[{"_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",6486290,"mediaKeyId","5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb","parentId",5614427,"title","Council approves multiple items: grants, amendments and ordinances in routine business session","audioSeconds",2686,"startMs",8279000,"endMs",10965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb&start=8279&end=10965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb/thumbnail_8279000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6486290/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Council-approves-multiple-items-grants-amendments-and-ordinances-in-routine-business-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486290-21b0502b1d59ee8642f5fc7a1f784bcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620423&Signature=LZ73DJKha6yrXW7G1-5JV7VgNhTrq5EvKT4Zc6y0zvW35UCIl~HBCPTKq9jBteVPEkC8jukWpDham5XlSBPnBqzLTrptAK~wW~XEpiBcCFTN2nlL550HDJ1QETS0oke015i2CyjSJsXVZEPvwvQaKuQNeKVMNEMiSzzvT8yPo2BEYJa28KFZ5LHnt4-zIuCb0WxcXg9hgmWbcDB8juM9LvmnzmHyg5bU~uCsiE1dcHfxV5A3dCIeZi1sfysI58fC7PdgzditVZ7q2~H-P5fX-roezBSIZZHjIOLNxS0vF2S4O6mKKZgS6g0TalOkphpH9kHEN3A2-wK3trNh-M9maA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-08-21T10:27:35.143Z","article","Bend City Council on Tuesday approved a string of business‑meeting items including transportation grant funding, amendments to affordable‑housing funding, a construction contract amendment and a supplemental sewer system development charge methodology for the Southeast Area Plan.

Key votes at a glance

- Franklin and Wall signals and bicycle greenways grant: Council authorized acceptance of a Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization grant of $1,016,462 to fund signal redesign at Franklin and Wall and bikeway work north and east of downtown. Sinclair Burgh, senior project engineer, said the grant covers signal replacements (some beyond design life) and bikeway connections and feasibility work at other downtown intersections.

- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) amendment for affordable housing: Council approved amending the 2024 annual action plan to apply $275,000 in CDBG program income to a United Housing Partners/Latino Community Association project. The funding supplements a previously allocated $2,250,000 in local pro‑housing funds for a 102‑unit affordable rental development targeted at households at or below 60% AMI.

- Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment for Midtown multimodal connections and streetscaping: Council authorized Amendment No. 3 to the progressive design‑build contract with KNE Excavating Inc., adding up to $3,605,693.10 for a total contract not to exceed $14,088,281.14. The work covers Franklin Avenue improvements near Juniper Park and Bend High, including protected bike lanes behind curb, wider pedestrian zones, ADA ramps and a pedestrian refuge at Fourth Street. Staff said construction is expected to run from early September through April and will include intermittent closures of eastbound Franklin during specific phases.

- Supplemental sewer SDC methodology for the Southeast Area Plan: Council adopted a resolution creating a supplemental sewer system development charge (SDC) for the Southeast Area Plan basin to reimburse the city for a portion of the regional pump‑station project. Staff described the methodology: the total pump station design capacity is allocated by gallons‑per‑day; after subtracting existing users the city proposes recovering about half of the city’s net capital cost through a supplemental SDC that averages roughly $3,400 per equivalent dwelling unit under the methodology shown. The methodology contains affordability exemptions for childcare and affordable housing and will be administered consistent with the city’s citywide SDC rules.

- Oregon State University Cascades overlay amendments — first reading: Council held a first reading and voted to advance an ordinance amending the OSU‑Cascades overlay zone, including a realignment of Innovation Way, an increase in allowed height in the Innovation District and changes to allowed manufacturing uses and landscaping standards. Staff and OSU reported an agreement with Bend Parks and Recreation District on outstanding boundary and access issues.

- Vacation ordinance second reading: Council adopted a second reading vacating a 0.53‑acre area of unimproved right‑of‑way along NE Andesite Street to realign NE Talus (Hellas/Talus) Place; the measure passed by roll call vote.

Process notes and context: Several items were approved on unanimous or voice votes after limited discussion; where council wished to see additional detail (for example the Midtown program and Franklin corridor extension) staff were directed to return with more detailed cost and schedule information. The supplemental SDC for the Southeast Area Plan follows council direction to recover approximately 50% of the pump‑station cost from future users; staff showed calculations based on 3,394 equivalent dwelling units and a 200 gallons‑per‑day per‑EDU design assumption.

What was not decided: Council accepted staff recommendations and gave approvals necessary to move projects forward; none of these approvals authorized new policy beyond the methodology and contract amendments presented. Where larger program choices remain — notably in the Midtown and Franklin corridor planning and in the electrification fee process discussed earlier in the meeting — council asked staff to return with alternatives and public‑engagement plans.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bend City Council Meeting - 8/20/25 5:30pm","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 20 business meeting the Bend City Council approved a $1,016,462 grant for traffic and bikeway work, amended Community Development Block Grant spending, authorized a guaranteed maximum price for Midtown multimodal work and advanced multiple ordinances and a supplemental sewer SDC methodology.","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},6486295,"Bend staff to develop local natural‑gas fee and incentive package after study of Ashland, Burlington models",2049,2501000,4550000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb&start=2501&end=4550","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb/thumbnail_2501000.jpg","/articles/6486295/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Bend-staff-to-develop-local-naturalgas-fee-and-incentive-package-after-study-of-Ashland-Burlington-models","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486295-6f9b603cd6ca8ec0bb3708823b18e92e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620423&Signature=fap4HORDFjzwHbfDgCg5aOlxHk4mEzvNToK6qksisi8Ow5O9yRvMcd1Wp9RLd9XlWfh96oKySKzgnRdN3nSFzZarz0XOgTSFNEAV8iHIFuQAEmKRx2WURWCbj9CzzVhOF02U8K6GmvlUqRfy6IzrhQEpwhJutXzfqztL3aLP-3oTXMhBTwg3ekowZIYnCHk3KKUCRjyvpkCNj~MMVm9p2-SnOGDDqq81aw3mCizWYevYIOyP1IKZE-fRi8gG9PyViSwpe2NKxyD~pbcScWjptAgJfKl~MOHykwKtAxGR4sqWGeUUYwHkoNA1zS-xZbLQDS0n2fVXkP5kpJeg3CIvKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff on Tuesday described a phased plan to study and design a local fee on fossil‑fuel building systems for new residential construction and to use the revenue to fund incentives to electrify existing buildings.

Cassie Lacy, senior management analyst in the city manager’s office, summarized research into similar policies in Ashland, Ore.; Burlington, Vt.; and Breckenridge, Colo., and presented Bend permit data showing that between 2020 and 2024 most new single‑family homes in Bend connected to natural gas.

“Last year, we launched a process to explore different policy options to reduce the use of natural gas in Bend,” Lacy said. She explained that the Environment and Climate Committee recommended pursuing regulatory restrictions on fossil‑fuel appliances in new construction or, if that is infeasible, a fee on natural‑gas appliances paired with incentives to electrify existing buildings.

What staff found: Ashland’s model charges a per‑appliance fee calculated from a social cost‑of‑carbon value multiplied by an average emissions factor and service life; Ashland estimates modest annual revenues and used an EPA social‑cost figure in its calculation. Burlington’s ordinance requires electrification or renewable energy and charges a carbon pollution fee when renewable options are proven infeasible, using a behavior‑driven per‑metric‑ton price (about $150/ton) and in some cases project‑specific emissions calculations. Breckenridge uses fees in lieu of required renewable generation for certain high‑energy outdoor systems.

Local baseline: Lacy presented city permit data showing roughly 95% of single‑family building permit applications from 2020–2024 included gas service, while large multifamily projects were predominantly all‑electric. She noted the permit dashboard counts applications, not housing units, and that staff plan to refine data to show units and the types of gas use (space heat, water heating, cooktops) in future reporting.

Key design questions: Staff said Bend must decide whether the fee’s primary purpose is to change developer/homebuilder behavior or to raise revenue for incentive programs. They also must choose whether to calculate fees using an average per‑appliance approach, project‑specific carbon calculations, or a behavior‑driven price. Lacy highlighted that Ashland and Burlington have municipal utilities, giving them more control over electricity costs — a local difference that affects program design.

Equity and scope: Lacy recommended focusing the first phase on new residential construction — where electrification is easiest and least costly — and defer commercial and existing‑building rules to later phases. The staff proposal includes exemptions for affordable housing and childcare projects and a plan to use a joint committee (Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Bend Economic Development Advisory Board and Environment and Climate Committee) for public engagement and recommendations.

Next steps: The city is seeking a consultant to develop fee methodology and plans to return Oct. 22 with analysis and options. Staff anticipates a public engagement process beginning in November and aims for a fee policy by early spring, followed by an incentive program within months. Lacy said staff will collect local cost data on electrification upfront and will include utilities as ex‑officio members of the joint committee.

Responses and concerns: Councilors asked for clarity on the cost to homeowners — including installation and operation of heat pumps and water heaters — and for specific engagement with the housing, developer and environmental communities. Councilors also asked how the city will address reliability concerns during power outages; staff said those reliability issues are important but largely outside the immediate scope of the fee’s design and would be addressed as part of broader resilience and utility planning.

What was not decided: Council offered general support for the staff approach — starting with incentives and designing a fee — but did not adopt a specific fee or timeline. Staff will return in October with consultant analysis and an engagement plan.","City staff outlined next steps for a fee‑plus‑incentive approach to encourage building electrification; research shows wide variations between peer programs and local permit data indicates most new single‑family homes in Bend still use gas.",{"_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},6486302,"Bend council signals support for speeding up Bond and Reed Market roundabout project",1870,623000,2493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb&start=623&end=2493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5614427-0ebb0e6407590574aa40990f587230eb/thumbnail_623000.jpg","/articles/6486302/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Bend-council-signals-support-for-speeding-up-Bond-and-Reed-Market-roundabout-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486302-0b8427300617d12d418f4b0d66f1cf34/orig.mp4?Expires=1773620423&Signature=Cnpus-0ZnGj8X1IY7wYfhgsEYRZIlYLzM-BmUaAJ8If61sKjbdzT5RwMhvQ3l-F3v~GXW8i6BL8WlXPU0TRGTSar-2rjXsdX0CvGyTDTrOxNvaFF1SwrCk-1vhzZMHK75Sd0mXkQVdLcaCpqdRS0qET~GHL5Aj2t0IO~DZzKYWXPpeTXwtW3Oj5a0RVPsUfX0eqeNGvSUUv4P8iysWEr~l9zWgo2MvHo-Gj0VV2bgMEuRcnzJxtB5vzQi1Uov~nkRPta3i2-HpXz68exlTjRHaScJt5224hGUJGHtEcpHxkNO5N9EFqGAJfH-OJpNnRG8dvR1W5~cPgnV19~Ygd09Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bend City Council members on Tuesday signaled preliminary support for bringing forward design and construction of the Bond and Reed Market roundabout after a work-session briefing on congestion, evacuation concerns and potential design alternatives.

City Engineer Brian Oster and consultant Scott Barrett of Kittles and Associates described a concept for converting the existing single‑lane roundabout into a partial multi‑lane configuration, explained tradeoffs for pedestrians and cyclists, and outlined a schedule that could move design from 2028 to 2026 and construction from 2029 to 2027 if council elects to reprioritize projects in the capital improvement plan.

The proposal would create dual‑entry/ single‑exit legs at some approaches to the roundabout — similar to the Fifteenth and Reed configuration — to prioritize heavier turning movements and reduce queued backups. Barrett said the concept is preliminary and not a refined 30% design. “Today, it functions as a standard single‑lane roundabout… What we landed on for a concept is a lot like what Fifteenth and Reed is today,” he said.

Why it matters: Reed Market is one of only eight river crossings in Bend and the southernmost crossing across the Deschutes River near the Bill Healey Bridge. City staff and consultants said backups at the roundabout already cause cut‑through traffic in nearby Wood River Village and can extend to upstream intersections during peak hours. Council members expressed concern that future development could worsen the situation and noted the site’s role in evacuation routes for wildfires.

What staff presented: Oster reviewed prior studies, including a 2020 metering pilot that tested signal metering of roundabout entries and a corridor study done with ODOT. Staff also showed a preliminary concept with a “hurricane‑shaped” central island and explained the cost drivers: retaining walls, steep slopes, nearby townhomes and impacts to the Old Mill monument area. The city’s preliminary cost estimate for a single‑unit supplemental concept was discussed in the meeting as roughly in the low millions; more complex dual‑entry/dual‑exit layouts would be more expensive.

Safety and equity tradeoffs: Staff said partial or full multi‑lane roundabouts have higher pedestrian crossing distances than single‑lane roundabouts and are “undoubtedly” less safe for people walking or biking than single‑lane designs, though still safer than signalized intersections in many comparisons. Staff pledged to study pedestrian and bicycle mitigation — including push buttons, raised crossings, refuge islands and other treatments — if the project moves ahead sooner.

Evacuation and the southern river crossing: Council members asked whether widening the roundabout would materially improve wildfire evacuation. Staff and consultants said widening the node could let more vehicles through that point, but the approaches on Reid Market and the Bill Healey Bridge remain single‑lane for long stretches; a widened node would not alone solve regional evacuation constraints. Several members urged parallel study of a potential southern river crossing and suggested council pursue both short‑term node improvements and longer‑term crossing planning together.

Next steps and council direction: Council members asked staff to return with a refined set of alternatives, cost ranges (including dual‑entry/dual‑exit vs. partial multi‑lane), pedestrian/cyclist safety measures and a proposal to move the project earlier in the CIP. Oster said staff will present the concept as an alternative in the October capital program review and again at a comprehensive transportation work session on Oct. 8. Councilors also suggested pairing the decision with a study of a southern river crossing and asked for analysis of the model assumptions (mode split, growth assumptions) used in the 2040 projections.

Context and history: City staff noted the roundabout has reached the life expectancy anticipated when it was built, and that earlier corridor work assumed ODOT would implement larger interchange changes that now appear unlikely. The city previously considered metering the roundabout to manage queues but found mixed results; that option remains on the table.

What was not decided: Councilors were clear that no construction authorization or final design choice was required tonight. The action requested was a “head nod” to study moving the project up and to return with alternatives and refined costs. Staff will present an alternative for the CIP in October and bring a fuller package to council before any final decision to accelerate the schedule.","City staff outlined design options, safety tradeoffs and a potential schedule shift to move the Bond and Reed Market roundabout into earlier design and construction years; council asked staff to return with cost and alternative analyses and a possible move in the capital improvement program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves multiple items: grants, amendments and ordinances in routine business session

Bend staff to develop local natural‑gas fee and incentive package after study of Ashland, Burlington models

Bend council signals support for speeding up Bond and Reed Market roundabout project