[{"_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",6585833,"mediaKeyId","5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825","parentId",5588629,"title","City staff report progress on Invest Bend strategic work; ECC asked to review draft plan","audioSeconds",552,"startMs",5206000,"endMs",5758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825&start=5206&end=5758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825/thumbnail_5206000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6585833/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/City-staff-report-progress-on-Invest-Bend-strategic-work-ECC-asked-to-review-draft-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585833-310d4b40f75659b228eaa697d45ca384/orig.mp4?Expires=1770577767&Signature=a5SzDtI2wamUNQ54IiUkiUu-aG6zD8g4wwzS1nOeb4wnyIDbXVeQAUK5PCIUCKeBaw2oAaxK-SLUCkLT5XoxP5r11DY8tH55c-MkJm5eMVk-92DCpujkBqnOC-joj0CQEOhSYG46OA1ZangSjbd~kPALUFQ1MZ42-FxrUXOMCp-9wG48OgWuHq4SG1tlNJjw~XlX9O2BTiXQEu5NC6~k5cMcKkrITeXOwfvGwggeFabSzcPB~51BV8az1fLKb5O1AJzk3OmSUE95ZOPbgkbKxjqKE6nbaGiVSCyCUVEsIjuBf-umF8K9FFUfcI3JZX0GksMuV-OSPN72vKV8L~-~rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-08-15T02:52:51.92Z","article","City staff and committee representatives updated the committee on the Invest Bend economic development strategic process and invited committee input on the forthcoming draft plan.

Mark Buckley (chair and ECC representative to the process) described a series of focus-group meetings convened by city staff and outside consultants to develop a strategic economic development plan for Bend. Staff said the draft plan should be ready in September for committee review, with anticipated council consideration in December.

Staff said the process has included focus groups with private-sector and nonprofit stakeholders, and the city has prepared background reports — a state of housing, state of the economy and industry-cluster analyses — to inform strategy. The city recently hired a new economic development lead, Katie Brooks, formerly of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, staff said.

Why it matters: The strategic plan is intended to codify a vision for growth that balances economic development, housing and environmental quality and will feed into Bend's growth and comprehensive plan work. Staff asked committee members to consider attending the additional focus-group meeting and to provide feedback on the draft when it is released.

Discussion details: Committee members discussed how the economic strategy could incorporate sustainability goals and the challenges of workforce housing and business attraction. Several committee members asked about opportunities for ECC input; staff said they would distribute draft materials and meeting notes and welcomed committee comments. Mark encouraged committee members to attend the final focus-group meeting if they can and to provide written feedback if they cannot attend.

Ending: Staff said they will distribute draft materials and noted the plan's intent to inform future planning processes. Committee members suggested topics for future ECC agendas including a policy landscape update and consideration of consumption-based emissions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Environment and Climate Committee Meeting - 08/14/25 - 11:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Staff described the Invest Bend economic development outreach and said a draft strategic plan is expected in September with council review in December; the plan will inform future growth and the comprehensive plan, staff said.","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},6585838,"Bend staff to study electrification fee, seek consultant and convene joint committee for policy design",628,2397000,3025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825&start=2397&end=3025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825/thumbnail_2397000.jpg","/articles/6585838/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Bend-staff-to-study-electrification-fee-seek-consultant-and-convene-joint-committee-for-policy-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585838-c0097c97c374b8f7442993938ff2a183/orig.mp4?Expires=1770577767&Signature=o~64TT98jjZNajgwrLPGl23B-9fmwss0fo8e~i02Wt3I8C4-5kBkwzuB9COxM3JEOeGfcftcBfqJ62w8gWGD8MbyAvIFYhVgW8w4dhFNsS3PpGytZRAwfnyPu0eXFuLSFiyYIcFdCgVTwqOlXt~5B2iqoWRmcwlg98EVNiGKB7rV7BaH~hhuwNg9q-24QmkiV2HY4oLuugqCPY5nwePa3mbrzPy77lFdb-U-L7KKJPlOnhm78lAmC-hQOn0VUB8xpfTVcXz0Fb6WfyjO4di4Aq3M-H0km5LzzJaDm9SU~ws9pC3Cn~jKlQ5tHToQ~jn73Ee3FAS~ah7u6xFoQW4QXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff outlined a multi-step process to develop an electrification fee and related incentives after council direction earlier this year, staff said at the committee meeting.

Cassie (city staff member) summarized the background: the committee previously recommended prioritizing restrictions on natural gas in new construction and air-quality (NOx) regulation, but council directed staff to pursue an incentive/disincentive package and gave staff direction to advance a fee-based approach. \"The council agreed with that ECC recommendation, and that's the direction that they gave us,\" Cassie said. Staff is now scoping a fee on natural gas appliances that could generate revenue to fund incentives for electrification.

Staff described next steps and timing: they have issued a request for proposals to hire a technical consultant to support fee design and analysis; Cassie will present preliminary findings and scoping questions to the council at an Oct. 22 meeting; public engagement with a joint committee of three advisory boards (the ECC, Bend Development Advisory Board and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee) is proposed to begin in November; and staff expects to present a fee proposal to council as early as March following the engagement and analysis.

Key design questions staff said they will ask include the fee's primary goal (behavior change versus revenue generation), which factors to include in the calculation (social cost of carbon, appliance-specific emission factors, building size or market cost to electrify), and how any incentive program should deploy funds. Cassie framed tradeoffs: \"If you're really driving behavior change in the most successful form of that, you would have no revenue to create an incentive program,\" she said, noting the tension between deterrence and revenue for incentives.

Staff also noted legal risk and precedent: the city is watching other local efforts, including Ashland's recently adopted fee (not yet in effect) and litigation in Bay Area jurisdictions that banned gas in new construction. Ian Lighthizer (city attorney) confirmed staff are tracking legal developments closely: \"We're tracking all of this, including the lawsuit, down the Bay Area,\" he told the committee, and said staff will provide legal advice as the policy is developed.

Why it matters: An electrification fee could be used to incent developers and building owners toward all-electric construction and to fund incentives for conversions of existing buildings. Committee members raised concerns about distributional impacts, legal risk, potential cost estimates, and implementation details such as how a permit-based fee would be structured and whether the city code requires backup resistance heat for some heat-pump installations.

Discussion and committee role: Staff proposed that a joint committee — ECC, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and BDAB — plus ex officio utility representation (Cascade Natural Gas, Pacific Power, Central Electric Co-op) help shape fee design and the public engagement plan. Staff asked the ECC to nominate three members to serve on that joint committee; members who had participated in an earlier February joint session (Ray, Nick and Neil) were noted as potential participants. Staff said the analysis will include permit data, market cost-to-electrify modeling, projected revenue estimates and a review of exemption and implementation rules.

Ending: Staff will return to council next week for an update; if council supports the scoping, the consultant procurement and the joint committee process will proceed. The committee will get regular updates and may be asked to designate representatives to the joint committee.","City staff detailed a multi-month plan to develop a 'fee on natural gas appliances' and an incentive package, including procuring a consultant, working with a joint advisory committee and returning with a scoping recommendation to council in October.",{"_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},6585842,"Bend launches Climate Action Partner grant; committee to review applications in October",262,1172000,1434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825&start=1172&end=1434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588629-627f7e75f8f83638392cd9a2cb430825/thumbnail_1172000.jpg","/articles/6585842/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Bend-launches-Climate-Action-Partner-grant-committee-to-review-applications-in-October","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6585842-efdf2a7e7aac5f37394afb464c032359/orig.mp4?Expires=1770577767&Signature=DoMeDxlGUptglqalVuXw6~ctNo8NjPgN9BG7OLTzquDTu3a09oDcTpOQ2ZM3WDyo8UziLnetE0ahbKxgiUE4s64J5XlRw7SN6coglask9lGdnXOY8yTfwOHm1CEzIceZ8ClwfctyFECSV9BYvEHDng5Fy1a3R0pQTKcU1rBDe6QxvGKpK21WAF-~wCBEQJ-lOusck1HHgx2IwM6geM~hwCrCXJ8~ZFHQfRUzGiErppstNsceczak0xUXVSZNVSzXA4Aj0oUsg~CZjUI3ToRRk5U-VXhQYwDGW~pWTFWZ9jeomQjHUjun4aHD~flKlFkPNENGEZ7vTlRxHSjHznnDMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Bend has launched a Climate Action Partner grant program and is seeking community applicants, city staff said during the committee meeting.

The grant program formally opened July 21 and will accept applications through Sept. 21, Megan (staff member) said. \"Applications are closing September 21,\" she said, and the city plans to hold a final information session on Aug. 26. After an eligibility review, staff will circulate recommended awards so the committee can deliberate in October and, if approved, staff aim to send award letters by Oct. 23.

The program targets nonprofits and government entities as eligible applicants, staff said, but will accept applications from projects run through nonprofit partners to accommodate groups that do not have a legal nonprofit status. \"Even if they're not a nonprofit or government entity, partner up with an NGO,\" staff said, noting that an incorporated entity must be the award recipient for liability and contracting reasons.

Why it matters: City staff and committee members framed the grant program as a near-term funding mechanism to support community-led climate actions. Committee members were asked to encourage eligible organizations to apply and to be prepared to review applications before the October deliberation meeting.

Discussion details: Staff said interest has been high but applications submitted so far were limited; outreach has included social media, news coverage and in-person events. Staff uploaded an informational session and an FAQ to the program webpage for those who could not attend. Committee members asked for clarity on eligibility and whether a 501(c)(3) designation is strictly required. Staff said the program language uses \"nonprofit\" broadly and that other nonprofit types (for example, 501(c)(7)) may be acceptable; the practical requirement is that an incorporated organization must be the contracting party for any award. The Central Oregon tool lending library was cited as an example of a group that could apply through a nonprofit pass-through (Habitat for Humanity Restore was named during the discussion).

Next steps and expectations: Staff asked committee members to plan to review grant applications between late September and early October; the number of applications is still unknown and could range from a few to many. The committee will receive staff recommendations after staff completes an initial eligibility review. Staff also committed to clarifying the website language on nonprofit eligibility in response to committee questions.

Ending: Staff and committee members encouraged outreach to local organizations and said they will return with recommendations and the application packet for committee review in October.","City staff said the Climate Action Partner Grant Program opened July 21; applications close Sept. 21 and staff will return recommendations for the committee to deliberate at the October meeting, with award letters planned by Oct. 23.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff report progress on Invest Bend strategic work; ECC asked to review draft plan

Bend staff to study electrification fee, seek consultant and convene joint committee for policy design

Bend launches Climate Action Partner grant; committee to review applications in October