Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins told the Bend Human Rights and Equity Commission on Dec. 18 that the City Council has received substantial public feedback and has given staff direction to develop a potential fee for new single‑family homes that choose gas appliances.

“We've probably received, oh, I don't know, about over 1,000 emails on electrification over the last month,” Perkins said in the commission meeting, describing the volume of community comment and the council’s intent to flesh out policy details in January and February.

The council’s current direction focuses on single‑family residences; Perkins and city legal staff said the proposal does not now apply to new multi‑unit buildings. Commissioners raised questions about equity and affordability — noting a fee for choosing gas would likely be passed on to buyers or builders and could affect housing costs.

Ian, the city attorney, told commissioners the council and staff expect to weigh tradeoffs between the city's climate goals and housing affordability, and that exemptions or subsidy mechanisms to protect low‑income households would be part of later policy design discussions.

Perkins also briefed the commission on related items coming before council in January: an urban renewal review for the city's three renewal districts and discussions about the Juniper Ridge Temporary Safe Stay Area, followed by a joint meeting with the county on Jan. 20.

The commission requested early engagement on equity implications. Commissioner Cameron Fisher urged the council liaison to share any polling or staff equity analysis with HREC so the commission can provide advice before proposals are finalized.

The council has not adopted a final ordinance or fee; Perkins described the current action as direction to staff to develop proposals for future council deliberation.