[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6577157,"mediaKeyId","3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff","parentId",3167814,"title","Votes at a glance: HREC approves March minutes, elects vice chair and adopts three subcommittee work plans","audioSeconds",4190,"startMs",525000,"endMs",4715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff&start=525&end=4715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff/thumbnail_525000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577157/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Votes-at-a-glance-HREC-approves-March-minutes-elects-vice-chair-and-adopts-three-subcommittee-work-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577157-b93cdae596bf786c0823194bcf8bf452/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166949&Signature=HjXj7lUWvKpj9NkgTZckysVa0R9-0GBTlDe9b~r2wy-RUMwGbeaFHlZOG45DhPBzTZ3rx~8YgwZDrL79lNiUpAxKATjpO-4YMtFmzesqFD~pbbmFB82FSLyodIO1zTNoadsX~sbB-bgTrAuq7B-eMoWst3nlTJXmoiUjbZMg-z84dcO1YkBY1AAUtUwBQa0YGy~1TmjJm6Zhg5c~rpuGxENbEvLbejVyhI7cVByQ3LWCkxD8LKkybbS~Hf759OR9rdHSMF~Bz5WKFEiALh10T-ysjt-CrsAWEpgpWrzHTZ7rsnTpGN3jP~rBM2yTfeRzgKhaXpUKOelarpDtnWch3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-05-01T07:13:41.357Z","article","The Human Rights and Equity Commission on April 30, 2025, recorded the following formal actions during its hybrid meeting in Bend.

Votes and formal actions

- Approval of March 26, 2025 meeting minutes — Motion to approve made by Commissioner Varnatico; seconded by Commissioner Scott Jones. The commission voted in favor; the minutes were approved unanimously.

- Election of vice chair — Linda Hemer was elected vice chair following a public roll-call vote. The vote was conducted at the meeting and the chair announced Hemer as vice chair at the conclusion of the roll call.

- Adoption of subcommittee work plans — The commission approved final work plans for the three subcommittees. All three motions passed by voice vote and were recorded as unanimously approved: the Policy Advocacy subcommittee work plan was moved by Commissioner Bernadico and seconded by Commissioner Scott Jones; the Community Engagement subcommittee work plan was moved and seconded and approved; and the Education and Awareness subcommittee work plan was moved by Commissioner Linda Hemer and seconded by Commissioner Bernadico.

Meeting procedure notes: Several of these items were adopted by voice vote and the minutes record that decisions were unanimous; the meeting also used a roll call for the vice chair election after initial public vocal votes produced ambiguity. The commission did not record a split roll-call tally for every vote in the minutes presented at the meeting.

Ending: The approved subcommittee work plans will be shared with city council as the next step; city staff indicated that some minor code adjustments will follow council review to align commission responsibilities with city code.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bend Human Rights and Equity Commission Meeting - 4/30/2025 - 4:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 30, 2025 meeting the Human Rights and Equity Commission approved prior minutes, elected a vice chair and unanimously approved work plans for three subcommittees.","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},6577162,"Accessibility advisory committee invites HREC to May 8 \"Walk and Roll\" tour; highlights transportation, snow removal and advocacy priorities",538,3768000,4306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff&start=3768&end=4306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff/thumbnail_3768000.jpg","/articles/6577162/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Accessibility-advisory-committee-invites-HREC-to-May-8-Walk-and-Roll-tour-highlights-transportation-snow-removal-and-advocacy-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577162-3c746bcfd10bb937200b8359caf70956/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166949&Signature=m6X2Z4IvJKGayZVV4V-XY9UYayd7vG~NQDj0vuQ8zDm7uEKGZjpe28cjgipO~xLb2dCm10ZuG~fqMabJhUm0PaT3rYihsXNfErfsIc8BldB6vaaCbul2N01E0JAlhPlp9Fn6n7R1B-e56cl2wUew7vudXgefJfONtQhqOzGVTrag~bgr7TgxAorzGwPHN9YtbpKxUE4rcT15vi0FxsQVZSO8J0~Vf8lNaAKyz2a4nUznAozdw0Jgk4nuCM1nxVnY9eiF8bt7AYMc~mgxB~AGUWQ9ueaOMu-4Ypv45-3WL6MgX5WzPritTIeyS-P0X11VtbkMxDyG2Y1RXlWPy8JK8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the April 30 Human Rights and Equity Commission meeting, Liz Woodfin, chair of the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (Kovac), presented Kovac’s work plan and invited commissioners and community members to a Walk & Roll accessibility tour on Thursday, May 8, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., meeting at Hawthorne Station.

Woodfin described Kovac’s purpose as advising the city manager on measures to make city programs, services, activities and facilities accessible to community members with disabilities. The committee, she said, was established in February 2010 and maintains a membership goal that at least half of voting members be people who experience disability.

Why it matters: Kovac’s initiatives aim to identify physical and programmatic barriers—such as sidewalk obstructions after snow, gaps in on-demand transportation for people who use mobility devices, and inaccessible building features—so the city can prioritize fixes that affect daily access for residents with disabilities.

Highlights from the presentation included Kovac’s public events and outreach calendar, advocacy letters and campaigns, and ongoing concerns about accessible transportation. Woodfin and Cassandra Kehoe, the city’s accessibility and equity manager, described two draft letters of support Kovac was preparing, a continuing snow-removal awareness campaign and a request to Parks & Recreation to consider accessible landings at Miller’s Landing.

Woodfin also flagged a gap in on-demand transportation: many private providers lack wheelchair-accessible vehicles, which limits options for people who cannot use standard taxis or rideshares. Kovac members said they will pursue letters, trainings and community engagement to increase awareness and influence permitting and procurement.

Kovac invited HREC members to attend the Walk & Roll tour on May 8 to examine sidewalks, transit stops and parks for accessibility improvements. Kehoe said the committees should view their work as overlapping—“not separate, but very much overlapped in its work, in its intention,”—and expressed appreciation for prior collaboration between the advisory bodies.

Ending: Kovac encouraged HREC members and the public to attend the May 8 Walk & Roll and to join future events such as CityFest and Welcoming Week to help identify and remove barriers to access across Bend.","The City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (Kovac) presented its 2025 work plan to the Human Rights and Equity Commission on April 30, outlining outreach events, advocacy on accessible transportation and snow-removal campaigns and inviting commissioners to a May 8 Walk & Roll tour.",{"_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},6577167,"Commissioners, council liaison discuss China Hat closure, Juniper Ridge safe-stay and strained shelter capacity in Bend",111,966000,1077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff&start=966&end=1077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3167814-1dbe8347599198d2b7b38e765fc454ff/thumbnail_966000.jpg","/articles/6577167/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Commissioners-council-liaison-discuss-China-Hat-closure-Juniper-Ridge-safe-stay-and-strained-shelter-capacity-in-Bend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577167-c2bea66e14af91d794932d270f06982f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166949&Signature=P3yLAVKBxu5B4Ytyym8i83GOVguJR~qnqKFMRMcsrbcUyQbtDkVvbroc4lgjbaza00otpHeT-p1uME4fPoRcF--K~czKYjbNd6d-VjLMYErJTnVnIYWqNGzWKcF~nhkkV0yYD3lPG6Us~aOm~iJNw50i4pUYVl93ZFG0M8Sh0H1qI3YmM2o1oU-LW~A-ryAm2rSAglkopOHvPdjqjFrPJO5hrGGDjQk29xn0LqhueaNdSicE8O6jyOtigGQW1KEb4tNorI3Flf8qUej1b5Enf7b6srzhOrTd3-ih59XjkIFdo5Ou6qcC6nod9P48nfeHFKMyS4vsc3z~dm2hJec4ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Human Rights and Equity Commission meeting on April 30, 2025, Council liaison Megan Perkins told commissioners that the China Hat encampment on federal land was scheduled to close “as of Thursday morning,” and she described coordinated city and county efforts to move people into shelter or services.

The commission’s discussion centered on immediate support for people displaced by the China Hat closure, the Juniper Ridge temporary safe-stay site and the city’s limited shelter capacity as state funding remained uncertain. Perkins said the area outside the Juniper Ridge temporary safe-stay would be closed “as of May 31” and that service providers and security were actively enforcing no open fires and animal-leashing rules at Juniper Ridge.

Why it matters: Commissioners said many residents displaced from China Hat will need shelter, transportation and assistance finding stable housing. City staff and service providers are already stretched, and a shortfall in state shelter funding could reduce local capacity during a period of high need.

Perkins described on-the-ground responses and capacity limits. She said the city’s shelter coordinator was working directly with people at China Hat and that some residents had moved to Juniper Ridge. Perkins said staff report “about 38 vehicles” remained at the China Hat site and estimated “maybe 50 people” still there. She also described an uptick in demand for home fire-risk assessments from the fire department and said the city had added about 10 beds at its navigation center, the Lighthouse, but many transitional and emergency sites were full.

Commissioners and staff flagged three operational issues: where people will go after the China Hat closure, whether shelters can safely and sustainably absorb additional residents, and how to expand low-cost options such as safe parking.

Commissioner Eli Lowenstern urged the commission to publish a statement of solidarity with China Hat residents and to consider policy guidance for future encampment clearings. “I think we, as a commission, need to make some sort of statement in solidarity,” Lowenstern said.

Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins and equity staff described efforts to expand safe parking and shelter alternatives. Perkins said the city aims to add 15 additional safe-parking spaces over the next two years, bringing a target total to 51 spots, but acknowledged permitting, access and institutional reluctance have slowed progress. Andres Portela, the city’s equity and inclusion director, suggested the commission’s subcommittees consider an education and outreach effort to recruit hosts for safe parking.

Perkins also warned that state-level shelter funding was uncertain. City staff and the city attorney identified House Bill 3644 as the principal shelter funding bill to watch; the city attorney noted that the state legislative picture made local budget planning “very rough” and that the governor’s actions could be the deciding factor if funding were cut.

Authorities and enforcement: Perkins said the China Hat site is on federal land and that the U.S. Forest Service was leading the closure, with the Deschutes County sheriff’s office available to provide backup if arrests or enforcement actions were required.

What commissioners requested next: Commissioners asked staff to clarify which shelters accept animals, where residents from China Hat are being referred, and what immediate legal or logistical steps the city is taking to increase temporary capacity. Several commissioners asked that the policy advocacy subcommittee draft guidance or recommendations on how future encampment transitions should be handled to reduce trauma and improve coordination.

The commission did not take a formal vote on policy at this meeting; commissioners directed staff and subcommittees to pursue follow-up work and bring proposals back to the commission for consideration.

Ending: City staff said they will continue to share dashboard data on Juniper Ridge service hours and placement outcomes. Commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed numbers and proposals for how the commission can support outreach, safe parking expansion and advocacy on state shelter funding.","At the April 30 Human Rights and Equity Commission meeting, Council liaison Megan Perkins and commissioners discussed the impending closure of China Hat, the Juniper Ridge temporary safe-stay site, limited shelter capacity in Bend and state funding uncertainty tied to House Bill 3644.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: HREC approves March minutes, elects vice chair and adopts three subcommittee work plans

Accessibility advisory committee invites HREC to May 8 "Walk and Roll" tour; highlights transportation, snow removal and advocacy priorities

Commissioners, council liaison discuss China Hat closure, Juniper Ridge safe-stay and strained shelter capacity in Bend