Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bend public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
43 issues with medium priority
Animal sheltering services agreement
A five-year sole source agreement, up to $550,000 total, keeps the Humane Society of Central Oregon providing animal sheltering and impoundment services for the city.
City–Park District Shared Framework
Bend and the park district are formalizing how they collaborate on shared values and facilities. The framework returns October 7 as a resolution, with future work including updated intergovernmental agreements.
Century West neighborhood district revival
After a grassroots effort led by Jenny Sutton, the Century West neighborhood gets its association back — restoring representation in city programs and a seat at the neighborhood round table.
Development Infrastructure Requirements
Final adoption of BMC Chapter 12.10 changes updates how the city charges developers for growth-related infrastructure.
Sign code amendments
Proposed sign code updates would simplify permitting but expand illuminated signs, clashing with the city's dark-sky interests. Business groups support the flexibility; the Bend Night Sky Alliance warns of growing light pollution. Council deadlocked 3-3 and will revisit.
Lonza enterprise zone tax exemption
The city handed Lonza a ten-year property tax exemption on a $251 million lab expansion in exchange for 81 jobs paying at least 150% of county average wage and school support payments in the extended years.
Bend Central District conceptual plan
BURA kicked off a 12-18 month conceptual planning process for the BCD with heavy public outreach, and Perkins wants a First Street civic center/council chambers included.
Greenwood Avenue quick-build results
A year of data shows the Greenwood quick-build is working as designed: slower speeds, more people walking and biking, and about 8-10 seconds of added drive time. Staff won't collect more data until the Franklin Avenue and Hawthorne Bridge projects reshape traffic.
Bond/Reed Market roundabout and SDC list
The council added the Bond/Reed Market roundabout widening to the SDC project list and hired HDR for design, moving the safety project up a couple of years.
North Mirror Pond parking and event space
A scaled-back $5 million downtown parking lot and event space will use the CM/GC delivery method to hit a tight timeline; some councilors worry about losing downtown parking.
Vacancy tax exploration
A resident urged the city or county to charge a fee on Bend's roughly 5,000 vacant or second homes, calling them an economic drain on neighborhoods. No council action was taken.
Small Business Assistance Grant Program
The Urban Renewal Agency is developing micro, small-business, and pre-development loan programs to close financing gaps for newer and underserved businesses in TIF areas, addressing approval disparities for minority- and young firms. Councilors were supportive; details come back later this year.
South Awbrey Butte stormwater drainage problem
Coring found solid basalt up to 200 feet down on Awbrey Butte, so planned dry wells won't work. Staff are redesigning with surface improvements and possibly land acquisition, aided by $2 million in Clean Water State Revolving Fund principal forgiveness.
Business license fee increase paused
The 10% business license fee increase is on hold until January 2027 so the city can rework the fee structure, costing the city about $22,500. A coffee shop owner said fee increases were nearly driving her business to Redmond.
housing crisis / GIS technology
Bend is using GIS mapping to make smarter zoning and planning decisions as it grapples with a housing crisis. It’s behind-the-scenes tech that helps shape where homes get built—and that can affect housing costs over time. If you care about housing, this is worth watching.
Digester 4 and Hauled Waste Project
A ~$115M fourth digester and regional hauled-waste facility at the water reclamation plant, needed by 2030 when the current hauled-waste contractor leaves the industry. Council approved the fast-track CM/GC delivery method.
Point-in-Time Count shows homelessness declining
Mayor Pro Tem Perkins reported a 16% drop in Bend's homeless count, 14% countywide, and 19% regionally, crediting state investment and service providers — but noting 187 homeless people under 25 and 59 veterans remain.
Water Quality Report
Bend just dropped its annual water quality report, and it's basically a checkup for what's coming out of your tap. Give it a skim to see if the city's system is actually holding up or if there's anything worth worrying about.
Bend Bikeway expansion
Bend's VEO bike share has logged 45,000 trips and 75,000 miles, and two new mobility hubs are planned at SE Third/Norton and Robal Road using a carbon reduction grant — plus a bigger CET hub at Cascade Village.
Short-term rentals in neighborhood commercial zones
A city-initiated amendment would force five leftover Neighborhood Commercial properties to follow residential STR rules — Type II review, 500-foot spacing, one STR per property — effectively blocking three of them. Neighbors support it; property owners say they invested millions relying on the old rules.
Pilot Butte Canal Historic District preservation
Two residents who live along the canal urged the council to resist Central Oregon Irrigation District plans to pipe the canal, which they say would damage the historic district and raise legal questions about easements across private property.
Proposed multi-purpose public assembly venue
Visit Bend's feasibility study says a 1,000–3,000 seat flexible venue could fill a gap in Bend's event market, bringing an estimated $19.8 million in annual economic output and 247 jobs. Council wants to explore further but hasn't committed a dime — and Councilor Riley is pressing hard on whether the jobs and trade-offs are worth it.
Mountain Laurel Lodge tax exemption
The renewal exemption keeps rents affordable for seniors at 990 SW Yates Drive — roughly $35 a month per unit from the city's share alone.
Aune Safety and Connectivity eminent domain
Council pre-authorized eminent domain for parts of up to 12 parcels so the project — four intersection upgrades, a shared-use path, and Second Street sidewalks — isn't delayed if talks with owners fail. Condemnation would be a last resort.
Timber Yards master plan revision
The developer scaled back the master plan to match a weaker market — fewer hotels and commercial, phasing east to west, and swapping one street for a pedestrian corridor — to restart a project that has sat idle since 2023.
Bend Growth Plan Phase 1
The city is spending up to $2.9M total on a consultant team to update land needs, transportation planning and community visioning through 2030.
Neff Road corridor eminent domain
The council authorized eminent domain over up to 15 Neff Road parcels to keep the 10-foot multi-use path project on schedule.
Azalia and Windsor sewer expansion
Septic-to-sewer conversion continues with a $2.9 million state loan and a $1.9 million construction contract; construction runs April through October with some road closures.
Gas stations near Southeast Bend schools
A Southeast Bend resident wanted the record to show her neighborhood opposes gas stations near elementary schools, citing a child already hit on a bike near the site of an approved gas station. Mayor Kebler confirmed the commercial convenience zone was changed last year to bar auto-dependent uses.
King Hezekiah and Fargo septic-to-sewer conversion
About 42 properties in the King's Forest area will get city sewer connections, replacing aging septic systems. Property owners who commit early get a 50% connection fee discount (about $5,000 in savings). Construction runs April through October.
Business license portal problems
A small business owner described being charged a late fee after the city's online renewal portal malfunctioned, and City Manager King committed to personally following up.
Airport and facilities funding gaps
The airport can't cover its costs — a gap that started at $300,000 and grew with surprise technology costs — and city hall, police, and fire facilities all need space or repairs. These are flagged as future asks, not today's decisions.
Franklin Avenue eminent domain
The city authorized eminent domain as a last resort for portions of up to three parcels — including Safeway and a carpet store — needed for the Franklin Avenue streetscape project. Negotiations with owners continue first.
15th and Ferguson Roundabout right-of-way
The city needs slivers of up to five parcels — including Nottingham subdivision common area — to fix the notoriously dangerous 15th/Ferguson intersection. The eminent domain authorization is a legal backstop; the city says it almost never actually condemns property. The roundabout matters as a detour route during upcoming Reed Market rail-bridge construction.
Economic Development Strategic Plan
The plan sets five goals — retain and grow businesses, recruit strategically, build resiliency, inclusive prosperity, and growth planning — with heavy emphasis on the 53% of Bend's workforce commuting from outside the city and a 75/25 residential-to-commercial tax imbalance.
Neighborhood district liability insurance lapse
Council learned that Bend's neighborhood associations have been paying insurance deductions from their city grants since 2018 — without actually having coverage. Akin Butte chair Mark Gentle asked the city to fix the problem for all thirteen districts.
Solid waste franchise wind-down
Bend's 1980-era trash franchise terms don't fit a city of 100,000+, and mutual agreement with the haulers failed. Council kicked off a six-year wind-down while working with Deschutes County and Redmond on a regional replacement — new agreements, possible competition, and performance standards would arrive around 2031-32.
Hawthorne Overcrossing Design and Funding
The pedestrian bridge over the railroad near Hawthorne Avenue is funded mostly by $32 million in state and federal grants that must be used at this location. The favored 'promenade street' design would calm traffic, and a people street and park under the bridge are being explored — but budget questions remain for the May-June Council meeting.
Future of the Commercial Parklet Program
Ten downtown parklets generate only about $12,000 a year, but council wants to keep the program while easing costs on businesses, keeping it year-round, and exploring expansion beyond downtown.
2025 Stormwater Master Plan
The city adopted an updated 20-year, ~$80 million stormwater plan to reduce flooding and improve runoff quality, with new rain gauges to account for climate change and Bend's microclimates. Rate impacts will be discussed this spring.
Butler Market/Boyd Acres intersection and eminent domain
To build a fully protected, safer intersection for the Bend Bikeway project, the city may need to condemn portions of up to four parcels at Butler Market and Boyd Acres. Council authorized eminent domain as a fallback if negotiations fail, keeping the project on schedule to bid this summer.
Housing Inequality Report
Bend has a wealth and housing gap: some residents are doing great, while others can barely afford to live there, according to new city reports. The data could shape what City Hall does next on housing policy.
Volunteer Opportunity
Bend is filling seats on its city advisory boards, which means you can help shape decisions on parks, planning, and more. Applications are open now if you want a say.