The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board unanimously adopted an updated Title VI plan at its Dec. 19 meeting, concluding a staff-led update that aligns the document with current federal guidance while preserving local language‑access and demographic-mapping practices.

Andrea Napoli, Bend MPO senior planner, presented the update, noting that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin and that the MPO's plan—last updated in 2019—needed revisions after changes in federal guidance. "Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that no person in The United States shall on the grounds of race, color, or national origin be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program activity receiving federal financial assistance," Napoli said.

Staff described several editorial and substantive edits. The plan removes references to two Title VI–related executive orders (often described in planning documents as environmental justice and limited English proficiency guidance), renames the LEP subsection to "language access" while keeping the MPO's procedures for translation and interpretation, deletes a Bend-specific low-income/LEP map, and retains mapping of race/ethnicity, seniors and disability populations in an online demographic tool. The update also adds standard FHWA Title VI assurances in an appendix and clarifies the Title VI complaint process.

Brenda Gessner of the Oregon Department of Transportation's Office of Engagement and Civil Rights, who assisted on the update, told the board that removing the executive-order language does not end the MPO's ability to consider broader demographics in its planning. "When I talk to the federal government directly, they are asking us to really look at things holistically," Gessner said, adding that federal guidance is changing rapidly and that state laws can remain more stringent.

Board members asked whether the revised plan met federal minimums and whether the MPO could still examine broader factors such as low income or limited-English-proficiency populations in project planning. Napoli and Gessner said the plan reflects the federal minimums but that the MPO's planning work will continue to use broader demographic mapping where relevant.

The board made the adoption formal by motion: Commissioner Phil Chang moved to adopt the plan via Resolution 2025‑05; Councilor Riley seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps listed by staff include posting the updated plan and appendices (including FHWA comments and responses) and continuing to use the MPO's online demographic mapping tool in project screening and grant applications. The board thanked ODOT staff for their assistance with the update.