| JULY 2024 |
*Pictured above: a huge firework explodes over Pilot Butte. Photo credit by Doug Huack.
Summer season or smoke season? We hope you are staying safe as your venture and adventure around Central Oregon this month. In this edition of the Bend Current, we’re featuring a timely rerun of a previous podcast related to wildfire safety and planning – as a reminder, visit Own Your Zone: Wildfire Preparedness to learn more about how to protect your home space. You’ll also find information about a few (free!) event invitations and some tips about water conservation, upcoming traffic changes, and more!
** Having issues seeing photographs or viewing this email? If so, please visit the website directly to see the Bend Current**
Bring the Family to CityFest!
Join Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler and the City of Bend for CityFest community gathering on Thursday, August 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 9th Street Village, 911 SE Armour Road.
CityFest creates an opportunity for City departments, staff, and Bend City Councilors to meet the community in a dynamic, family-friendly space! Bevel Craft Brewing, the awesome food trucks hosted on their property, and local ice cream extraordinaire Bonta will be onsite as our food (yes, ice cream is food!) and beverage partners. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
The event will feature a short message from Mayor Kebler regarding the “State of the City” (touching on goals and priorities for Bend’s future), live music from DJ Jah Yogi, family-friendly activities, police, fire, and streets vehicles, plus information and staff from various City departments regarding their programs and services.
Bring the whole family and meet the folks who work for your City of Bend. Check out bendoregon.gov/cityfest for more information!
Accessible and Effective City Government City Council Updates
An Update from Mayor Pro Tem Perkins
In this video, Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins talks about upcoming safety improvements to Greenwood Avenue, the City’s initial work to update the Parking Code, and gives an update on progress being made to achieve Council Goals.
Watch the video update
Public Safety
Inside Bend: Let’s Talk Wildfire Prevention
The Inside Bend podcast is three years old! To celebrate three years of Inside Bend, we want to take a trip back to one of our past podcasts which covers a topic that is still just as relevant today: wildfire. This episode originally aired back in May 2022 when we spoke to Bend Fire and Rescue Chief Todd Riley about wildfire safety and what you can do to help protect your home and your community from the threat of wildfire. Listen at bendoregon.gov/inside-bend or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Join us at National Night Out!
The Bend Police Department invites you to National Night Out at Bear Creek Elementary School, 51 NE 13th Street, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
What is National Night Out?
The event is part of a nationwide program designed to foster strong relationships between the community and law enforcement. This family-friendly, completely free event will feature tons of fun and free treats. A DJ will be spinning tunes and a variety of vehicles will be on display for kids and adults alike to check out, including a Bend Police patrol car, the police BearCat and a fire engine. You’ll find police officers dishing out hot dogs and other treats, as well as lawn games, facepainting and a bounce house. Throughout the evening, Bend Police will be on site to demonstrate its unmanned aerial systems (drones) and show off members of the K9 unit. We hope to see you there!
Transportation & Infrastructure
Making Greenwood Avenue Safer
Construction on Greenwood Avenue is underway from Wall Street to Second Street.
We understand that the process of updating a street causes traffic impacts and delays. Thank you for your patience, and for being mindful of the crews working hard to complete the redesign work. The end goal is to make it safer for pedestrians, bikes and cars to all use the roadway. –This is a quick build project that is scheduled to wrap up on Aug. 14. During that time, there will be a full closure on Aug. 5-6.
Below are some of the changes you can expect to see on Greenwood Avenue:
- Buffered Bike Lanes, which have been shown to reduce crashes with bikes by 47%. *
- Updated crosswalks will be installed with painted curb extensions and median islands. These types of crossings reduce collisions with pedestrians by 31%. *
- A dedicated left-hand turn lane will be installed leading to a 29% decrease in car crashes. *
The project will also include accessible ADA parking spaces and safer, wider, buffered parking on the south side of Greenwood Avenue.
For up-to-date project information and daily traffic closure updates visit bendoregon.gov/midtowncrossing
*Source of stats: ODOT
Reminder: Transportation Fee
We wanted to remind you that in early August, you’ll start to see the new Transportation Fee on your Utility Bill for July services.
This funding will ensure the upkeep of maintenance, preservation and winter operations. It will help us maintain our current level of service for our growing transportation network.
If you need help paying your bill, please contact NeighborImpact for more information. Call 541-604-0256 or email bendwater@neighborimpact.org. Check out neighborimpact.org for more information on how to apply.
Affordable Housing & Sustainable Development
Interested in promoting Affordable Housing?
Are you interested in shaping the future of affordable housing in Bend? Get involved by joining the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee!
This committee provides policy, code, and funding recommendations to City Council. Members are expected to have a high degree of technical expertise in affordable housing development or operation, or services that accompany affordable housing operation, or to have lived experience in poverty or affordable housing.
Does this sound like you? Learn more and apply at bendoregon.gov/committees.
Join the Human Rights and Equity Commission!
You can also get involved by joining the Human Rights and Equity Commission!
This commission works to ensure equal access to City programs and services, representation in decision-making, and a venue to raise concerns and complaints about discrimination. This space was created to ensure that community that hasn’t always been engaged has an active role in forging a new future for the city of Bend.”
Are you interested? Learn more and apply at bendoregon.gov/committees.
Environment & Climate
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