Council adopts Bend's climate pollution fee; Visit Bend budget approved

On June 17 Bend City Council completed second reading and adopted a new municipal climate pollution fee (Bend Municipal Code Chapter 18.20), a policy measure aimed at charging a fee on certain emissions sources to fund climate-related programs. The ordinance passed by roll-call vote following prior council debate; one councilor recused on conflict and one councilor voted no, but the ordinance carried.

Councilors reiterated earlier concerns about ordinance clarity and implementation details raised by public commentators and members of the development community. Several public speakers asked for additional clarity in ordinance language to avoid unintended consequences; staff and councilors acknowledged those concerns and noted that the adoption imposes an administrative responsibility to publish guidance for regulated parties.

Separately, council reviewed and approved Visit Bend's FY 2026'27 business plan and budget. Visit Bend reported that local visitor spending reached a record level in the previous year (exceeding $400 million across the local economy), and presented contingency plans for wildfire and smoke, supplier-diversity strategies, and grant-program evaluations. Council approved the Visit Bend budget after discussion of wildfire resiliency work and continuing to diversify revenue and marketing strategies for a drive-market destination vulnerable to weather and smoke events.

Visit Bend's presentation highlighted ongoing work to develop stronger wildfire messaging with regional land managers, to explore potential new year-round group business (including feasibility work on a public assembly venue), and to evaluate the measurement of grant-program impact. Council asked staff and the tourism organization to continue coordination on smoke and evacuation messaging and to pursue supplier-diversity and small-business resiliency steps funded through transient-room-tax-supported programs.