[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583015,"mediaKeyId","3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e","parentId",3119785,"title","Accessibility committee to revise draft letter urging Parks–Police collaboration on off‑leash dogs","audioSeconds",1101,"startMs",3225000,"endMs",4326000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e&start=3225&end=4326","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e/thumbnail_3225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583015/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Accessibility-committee-to-revise-draft-letter-urging-ParksPolice-collaboration-on-offleash-dogs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583015-61efce09c55dd530c99cc1d0560a923a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774894261&Signature=PPtyHWLJvKmyoUMp4e5CLhSFHf1C7mqzgjwQunuDdmbLO1yvVC~Rzz8bJLnu48xuKZyaXs1VX3qPeYezJqMp0hEMHdvC2Yy1fIagBYzFfArVUNbRZwpcgLPXo89S0JyEfn12VtY3z0n6MNcsLSKUOgm1VhGMXXJWLzmO2cnDipMXVhu50cMw-DzIh9I6fblNzOsbX5miMAnwRDkTV42aKXYfEaWrekyVHZ1zzaFM26EpDdVmZ5Pir2Me9Qjlt4CYvhrk8aWKR-KptrDvhOwedRRzZCUbnCyIq4k0SO2-5sUvV7PokAl3RhQU62mC9ODIVjaTqxVYRaf5HPN5jzL~xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-04-25T04:35:38.68Z","article","The committee discussed a draft letter addressing the impact of off‑leash dogs on people with disabilities. Aaron Rivers noted Ian drafted most of the text and asked the committee to review the letter for clarity and addressees.

Members identified specific edits: correct grammar (\"affect\" vs. \"effect\"), consistently spell out acronyms (for example, Bend Park and Recreation District spelled out rather than only BPRD), and replace hedging terms such as “encourage” or “ask” with clearer recommendations. Committee members debated the appropriate addressees: options included sending the letter to the city manager (Eric King), city council, and Bend Park and Recreation District (BPRD). Aaron said Ian’s intent was to prompt BPRD to collaborate with the Bend Police Department on enforcement and outreach.

Given the number of suggested edits and clarifications about recipients, committee members asked staff to consolidate today's edits and circulate a revised draft for final review. Cassandra agreed to merge the edits gathered from the meeting and send out a new version for committee review; the group planned to vote on the final version at the May meeting. No formal vote occurred on the letter at today’s meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee Regular Meeting - 04/24/2025 - 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members reviewed and requested edits to a draft letter urging coordinated action on off‑leash dogs to protect people with disabilities, and they asked staff to consolidate edits and circulate a revised draft for a vote in May.","taxTitle","Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon","taxId",2850,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583020,"Walk and Roll tour set for May 8 to highlight Bend Central District accessibility improvements",745,2387000,3132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e&start=2387&end=3132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e/thumbnail_2387000.jpg","/articles/6583020/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Walk-and-Roll-tour-set-for-May-8-to-highlight-Bend-Central-District-accessibility-improvements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583020-0548b6d694ae7ca0f28d9d6b88c9d3ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1774894261&Signature=PC9zu~iTiQFyPSWdzvpDVNeAF6C7BOurOQDOdGBtwWpOYHRCxfcxpl~FvNvbFt29yG7csTeXwt0pJe4SNgk~e4biU5~xu64ksyztViU0~iJaPvxQPnaUPCi~mrRfqRKPfq0s2Jcdi7WiNZJv69pWBnc7xWi98Nmi5scYLv4sTab6TH1WK-pMuKRf9KoGeAIoEjS689vt-8~nd9eNbbIxnVk7sSzNT8z-oFmxvBcmlMVJp~Eq7Y5-JI4d-yMeH1Cg8Ti9UX3aLclALEfrfv3Zj31ObohAz30HK2WEWDn4iZAsJouBwKGwWvnc10zh51GRcqmbKSPmWrh0PCK-~LkqCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members confirmed plans for a Walk & Roll tour on May 8, 2025 that will showcase accessibility conditions and recent improvements in the Bend Central District and include a Cascades East Transit open house at Hawthorne Station.

Vice Chair Derek Hoffbauer outlined the route and logistics: the event is scheduled 3:30–5:00 p.m., with a departure from Hawthorne Station at roughly 4:00 p.m. The tour is approximately 0.8 miles and will visit Juniper Park, Hawthorne Station, Franklin Avenue and the Safeway corridor before ending at Dogwood, where participants will debrief. Derek said CET has renovated the transit facility, repositioned bus queuing, added EV charging, and removed certain shelters to improve access on Hawthorne Avenue.

Organizers plan outreach to community partners including Central Oregon Coalition on Access (COCA), Central Oregon Disability Support Network (CODSN), Oregon Adaptive Sports, Park & Rec, ODOT and the Deschutes County developmental-disability advisory groups. A flyer will be circulated and the committee set an RSVP cap (preliminary cap discussed at 20) with the option to split into two groups if turnout exceeds capacity.

Cassandra and Derek invited committee members to recruit attendees and table at related community events; Derek volunteered to distribute flyers at the Earth Day parade and the Orchard District annual meeting. CET staff said expanded bus service initiatives (including earlier morning starts and an ADA-accessible vehicle program starting June 2) will be promoted at the open house.","The committee and Cascades East Transit will host a Walk & Roll tour and CET open house on May 8 to showcase recent accessibility improvements in the Bend Central District and solicit public input on sidewalks, crossings and transit amenities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583025,"City staff propose taxi licensing changes to require proof of accessible fleet; committee to form review subgroup",852,1491000,2343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e&start=1491&end=2343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e/thumbnail_1491000.jpg","/articles/6583025/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/City-staff-propose-taxi-licensing-changes-to-require-proof-of-accessible-fleet-committee-to-form-review-subgroup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583025-e02ac725aa7a984ba0257a7a43539568/orig.mp4?Expires=1774894261&Signature=dQpFBUYpWnDZLHAIFVqwM4Dl60nJJvr9FpcRZ6a4uWvfZIW~qGZDrh3NjiLBE-kFFBkPWrAs9JhqQ~rnER1k4AxP0NQS2Gnh4J76fX8YzAqgyvTuF95bjqMu0RrAwUNT2N13~Cf3gVn1E2Z9FoZhu2k-sZ8TE059qhDQo5N3WD2PoWCyfD8Hs5uQ7L3wACYRQLsTtJ77KCqxri8m~obOVpirCIYp13DrlsbUbzqWB0pavj1Wj5x5Evo8xaKfIzJqUWDZc2~2FKTbJt5lXoTkfOQakC1s2yhXYfxuvwxBwNCAA3MnXG4Phe01wQh4ihECzGBnXbE78tqiPgm4-2WEag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 24 meeting the accessibility manager, Cassandra (title reported in the meeting as Accessibility Manager), updated the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee on plans to implement recommendations from an earlier taxi-letter initiative.

Cassandra told members departments including Accessibility, Licensing, Community Development, and Code Enforcement have reviewed options and identified language in city code that would allow licensing staff to require more than a checkbox of compliance. “What we have the opportunity to do is…affirmatively request information that demonstrates how these kinds of companies are being compliant with accessible fleet,” Cassandra said, describing changes to the licensing application and the annual relicensing process.

Staff said taxi companies submit relicensing applications in January and the city can use that cycle to request documented evidence of compliance such as fleet demographics and descriptions of accessible vehicles, beyond the existing ‘reasonable accommodations’ requirement. Cassandra said the code already permits denial, suspension or revocation of a license if an applicant fails to meet city standards or makes material misstatements.

Committee members volunteered to form a noticed subgroup to review draft application language and outreach materials. Cassandra collected preliminary volunteers—Carl Burnett, Derek Hoffbauer, Liz Diether Martin and Chair Liz Woodfin signaled interest—and proposed meeting in May or June to draft revisions and an outreach plan for taxi companies. Members and staff discussed whether the scope should include transportation network companies (TNCs such as Uber and Lyft); Cassandra said the initial scoping focused on taxis but licensing could be asked to study TNCs in parallel.

Committee members and Cascades East Transit (CET) staff also offered practical support for outreach and technical advice on accessible vehicle procurement and maintenance. Cassandra said staff will circulate draft edits and schedule the subgroup meeting, and she emphasized the need to provide advance notice to taxi companies so they have time to prepare for the January relicensing deadline.","City staff reported they will pursue changes to the taxi licensing application to require taxi companies to provide affirmative evidence of accessible vehicles in their fleet. Staff asked for a small, noticed subgroup of committee members to review application edits and outreach plans before the January relicensing cycle.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583030,"Human Rights and Equity Commission outlines work plan, invites Bend accessibility committee to collaborate",770,421000,1191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e&start=421&end=1191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e/thumbnail_421000.jpg","/articles/6583030/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Human-Rights-and-Equity-Commission-outlines-work-plan-invites-Bend-accessibility-committee-to-collaborate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583030-ec9e24f11bf93b6d50273cf35edbc611/orig.mp4?Expires=1774894261&Signature=VgfVWQawhx6ycQ9yOib~aTSVvyP58hm1na6zcKl7Tu7DGcN2J-yuuCzTY-WDH3-p1UTqmDJJ9rwg4cEXxrVeEbI7u1gCIk44LejH~VpBf-a3-bpE8tfsdOa6MZVM6vhKIkvB1P~j77HaG2ss2WWz9NsBOvZ58tHy6uRzpSAhWyubLATQNqmskcKc3pt~ULG83HD6Okd9w0tLu3saaTuHTzF0PJmBntIh4HXBKaXdBoEi~5bZz5Kp2d4awlqezRwMoyCS50~XgHRek139kXXYAoJYmUi96K48UlnT8YdTqSqkmigwQJh7~eL3X3yO9nxd1xmndCwCvoXzXFLVxYQ1mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 24, 2025, representatives of the Human Rights and Equity Commission gave a high-level overview of the commission’s work plan and formally invited the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee to collaborate on policy advocacy, community engagement, education and awareness, and shared events.

The presentation, led by Agatha Ventura of HREC and Andres Portela, the city’s Equity and Inclusion Director and staff liaison to HREC, described a timeline running through December 2026 and emphasized aligning HREC’s council-level recommendations with the advisory work that the accessibility committee provides to the city manager. “Intersectionality reminds us of our identities, race, gender, ability, class, language, and more,” Portela said in the presentation, adding that those intersections “compound injustice and make up lack of access.”

Portela said HREC’s policy advocacy subcommittee will work to institutionalize an equity lens into decision-making and to produce a consistent set of questions and recommendations to present to city council. He described three operational goals for the policy advocacy work and invited members of the accessibility committee to participate in subcommittees to help craft and deliver those recommendations. “Kobach was created to give city manager recommendations. HREC was created to give council recommendations,” Portela said, noting the two bodies can be complementary levers for change.

HREC identified four focus areas: advisory role (policy recommendations to council), community engagement (trust-building and meeting people where they are), education and awareness (equity-centered trainings and public campaigns), and policy advocacy (analyzing and recommending policy changes). Portela said the commission will institutionalize processes so presentations to council and staff are evaluated against a shared equity framework rather than relying only on individual perspectives.

Committee members discussed concrete touchpoints where the two bodies could cooperate, including the city’s Walk & Roll event, Sprout Festival participation, CityFest, lunch-and-learn sessions for staff, and the practice of sending letters of support to council. The committee agreed to extend invitations: Chair Liz Woodfin agreed to attend HREC’s next meeting, and Portela confirmed HREC’s meetings occur the last Wednesday of each month, typically 4:30–6:30 p.m.

The presentation closed with an open invitation for joint meetings and shared programming to align messaging and outreach. Portela and Ventura encouraged committee members to join subcommittees or participate in shared events.","Members of the City of Bend’s Human Rights and Equity Commission (HREC) presented a multi-year work plan and invited the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (referred to in the meeting as \"Kobach\") to join subcommittees and shared programming to align equity efforts across city council and staff levels.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583010,"Committee approves letter urging restoration of Route 12 or equivalent service between campuses",725,4341000,5066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e&start=4341&end=5066","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3119785-db48c8256f96a27304fa7cfc6e12af7e/thumbnail_4341000.jpg","/articles/6583010/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Committee-approves-letter-urging-restoration-of-Route-12-or-equivalent-service-between-campuses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583010-fa69186d857338651685fbf467eac44d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774894261&Signature=CQ3QvZAhmEpKliDMyfE3vsrHJcsP9Dr37pS-NxmiiHwMYYX836aTkX4-ckHFeNuVbW6nmcxT7uoyOFZTbPRDj15HN1YfLSaMPITK2bF0f5n0vCcqTcaASrQ5vCj9kSR7BnNr-y4rfPXR56cQ4PIAHv6cdpmIfHx3IwOpiJk26saKROD7CwJ6h0XRk4MT191n30BvjEnsHO7qoFFmRN1HnIiqVrzILdG9zxZJGhPS2cGYX4Q8S8jBCfkME1q-eCpWaIif~trcwV2JGP~q~X9F-29LI2nASaLohQqKyxiVZvL~dnQs2GPr30XYZMJ35OkfzxzM34oeDC-3wbXjbd8GMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andrew presented a draft letter to the Regional Public Transit Advisory Committee urging restoration of Route 12 or an equivalent transit service connecting the two campuses referenced in the draft. He kept the language intentionally general to allow the advisory committee flexibility to evaluate fixed-route, microtransit, or shuttle alternatives.

Committee members proposed three edits to the draft: add the phrase “or an equivalent service” to references to Route 12, simplify a long sentence about exploring and creating accessible transit options into shorter sentences, and add language that restoring Route 12 (or an equivalent) would demonstrate a meaningful commitment to connectivity.

Andrew moved to approve the letter with the amendments Derek outlined; Carl Burnett seconded the motion. Derek — who manages aspects of the transit advisory process — abstained to avoid a conflict of interest. The committee recorded the motion as passing and instructed staff to send the amended letter to Cassandra for distribution to the regional public transit advisory committee and to present the letter at that body’s next meeting.","The committee approved (by motion) an amended letter from member Andrew asking the Regional Public Transit Advisory Committee to explore restoring Route 12 or an equivalent service connecting two campuses. The motion passed with a second; Derek (a CET manager) abstained from the vote to avoid a conflict of interest.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Accessibility committee to revise draft letter urging Parks–Police collaboration on off‑leash dogs

Walk and Roll tour set for May 8 to highlight Bend Central District accessibility improvements

City staff propose taxi licensing changes to require proof of accessible fleet; committee to form review subgroup

Human Rights and Equity Commission outlines work plan, invites Bend accessibility committee to collaborate

Committee approves letter urging restoration of Route 12 or equivalent service between campuses