[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6538724,"mediaKeyId","3800512-d3d46ad3053166ccb1399edd08aa9cf1","parentId",3800512,"title","City staff seeks ECC feedback on an \"energy navigator\" service; launch deferred to next fiscal year","audioSeconds",4266,"startMs",3161000,"endMs",7427000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3800512-d3d46ad3053166ccb1399edd08aa9cf1&start=3161&end=7427","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3800512-d3d46ad3053166ccb1399edd08aa9cf1/thumbnail_3161000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6538724/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/City-staff-seeks-ECC-feedback-on-an-energy-navigator-service-launch-deferred-to-next-fiscal-year","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538724-e34ec4d9dd6f22b48287ee70c5cad95b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775388596&Signature=c2QkLNnexZw~hXVT8zRrKdwc6PAdd3sew62Vm0a~0swrtVH8cnY6aedrsJ7wl~S48pNZinwwtA0i6wPzox-X2JlHrerdRVQLicB1aXFtL399MIRZwOWrFcnPE29J6F1hLF4Ng9TEjYV4ODjejxXBXUTTOKA2Bf8jFUJLtdeBz0SRw9OlmCfMqc3FegKsSYVjVaCDo7BdEu7U42LnPqePdlT1f4dGj6l8JAMI-MOIb~KiRAaE2KMgTYQUIXG9aBgOkBU542pj-nSuAtIdZV9lTEXkPKEpqw3huoI5-01fu1gCKefDJ5KyYyrUEYSeUBIQ-7pQwFe7c7Bd45JAF~GL4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-06-13T08:24:54Z","article","City staff presented a proposed Energy Navigator program to the Environment and Climate Committee (ECC) and asked for committee feedback on scope and design. The program is intended to help Bend residents understand and navigate incentives, technical assistance and contractors for energy efficiency and electrification work.

Staff described a three-part approach: (1) subsidized free home energy audits offered on a come‑served basis to all Bend residents; (2) quarterly community workshops with partner panels and follow‑up office hours; and (3) a resource hub on the city website plus quarterly partner convenings to coordinate local service providers. Megan, a city staff member, said the city would issue an RFP to select audit providers and may weigh proposals that combine audits with follow‑through technical assistance more favorably.

Why staff delayed launch: the council asked departments to prioritize across many council goals. Cassie said the Energy Navigator remains a priority but staff will target launch in the next fiscal year so the department can focus this summer on electrification policy work and the new grant program. Cassie told the committee the delay will also allow staff to fold any future electrification incentives into the navigator design.

Partners and gaps: staff reported multiple existing navigator‑like programs in Bend that serve particular populations: NeighborImpact and the Environmental Center deliver free or subsidized services for low‑income and other underserved households; Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) offers an energy audit program for its customers; and Electrified Oregon is training volunteer energy coaches. Staff said the main community gap is navigational help for households who do not qualify for those targeted, free programs — notably middle‑income homeowners who nonetheless face information and process barriers.

Program scale and funding: staff said current funding for a starter version of the navigator is modest (roughly $30,000–$40,000 per year in the current budget outlook). That funding would cover workshops, some partner convenings and a limited number of subsidized audits; it does not support hiring a full‑time navigator staff person. Staff recommended issuing an RFP so the city can compare proposals (for example, a smaller number of comprehensive audits vs. a larger number of simplified assessments/home energy scores) and weigh cost per audit and proposed additional services when selecting a vendor.

Equity and scope considerations: committee members urged staff to ensure audits are scoped broadly (efficiency and fuel‑switching options) and to confirm which community programs allow fuel‑switching recommendations. Staff said they would check partners’ program rules and return with clarifications. Committee members also suggested bilingual outreach, tenant/renter considerations and reporting on audit conversion rates (which recommended actions from an audit are implemented).

Next steps: staff said they will not try to finalize the navigator this summer but will retain the scope and partner research and return to the ECC in roughly nine months as the city prepares a launch for the following fiscal year. Staff will also continue to coordinate this work with electrification fee and incentive discussions so the navigator can link to any future incentive programs.

Ending: staff invited committee members to continue submitting ideas and flagged that additional details (RFP language, budgeted audit count, and procurement approach) will be worked out before the program returns to ECC.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environment and Climate Committee Meeting - 06/12/25 - 11:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a draft Energy Navigator program to the Environment and Climate Committee to coordinate local assistance for home efficiency and electrification; staff said launch is delayed to the next fiscal year to prioritize electrification policy work and the new grant program.","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},6538729,"City council adopts Climate Action Partner Grant program; ECC to recommend awards after staff scoring",64,898000,962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3800512-d3d46ad3053166ccb1399edd08aa9cf1&start=898&end=962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3800512-d3d46ad3053166ccb1399edd08aa9cf1/thumbnail_898000.jpg","/articles/6538729/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/City-council-adopts-Climate-Action-Partner-Grant-program-ECC-to-recommend-awards-after-staff-scoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6538729-6ba7e6fa4616d1021395642d92d6fd96/orig.mp4?Expires=1775388596&Signature=VdnbXUMuF9hs6wCuciUKniQZxQ8nVCBISw91clbJaMjEvOaw7-yzw7tYKyEpbZd86dXPgsEY7bKKoFzAhWv5L2-53T9lrsm7mFBMBZn4ogE-yRvYYpToYMpPI5PUtvgMnt76kw3qI2e266f3-6sw3LkwlrWU9PpAydypGEpy3fSmbtKjIsqfVO~~Bm0e4DwmwuvZX1yl7H7KLSWQa0FuCDDs5d7JxS76QK4rkQsg7T3mCFgPu9FmtWoVoVRbRVh51KYunLNMHd96QJF6aTvyqNo0gz4UZuiJUMItg6Ua3K2HDMdYIPax43v4R6Sua~8qBuMXTEGPi3pCc-5Pq5igeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bend City Council adopted a resolution on June 4 to establish a Climate Action Partner Grant Program, city staff told the Environment and Climate Committee (ECC) at its June meeting. Cassie, a city staff member, said the next formal step is a June 18 council budget action to allocate $150,000 per year for the program.

The program, as described to the ECC, gives applicants two years to complete awarded projects and explicitly allows planning and scoping work, capital costs and subcontracting with private entities. Cassie said staff broadened the list of eligible uses from the earlier draft and adjusted scoring so that “project impact is the highest now,” with equity and accessibility also carrying substantial weight.

Why this matters: the grant program is intended to channel local funds to community projects that further the city’s Climate and Carbon Action Plan (CCAP). ECC members will review staff scoring and recommendations and advise the city manager on awards; the city manager will make final funding decisions.

How the awards will be decided: city staff will screen applications for eligibility, score them using the revised rubric and propose recommended awards and amounts. ECC members will deliberate and vote on recommendations to the city manager. Meaghan, a staff member, described the role of staff as providing a “starting point” for ECC deliberations: staff will score and recommend, and the committee may accept or change those recommendations in public session.

Key scoring and timeline details provided to the committee:
- Project timeline: awardees will have two years to implement projects.
- Eligible uses: planning/scoping activities, capital costs, subcontracting with private entities; the program is not restricted to only new programs.
- Scoring allocation (documented in the staff memo): Project impact — 42 points; Equity and accessibility — 22 points; Organizational capacity, feasibility and alignment with CCAP goals — 12 points each.
- Outreach and schedule: staff plan to open applications in late July, close in late September, and bring applications and recommendations to ECC for discussion in October; council budget adoption on June 18 is expected to make the $150,000 per year available on July 1.

Conflicts of interest and process safeguards: staff added a program-specific recusal rule beyond baseline ethics requirements. Because ECC will be making recommendations (not the final award), staff advised committee members to disclose potential conflicts and, if a direct financial interest exists (for example an applicant employs a member or a household relative), to recuse from deliberations and votes involving that applicant. Cassie said the city’s recommendation is to recuse for the entire meeting in which awards are considered if the conflict could affect allocation outcomes.

Public transparency: staff told the committee that staff scoring and supporting materials will be public records and that staff will present scores and application materials to the committee in an open meeting. Chris O’Brien, the city’s grants coordinator, attended the ECC meeting and was introduced as a staff resource who will help scale administration and scoring.

What remains unresolved: the ECC discussion flagged several items staff said they will clarify in program materials or in the RFP/administration design: exact grant award sizes, how many awards will be made, and operational details about how staff scoring will be presented (individual staff scores vs. aggregate scores) and how many applicants will be invited for Q&A at the ECC meeting.

Ending: staff plan to publish program materials, host information sessions after the application opens, and return with applications and scoring recommendations to ECC in October so the committee can finalize recommendations to the city manager.","City council adopted a resolution on June 4 establishing a Climate Action Partner Grant Program. City staff told the Environment and Climate Committee the program will have $150,000 per year proposed in the upcoming budget, a two‑year project window, expanded eligible uses and revised scoring that emphasizes project impact.","actionData","errors"]

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City staff seeks ECC feedback on an "energy navigator" service; launch deferred to next fiscal year

City council adopts Climate Action Partner Grant program; ECC to recommend awards after staff scoring