Bend Current, Newsletter for the Community, November 2023

Hello, and welcome to the November Bend Current!

Following are updates on City of Bend news and Council Goals. We thank you for your interest in City news and always welcome more opportunities to hear from you - you can stay connected through our social media channels and Bend Works, our new desktop and mobile app to offer a fast and easy way to report non-emergency issues you see around town. Help Bend Work Better! Bend Works | City of Bend (bendoregon.gov)

From all of us at the City of Bend, we hope you have a safe and peaceful holiday season.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Neighborhood Street Safety Program Completed

The Neighborhood Street Safety Projects for 2023 have wrapped up for the season!

The initial project list included 25 projects and 17 of them have been completed to date.

Six of those projects were completed this year:

• Enhanced crosswalk across Parrell Road at Calvin Way
• Enhanced crosswalk across Parrell Road at Haley Creek Road
• NE Eighth Street Sidewalk Infill and crossings from Seward Road to Isabella Lane
• Enhanced crosswalk to Columbia Park at Cumberland Avenue
• Larkspur Trail Crossing of Bear Creek Road
• Woodriver Village Sidewalk infill

What's Next?
The final projects of the initial 25 Neighborhood Street Safety Program projects are currently in design and scheduled to be constructed in 2024.

In 2020 the Neighborhood Street Safety Program became part of the 2020 Transportation General Obligation Bond.

A new list of projects are in the process of being defined.

Those projects will be grouped and scheduled for design and construction each year from 2026 through 2029.

Learn more at bendoregon.gov/nssp.

Preparing for Winter with Transportation and Mobility Director David Abbas

While we are busy making streets safer across the City, we are also gearing up to help keep the community safe during the winter months!

On the latest episode of the Inside Bend podcast where we chat with Transportation and Mobility Director David Abbas to learn more about how streets crews are preparing for winter and what you can do to be prepared.

Listen at bendoregon.gov/inside-bend or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast or Spotify!

ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE CITY GOVERNMENT

Meeting with the Warm Springs Tribal Council

This month the Bend City Council welcomed the Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation for the first intergovernmental meeting.

This was a productive meeting where topics of mutual interest were discussed covering basin water resources, land use and growth, and economic development opportunities. The two groups agreed to hold a meeting again next year in Warm Springs.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Affordable Housing Update

This month the City is working to create more affordable housing options.

At the Nov. 4 City Council meeting, Council approved amendments to the Bend Comprehensive Plan and Bend Development Code to facilitate housing development.

Read the issue summary here.

Council and NeighborImpact Agreement

The Council approved the City Manager to enter into an agreement with NeighborImpact to distribute Rapid Rehousing direct assistance.

In an effort to create more shelter beds across the City, Council approved the City Manager to enter into an agreement with NeighborImpact to distribute Rapid Rehousing direct assistance.

This supports the Council strategy of investing in programs and partnerships that result in collaborative, concrete actions toward ending homelessness in Bend and the goal of preserving 500 shelter beds.

Read the issue summary here.

UPCOMING EVENT

Santa Express

In December, Bend Fire & Rescue will be driving Santa through several neighborhoods collecting food, clothing and toys to support the Salvation Army.

They will be accepting donations of canned food and new or lightly used toys for both children and teenagers.

Beginning at 6 p.m. each evening, Santa Express will be visiting the following neighborhoods:

• Monday, Dec. 4: Foxborough, Larkspur, Sun Meadow neighborhoods
• Tuesday, Dec. 5: Three Pines Ridge, Shevlin Ridge and Shevlin Meadows neighborhoods
• Wednesday, Dec. 6: Pineridge, River Canyon and Aspen Rim neighborhoods

Is Santa Express missing your neighborhood this year? You can still drop-off donations at several locations around town through Dec. 15.

If you can't make it to any of our drop-off locations and would like someone to come by and pick up your donation, please call Bend Fire & Rescue at 541-322-6386 to arrange a curbside pickup.

If you are a family in need help for this holiday season with food or presents, please call The Salvation Army at 541-389-8888.

For information on Santa Express routes and drop-off locations, visit bendoregon.gov/santaexpress.