The Bend MPO Policy Board discussed how to make recently adopted June 2025 bylaw amendments effective while the MPO’s establishment intergovernmental agreement (IGA) is still undergoing amendment. Legal counsel advised caution, and staff presented three options: (1) delay implementation until the IGA is amended and operate under the 2019 bylaws, (2) adopt a modified interim version of the June 2025 bylaws (removing or changing a few provisions to avoid conflict with the unamended IGA), or (3) adopt a modified version and discontinue the IGA amendment process.

Tyler Deakey, Bend MPO manager, explained Option 2 would strip references making Cascades East Transit (CET) a full voting policy board member from a few places in the June 2025 bylaws, making CET an ex officio participant in the interim while the IGA amendment proceeds. Staff said they had consulted external and city legal counsel; the external counsel recommended the more conservative approach (Option 1), but staff and some board members favored Option 2 so the board’s other bylaw updates could take effect without further delay.

Board members discussed quorum and voting implications if the policy board were reduced to four voting members; they agreed a voting majority under the revised structure would effectively require three votes to pass actions. After questions and discussion, the board signaled consensus to proceed with Option 2: staff will prepare a redline of the June 2025 bylaws removing CET’s voting‑member language, initiate the required 30‑day agency notice period, and return to the board for formal adoption in November.

No formal vote was taken at the Oct. 17 meeting; staff will circulate the redlined bylaws to partner agencies and bring the item back for action in November.