Bend council adopts wildfire‑mitigation code and approves growth‑plan, right‑of‑way and sewer measures

At its meeting the Bend City Council moved forward on a package of planning and infrastructure measures intended to advance wildfire resilience, long‑range growth planning, active‑transportation connections and neighborhood sewer repairs.

Wildfire‑resilient homes: The council approved a first reading to adopt Oregon Residential Specialty Code section R327 locally, a discretionary residential‑building standard that addresses home hardening and wildfire‑resilience features for new construction. Deputy Fire Marshal Melissa Steele told the council that home hardening paired with defensible‑space work reduces ignition risk and that education alone often fails to overcome barriers without accompanying regulatory standards or incentives. The ordinance advanced on first reading and will return through the ordinary ordinance process.

Growth Plan procurement: Council approved a contract amendment with Cascadia Partners (not to exceed $2,739,282 for Phase 1; total contract not to exceed $2,898,459) to carry out an early phase of Bend’s multi‑year Growth Plan. Staff said the contract funds core deliverables — a contextualized housing‑need analysis, buildable‑lands inventory, economic‑opportunities analysis, transportation modeling, public engagement and a data portal — and emphasized city staff will take increasing responsibility for some deliverables to contain costs. A council workshop on scenarios and visioning is planned for August.

NE corridor path and property acquisition: For a multi‑use path along NEF (from the east side of Pilot Butte Middle School to Eagle Road), council authorized a resolution allowing the city to exercise eminent domain steps if negotiations with property owners do not produce easements or agreements. Staff said they have been negotiating with property owners and that authorizing eminent‑domain steps ensures schedule certainty for the corridor project if voluntary acquisition fails.

Sewer projects and financing: The council authorized a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan agreement (loan not to exceed $2.9M, with up to 50% principal forgiveness eligibility) and awarded a construction contract to CBRL Development LLC for the Aelia and Windsor sewer projects (low bid ~ $1.97M). The projects include replacement of sewer mains and service laterals, pavement restoration, and local access management during construction; staff described outreach and phased construction timing.

What this means: The R327 adoption is intended to affect new residential construction and align Bend with regional wildfire‑resilience practices; the growth‑plan contract starts a multi‑year data and policy program that will provide the technical basis for future land‑use and transportation decisions; the NE corridor eminent‑domain authorization preserves schedule options to complete an important active‑transportation connection; and the sewer projects address neighborhood infrastructure that will be funded in part through CWSRF financing.

Next steps: The R327 ordinance will return for subsequent readings; Growth Plan Phase 1 work will proceed with staff and consultant coordination and public engagement; staff will continue owner outreach for NE corridor easements and will use eminent‑domain authority only if necessary; and sewer construction is expected to begin in spring with completion targeted before fall.