For the most recent information from the City of Bend, click here.

For the latest from the Central Oregon Emergency Information Network (COEIN), click here. COEIN includes Deschutes County Health Services, St. Charles Health System, the City of Bend, Bend – La Pine Schools, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and others. 

For updates from Deschutes County Health Services, click here.

Oregon Health Authority updates are available here.

The City Council voted to withdraw the May ballot measure for the transportation bond, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic impacts. Circumstances have changed dramatically since Council agreed to put the bond measure on the May ballot.

The reasons include:

• Uncertainty about how long the pandemic will last
• Likely economic impacts, in particular, on Bend’s service sector, which will be affected by a reduction in hotel and restaurant activity
• A more volatile municipal bond market, and
• Advice from economic, business and public health experts

Although transportation issues are a high community priority, at this time public health concerns are the primary focus of the nation and our community. The City will continue to monitor the economic impacts of COVID-19, and may consider referring the general obligation bond measure for transportation improvements to the voters when appropriate in the future.

Beginning on Thursday, March 19, all City facilities, excluding the main Police Department lobby, will be closed to the public.

The City of Bend is taking steps to limit exposure to and spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). The City has cancelled meetings, encouraged employees to telework, will close public access to City facilities, and will provide some help to local businesses impacted by this pandemic.

The City will not shut off water for those with outstanding bills. And, Visit Bend has withdrawn all ads and canceled tourism promotions.

At the March 18 Council meeting, Councilors ratified an order declaring a local state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows more flexibility and authorization for the City Manager to buy safety-related goods or services without normal procurement processes and to develop emergency policies regarding the use of sick leave, vacation leave, telecommuting and meeting protocols. These changes will remain in effect for the duration of the emergency.

During this emergency:

The Bend Police Department will be triaging access to the lobby. Staff will be at the front office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, Police ask community members to first call prior to visiting. Options will be posted at the facility. Non-emergencies should call 541-693-6911.

Bend Municipal Court sessions are cancelled. Court clerks will be available only by phone. To contact the court clerks, call 541-388-5572 and press 9 Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for any questions about appearances or concerns about court payments. Pleas may be entered in writing by mail or by using the 24-hour drop box. Forms are available in the Municipal Court entrance at 555 NE 15th St. and on our website at www.bendoregon.gov/municipalcourt.

Utility Billing offices are closed to the public, but customer service is available by phone. Customers wishing to pay a utility bill at the downtown Utility Billing location (639 NW Franklin Ave.) are encouraged to make electronic payments if possible. To make your payment:

• Use Interactive Voice Response phone payment 541-388-5515.
• Call Customer Service at 541-388-5515 during regular office hours.
• Visit the website and make online payments.
• Send questions to be utilitiesonline@bendoregon.gov. Staff will respond within 2 business days.
• Use the drop box located on the Wall Street side of City Hall, 710 NW Wall St. Checks or money orders only.

Utility customers can contact the Utilities Annex (62975 NE Boyd Acres Road) by calling 541-317-3000 (option #2).

Community Development customers should call 541-323-8551 or email permitcenter@bendoregon.gov for help. Application fees can be paid online via the “Services” link at www.bendoregon.gov.

The City Manager’s Office can be reached at 541-388-5505 or citymanager@bendoregon.gov. Calls and messages will be returned in 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

The City of Bend will provide an update on the Core Area Project, which is creating a common vision and implementation plan for the center of Bend (see map below).

The open house will be held Thursday, Feb. 20th from 5-7 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooks Hall (469 NW Wall Street), which is to the left of the main entrance. There is no formal presentation, so attendees may come and go at their convenience. Snacks are provided. Children are welcome.

Attendees will learn more about the vision for the Core Area and provide input on the progress to date.

The Core Area includes four of the opportunity areas in the 2016 Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion:

• the Bend Central District
• East Downtown (between downtown and the Parkway)
• Inner Highway 20 / Greenwood
• KorPine (between the Old Mill and the Parkway)

While the Core Area does not include the Summit West neighborhood, this affects all Bend residents. If you're not familiar with this project, this will be a good opportunity to find out what's happening.

Following the in-person open house, the City will post an online version, which will be available on the project webpage at: www.bendoregon.gov/corearea

On January 14, the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA) recommended eight projects for funding under the Neighborhood Street Safety Program.

To see the final projects, click here (and select tab #3 - Design & Construction Projects) for an interactive map and list. All of the selected projects involve improving safety for pedestrians. Four are on the west side and four on the east side, and each of the finalists is in a different neighborhood association.

The projects submitted by Summit West Neighborhood Association did not make the final cut. However, one (a crosswalk on Mt. Washington at Clearwater) tied for #9 and is considered a contingency project, should one of the eight finalists have a problem with the design or cost.

In the 2019-2021 biennial budget, the City Council approved $800,000 to fund the program. The City received more than 360 applications for projects across Bend. Projects were reviewed and prioritized by the 13 Neighborhood Associations (NAs) and 25 priority projects advanced to the NLA for a final ranking that considered demographic data, crash data, geographic equity and cost.

The eight recommended projects now move into design and public outreach. In May, the NLA will revisit the plan for a final stamp of approval.

Plans for the transportation bond measure expected to be on the May ballot include $6 million to address neighborhood street safety issues, such as those identified by residents in the recent NSSP effort. Safe routes to school would be one of the categories for funding under the bond measure, including crosswalks and completing missing sidewalk segments.

On Wednesday, Jan 8th, the City Council voted unanimously to prepare a funding measure that addresses Bend residents’ top concern: traffic congestion and safety.

The bond will fund work on a list of critical projects to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. The list was developed over two years by a 25-member Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee.
 
The project list includes:

• Better east-west connections (notably along Reed Market Rd)
• Traffic flow improvements (on the Parkway, 3rd St, Empire, Wilson, Butler Market and other key routes)
• Safer crossings to access schools, parks and jobs
• A network of cross-town bicycle routes
• Completing missing sidewalks along priority routes

The City will prepare a bond measure of about $180 million for transportation projects for the May 2020 Primary Election ballot. The Council will consider a draft resolution for the measure at its Feb 5th regular meeting.

The $180 million transportation bond measure would be funded by a property tax. The average annual cost would be $160 to $170 per year, based on a home with a tax assessed value of $220,000, which is the average for properties in Bend. (In the Summit West area, assessed values tend to be 50-100% higher than the average, so the tax would be about $240–$340/year.)

A May 2019 telephone survey that found 72% of registered voters said the City of Bend should ask voters to consider a transportation funding measure.

A December telephone survey of 304 randomly selected Bend voters tested two possible funding amounts, with a $190 million bond earning solid majority support.

An online “One-Minute Survey” conducted from October through December drew 3,493 respondents and more than 1,500 comments. Survey respondents listed traffic flow and safety improvement projects that closely aligned with the Citywide Transportation Advisory Committee and City Council’s priority projects.

For more information, visit www.bendoregon.gov/safe-travel.

A free one-day workshop is being offered on Thursday, Jan 9th from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm at COCC on ways to make your home safer from wildfire. Please see the flyer below for more details. To register, e-mail Alison Green.

​The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) wants public feedback on proposed solutions to congestion and safety problems on the U.S. 97 Parkway.

Among the improvements that planners are considering are:

• new auxiliary lanes
• new interchanges
• new over-crossings

Corridor-wide changes could include:

• modifying or closing problematic intersections
• removing or making changes to signals
• providing separated bike and pedestrian crossings
• ramp meters
• improved signage
• wider shoulders

Until Dec 15th, you can provide feedback through an online survey. To participate, click the button: