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

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.