The Bend City Council met on May 20, 2026, for a regular business meeting. The session began with an executive session for real property negotiations, then proceeded to open session including proclamations, council reports, public comments, consent agenda, several ordinance readings and resolutions, and a city manager's report. Key actions included adopting the 2026 Outback Facility Plan, approving a small business assistance grant program, authorizing construction contracts for pedestrian and bicycle projects, and establishing an economic improvement district in the Bend Central District.
Okay, the Venn City Council will now meet an executive session pursuant to RS 192602B to conduct deliberations with persons designated to negotiate real property transactions. Representatives of the news media designated staff shall be allowed to attend the executive session. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session is previously announced no decision may be made in executive session at the end of executive session. We will return to open session. Um so I will call this city council business meeting to order and let's start with roll call on your end, Councillor Platt. Steve Platt, he him. Megan Norris, she her. Megan Perkins, she, her. Melanie Keebler, she, her. Mike Riley, he and Rome Mendes. Gina Franzosa, she her. All right. And we are going to start with a proclamation for 100 years of the Ben Chamber, Counselor Perkins. The Benn Chamber of Commerce traces its origins to 1926 when local business leaders formed the Bend Commercial Club to promote economic opportunity and civic development in the growing community of Bend, Oregon. And on May 26, 1926, unanimously voted to rename the organization the Bend Chamber of Commerce. And during the early 20th century, Bend emerged as a major timber center, supported by the Chevlin Hickson and Brooks Scanland Mills and the Benn Chamber of Commerce played an important role in supporting business coordination, economic development, and community growth during this period of expansion. And throughout the 1930s and beyond, the chamber served as a forum for business collaboration and civic leadership, advocating for policies and infrastructure that strengthened the local economy, including early leadership in 1937, recognizing the need for sustainable forestry practices. And over the past century, the Benn Chamber of Commerce has helped guide the community through economic transitions, including the evolution from a timber-based economy to a diverse regional economy that includes tourism, outdoor recreation, health care, advanced manufacturing, and technology. And the Benn Chamber of Commerce has grown into one of the largest chambers in Oregon, representing more than 1,600 member businesses and organizations, and continues to convene businesses, nonprofits, educators, and public leaders to address shared priorities and support regional vitality. And through programs such as Leadership Bend, Bend Emerging Emerging Talent, Youth Career Connect, Bend 101, and Next Up Leaders, the Chamber has four foster leadership, workforce development, and civic engagement. And now, therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Bend, Oregon, do hereby proclaim 2026 as the centennial year of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, recognizing and celebrating a hundred years of leadership, advocacy, and service to the Benn community and the Central Oregon region in honoring the generations of leaders, members, staff, and volunteers who have contributed to its enduring impact. I move to accept the proclamation. Second. All right, moved by Council Mendes, second by Councilor Norris. All those in favor? And looks like we have Sarah, Emily, Chris, and Gary to come up here and say a few words. Oh, speak. Some are saying hi. Yes, okay. Awesome. Um, thank you, Mayor, Councillor, City staff. Um, thank you so much for this recognition. This means a lot to us. Um, thank you for helping us mark such a meaningful milestone for the Ben Chamber. Reaching 100 years is truly remarkable. For a century, the chamber has had the privilege of standing alongside Ben's business community through every season of change, from our early days as a growing mill town to growing tourism destination to the dynamic community we know today. One of the really special things about looking back is seeing the businesses that have been with us since this beginning. The Ben Bulletin joined the chamber in 1926, the year that we were founded. Uh QXO, formerly Miller Lumbert, joined in 1927. Bryant Loveland and Jarvis joined in 1930. Neil Bryant was not part of it then. Umbine Communication, 1938, and Bigfoot Beverages in 1969. So the fact that these businesses are still going strong says so much about the resilience, creativity, and commitment of Ben's business community. We receive this proclamation with deep gratitude, and on behalf of all the business owners, civic leaders, volunteers, board members, staff who are all in the audience today, um, and partners who've helped shape the chamber story over the last hundred years. Thank you for this honor and thank you for celebrating this milestone with us. And I'll leave it give to Chris. Thank you, Sarah. Um thank you to the city for recognizing the chamber centennial. One thing that makes this milestone so meaningful is that the chamber's work has always extended beyond just supporting business. Strong businesses help keep create strong communities, and over the years, the chamber has served as a bridge between private sector, public partners, nonprofits, and civic leaders.