so when this data is proliferated into unknown and a multitude of different uh interest groups, the potential for it to come back and actually harm us is very high.

And that's occurring on uh on a national level, and it's something that is going to be very impactful to each and every one of us over the next decades.

So I think that when uh when I come up here, uh I don't just want to draw awareness to the fact that these cameras are in our community already, but I also think that it's important to say unequivocally that we should not have these types of surveillance devices being uh applied across um across our our city, and we should be very, very cautious about the kind of data that we're allowing uh you know companies and individuals and governments to collect about our citizens because it's setting a very dangerous precedent for what is appropriate in general, and it is setting a very poor example for uh our community of what is acceptable uh for their privacy and uh what should be allowed.

Thank you.

All right, Jonathan Westmoreland and then Dan Rowe.

Okay.

Cops use flock cameras to monitor no kings protests around the country.

Judge rules flock surveillance images are public records that can be requested by anyone.

These are just two of a myriad of headlines that should cause alarm.

My name is Jonathan Westmoreland, and I'm asking you to pause or prohibit the use of flock automated license plate reader cameras and bend.

Flock is not a small or local tool, it operates in thousands of communities nationwide and captures billions of vehicle location records each month.

This creates searchable databases of people's movements, not just images of cars.

Oregon has already seen problems with this system.

Eugene paused and later ended its flock contract after governance, transparency, and security concerns, including the camera being activated during a period of officials believed the system was paused.

Springfield discontinued its program after public opposition.

Woodburn imposed a moratorium after concerns that federal agencies could access data despite local intent to limit sharing.

Lane County canceled his contract before installation due to public concern.

These are Oregon communities deciding the risks outweighed the benefits.

Nationally, ALPR systems have been used in immigration-related searches, abortion investigations, and have contributed to wrongful traffic stops due to technological errors.

Even a small error rate becomes serious when millions of scans are involved.

It's also important to understand who can access this data.

While Flock says it does not sell law enforcement data, access can extend beyond a local police department through interagency sharing, national lookup tools, and indirect federal access.

The absence of a major breach so far is not the right standard.

A centralized database holding billions of location records is an inherently high risk, and independent researchers have identified hardware and software vulnerabilities.

Flock has previously acknowledged.

My request is simple: either ban flock cameras in Bend or enact a strict moratorium until enforceable safeguards are in place, such as short retention limits, no national sharing, publicly available camera locations, independent audits, and a warrant requirement for historical tracking.

Our citizens deserve these basic protections.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Jonathan.

And then the last will be Dan Rowe.

Thank you, Ben City Council.

I'm also here to discuss FLOC.

The Fourth Amendment protects us against unreasonable search and seizures.

And with that in mind, I would like to go over a few events that have happened only in the last year.

In May, a Texas police officer used Flock's national surveillance network to track down a woman who had self-administered an abortion with the goal of pressing charges against her.

In June, Flock announced that all existing cameras would begin streaming live video by late 2025, after the company induced cities to sign up on the basis that they only tracked license plates.

In August, an Illinois state audit determined that Flock violated state law by sharing license plate camera data with Customs and Border Patrol.

Also in August, a Denver news channel revealed that a Flock pilot program had shared information with DHS after Flock said it wouldn't do that.

In October, the University of Washington published a study that found that eight state law enforcement agencies willingly provided data to U.S.

Customs and Border Patrol.

The same study found that another ten state law enforcement agencies had unwittingly shared data with Flock or sorry, had unwittingly shared FLOC data with DHS through backdoor access.

In November, a Georgia police chief was arrested for harassing and stalking a woman after he had used Flock cameras to locate her.

And in November, another Georgia police officer was terminated after he shared FLOC data with a private security firm.

What these examples tell us is that Flock has repeatedly misled its customers and the public about who has access to its national surveillance network.

Yet Flock contends through a spokesperson that it is not their job to police the police quote.

Therefore, the privacy of Flock data depends entirely on the actions of its customers, many of whom who have already abused their privileges in the past year alone.

Finally, Flock cameras cannot be used only leased.

When Evans Dillon, Illinois discovered that DHS was receiving Flock data, it took down its cameras only for Flock to put them back up.

I asked Bend residents and city council, is this something we're comfortable with?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And first of all, I want to thank everyone for coming in because I think this might have been all of your first time commenting at a meeting, so thank you for coming.

I know that also this originated from some um conversation on Reddit.

So thank you for coming in and giving comment instead of just clicking an upvote.

You'd like it's really helpful for you to come and tell us what you're thinking and what your concerns are.

And I think these are um valid concerns.

I have a little bit of information, and since all of you have put your emails down, I'm gonna follow up with an email as well with some additional information, but I wanted to point out that a lot of the things that um Jonathan pointed out as guardrails.

Um, our police chief is part of a group that's looking at running a legislative bill to enact guardrails for ALPR, and a lot of those things that you mentioned would are things that they're talking about, might be in that bill around time of retention, who can search, all of those things.

So I want to appreciate all of you for bringing these concerns forward and in an organized manner are really helpful for us.

Um and I think I'll send this information back to you, and then we'll um update if there's going to be any further action from council.

We have um a one-year contract that was um funded by a grant.

Um, and there isn't any current there's there's gonna be subject to funding availability, whether that's continued.

Um, and just for public transparency, there's four cameras that went live in May of 2025.

There are two on the south end of 97 and two on the north end.

Um, those are the flat cameras that exist in Bend right now.

So again, thank you for being here, and I'll follow up with some more information.

Okay, all right.

That would be the end of our visitor section for tonight.

So we'll move on to the consent agenda.

Two items on it, which is smallest I've ever seen so move to approve the consent agenda.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to mention I was going to mention Captain Beekman is here.

If any of you would like to talk with Captain Deepman, he's happy to answer questions as well.

Um, more I can't have too much of a conversation, but he can have a conversation with you too if you'd like to talk with him tonight.

So feel free to do that.

Thanks, Captain.

Sorry about that.

Okay, sorry for the interruption.

Move to approve the consent agenda.

Second.

All right.

Um sent to them to motion by counselor Mendez, second by counselor Platt.

All those in favor?

All right, on to item number five.

This is a public hearing to adopt a resolution approving a supplemental budget and budget appropriation adjustments for the city of Ben to 2025 to 2027 bien annual budget period beginning July 1st, 2025.

And Dan, we're doing two separate public hearings, right?

Yes, correct, one for budget adjustments.

Okay, so we'll open this public hearing and um go ahead, Dan.

Yeah, so these are pretty straightforward.

Uh there are some adjustments being proposed to the 2527 uh biannual budget.

These are housekeeping in nature, essentially their projects, purchases, or grant awards that were projected to happen last fiscal year but are gonna happen this fiscal year.

Uh so these adjustments are bringing those appropriations into this current year.

And if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer those.

All of the items are exactly as you described, just things that are occurring in this biennium, and so it's basically just changing the starting fund balance.

Correct.

Okay.

Uh a few of them are changing fund balance while a few of them are recognizing debt proceeds because those are things that we haven't issued debt yet for those.

Uh, for instance, the DEQ debt for water reclamation.

Uh, those are on a reimbursement basis, so we have to recognize additional debt proceeds and additional expenditures, and once those expenditures happen, then we will receive the debt proceeds.

So it wouldn't be part of the initial fund balance, uh, but it would be an additional appropriation.

Thank you.

Yeah.

All right, any other questions for Dan?

Any public commenters on this item?

There were none signed up.

Okay, seeing none, I will close the public hearing.

I move to adopt the resolution approving a supplemental budget and budget appropriation adjustments for the 2025-2027 biannual budget period beginning July 1, 2025.

Second.

All right, motion by Councilor Mendez, second by Councilor Platt.

All those in favor?

Aye.

All right.

Item number six.

This is a public hearing and resolution establishing fees and charges for fiscal year 2025 through 2026.

All right, I'll open the public hearing.

Counselor Norris.

I need to declare an actual conflict on this item.

My employer is Hayden Holmes, and this would have a financial impact on them.

So I will be leaving the dais while you guys discuss and vote on this item, and I'll come back when you're done.

Thank you.

All right, Dan.

All right.

Uh so we do have some proposed uh updates and changes to the city's fee resolution.

Uh a few of those that I want to highlight and and just want to call attention that there is a memo in the council packet as well from the community development department director uh addressing some of the development fee changes.

Uh, but one of the ones that I wanted to highlight are private development engineering fee updates.

Uh the community development department did a similar recalibration effort as to what they did for planning fees back in July.

Uh essentially they looked at the uh by volume 25 most uh most active permits for tier one, tier two permits, uh, and they evaluated those for uh cost of service.

They identified nine of those as being undervalued or underpriced based on the cost it is to provide that permit.

Uh and so the private development engineering fee uh increases are a three percent across the board increase, and then some more targeted increases for those nine fees uh across in the end, it comes out to be about a five percent increase on average for those fees.

Uh also wanted to uh just highlight uh there are some updates to planning fees.

Uh those are mostly to bring things in alignment with our current operations, changes in development code as well as updates to recent state law.

And then lastly, there are some updates to uh parking penalties, which again is just aligning things with current operations as well as parking uh parking code updates that will be effective in January.

Great.

Okay, questions for Dan on this section.

Dan, we had programmed these planning increases in the budget when we approved that, had we not that is correct.

Uh the nature of the increases has changed because originally it was a five percent across the board change.

This will be more targeted, but that's a great point.

That uh we had it we had anticipated five percent increase in the adopted budget.

And we're at three percent.

It's a three percent across the board, but then the targeted increases.

Okay.

Um, but if you look at all the fees together averaged, their increases average is about five percent.

Okay, but the the actual impact is going to be a higher revenue than what we budgeted.

Okay, yeah.

Dan, could you share why uh we're proposing eliminating the habitual parking offender category?

Uh my understanding, and based on the issue summary, and Russ or Ian could potentially uh chime in as well.

Is that that is something that is not currently being used?

That's correct.

Yeah.

I think it's an enforcement issue.

It's an it's an important, and we'll we have the ability through the new adjudication system, which I can give an update later on in terms of how we'll go after controls.

So we're not changing the policy, we're just changing the means that we use too.

They would be they'd be still getting the same fees and escalation fees and late charges.

Um, but there's there's new ways that we can actually adjudicate that and go into collections and and kind of go after that money.

So thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Um public comment on this item.

There was no one signed up.

I don't see anyone raising their hand, so I will close the public hearing and a motion.

I move to adopt the resolution establishing fees and charges for fiscal year 2025-2026 as presented.

Second.

All right, motion by councillor Perkins, second by Councillor Franzoza.

All those in favor?

Aye.

All right, motion passes.

We'll have Councillor Norris back out here.

On to item number seven.

This is a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance amending the test of chapter eight public facilities and services of the Bend Comprehensive Plan and adopting the 2025 stormwater public facility plan.

All right, well, open the public hearing on this, and we have staff presentation popping up here.

While you're doing that, is Aaron Ludden here?

Okay, just in case we have questions.

Great.

Thanks.

Yeah, go ahead.

All right, good evening, uh, Mayor Keebler, members of the city council.

Uh, for the record, my name is Damian Srinik.

I'm a senior planner of the city's growth management division, and I'm joined by a colleague Austin Somhigi.

I'm a senior uh engineer in the engineering department.

And tonight we're here for a public hearing on the first reading of the proposed amendments to chapter 8 of the Benn Comprehensive Plan, as well as the public facility plan, which will serve as appendic H to the Bend Comprehensive Plan, and then we're gonna give an overview of our stormwater master plan.

So, just a reminder.

Um the uh just want to take a moment to recognize that this work supports the 2025-2027 city council work plan, specifically in the area of transportation and infrastructure uh to ensure stormwater systems are aligned with the needs of a growing city with the specific goal of finishing the stormwater master plan.

All right, thanks, Austin.

So, as you heard, this is a public hearing tonight on a proposed amendment to the Banned Comprehensive Plan.

Um, for the record, the file number for these amendments is PLTEXT 2025 0591 with that file number.

Uh any member of the public can access the record that's now before you, uh, which includes the uh proposed amendments and then the documentation that provides the factual base in support of these amendments.

Uh your materials for the hearing tonight include the issue summary, uh, the draft ordinance along with its exhibits, which includes the proposed findings is exhibit A.

Uh, I wanted to highlight with the findings, uh, it's through that document that we've identified the criteria that are applicable to the review of this proposed uh legislative amendment.

Uh the proposed stormwater public facility plan is exhibit B, and there are proposed amendments to chapter 8 of the conference of plan, which is the city's public uh facilities and services chapter.

Uh, these pertain to storm drainage facilities and systems.

There are amendments to the uh background section uh that has been updated to conform with the updated stormwater uh public facility plan, but also changes to the stormwater uh uh policies uh in that chapter.

Uh this item was heard by the Bend Planning Commission on December 8th.

Uh after the hearing, the planning commission uh deliberated and voted 7-0 to forward this on with a recommendation to approve.

Uh we do have Commissioner Aaron Ludden in the audience.

You have any questions?

Uh and your materials also include the uh planning commission order recommending approval.

Oh, before I forget, pardon me.

We have received no written testimony that we need to put before you this evening.

Got it.

Thanks, Damien.

So a public facility plan or a PFP is a supporting document to the city's comprehensive plan, and it provides a factual basis for water quality and stormwater management.

The PFP addresses and satisfies administrative rules for public facility planning and describes public and private facilities that support the land uses plan under the comprehensive plan.

The public facility plan describes existing stormwater facilities in the city of Bend and its plans for future facilities needed of a 20-year planning horizon.

And it's consistent with statewide planning goal 11, public facilities and services, and it's implementing administrative rule with Oregon Administrative Rule OAR 66C-011.

The purpose of this plan is to help assure that urban stormwater facilities and services are provided in a timely, orderly and efficient fashion and support the infrastructure needs of the area.

In general, the PFP consists of inventory and condition assessments of our stormwater assets, identification of needs of improvement, and capital improvement program with estimated timeline for implementation and planning level estimates.

Which in the City of Bend, we are the stormwater utility provider.

The current comprehensive plan and public facility plan were last updated in 2014.

So before recommending adoption of the stormwater master plan, we took a look at the comprehensive plan and made updates and make sure that was current.

The proposed amendments to chapter 8 of the comprehensive plan consists of updates to the main body text, primarily asset quantity updates, an update to the current stormwater fee, and a description of what that fee supports, as well as updated permitting language.

There are also proposed changes to the stormwater policies at the bottom of chapter 8.

These changes include updates to outdated policies, removal of policies no longer applicable or covered in other sections, and new policies to support recommendations from the stormwater patent master plan, particularly around climate change and drainage and density.

The stormwater public facility plan relies on information from the stormwater master planning process and incorporates the city stormwater master plan.

It's specifically tailored the stormwater master plan to meet the requirements of statewide planning goal 11 in OAR 660-0011.

And that's what the graphic on the screen shows you.

We basically stripped down the stormwater master plan to focus specifically on those four areas that I mentioned.

Yeah.

So on this slide here, we have the proposed motion for the council's consideration after the hearing tonight.

I did want to highlight it's slightly different from the one in your issue summary because we did want to highlight that the proposed ordinance would amend both the text and policies of chapter 8 as shown in your exhibit.

Thank you.

And we'll return to this at the end of the presentation.

So now I'm going to kind of jump into an overview of the stormwater master plan.

The purpose of the stormwater master plan update was to provide an update to the 2014 stormwater master plan.

And one of the main goals of the stormwater master planning process is to identify projects that'll address conveyance and drainage issues throughout the city right of way.

The stormwater master plan also includes policy topics that address some stormwater challenges that the city faces.

The specific key policy areas that were evaluated were climate change, which took a look at the anticipated storm events that are projected to hit our region in the next 50 years, drainage and density, which addresses increasing densification and the resulting stormwater management challenges.

I do want to note that these efforts on this policy topic are going to continue through the water services department to consider alternative approaches to stormwater management with the changing development demographic.

And a city council work session on this topic is planned for early next spring.

Early spring of next year.

These groups included the water advisory group, engineering roundtable discussions with local engineering firms, Central Oregon presentations to Central Oregon Builders Association as numerous internal department coordinations with private development, water services, planning department, and growth management.

We met with the city of Redmond to keep an alignment with what our neighbors to the north are requiring when it comes to stormwater.

And we also had a project web page where we posted updates, including the draft of the stormwater master plan.

So just to provide a quick background, the submit the city primarily relies on a dispersed drainage system, which infiltrates and injects stormwater close to the source of runoff.

This approach has the benefit of more closely mimicking the natural hydrology and infiltration rates that might be expected in a natural condition.

The city's dispersed stormwater system is comprised of approximately 6,000 dry wells and 1,000 drill holes, both of which are considered underground injection controls or UICs, as well as numerous surface level infiltration swells, and you can see this in graphic A and C up there on the screen.

In Oregon, the DEQ regulates UIC systems through the Water Pollution Control Facilities Permit or WPCF permit.

There is in the central portion of Benn, the city owns and maintains a municipal separate stormwater sewer system or MS-4, which is a pipe system that carries stormwater to the Deschutes River, and you can see that in graphic B there.

The city has approximately 80 miles of stormpipe, approximately seven miles of the total are within that MS-4 area that are active and city-owned and drained to 36 outfalls along the Deschutes River.

The MS-4 area includes portions of the city between Aubrey Butte and Old Bend, as well as two smaller areas near Farewell Bend and Archie Briggs Road.

The remainder of the storm pipes serve as connectors to underground injection controls or surface infiltration facilities.

And the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 created the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System or NDPES permit program that addresses source of pollutants in rivers, creeks, and streams.

This program requires municipalities of a certain size to apply for and obtain municipal NDPES permit for storm systems that discharge to rivers, streams, and surface water bodies.

And in Oregon, these permits are administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

So stormwater facilities and BEN are typically provided by parties undertaking land development, including both private and public agencies.

These include private facilities that are designed to retain the 25-year storm on site as well as facilities in the public right-of-way, which are then dedicated to the city.

The primary focus of the stormwater master plan was to identify projects that address water quality and drainage issues within the public right-of-way based on the established need in the existing condition.

On the screen is the general process that was taken during the master planning process.

The visioning stage is designed to assess and document the overarching values surrounding stormwater and our goals.

This included goals like improving water quality of runoff and reducing flooding to protect our groundwater and for public safety.

These values and goals were used to influence how we prioritize the issues that we found.

And so during the issue screening stage, this involved numerous workshops with city staff and stakeholders, hours of CCTV review, inventory and assessment, asset management database screening, known issues, and other work orders.

This also includes unresolved issues from the 2014 stormwater master plan.

Moving on to the prioritization criteria.

This stage consisted of determination of values and criteria that were priority to the city and stakeholders.

The two main criteria that we focused on were water quality and conveyance and flooding.

But we also considered other things like multiple benefits, for example, how the project would support equity, support housing, maintenance, safety, and green infrastructure, and as well as city priorities, feasibility, and cost.

Finally, to select the priority projects, a priorization matrix was developed and issues were evaluated using a matrix to select and prioritize projects based on how they scored under that prioritization criteria.

So in summary, the stormwater master plan projects address drainage issues and water quality issues based on established needs in the existing condition.

And you can find in appendix B of the Stormwater Master Plan the prioritization document that was used and developed to rank the infrastructure improvement projects.

The priorization document was used to develop and prioritize the infrastructure improvement projects incorporated into the stormwater master plan in the stormwater public facility plan.

As these projects are addressed, they will be brought to current standards of designing to the 25-year storm with safe passage of the 100-year-24-hour type one design storm as outlined in the city standards and specifications and Bend Municipal Code Title 16, both of which refer to the Central Oregon stormwater manual.

So from the stormwater master plan, once the key issues are identified and prioritized, we broke the project into short and long-term programs.

So short term being one to five years and long-term six to twenty.

This included 11 capital improvement projects.

Those are broken into two categories.

Those that support drainage, that's again groundwater protection and public safety, as well as outro outfall retrofits, and that's the water quality issues that we talked about.

As part of the master plan, we developed uh project fact sheets, which are high-level planning uh cut sheets that provide uh planning level design for each CIP, which includes uh problem summary, project description, and planning level cost estimates.

Uh we also came up with a list of major maintenance which resulted in our major maintenance program.

This targets smaller drainage issues that can be handled uh more either in-house with water services or a smaller effort than would typically be a capital improvement project.

And then uh we have the drill hole water quality retrofit program.

This is a legacy program that's existing.

It addresses drill holes that are within the two-year time of travel of municipal wells or within 500 feet of uh of privately owned water wells, and finally a failing UIC injection control program where it's uh uh dry wells that are no longer functioning and need maintenance.

And just want to point out that the major maintenance and the uh drill hole water quality retrofit program, these are existing programs.

So we we would consider these previously RR projects, um, but uh the master plan just uh prioritize those, did some further evaluation to prioritize and then recommend annual budget allocations to uh tackle those.

Um quickly, our uh policy topic takeaways.

So climate change we found um that our precipitation frequency estimates used for our design uh were last updated in 1973.

Uh and uh climate models project in the next 50 years, we're gonna have more intense uh more frequency of the storm events, and we expect a lot more of those to come in the form of rain.

We're gonna experience a lot of that this week.

Um the white paper that's proposed as part of that's included in the appendix.

It just recommends that we build on that uh historical rainfall data, uh, collect more data and use that in NOAA atlas updates to consider design standard updates in the future.

Uh, drainage and density, we found that with increasing development density, staff in the community have observed challenges with how to fit stormwater facilities on small lots and the need for more stormwater options to developers to prevent downstream impacts from on-site stormwater facilities to mitigate local flooding and erosion.

Uh, again, this topic is going to continue in discussion with the water services department, and we're going to return here uh next spring uh with a city council work session.

And finally, level of service.

This developed a framework to define the level of service targets to help us guide our investments and optimize operations.

So, with that, um next steps.

Uh we plan to return here on the 7th of January for uh the second reading of the proposed chapter uh Ben Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 8 amendments, which include the public facility plan as appendix H.

Simultaneously, we're gonna bring the stormwater master plan with recommendation for adoption, and then the next step is to budget and implement uh the recommendations from the master plan.

Okay, so just real quick on the just so the council understands the sequence of events here.

We're starting with the comp plan policies first because that we need those approved because the stormwater master plan is based off of the policies and the comp plan so that we can align the findings and recommendations.

So that's why you kind of see this two-tier approach to the approval process.

That's meeting on the seventh.

And then the drainage and density conversation, which is that's when we start to roll this into our standards and specs and our design elements.

That conversation we're gonna bring back to council on May 13th at a work session.

Okay, great questions for staff.

Yeah, Steve.

Austin, just can you give me a rough percentage?

These are underground injection controls.

Some of that is private on there's some private lands that have those as well.

Is that correct?

Yeah, so the the 7,000 underground injection controls that I mentioned, those are all city-owned UICs under our WPCF permit.

There's um a whole separate uh the way private UICs, those are directly permitted through the state.

Okay.

Um so there's a couple different avenues to do that, but those are actually administered directly from the state, but the city does have uh maintenance agreements, and so we have you know mechanisms to track and make sure that those are being serviced and maintained.

Um they're both gonna play, right?

To control this, is you gotta have a functioning system on that side as well, right?

That's right.

And that's exactly what the drainage and density, you know, uh looks to address.

Is uh you see a lot of UICs, private UICs, especially in like commercial parking lots, things like that, but some of these smaller, denser single families or or NICS developments, um, they use more conventionally surface swales and things like that that are just getting harder to manage.

So that's kind of in that global context of that um uh drainage and density topic is making sure that we're stepping up our enforcement and tracking and you know, verification of maintenance of those privately owned UICs to then make sure that what we have in the public right-of-way is doing what it's intended to do, is manage the public right-of-way water and not run on from private.

Great, thank you.

Council Prime, we also have water, we have stormwater maintenance agreements that are actually signed by develop new developments that come in that have certain standards of care for maintenance and allows it to overburden our system.

Kind of allows the city to enter the property and maintain if they're not being maintained.

Great, thank you.

All right, other questions on this plan.

Okay, um, I will call for a public comment if anyone wants to make a public comment here.

Nobody did sign up, and I'm not seeing any hands being raised.

Um, so then I think we're at the point of our motion.

Oh, we have to close the public.

Yeah, don't do that, yeah.

Oh, don't close the public hearing.

Councilor Norris, and then I'll close it.

Yeah, just out of an abundance of caution.

I'm just gonna declare a potential on this potential conflict on this one.

My employers, Hayden Homes, and although the impact is a little unclear.

I just want to declare a potential.

This still allows me to vote on the item, however.

Okay.

With that, I will close the public hearing and move to the motion in deliberation.

And remember, we got a slightly updated motion on the screen there.

People put the glasses on.

For the first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 stormwater public facility plan as appendix H to the comprehensive plan, repeal the 2014 stormwater public facility plan and amend the text of chapter 8 of the comprehensive plan, public facilities and services to update the storm drainage facilities and systems section and policies.

Second, all right.

Motion by Council Perkins, second by Council Francis.

Any further deliberations?

Just wanted to comment that I'm really glad to see that we're taking the effects of climate change into account because as we expect, um, bigger storms, more frequent.

Um, what's at stake is overwhelming our stormwater system, and we end up dumping a bunch of pollutants into the Chutes River.

So I'm just I'm really pleased to see that we're taking that threat seriously.

Yeah, and I'll add we're actively working on expanding our data collection um in the near term.

So happy to talk more about that.

Great.

And we'll be talking more about this topic in January as well.

So we'll have more chances to talk about it.

All right, with that, uh, we'll move to the vote.

All those in favor of the motion.

Aye.

Aye.

Any posts?

All right, unanimous.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right, on to item number eight.

Council is asked to adopt a resolution authorizing eminent domain for properties along NEF Road as part of the NEF corridor approved project.

Good evening, Mayor, Council members.

My name is Todd Johnson.

I'm a senior project engineer with the engineering department here to talk about the NAF corridor and the eminent domain resolution before you this evening.

Uh please feel free to stop me if you have any questions.

This will be a pretty short probably a pretty short presentation.

Um yeah, background in today's objective.

I'll just give an overview of where we are with the project and what we're seeking tonight in terms of the eminent domain properties.

So the NEF pedestrian bicycle improvements project goes, it's part of the transportation system plan, and it goes from the urban growth boundary on the east at Eagle Road, goes along NAF Road, then there's Hillside Trail Improvements up across Juniper Elementary School, and it goes on to Norton Avenue up to sixth where it connects with north-south key routes.

Um we are actively working with Odot right now to get we have an IGA signed for the Norton Avenue improvements, and then we're working on the Oregon Community Paths grant, which will go from 12th across the elementary school to the Larksburg Trail.

So what we're designing currently with the city is from Larksburg to the urban growth boundary deal.

Design that we're looking at, we have a generally a 10-foot concrete sidewalk on the south side of NEF Road from Purcell to the Larksburg Trail, and then to the east, it goes to the north side from NEF Road all the way to the urban growth boundary.

The eminent domain resolution, we have 11 parcels identified, and go into the map on the next slide.

Generally, they're at intersections when we look at the St.

Charles property.

Um the roads and right-of-way are like established at Williamson Medical Center Drive, but the way that the hospital has that large parcel of land.

We don't have right-of-way or roads going north into the property.

So as we try to build curb ramps, we need right-of-way to be able to do that to expand to build a 10-foot path.

There's other areas where we're trying to avoid critical hospital utility impacts that might be very costly or potentially impact the operations of the hospital.

We're also trying to make a consistent right-of-way width in areas when the Pur Cell NEF intersection was completed.

But there's a there's one tax left just to the west.

And then generally, yeah, there's also um temporary construction easements as well that are in this.

I think that's generally everything I have.

Okay.

Any questions?

Yeah, for Todd.

Yeah, Todd, for the for the kids that are going to and from pilot view vehicle middle school, they're on the south side until they get per cell, right?

Is that when they that's correct?

Okay.

So it would connect into the larksburg trail.

Um then there's a couple of crossings along the F too.

But then generally they'll go on the north side if they're going further.

If they're going further, yes.

All right.

Yeah, it's some question.

I I um just haven't been following the design of this one super super closely.

Is it at 100% design at 70%?

We're at we're at 75.

You're at 75.

Okay.

Um yeah, one of I just to sort of put a bug in all the other counselors' ears.

Um to my mind, um, attempting to acquire right-of-way one once a project has gotten to a certain point, is kind of it's something you just need to do, you know.

Um, and it might even be something that could be sort of simplified uh for our purposes and you know, kind of go on the consent agenda.

Um, because acquiring right-of-way just through negotiation through appraisal of property values should be pretty straightforward, and I think that's probably what happens like nine nine percent of the time.

There's just kind of that one percent of the time when eminent domain is actually needed, right?

Um, and so uh there there could be uh an opportunity for some efficiency here to do right-of-way acquisitions without imminent domain authorization on the consent agenda, um, and then just have you know have the projects kind of come forward when there's actually the need for it to use eminent domain so that so the council knows like when that's actually happening or when it's not.

Um that was a thought.

It's a thought I had, and it when in my discussions with Eric about it.

We I thought maybe when the transportation standards discussion happens, it might be something for us to um yeah, kind of work on.

So yeah, I mean if you have any thoughts on that, Todd.

But I think there is sort of that just in terms of critical and and legal might be better at in terms of like we have to sort of have the resolution send out general information notices, get appraisals, yeah.

So this is sort of the first step.

Um I don't know if this can come, I don't believe it can come later.

I don't know, legally.

We can we can we can talk about it.

I mean it's it's um the way we do it here.

I mean, as you indicated, Councillor Francosa, it's it's almost it it's very rarely the case that we actually have to begin condemnation proceedings, but having council authorization ahead of time is a good tool to make sure that negotiations can happen as efficiently as they can.

Um the other hand, this is what this is government exercising one of its big pieces of authority, so historically we brought that to council in the as a regular agenda item.

Umso far as council at least has an opportunity to ask questions about it.

You could certainly do that with something on consent if you want to pull it.

Um we can talk about that.

And the way to the way to do it is through resolution, but um we can we can have some discussions internally about whether it makes sense to have them on consent.

I think my inclination is this is a better way to do it just because this is one of the big things that government at all levels does.

Um but we can we can talk about it.

Any other questions for Todd?

All right, for a motion.

I move to adopt a resolution exercising the power of eminent domain if agreement cannot be reached with property owners for the acquisition of portions of up to 11 parcels necessary to construct an F Corridor project and authorize the city manager to take steps necessary to implement the resolution.

Second.

All right, moved by Council Morris, second by 65.

All those in favor?

Aye.

All right, thanks, Todd.

Item number nine.

Council is asked to authorize an amendment with Dow LLC for final design services for the Ani Safety and Connectivity Project.

Thanks for coming, Aaron.

Appreciate it.

Good evening, Council Mayor Keebler.

My name is Madeline Alan Sandos, and I am supporting Garrett Savarin on the Ani Safety and Connectivity Project.

And we're here seeking authorization for an amendment to the design agreement.

I'll provide a project background and today's objectives.

This transportation go bond project is meant to provide safety, connectivity, and enhanced navigation throughout the area.

There are five main project components.

At the Northeast Burnside and Third Street and Scott Street and Ani Street, we'll be adding enhanced crosswalks.

Along the uh third street corridor, we'll be adding a shared use path for safer travel.

At Miller and Third, we'll be adding a signalized intersection.

And along the key low stress route, we'll be adding bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

You'll also see it that to the west of the underpass on Ani Street.

Future private development will connect transportation improvements to Bond Street.

And we're working with the CDT closely to make sure that our uh efforts are coordinated.

The design services for this contract include final design, utility coordination, geotechnical right of way, and railroad coordination, as well as additional public outreach.

And this builds on the design services of the previous contract, which had traffic analysis, concept design, public outreach, and preliminary design.

This project is funded primarily by GoBond and an all-roads transportation safety program grant for a total budget of 14.1 million.

The contract on tonight's agenda is for the Dow final design amendment for 874,000.

You'll see below that the previously approved contracts, which was for preliminary design and Kittelson Awny study.

And then we expect future contracts to have an estimated uh 150,000 for engineering services during construction and 5.5 to 9.2 million for construction for a total budget estimate of 7.2 to 10.9 million.

Back in March, we received council approval for the preliminary design services.

And then this fall, we had an in-person and online open house to present these alternatives to the public, as well as had a council touch point.

As I discussed earlier, we're here uh today for the final design amendment, and then we expect final design to last around eight months.

During that time, we will also have an online open house to show the public our progress.

Follow up next year, we're expected to go back to council uh for the construction services, as well as have a pre-construction open house to discuss with the public what they can expect for construction.

Construction is estimated around nine months to one year.

All right.

Questions for staff from council.

Steve.

Madeline, can you remind me?

I think we had a discussion on this before.

Why it's a pretty wide range on the construction budget.

Can you just talk to me about where those bookends come from?

It's a good question.

I wasn't asked the same one.

Yeah.

A lot of it was developed prior to doing the actual survey, so I know there is a lot of fine-tuning that will happen after the 30%, and that is that deliverable is happening actually today.

We received so that cost range was developed during during the alternative analysis.

We're still we're still in that we're still in the design development, so you do see the ranges, and as we move through the design, you'll see that start to shrink.

There's still a lot of unknowns, you know, especially when we start looking at kind of some of the past walls, things like that, and we don't really know until we get further in design.

Deal with the railroad too, right?

Yeah, railroad and we're retaining walls need to be how much reconstruction needs to happen because there are some areas that are limited by available right away.

So it's a function of being at 30% basically.

Yeah, thanks.

Yep.

Um, I have question definitely for for Russ.

Um the reason why the project is not the full Ani East West connection, which was promised in the Geo Bond, is uh because of the developer who is conditioned to build Ani West.

Correct.

So there's been significant coordination with what we what is called the Timber Yards project.

So actually Jackstraw built a portion of it with their project.

Timber Yards is um that is that large area to this to the south of uh of Jackstraw.

They are required to build the roundabout uh reading bond, finish off the rest of industrial and division street, and also the roundabout up at division and on a right kind of right next to this location here.

Um they have an approved master plan now.

They have just they just started to submit an amendment to that master plan that will be that is it's not complete yet.

It's just they just opened the planning um application.

We've been working with them.

They want to do some some modifications to their site plan because of market conditions.

Um we have looked at it and kind of ensured and renegotiated the transportation mitigation to make sure it's in alignment with this project.

Um, and so there where their project starts and timber yards begins, that's all been coordinated.

Um we will reevaluate where everybody's at by the time we get to the design here because uh timber yards does need to get some utilities in the ground underneath Ani before in theory before this project goes through, but we'll know the condition, we'll know where everybody's at once we get through the design, and when if if the city's ready to go into construction and let's say timber yards is not, then we will come back and have that conversation with council at the time of construction to see do we do we move forward with the project?

Do we add to the project?

Um, or do we want to wait for a certain construction schedule from Timber Yards to do it?

But it's it just wanna let council know that it's all been coordinated in terms of who's doing what and how pieces of the puzzle come together.

Yeah, I think it's just the timing of it that is really in the air.

Our understanding currently from Timber Yards is they would like to be in construction next year with with their with their proposed modifications to the project.

Again, that there's a lot of things that need to happen between then and now to do that, and also kind of coordinate that with the construction schedule here.

Yeah, if an amendment, if the amendment it's just an amendment to the master plan, not a new master plan.

Yeah, it's it'll it's amendment to the master plan, but the um the overall transportation mitigation is not changing significantly, especially around this project.

There's some other areas that we're doing some modifications on.

Um, but we also made sure that insurance our our main goal was with the first phase of that development, it kind of completes the system from Bond Street over to 2nd Street with their first phase.

Okay, okay.

Yep.

Yeah, just for the record, still concerned, yeah.

Still concerned about delivering the one east-west connection in the geo bond.

And if and if they don't move, we will be coming back to council to say do we want to take that on as potential you know future geobond project, depending on the funding is at a future date.

Okay, yeah, I'm reading their letter that they submitted six days ago.

Yep.

Our commitment to critical offsite improvements, including roundabout streets and utilities, remains unchanged.

And so they're still talking about that, which is part of their plan.

Yep, and and staff was we were we were pretty direct in terms of our interest is getting this this connection made as early as possible.

Yeah, okay.

Thanks.

Other questions?

All right.

Ready for a motion then move to authorize an amendment with Dow LLC and substantially the form presented to council for final design services of the AMI street safety and connectivity project in an amount not to exceed 874,081 dollars and twenty-three cents for a total contract amount not to exceed one million four hundred and nineteen thousand five hundred and ninety-eight dollars and twenty-three cents.

Second of the tie.

All right, counselor Mendez made the motion.

Council Brazil's a second.

All those in favor, uh.

All right, my shit passing names.

Thank you.

All right, item number 10.

This is the second reading of an ordinance adopting a statutory development agreement to remove the final sentence in section 4.1 point one point B of the statutory development agreement previously approved by ordinance number NS 2535.

I move for the second reading and adoption by rule call vote of an emergency ordinance adopting a statutory development agreement to remove the final sentence in section 4.1 point one point B, the statutory development agreement previously approved by ordinance number NS-2535.

Sorry.

All right, move by Councilor Norris, second by counselor platt and roll call the counselor Friends.

Aye, Councilor Mendez.

Yes, Mayor for Tempercades.

Yes, Councilor Norris.

Yes, Councillor Platt.

Mayor Keebler, yes.

All right, city managers report.

Well, first of all, Eric Eric sends his regards.

He was sick this morning and he got worse throughout the day, so you're stuck with me.

Um just a couple updates.

One kind of tying into a couple conversations we already had.

Just want to let council know that the team is prepping for the storm that is coming through.

We had another atmospheric river coming through.

We're hearing anywhere between one to three plus inches of rain that could hit the city.

So crews have already been preparing sandbags, the known areas, staging equipment, all that kind of stuff.

If there are issues that occur, if we do get a big storm in funding the community, we ask the community to please submit things through bin works.

That is the quickest and most direct route to get information to our crews.

We do want to have those reports so that we can get get our crews to the areas that needed.

Because this is our last meeting of the year, and the next meeting that council has won't be until January 7th.

I just want to give update on the parking code.

Um so parking, the new parking code does go into effect fully in effect on January 1st.

Um we actually met and mayor was there, we met with the downtowners today to just talk about what's going to be occurring with that.

Um a couple things that council just needs to be aware of is that we are doing a stage implementation of the enforcement of the parking code because we there's a transition period that needs to occur.

So between the dates of January 4th and 19th, we'll be issuing uh warnings because we need to move from one system to the next system, and and we will start issuing new tickets under the new code on January 21st.

This has been communicated with downtown already.

This is because we're doing a big change to the adjudication process, moving it from our current system over to the municipal court, and there's some system things that need to occur during that process, but everything else will go into effect.

Um that was adopted back in December of last year and slightly amended in in June when we extended this out.

So that goes into effect.

Um a couple other uh parking projects or I'm sorry, other updates on projects.

So the ulni project, we were on track, everything was going great.

The rail crews showed up.

They have got the there's two rail crews that needed to come in.

This is the critical part of getting that corridor open.

The surface improvements have been done by the surface crew, and we had the signal crew lined up, and they just got pulled to go help fix the issues with the flooding in Washington and Oregon.

So we really can't complain about that.

There's a lot of crossing issues and flooding issues that they're dealing with.

Our team is working with the crews to figure out what that means to our project.

And because we now have the new surface improvements down, we're trying to figure out can we reopen the road if the signal people can't make that because we need to change all the all the rails and signal and equipment.

So this news just came in the other day.

We were planning to get this thing open in January.

We're still hoping to get that open.

It may be towards the end of January, but our team is actively looking to figure out what to do with that now because that was the one critical component that we didn't have direct control over to get that project open, so we'll continue to provide updates there.

Uh good news though, the Franklin project, the fourth through eighth project, uh traffic control is going to get pulled on 1223, and that pro that section will be complete, minus some kind of minor cleanup and landscaping, but that will be back open to traffic, which is great news.

Um, and then one other uh we want to give you an update.

We just submitted the grant applications for a House Bill, which was that five million dollars with the funding that came in.

Um these were not just city applicants, they were city put the applications in, but we needed to have willing partners to be able to do it because we needed information from the the develop the housing developers to put into the proposal.

Three requests went in.

Um if you remember there was five million dollars total for the state in this in this program.

We submitted applications for 3.5 million dollars of that five million.

We'll see what we get at three locations, one for an affordable housing project off of uh Commerce Boulevard over by good life in that area.

Um, another one, uh Thistle Nest project um off of Larch, and then another one called Sugar Plane Crossing that's over by Mahogany and Silver Radio Springs, all for supporting infrastructure.

Um we'll see where those grants goes, but I want to thank Chris Ogren and our as our grant coordinator for getting those applications and scrambling to get those in.

And then the last thing uh also just want to mention there has been some discussions at the rural fire board and also um neighbor associations have come in and asking us to move up a discussion around wildfire and adopting potentially adopting a higher building standard, worked with the mayor and with Eric.

We're gonna pull that conversation forward to February 25th.

Um we were scheduled for June, but there was interest, I think, from all parties to pull it forward, so we're making some shifts to our work session schedule to make that happen.

All righty, and happy holidays to everybody.

Yes, thank you.

Yeah, all right.

So we're gonna um go adjourn and go to Borough, but I just want to let everyone know we're also we're gonna come back as counsel for the final item just because we're gonna be receiving some recommendations that go to council, and I'm hearing a request for a five-minute break, so we will absolutely do that.

I'm not going to use the gavel.

I get the honor of leading our borough meeting tonight because our uh fearless chair unfortunately is ill.

Um so I'll call the meeting of the Bend Urban Renewal Agency to order.

Um first item on our agenda is to um approve the appointments of two members of the core area advisory board.

Um counselor or sorry, borough member Riley and I uh participate in interviews and um both of these appointments are are really great folks, and I'm excited for them to join um the very busy CAB uh board.

So may I have a motion to approve the appointments?

Yeah, thank you for volunteering to serve, and I move to approve the appointments.

Second all those in favor.

Thank you.

Um our next item on the agenda is um to approve the Bend Urban Renewal Agency's 2026-2030 invest Bend Strategic Investment Plan on the Core Area Advisory Board 2527 Work Plan.

So Urban Rail Manager Jonathan Taylor is back with us.

Good evening, Chair, members of the agency.

My name is Jonathan Taylor, I'm the urban renewal manager.

I'm here to present to you uh years worth of culmination in work for the three area investment strategies.

First, I want to acknowledge other staff members that also have assisted with this.

Bend, why we are presenting this strategy for Borough consideration, then we will go into each individual specific taxing increment districts, and then we'll overview the quarter one 2026 uh schedule, which are our implementation touch points and then the recommended motions.

So a little bit of background on March 19th, 2025, Borough directed staff to do three different uh specific items.

Uh excuse me.

Launch the investment strategy process, which you directed staff to launch the investment project.

You also directed staff to explore the feasibility of a maximum indebtedness and boundary change for Juniper Ridge.

And then you also directed staff to explore the capacity to address infrastructure issues in the Empire Avenue area, and if an URA would benefit due to recent conversations with council around ODOT and GoBond funding, we are no longer moving forward with the in power consideration.

A little bit of background of what Borough has accomplished in the last two years in the core area.

We finished the second street revitalization.

There have been 313 new housing units built in the core area with 1,111 in Q, and that's your site specific programs.

And then in the core area and Juniper Ridge, you've helped small businesses with $200,000 of grants.

So exactly why we are presenting this strategy tonight.

So think of it as a coloring book.

The plans that were previously adopted were the core area plan, the Juniper Ridge Plan, and the Murphy Crossing Plan, each were adopted at different points in time.

But these plans identify the goals of the area, the maximum indebtedness amount, which is the ability to bond up to a certain amount with the debt coverage ratios, and specific project areas in which these projects are funded.

And then over the course, because these plans are adopted in 30-year increments, obviously the market conditions change.

So we need to do an area's needs assessment and how we look at the historic performance.

And then using the current area market conditions.

Then we are proposing a five-year allocation and timeline in our investment strategies, which identify particular project and expected outcomes.

And then obviously, staff will work for those program details.

And to the alliteration of the coloring book, the coloring book is the plans adopted, each individual like outlines of what we're trying to do is the investment strategy, and over the next couple of years, we'll bring back for you to color in what you are looking to do.

A little bit of the public outreach, Borough directed staff to begin the process of the investment strategy in February 2025 with that March 19th direction.

The core area advisory board met from June to November of 2025 and worked on the core area strategic investment plan.

Under the Invest Bend Economic Development Strategy Focus Groups, we also had several roundtables from June through October.

Through Katie's leadership along with Cyrus, we presented to visit Bend and the Chamber of Commerce in September.

And then I conducted TIFF area outreach for both property owners and business owners in Juniper Ridge and Murphy's Crossing in March, July, and then October.

Deriving this from the City Council's goal of 2025 and 2027, the proposed Borough five year mission is to implement this investment strategy as a tool to support housing, neighborhood commercial, entrepreneurial development, business and land development, and beautification with a target of 500 jobs and 1,000 multifamily units created by 2030.

Each individual plan has specific project categories, but most of the time they overlap.

So these are the five proposed investment strategy focus areas, economic development, housing, infrastructure, mobility, and placemaking.

So the executive summary of our investment strategy is we are proposing 41.4 million dollars amongst the three districts in order to build 1,000 multifamily units.

They assist with the creation of 500 jobs, help develop 20 acres of land across these three districts, help create at least four acres of parks, trails, and open space, assist new businesses, improve 5,000 square footage of business frontage, construct an additional 2,000 linear feet of public infrastructure, and continue with the site specific, generate 1.5 dollars for every $1 invested.

So we'll begin with the core area proposed investment strategy.

This plan was adopted in year 2020, so we are only in the fifth year.

Current to date is 4% of the maximum indebtedness utilized.

And we are proposing $8.9 million to spur at least 100 million dollars in private development, build 100 housing units, increase frontage improvements and beautification, create more customer experiences in businesses, and build at least one acre park.

The core area advisory board are the primary components of what has proposed this particular investment strategy.

Their proposed vision for the area is an emerging safe and welcoming arts, entertainment, and business district where more people are choosing to live and new businesses are being established.

They identified four key priorities that they'd like to focus on.

Create place and foster vibrancy.

They'd like to move the market, they'd like to brand market and recruit, and they want to continue to leverage TIFF and deploy additional dollars.

Under create place and foster vibrancy, they'd like to see the area transform from underperforming or aging commercial areas into vibrant economically active community-focused destinations.

They'd like to remove the financial barriers to development by implementing targeted incentives that catalyze redevelopment.

They want to continue to elevate the visibility and strengthen the identity of the core area with BIN's urban landscape.

And they want to continue maximizing the economic impact of the core area TIFF by leveraging additional investments.

They have proposed $8.9 million in your staff packet.

You'll see the breakdown of how we intend to use those dollars, particularly and the sources of revenue in which we will derive those from.

But the 8.9 million for the create place and foster vibrancy, they are proposing to conduct a retail and restaurant market analysis.

Develop a catalyst site map and continue with green space development.

They've also proposed $5 million for new development assistance programs, continue with property acquisition and strategy development.

They'd like to see an annual investment summit, a brand campaign, and then continue to leverage and deploy public infrastructure along Franklin.

As you'll see, we have staff recommendations for what we consider would be the best approach for Borough, and then along with the estimated next Borough check-in.

And I'm going to ask the chair would you like to discuss each individual investment strategy as we go or go through the entire project and circle back?

I was just wondering the same thing.

Are folks okay if we just go through all of it and then and then circle back?

Sure.

Okay.

We can compare and that's maybe.

CAB has also proposed a work plan along with the core area investment strategy.

They'd like to work on financial policy updates.

This is also the submitted recommendation in the issue summary.

They'd like to see a they'd like to help with the retail and restaurant market analysis, develop that catalyst site map.

On October 1st, you allowed them to administer the core area revitalization effort program, which is a matching grant program for frontage improvements.

They'd like to advise on the development of new development assistance programs on land acquisition and property acquisition.

They'd like to collaborate with the Bend Central District on branding the core area.

They'd like to continue to partner with local partners for those investment summit opportunities.

They do support the establishment of an economic improvement district in the core area.

They'd like to make policy recommendations on adaptive reuse standards or minimum standard review, and then make budget recommendations on the core area TIFF.

We don't really talk a lot about Murphy's Crossing, so I'm going to provide a little bit of overview.

It is a primary general commercial area.

The district is located on the southern portion of our town along 3rd Street and Murphy Crossing.

It is in its almost 25th year, no, excuse me, 20th year.

Murphy Crossing has only used 8% total of its maximum indebtedness, and we are proposing to use $6.5 million over the next five years.

The key issue here is we are proposing not to issue any debt.

We only are recommending to use annual TIFF revenue.

According to some of the property owners in the district, they'd like to see a more connected mixed-use area with growing housing options, revitalized retail spaces and open space amenities.

And in conversations both internally and externally, some of the goals are to revitalize some of the retail shopping spaces on the east side of 3rd Street, develop at least 10 acres because there's about 26 acres left to develop in the area, build 300 housing units, incentivize one public park, and continue to improve area transportation.

Along with revitalizing legacy retail, similar to the core area, it's transforming those underperforming or aging commercial areas into community-focused destinations.

We've also identified that we'd like to green the gray.

There's about 26 acres of unutilized parking lots in the area, so we are proposing to convert undeveloped parcels or underutilized paved services into vibrant green spaces.

We'd like to continue to enhance housing affordability and then strategic determination.

As we're proposing not to issue in the debt in year 2028, we'd like to work with the engineering department to see what the capacity of our financial capabilities are for the Murphy Crossing interchange, and then determine what Borough should do with Murphy Crossing, whether it is to reposition it or to terminate the district.

Since we are not bonding, we're proposing 6.5 million, 1.5 million for development assistance programs in the area, which is just to revitalize those legacy retail spaces along the east side of 3rd Street, land acquisition and development for a proposed park or green space development.

And then on August 1st, Borough approved an update to the affordable housing loan program, and so we are asking to allocate $3 million to that as well.

And lastly, for the proposed Juniper Ridge investment strategy.

The vision is still the same.

I think that is clear of the work that Matt has done over the last two years, which is to continue to make an area that is connected and positioned for industrial development that supports high quality employment.

We are asking for strategic repositioning, enhancing employment development and improving the infrastructure.

The goal is to invest 26 million over the next five years to develop 10 acres and to create 200 jobs.

Murphy Crossing is in its 24th year.

It's used a its maximum deadness of 33%.

The strategic repositioning, unfortunately, it's Juniper Ridge is about developed 100 acres every 15 years.

We have about 350 acres still left on developed.

Along the eastern portion and the western portion, we have parcel constrained infrastructure.

And then the plan also expires in 10 years.

We are proposing in March that we come back before Borough with some options about how we reposition the plan and debt capabilities to fully maximize the remaining resources for full plan development.

Currently, we are identifying specific development strategies to incentivize and to promote employment growth.

The current program in the areas, the tiny TIFF program for employment that is still active.

Some of the evidence that we have is because we have less than two percent industrial vacancy in uh Bend, and we have uh substantial amounts of undeveloped greenfield.

And then obviously we continue to improve and create new public systems that advance traffic, multimodal connectivity, and water and sewer connections.

On March 20, or excuse me, on March 13th, these were the areas that we uh conducted a feasibility study on a planned boundary expansion.

This is what we call the Caraway project, and the reason we are exploring this area is because of the North Interceptor water sewer connectivity.

This is an area that has gone through several developments.

It's also nine parcel ownership.

Uh in the red, you have parcel constrained, excuse me, infrastructure constrained parcels that also require the northern interceptor.

In most of this area, uh you have pretty much half and half of light industrial and mixed use commercial along with residential.

This area also is required to provide 20% of affordable housing.

So we're proposing to continue with that amendment process that you authorized on March 13th, but we would bring back options to you for consideration in March, give or take uh a meeting or two for the expansion, the extension, and the increase.

Uh, we will continue to move forward with the property acquisition of city owned parcels.

Uh, continue with the development assistance programs that we currently have, but uh according to the last meeting, you all would like us to revamp those development assistance programs.

So we are including that with the remainder of the new development assistance programs in Murphy Crossing and Juniper It, excuse me, in the core area, and then to continue allocate uh dollars for the public infrastructure systems that is hold on one second questions while I bring up the um the touch point is it just a question about the core area plan.

There's a total of 350,000 that is earmarked for a summit and uh marketing and branding.

Um could you tell us a little bit more about the timeline for that?

So um as of right now, it's just over the next five years.

Cav has just asked Borough for consideration of the 350.

If approved, the first annual investment summit, which is the 100,000 dollars, which would be 20,000 over the next five years, would probably occur around September, October.

But then the branding campaign, we would probably, if authorized by Borough, um, not launch that until potentially an EID is established, if that is the wish of the city council.

But right now, that branding campaign currently is projected to begin um late 2026 and go through 2028 if approved.

Can you put that slide back up?

Yes, I have the same question, and this is the right time to allocate money to that, and we're just getting the EID started.

So presuming that they will vote themselves to have any ID.

We've started that process at the city, and I think we have support for that.

So to me, it doesn't it makes sense to maybe leave these in another bucket for now until we find that there's a need for that because the EAD is really shooting about a hundred thousand a year to start.

Was it we were looking at?

Yes, yeah.

So they're they're gonna be, and I think if there's an opportunity for them to put together some sort of investment summit or something that we could look to partner with them, but I'm less sure about the the branding.

Is that that's a lot of what for instance DBBA and EID does a lot of that and it's taken quite a while for them to get there, I think, to what their brand is and kind of how they market themselves, and I'd like to have that maybe be a little more grassroots from the EAD.

Okay from the EID.

I agree.

Yeah I agree.

Where would you like to reallocate those dollars if this is not a priority for Borough?

I mean I mean I think the it it makes sense to put it in the move the market bucket somewhere in there.

Makes sense to me.

Yeah.

I mean I may propose a alternative I know the catalyst site map has zero dollars um but I I mean to my mind one of the things that was really kind of holding back the core area is this like part kind of parcel by parcel understanding of what the needs are um what the infrastructure needs are and what the specific kind of site constraints and and developer kind of needs are so I'm I'm if you if you know Jonathan if you would recommend putting some amount of money into that sort of catalyst site map and that more granular planning that we've been talking about for a while um you know I I I think I would encourage you to propose that if the if you think that would be a good use of funds.

So luckily um Brian Rankin and his team when they were doing the climate friendly action area like GIS overlays there's a lot of overlays that will help with the catalyst site map and they've already paid for a consulting services to do that.

Sweet.

So we're actually going to kind of still most of their work but then add in additional overlays so I think uh you could use those dollars elsewhere that might be a little bit more beneficial.

But I think between CAB and I we'll this catalyst site map can be done without expenditures.

Okay great yeah then I agree move the market yes just the green space development Jonathan is that gonna get us that that one acre park where where do you think about that going 700 grand yeah so in the conversations with CAB at that they've had um they would really like to see some sort of integrated Hawthorn landing approach um starting to park some of those dollars for both that landing development but maybe integrating some park space into that so make a make a space so what we're doing is we're kind of allocating even though it says green space development parking those dollars in capital improvement of some sort that way when Borough and the city council have some conversations to have around that those landing discussions there's um funding there to help that okay cool so putting it reallocating it to move the market means that it could be eligible for any of those three categories or do we need to specify a particular category I think if um the brand market and recruit if that 350 is not at this time a priority um I think the recommendation is from what I've heard on the DIAS is that 350 goes to development assistance program so that'd be five million three hundred and fifty thousand that's fine okay um since we're here this is the proposed cap work plan if if there are any questions about that.

I think maybe it just needs to tweak to reflect what we just said that maybe we're expecting the EID I think still support the EID but maybe there's not there's less of an expectation to work directly on branding okay so then we need that I suppose okay so in bullet so those those two bullets um advise on core area branding remove that for right now and then explore with local partners a potential investment summit wait until the EID is established and then starting okay yeah Murphy crossing 6.5 million unless we still are wanting to be um I I just want to say someone who's in this area a lot I on Murphy um I think the the green the gray is really great I think there are potentials for um some of those east side properties to become more mixed use maybe vertical how can we start to catalyze that so I think that's a great a great use of the funds here.

Great and I'm excited to potentially part partner with parks and rec right exactly right I think that um that's definitely possible in that area Jonathan do you have any experience from your outreach to property owners in Murphy Crossing that so the the number one comment that we had is we are in an urban or null district how come we don't have facade improvement programs how come we don't have that and so I've let them know that Borough is looking to do an entire new development assistance programs across the district and then we will include them in this process.

Great.

As a big package.

Cool.

Yeah.

Yeah, I like I'm be interesting to see how this goes.

I would be I'm potentially interested in extending Murphy Crossing, um, urban renewal area.

Is this one that needed extending as well?

Or how juniper ridge will be the extension.

We still have a base to go on Murphy.

We have many years to go on MP.

Yeah, you have about another 10 on Murphy, but you have some major decision points in 2028 for that kind of conversation.

Okay.

And so that's why we're not proposing any bonding at this time.

So if you do want to extend it or modify it at any point for potential issues, we didn't commit any new dollars to those efforts.

So we're buying, we're buying you time for um to see how it goes.

To see how it goes.

And also with Brian's uh work on the growth management plan, you may want to use your allocated resources of AV and um assessed value and acreage for other issues of development in the city of Ben.

So you may want to say this area needs it more than Murphy Crossing.

Yeah, right.

So that's we from staff perspective, we like the idea of like let's kind of just use the kind of cash on hand and not issue more debt right now, Murphy, until we get a much better understanding of where we're going.

Great, thanks.

And then lastly, is uh Juniper Ridge.

Um this is the one we are uh going to come back in March to talk about uh some of the options in your staff packet.

Uh and Matt can chime in for a little bit of context as he's worked on Juniper Ridge for the last couple of years.

But because it's taken so long to bring some of these parcels to market, we haven't exactly used our maximum indebtedness.

Uh, and then also uh there's other priorities of the city that you're looking to use land revenue for potentially, and so we're proposing to use the remaining maximum indebtedness over the five years in order to do that.

We'll at least have to extend the plan duration because we can't get favorable financing at this time for those type of projects.

So because we have to meet debt coverage ratios, everything that finance has told me that I have to do.

Um so by just extending the plan, it doesn't change anything at that time for like maximum indentance or boundary, but we also need to present the initial conversation that you wanted us to have in March of 2025, and then allow you to determine is a boundary expansion needed and is a maximum indebtedness expansion needed.

Um in March, that'll be just the options that won't commit you to anything, and then you'll say staff go do X, Y or Z, and then we'll come back for a formal adoption and or nothing.

Um the property acquisition, that's continue to work with the city of Bend to at least develop some of those remaining parcels that have been uh surplused, continue with a new development assistance program, and then starting to park some more dollars because we still have a lot of like Ignatius Drive needs a lot of work.

Well, it doesn't even exist, so it needs to be built.

Um, and then the northern interceptor, but then also on the western portion of the district, there's some uh water sewer connectivity to that new pump station.

Uh so kind of starting to park some of those dollars that way.

If a development happens, Borough has the ability to tap into that to make development happen.

Um, any questions on these?

Yeah, I do have a question about Juniper.

How big is the um the caraway area?

It's about 217 acres, so it's almost 20% of the original 712 acre of the Juniper Ridge.

Uh yeah, Juniper Ridge.

Um, yeah, I I have concerns.

There are other tools that um developers in the city can use to finance the north interceptor in that feasibility area as opposed to um kind of burdening our own tax base as well as the tax base of our neighboring districts.

Um why should Burra bring caraway in to the urban renewal area versus forming a local improvement district?

So let me go ahead because I've been involved in a lot of these conversations.

I can just let you know kind of what's happened to date with development in that area.

We've worked with gone through a couple rounds of trying to get the Caraway project through.

Um it's been it's been master plan, it's been annexed.

Um, but the from what we've heard, we haven't seen the numbers.

The feasibility of construction is they can't move the project forward.

They keep coming to us and saying the burden of the north interceptor, which is big and deep in terms of you know it's costly, um is preventing them from moving forward.

Um we do offer STC credits, it's on our sewer SDC list to provide the credits for going deeper and bigger on the pipe.

The the information we've we have gotten to date is that it's still the project's still not feasible.

Again, we've not verified the numbers just so you know.

But also the city has interest to get that north interceptor through, not only to get the caraway development going, but also as indicated.

Can you go back to that map, Jonathan?

Um that one.

So we've got that infrastructure constrained area kind of north of the the Costco, and then we also have the entire Obi Riley develop um expansion area, which is to the west of US 20.

That pipe needs to be in to serve that.

So there's interest.

So from a city's perspective, we have interest of getting that major infrastructure through Caraway.

Um and so that's why this discussion has come up.

Um, just because we have not seen development move move in that area, and they keep saying that the the north interceptor is an issue, and this is we we've explored all we've explored the other tools that we've had available to get them moving through SDCs and and phasing and looking at kind of working with them on their routes and where you know are they doing doing double lines, we're allowing service taps to it in certain areas to not have multiple um lines of infrastructure in there, and they're still telling us it's not feasible.

So this is just another this is it's another tool if if Burr wants to to help spur development in this area of so the I guess what I'm hearing though is the local improvement district actually could be much larger than that orange area, yeah.

All the properties that would be served by the North Interceptor.

In theory, yes, we have not extended.

So that would really spread the cost out.

It would spread the cost.

The concern we have when we look at local improvement districts is as soon as you do that, you immediately burden those existing properties and work and with infrastructure of this size.

We looked at this once in the Southeast area.

One, we have an issue of it's it's it's tricky to establish the LID.

I think we we just changed the state law around establishing LID in areas that aren't annexed in yet.

But if you do create an LID, you immediately start assessments start going on every property, and they could be in the 20 to 30,000 or more per property per year.

And if they're if you're doing multi-million dollar, this is you know, this is probably a 10 to 12, 10 to 15 million dollar project.

And you if you look to start spreading that cost, you start to burn those properties immediately, and a lot of times they're not developing with you.

So sorry.

I would feel sorry, Mayor, but um go ahead.

I would feel a lot more comfortable though, comparing the actual numbers of an LID versus incorporating this area into Borough, because we're basically or sorry, into the Juniper Ridge, because we're basically, I mean, you're maximizing the amendment that or the extension of the area that you can do here, right?

So it's like you're maximizing it at 20%.

So it's there's no rhyme or reason other than maximizing what we can do.

Um yeah, I I yeah, I we have not burned the numbers on that.

I know you have done this before, Russ.

I would rather see the numbers run on the LID before moving forward with something.

We're willing to do that if PRER wants to explore that.

Can I just clarify the 10 10 million dollars for public infrastructure?

Is that tied to the expansion of Juniper Ridge, or is that 10 million that is in the existing Juniper Ridge area?

The current proposed 26 million is for the current Juniper Ridge district.

Um so that 10 million we're parking and allocating because we do need Ignatius Drive and Kember Line Drive to be developed.

But if we do extend the district, um, there's that 8.9 million that could be potentially added to the maximum in deadness, and then you can pick and choose how you would like to deploy that 18 million in either the existing district or a combination of thereof.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, I I mean we're not deciding this tonight.

I think the staff recommendation is to come back to us with some more details so that we can make an informed decision, and I support that.

And I think it's not without rhyme or reason.

I think it's to try to get development going here.

I remember approving the caraway plan and having it sit there, is it's not what we want.

We want the housing built, right?

And that would in turn increase the tax base for this TIP area and maybe give us some more um leverage depending on what we want to do there.

So I think we'll have a couple of opportunities or a couple questions in March about both area and extension, and I would like to see the the details on that, and I don't mind if we want to compare it in LID.

That's fine with me too, because the pros and cons, and we can decide.

Okay, yeah.

Okay, so just to clarify then the strategic investment plan does is did not include expanding.

No, it's asking them to asking staff to bring us options, but this these fiscals don't require expansion, right?

Yeah, right.

Yeah, it will look it will require an extension of the plan duration, which is an entirely different uh process than a boundary expansion or maximum indebtedness.

But we'll bring all three of those before you in March for a consideration, and then it could be the Alakart type of option for Borough.

Um, but to answer your point, uh counselor, right now the investment strategy is kind of directing staff to bring this back to you and then allocating the 35,000 for our consultant to do those analyses.

I mean, I guess I I would say I'm I'm skeptical of expanding, but I'm I'm okay with uh extending.

Okay.

So I mean, I don't know if there's what others think about expanding if we want to save the 35,000 now, or if we want to have that conversation in a couple of months.

I need more information than Gina going back and forth with Russ about another option versus what this means, right?

I I just I think we should get some professional appraisal of what this would look like.

Yep, yeah, I agree.

Great.

I'd like to see that as well.

Not saying I'm for or against expansion, I just need more information.

And that is and uh we're freeing up the touch points.

Forgive me for the I didn't pull up on the PowerPoint.

But so you know that the investment strategy is not the end all be all.

This is a directional document that's just allocating the dollars for staff to work on and bringing back everything for you to consider both policy development and project implementation based on the home committee requirements or requirements, recommendations.

We will come back on January 21st for an initial uh site specific clawback discussion.

Um this will be a work session on a proposed policy provision.

Uh the requested bird action will be like direct staff to bring back an official policy for adoption just for that clawback, and then we'll come back in February for that official policy consideration, and then as the mayor was saying, um, in March, we'll come back with the Juniper Ridge amendments, you'll see what you would like to do, and then you will direct staff to bring back whatever necessary documents that you preferred, and then the development assistance program site specific, we'll start that preview of preliminary work in March, solicit future criteria that you're looking for, and then come back at a later date for continued policy development.

So that's the the 90-day staff work plan.

Also, what's kind of like the council agenda for Borough, and if there are any questions on that.

And so just to clarify, discussion of support for commercial amenities would be expected in that March time frame.

Correct.

Um, and then also to uh point out on January 14th, you're gonna begin a conversation on neighborhood commercial.

I know you've seen some preliminary timelines floating between Katie, myself, and Russ and Eric, but I'll let Eric maybe uh Russ uh talk about it a little bit more.

But there's a bigger conversation that I think is grown than just a site-specific neighborhood commercial combo.

Yeah, it's beyond that.

We'll come back and then we have multiple questions and direction we'll be seeking on kind of a neighborhood commercial and Senate Bill Aid, the relationship of what we want to allow, and then also incentives if we want to look at incentives and site specific is one of the tools that we might throw out there for discussion if you're interested in providing incentives.

I'm maybe just one comment.

Using the word clawback, that's that makes it sound really, you know, like mean, right?

But the the clawback would only be used if the project uh didn't actually demonstrate the need, correct?

That was that was kind of the issue.

Of course, that appliance correct.

No compliance, borough comes comes after them.

Yeah.

That's even worse than clawback.

I have them as well.

Basically, what what we're trying to do is we right now the current provision about um clawback is a very broad definition that we we've all presented to you in the past.

However, there is a difference between a long-term property owner and a property developer, and so we're trying to mitigate the two um approaches to housing development.

So instead of a long-term holder, there's a property developer that will end up selling at a stabilization year.

And so we're just trying to actually codify the actual clawback provision in the policy, so it's not so broad.

But we'll get in that into in January.

This is a broader conversation because this was something.

Okay, well, I'll work with Elizabeth on a better terminology.

Recapture.

Yeah.

Oh, that sounds nice.

All right, just a recap 41.4 million, and then the recommended motions for Sir, can we go to the recap one more time?

Because I wasn't expecting the slide to come back up, but I did have uh just some thoughts on this.

Um number seven, construct two thousand linear feet of public infrastructure.

That's not very much for all the it uh for it's only it's less than half a mile, right?

It's so um with all the just with all the investments that are being made.

I don't know, maybe or maybe not, maybe you thought about this and it's private development assistance is being uh sort of has a higher priority, and so that's maybe that's why the infrastructure is is number is so little.

That is correct.

Um so based on the conversations with CAB, but also within the urban or null districts, we do have CIP projects, but they're not until like year 2031, and so within a reasonable time frame of a five year of this five year, 2,000 feet of linear feet of infrastructure is actually what's on the docket.

So it's kind of maintaining what prior councils have already done that does not preclude future CIPs uh being adopted.

Okay, thank you.

I move to approve the Bend Urban Renewal Agency's 2026-2030 investment strategic investment plan and substantially the form presented with the adjustment of the additional 350,000 dollars to development assistance as discussed tonight, and direct staff to take steps to implement and advance the strategy subject to future borough direction guidance and action for adoption where necessary.

Second motion carried.

Oh, Paul in favor.

I move to approve the core area advisory board work plan for fiscal years 2025-2027 is substantially the forum presented to council, removing the two bullets related to branding and the investment summit.

Second, all those in favor?

Okay.

That is approved.

Um we have an item here, receive a recommendation of the core area advisory board regarding financial and operational policies of the Bend Urban Renewal Agency.

Is that uh is that coming?

That's coming to Burrett and then to council again.

Yes, uh, there's one particular recommendation directed to Borough, and then there are five recommendations directed to council under our BIN municipal code 17, which allows CAB to offer both to each.

However, the reason there is no motion presented is because you have just adopted it as part of the CAB work plan, so there is no longer a need to consider this recommendation.

Look at that.

All right.

Well, with that then, I can um adjourn the Bend Urban Renewal Agency.

All right, we will reconvene our city council business meeting magically.

Um we are going to receive the core advisory board policy recommendations to council now.

Hello, Corey.

Hello.

Good evening, city councilors.

Good to be with you tonight, and appreciate Jonathan inviting me to join for this part of the presentation.

Uh I'm here tonight as the chair of the core area advisory board.

Um, I am also the cities and towns program director with Central Oregon Land Watch.

And I think that we just want to walk you through the recommendations here tonight, but I think my primary role is just to provide you a little bit of the backstory of how did we arrive here and why are you seeing this before you tonight when you've already seen a ton of work around the investment strategy and our work plan.

And I think the key takeaway is that there was a recognition in this process that we're really gonna need some supportive actions to be considered by city council as well as borough for us to be really successful in implementing all of the things that we just talked about.

So that's the the main takeaway.

Um, but I think that I just wanted to share, you know, we kicked off this year kind of feeling like this was a new era and a bit of a new chapter for CAB.

So we had um new staff joining us, right?

Ali Platt left, uh Jonathan had had um been been in that seat.

Um we had new council liaisons, so counselor Francosa and Councilor Riley kind of stepping into new roles.

We had four new CAB members who are really joining us for the first time.

Um and we had hit this five-year mark of the urban renewal area, and I think that there was a recognition that there had been a lot of good work and really good um smart public investments that had happened for public infrastructure in the district, but also a recognition and a pretty clear-eyed one that we weren't necessarily seeing the amount of redevelopment activity that we would really like to see in the core area and in the Bend Central district.

And so, with that premise, right, and also not generating the kind of increment, right?

The tax increment that we can then plow back into the district to do more great things here.

So that really led to this discussion with CAB members of saying, okay, let's take a moment here to think about okay, we can't just keep doing the same thing that we've been doing.

What else might we do to be more effective here to really achieve different outcomes?

And so, in that discussion, landed in this place where you know this is a good time to be seeking additional input, um, connecting with community members, um, our business community, connecting with other local experts, um developers, and really just try to sort of understand what are the things that could be on our list of approaches or changes in strategy to really change a trajectory and try and get some better outcomes going.

Um, even though we'd had some success really wanting to kind of ramp up that that redevelopment activity.

And I think also recognizing we have really strong economic headwinds.

We know you all are very familiar that there are a lot of marking conditions that we just have no control over.

And so then what are the kinds of levers that we can pull on and should pull on and that need to be in the room in a more real and clear way to really make sure we're achieving the vision for this place.

Um so that kicked off about a two-month period for Dale Van Valkenberg and I.

Dale is the vice chair of CAB.

Um, he's with Works Resources, and we it was like thousand cups of coffee, right?

We really were trying to connect and hear from folks directly about those different ideas and thoughts about what we should be thinking about and considering in this next five-year chapter.

Um, so that all that information we captured, we work closely with Councilor Francisza and Councilor Riley to kind of you know check in on some of those things and and workshop them.

We distilled that ultimately into a memo for CAV's discussion, and it was very much embedded in this larger kind of conversation about all these different pieces that you've already talked about tonight.

Um, and then when we really distilled that into the pieces you've seen already, the investment strategy, the work plan, and then these recommendations.

So we had one for Borough, and then we had I think five for city council, and we'll go ahead and walk through those now.

So, recommendation one from CAB uh development incentives.

CAB has recommended that the city explore specific development incentives, particularly system development charge modification and assistance to deferral policies and capital improvement project assistance to catalyze redevelopment in the Benn Central District.

These measures could implement or excuse me, complement enhanced CAB and borough work plan by focusing on development incentives for the core area.

So current efforts that the city is doing is the housing SDC methodology will be part of the home committee 2026 policy work.

And then for your consideration, if this is a recommended motion, additional SDC methodology updates do require a future city council work session.

And I think I just want to recognize we we get that this one is a kind of a big swing.

Um, but I think what CAB also wanted to do is to put things in the room for council to really grapple with and make you know, have good discussion about why it might be a good fit or why it might not.

We know that a ton of work has gone into this SDC uh methodology, right?

You guys have been through that, and but at the same time, we know this could be potentially like a very strong tool for helping catalyze the kind of redevelopment that we want to see, and therefore we really feel like it merits um some more time and consideration and discussion by the city, and and we do understand that it is a you know, it's a big swing.

Could I ask about this one?

Sure.

Uh oh, yeah, it's you know.

Back over here.

Okay.

So is this is this a is this in any way kind of a vote of no confidence in the infrastructure that the SDCs are supposed to support?

Because it asking for an exemption without identifying a source of funding just means that the infrastructure won't get built.

I think that this was an attempt by CAB to say, is there a way to look for other things where TIFF isn't gonna be essentially subbing in for that money, right?

And so I think that it's it's a power, it can be a powerful funding tool.

We know that it's it's a it's a big expense, and so if there is a way to be thinking about are there exemptions for a specific geographic area here, and I think particularly I would add for the Benn Central District.

This actually was something that was much more targeted, it wasn't the full core area, right?

That's a much bigger kind of geography.

This was very much about the Bent Central District and really trying to figure out like what are the things that we could put in play that are going to help move this in a more dramatic way.

And so I think that that was kind of at the core of what CAV was trying to get at with this business recommendation.

Yeah, I'll um speak to I when I had a chance to talk to Mayor Wilson of Portland this year.

Um, he that was around the time that they had announced some SEC sort of moratoriums in Portland.

I was going, what how is that gonna work?

Yeah, and he explained to me that they did target it by geographic area where they felt they already had a lot of infrastructure built out.

So he was like, we would not do this in this part of Portland, but we are able we think it's okay to do it in this part of Portland, time limited, not forever.

So I'm actually pretty interested in looking at the BCD, and we have geobond investment there, we have federal state money on the bridge, right?

So where are we already kind of getting some investment and we're getting some infrastructure?

And might that be an okay risk that we would forgo a little bit of SEC revenue if that's gonna pump up the TIFF in the I'm interested, but I geographically and time limited makes a lot of sense to me.

But I think we have to analyze and have some good analysis of what we think is gonna come in through our bond and other work and what we would have supported with SDCs and be really clear right about what that means.

But I'm interested in that.

Would we be considering removing items from the SDC capital?

I think I think that's part of the conversation we'd have to have.

Are we put are we putting things off down the line?

Yeah.

If we're doing a couple year moratorium, what are we doing?

Or a 50% discount.

Yeah, I think there's a lot of options to do relief there, but I I would want to look at it in that way.

There's deferrals, there's financing programs, there's exemptions, there's obviously legal framework.

We could we could bring back kind of that kind of optionless to you and benefits and kind of things to consider through that.

That's we we can definitely do that.

Okay.

That'd be interesting.

Yeah, I like, I mean, one of the reasons why I really like this idea, uh, it's kind of similar to why SDCs are reduced for infill housing for ADUs and things like that.

Um, there are a lot of small parcels in um in the core area, and it will be redevelopment of parcels.

So theoretically, folks have paid SECs at one point in time to build what they built.

Theoretically, um so yeah, so this uh I agree, geographically limited, time limited, like makes I think it makes a lot of sense and and it would be really good.

And I think you could even use it to incentivize certain types of development too.

So, right, if you're gonna if you're doing something that's gonna be less impactful in certain ways, maybe that's gonna qualify you for more or something like that.

Yeah, should we move to the recommendation two?

Sure, okay.

Um continuing with development incentives, this will be for particular zoning.

CAB recommends that the city council use the economic opportunity analysis through the growth management plan project to consider redesignating the light industrial in the core area as central business or mixed use urban and expand allowable uses and spaces for targeted business operations.

Um talking with Brian Rankin, this will be part of the growth management plan update.

And so, as Corey was saying, this is an effort just to continue highlighting the need of a changing use in the district.

I want to point out that you just approve or Borough approved the CAB work plan for adaptive reuse.

So this will be a broader effort that has now been kind of adopted.

Is is this though?

I mean, is he asked basically to say can we do it quicker than the whole update the growth, you know, the growth management plan?

We I mean we taught we talked about that.

Um, and I think that where CAB landed is because this is on track, the growth plan's happening now, it's got a timeline, it's got a budget, and because there's some implications here of what this might look like here, but I think there's also that has to be sort of weighed in full with like where you might be considering other kinds of changes.

Um, and I think there was just a recognition that we could do uh in it in a more piecemeal way, but there might be some real benefit to having a bit more of a big look approach for this kind of change because that it is connected and will have impacts probably to other parts of our community.

So I think that was why we we took a step back from let's do that now and try to embed it in um kind of a more I don't know, intentional.

It seems like if it's not that heavy of a lift, then why not just do it?

I I think it is that heavy of a list.

You get into the analysis that were done as part of the 20 the 2016 work and the employment and housing needs analysis that were done there.

So you have to get to tie to back to that existing work before you can look forward and that's why we're just a small area.

I we we we would have to do some work to see if if we could actually, whatever that proposal was, if we could do it to make welcome to the organ landing system, right?

To make sure it all it all flows right correctly through policies.

So if you do remove uh acreage, you have to add it somewhere else based on the EOA analysis and the 20-year land supply for if we take away IELT we have to add it somewhere else.

You have to put it somewhere else.

But if we do it as part of this ongoing growth plan, maybe we can correct tinker that all at the same time with under our new um analysis.

Done.

Uh move on to recommendation three chip.

Okay.

I'll let you actually take this one.

Uh so this one, I mean, you can see this one up on the screen.

And I think you know, kudos to the city, really making moves on the permitting piece of this, right?

Bringing timelines down, having the dashboard doing all those things.

Um, it's not meant to critique that in any way, but I think it is just sort of saying we still have more work to do.

And so, particularly around the permitting piece, and then we we're calling it adaptive reuse, but you see it up here as like minimum development standards.

And essentially what we're just hearing a lot from like different property owners is that they are coming in with some sort of change of use, uh site improvement, whatever it is, and it triggers this much larger thing that is really standing in the way of them moving forward with a higher and better use for their property.

And so this was there was a subcommittee that also met on this issue.

This has actually been kind of a long time coming to get this in front of council.

Um, and so we kind of paired these two up to just really say, okay, like, are we doing everything we can to make the road as streamlined as possible if you want to do development in the core area and in the Bend Central district, we want to make that as easy for you as possible, knowing that there again are all those things we don't have control over, these are things we definitely could um could lean in on.

So that's what this one is about.

I just want to mention the council we've already got a work session plan on June 24th around development, development infrastructure requirements, and this is we we're gonna talk about several areas in town, but this is one of the areas we're gonna focus in and to just kind of verify what do we want development to build when they come in, and especially in some of these info areas.

So we've we're that'll that'll pick off maybe code updates as part of that, kind of tied to that that particular recommendation.

And just note since you approved our work plan, this is embedded in there, right, to continue this work and and um work with city staff to really like get some more specificity around what this really can look like.

In the timing of the work plan, Jonathan, is that something there can be some work on before we get to that work session that Russ just mentioned?

Yeah, actually, uh, once the retail and restaurant market analysis completed, you'll actually have data about what the new model is for the types of neighborhood commercial you're looking for, and so you'll be able to have actual data of what is the square footage that you're allowing for X, Y, and Z in your zone.

So you'll have all that way prior than the June 21st meeting.

Okay, perfect.

All right, recommendation four.

Uh this will be continuing prioritizing the public infrastructure investments.

Uh excuse me, after five years of focusing on public infrastructure investments, CAB would like to help recatalyze the redevelopment in the core area by offering development assistance for private development in the core area.

However, investment in public infrastructure in the area remains vital.

CAB recommends the city prioritize the following projects.

City owned properties, uh, continue to work in partnership with the site owner to explore and advance the relocation of the bottle drop facility, Hawthorne connectivity, work with Benz Parks and Rec to identify needs for open space and part development, and then continue to identify the highest priority of capital infrastructure projects that boost housing capacity of the core area.

Yes, so and I think that back to the kind of like what are the levers we can actually pull at this time, and these are the ones that really came to the fore, and you know, appreciate some of the staff materials, sort of saying, hey, this is integrated into what the city's already doing, where we're already playing, what we're already looking at.

Certainly appreciate that, but I also think like there is a lot more specificity here on some of these issues that I think CAB really helped bring forward, and that I think um it's great to see it here.

And I think I know the city has is sort of active in all of these spaces, but I maybe it's just sort of a reiteration of like these are really vital to overall success.

And so, really keep and you know, we know how much is on the plate of the city at any given time, continuing to really prioritize these things and move them forward in really actionable and tangible ways, um, you know, as quickly as you can.

Um, and that's why they these are highlighted this way.

And I think with um the investment plan, you know, for it's setting aside some more property acquisition dollars, and then we're looking at something like bottle drop.

Like, I think we're setting ourselves up to follow through on these priorities, right?

With how we're setting up those funding mechanisms.

Um it's been really encouraging to see.

Yeah, yeah, these look great.

Okay, and then the final uh recommendation.

So this one I really want to emphasize the word explore.

Um, so part of the conversation and part of what we learned in sort of our thousand cups of coffee and in discussions with CAB is that there are different models, right?

City council, borough, um, urban renewal agencies, right?

You see different models in different places.

Um, and I think that because Bend is such a fast-growing community, because we are really at the front of the line on so many kind of innovative creative things about how we're trying to bolster our livability here in the face of some really serious, you know, you know, challenges around climate change and growth and like all of those things, that it's always good to sort of question like, hey, the the worst reason to keep doing something is because that's the way that we've always been doing it.

And so I think just sort of calling the question and saying this is how this current structure is set up.

There are other options, and given how dynamic the city is and where we are, we have this structure in place at a time, and we are now in a place where things look quite different.

And so, really wanting to open the door and say exploring those options, figuring out what may best serve objectives in in our community, uh, could be a ripe conversation to have.

And so I think that's what and I think there's been perhaps other sort of iterations of like what this is and maybe other conversations or spaces.

I think for CAB, this is very much about explore it, right?

We don't have a recommendation, we don't have a preference about where the structure necessarily lands at this juncture.

Different cab members certainly have opinions in different places, but we're all in agreement that exploring it was um that it was a good time to lean in and do that kind of um yeah, kind of look.

Is there any specific motivation?

Um I think I would say again, it kind of gets back to city council has a lot, you have a lot on your plate, right?

You have a lot of values, you have a lot of things, you have a lot of things that you have to weigh and consider and balance.

Your your sideboards are here, right?

And with a different setup, there might be potential to have a much more narrow focus on economic development activities and what is serving the TIFF.

And so I think that if you have that more narrow purview, in some ways it makes decision making, prioritization, those kinds of things, it can make it more straightforward.

So that was some of the nature of the conversation we had about what might the benefit be of having some more distinction or having a different structure because you're allowed to really hone your focus if you consider some other models.

And you know, I think that again, kudos to the city and the work of Katie and Jonathan and the team, Matt, to really bring economic development to the fore, but I think we can all recognize, right, that this is a place where the city has a lot of room to grow and improve.

And I and I think that that's that was also part of the the conversation, right?

As we enter into kind of a bit of a new era, having those kinds of discussions and and calling those kinds of questions makes sense as as a public phasing agency and as a city council.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Where does um the I know we have a work session coming up on sort of the structure of CAB in early next year?

Well, no, we have a we have not we have not put CAB and there's really around the case.

I thought it was T Wach and CAB.

It was um that we were going to talk about.

I know that, and I know that we didn't move forward with you know making cab advice on all the URLs, but I'm wondering we can throw that it was T Bach and B Dab roles.

We can throw it.

Oh, be that's right.

Sorry, I was thinking I was wrong.

I know we didn't talk about that.

Okay, I just never mind on that.

Yeah.

Jonathan, we've talked about like there's some like low-hanging fruit here, right?

With having more regular meetings at scheduled times, you know, because I I think you know, we we talk about ourselves too.

It's also okay, like tonight, you know, we were council, we were Burr, we are council again, you know, and it just happens like that.

And um to have more of like a set time, right?

Like this is Burr's day, or this is Burr's meeting, or this is you know, it might might be like a first easy step, right?

Is that that's kind of what you are.

So luckily I've already been talking with Kate and Ross and Eric.

We are going to have specific days that Borough will now meet on a regular schedule.

That makes sense.

And I know we had a lot tonight, but in working with Katie, we're now going to start piecemealing this down to specific districts on specific dates.

And so making it more manageable by size.

And then you have CAB to really focus on the core area.

You've empowered them with certain things.

You can continue to do that in the future.

But the low-hanging fruit for Council Perkins, uh, yes, the new council schedule will now allow Borough to meet more regularly, and we'll have specific dates according to Councillor Francis, and then also specific times.

So it's not going to be like council, borough, council borough.

It's going to be maybe 30 minutes, borough, and then we'll come back the next month.

30 minutes borough.

So the goal, and this is just like best practices across country, is once you establish the programs, they should operate on their own, and then we report to you about the success and implementation.

So it's not always, you know, making these split hair decisions that you need two months to review it.

You've done the hard work of establishing the program criteria.

You now empower staff through the city manager's office to implement it, then we come back and report to you on the success or implementation.

I may push back on that just a little bit.

Okay.

Um I think I think the past few, well, really, since COVID, I think uh the financial markets, for example, have been highly volatile.

We've seen um some really rapid changes um in the markets, and and I do wonder if uh the structure of Borough right now, basically being city council, uh sort of if it feels that we are sort of under a little bit of the same bureaucracy that uh the council has to be.

That borough is under the same bureaucracy the council has to be under.

So I'm really glad that you um propose this it's yeah definitely something that we should really thoughtfully consider um but I I I yeah really fully support exploring exploring this yeah I I would support exploring this on my question is on the timing I think we've just laid out a lot of work to do in the next year yeah I'd be interested in staff putting their head down on that first as a priority and kind of getting through the investment strategy and the plans we need to set up there and then once that is done maybe taking a look at the governance and engaging with CAB on that I think that is a good idea.

Yeah and I think some of the you know sort of best practices and changes to the maybe like yeah change what we can now those can yeah right that there's some things that can really yeah yeah great well I think that that concludes that okay any other questions okay thank you so much for your dedication yes really hard work on on CAP this past couple of years and we really appreciate all of that.

Yeah and I just want to I know folks do this all the time but there's a reason just shine a light on staff like they've been really incredible and really just amazing to work with and this is complicated involved stuff and um you know Elizabeth and Katie and Jonathan like Matt like it's been just um really a pleasure to serve the role of chair with like such a committed group um but the staff support's been really like exceptional so yeah um yeah just want to recognize that thanks so much thank you um when when Megan and I came on council we inherited the the core area plan that had been passed fairly quick you know soon before we had gotten on to council and I remember asking some folks who were engaged when we were goal setting they were like I was like what what do you want us to do and they said you need to assign staff you need to not put this plan on a shelf you need to get going right and so I think I'm really proud of how we've tried to do that.

And I think we're trying to now sort of take that next step level of like we're running into some barriers what do we do next and how do we change our approach and so I think just really grateful for all the work that has led us here and we'll keep going because this is a priority.

So okay that's it for the council meeting thanks everybody we will adjourn