Bend City Council Business Meeting - May 20, 2026
Bend City Council Business Meeting - May 20, 2026
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.
Proclamations
- 100 Years of the Bend Chamber of Commerce: The council proclaimed 2026 as the centennial year, recognizing the chamber's history since 1926 and its role in economic development. Representatives from the chamber accepted the proclamation, noting founding members still active (e.g., Bend Bulletin, QXO, Bryant Loveland and Jarvis, Umbine Communication, Bigfoot Beverages).
- Wildfire Awareness Month: The council proclaimed May 2026 as Wildfire Awareness Month, urging residents to take steps to reduce wildfire risk. Melissa Steele (Deputy Fire Marshal of Wildfire Preparedness, Bend Fire and Rescue) and Lon Laneeve (co-chair, Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition) spoke, emphasizing proactive preparedness and community resilience.
- Mental Health Awareness Month: The council proclaimed May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month, encouraging open conversations about mental health. Casey Monk (Regional Director, NAMI Central Oregon) and intern Stanley Duca spoke about reducing stigma and the importance of peer-led support. Mayor Keebler shared personal family experience with mental health challenges.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Seamson (Bend resident) proposed adopting updated dark sky outdoor lighting controls for the city, referencing Deschutes County's 2025 ordinance as a model, and urged urgency given Stevens Ranch development (1,700–2,000 new homes).
- Michael Baker (CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend) announced openings at the club and invited council to an award ceremony on August 27, 2026.
- Jonathan Westmorland (Bend resident) raised concerns about police response to a shooting near his mother's apartment (bullet through wall, four-day delay in suspect removal) and questioned the city's plan to install stationary license plate readers (ALPR) via a $19,000 grant, potentially expanding to $250,000 without council vote. He urged bringing the contract to council for public input. The mayor clarified that any fixed ALPR contract would require council approval.
- Maureen Johnson (Wood River Village neighbor) thanked the council for the wildfire proclamation, detailed her own home hardening efforts, and expressed concern about evacuation routes, questioning whether the city is prepared for worst-case wildfire scenarios.
- Todd Torreson (Southwest Bend resident, chairman of Southern Crossing) asked about evacuation plans for Southwest Bend, criticized the planned two-lane roundabout at Bond and Reed Market as insufficient, and proposed three-laning Reed Market near US 97 for evacuation. He invited council to tour the area.
Discussion Items
- First Reading – Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Chapter 1.20 (Advisory Boards, Committees, and Commissions): City attorney presented code changes for three advisory bodies: Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (renamed to Transportation and Mobility Advisory Committee, TMAC, per council suggestion), Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (BDAB), and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC). Changes expand scope, reduce redundancy, and align with council goals. Councilor Riley expressed concern about TMAC's broad scope; staff noted annual work plans will narrow focus. The ordinance was moved for first reading and passed unanimously.
- Resolution Adopting the 2026 Outback Facility Plan: Project engineers Jeremy Tex and Brittany Barker presented the plan, which addresses water system resilience. Key risks: wildfire in watershed causing turbidity (still seeing effects from 1979 Bridge Creek fire), and limited municipal water rights (2% of Upper Deschutes Basin). Priority projects: in-conduit hydropower (could power 750 homes/year, excess sold to grid) and pretreatment system (pre-sedimentation pond and plate settler) to keep filtration operational during wildfires. Additional 48 acres adjacent to Outback site being acquired from Forest Service. Cost estimates: pretreatment and hydropower projects are within five-year CIP. Funding applications submitted for FEMA BRIC grant (up to $20M) and WIFIA loan. Council adopted the resolution unanimously.
- BDAB 2026–2028 Work Plan and Small Business Assistance Grant Program: Megan Lee (Environment and Climate) presented the BDAB work plan, aligned with the economic development strategic plan. The work plan was unanimously supported by BDAB. Council approved it unanimously. Then, a joint program with Climate and Sustainability was introduced: $130,000 total for the biennium ($100K for economic development grants, $30K for climate/sustainability grants). Grants will be $5,000–$10,000 to small businesses, with scoring rubric based on project impact. Applications open in next month or two, decisions by early fall. Council adopted the resolution establishing the program, authorizing city manager to award up to $250,000 per grantee (though total is $130K). Councilor Norris noted the need for transparency; staff confirmed scoring and recommendations will be public records.
- Contracts for Neff Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Project and Larkspur Path School Connection: Senior project engineer Todd Johnson presented two items. Agenda item 9: Contract with K.E. Excavating Inc. for construction of Neff Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Project (10-foot path, ADA ramps, crossing improvements) for $2,778,605, with city manager authority for up to $500,000 in amendments. Item 10: Intergovernmental agreement with ODOT for Larkspur Path School Connection Project (sidewalk along Juniper Elementary to Neff Road, 10-foot path along Pilot Butte Middle School) with city contribution not to exceed $441,444. Council discussed need for crossing at 8th Street and Norton (currently not in scope) and potential for rapid rectangular flashing beacons. Council authorized both items unanimously.
- Second Reading – Ordinance to Establish Economic Improvement District (EID) in Bend Central District: Roll call vote: Councilors Franzosa (no), Mendez (yes), Riley (yes), Perkins (yes), Norris (yes), Platt (no), Mayor Keebler (yes). Passed 5-2.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations: All three proclamations accepted unanimously.
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Ordinance Amending Municipal Code Chapter 1.20: First reading passed unanimously; will return for second reading.
- Resolution Adopting 2026 Outback Facility Plan: Adopted unanimously.
- BDAB 2026–2028 Work Plan: Approved unanimously.
- Small Business Assistance Grant Program: Resolution adopted unanimously; city manager authorized to award grants.
- Neff Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Project Contract: Authorized ($2,778,605 plus $500K amendment authority) unanimously.
- Larkspur Path School Connection IGA: Authorized ($441,444 city contribution) unanimously.
- EID Ordinance: Adopted on second reading (5-2 vote).
- City Manager's Report: Noted Sparky awards for continuous improvement (water repair/rehab project), Public Works Week, upcoming planning commission roundtable on complete communities (June 22), comments on DLCD middle housing rulemaking, water bond refinancing saving $3.8 million over 10.5 years at 3.06% interest, and Fire Free Week through May 24.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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