City manager outlines hub‑and‑spoke equity plan, AIM tool rollout and new positions for Bend's accessibility work

City Manager Eric King updated the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee Feb. 26 on a completed two‑phase review of the city's equity and accessibility functions and outlined a plan to centralize equity expertise while embedding capacity across departments.

King said the city contracted Ben Duncan (former Multnomah County chief diversity officer and a consultant) to analyze internal practices, documents and stakeholder interviews. The report’s recommendations include adopting a hub‑and‑spoke model in which a central equity team provides subject‑matter expertise while department liaisons (the “spokes”) implement equity practices locally.

‘‘The AIM tool is really the main focus there,’’ King said, referring to the city’s equity framework, and said staff intend to roll the tool out more broadly to support decisions ranging from broad policies like housing and electrification to routine internal actions. King added the city will formalize an equity leadership council and has identified recruitment steps: a leadership position in the City Manager’s Office and two roles in communications and engagement, described as a net addition of positions.

King noted the city provides approximately $240,000 annually in community awards for engagement and said the next steps include posting job descriptions (expected shortly) and continuing focused work with consultants to define scope and authority for the equity functions.

Committee members asked for copies of job postings when available and for continued coordination with the Human Rights and Equity Commission; Cassandra Keough, Accessibility & Equity Manager, said the finalized draft work plan will go to COBAC for a formal vote in March.