Tag: City of Bend

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Fire Hydrant Snow Removal

A Public Service Announcement
From the City of Bend Fire Department

Bend Fire and Rescue reminds everyone to please keep fire hydrants visible and accessible during the winter months. With significant snowfall finally here, we need your help. This is particularly true where streets and parking lots are plowed. Snow plows can’t always direct the snow away from hydrants. You can help by keeping snow cleared away for at least three feet around fire hydrants when you notice they are obstructed. Also, keep a path clear from the hydrant to the road. By doing this, firefighters can quickly find and use the fire hydrant to fight a fire. If this is not done, precious time may be lost resulting in increased loss of life and property.

We would also like to remind everyone to keep the path to and from buildings, including homes and businesses, clear of excess snow. By doing so, you improve the fire department’s access to the building in the event of a fire or medical emergency. Also, keep all emergency exit routes clear and keep emergency exit doors from becoming blocked by snow.

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Yes, for a bond measure to dredge Mirror Pond

Yes, yes, yes to the idea of dredging Mirror Pond first and then trying to figure out the long-term picture later.

It was refreshing to hear that notion stated so directly by members of the steering committee working on this question.

“Something has to be done to remove the sediment immediately, regardless of what we do in the long term,” said Matt Shinderman, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus natural resources instructor.

“It’s kind of a two-stage process. The first is to dredge the pond, and the second is to do a longer-term study of what needs to be done to the pond,” said Don Horton, executive director of Bend Park & Recreation District.

Yes, indeed.

Earlier plans to spend $500,000 on a study of options faltered because the price was so high and no one had the money to pay for it. Estimates to dredge the pond range from $2 million to $5 million.

The group is awaiting citizen response from an upcoming park district survey before deciding if it should ask voters for a one-time bond issue to dredge the pond, or the formation of a permanent special taxing district.

A permanent taxing district is a complex question. Voters would need to consider whether they want to continue to carve out special tax obligations as they have for other things — such as the library and sheriff’s office — that previously were paid for by the general fund. And, voters wouldn’t know exactly what they’d get in the future with that obligation. Recommendations to return the river to its natural state, for example, would be far less popular than preserving the town’s crown jewel by dredging.

We favor a simple bond measure, because we think voters will support something they value and can understand.

Source: The Bulletin

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Revised Special Events Permit Process and Code Changes Meeting

The City of Bend is holding an open house to present changes related to the revised Special Events Permit. The meeting will be held Wednesday, January 25 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 710 NW Wall St.

As a result of feedback from the community, City of Bend staff began reviewing the Special Events Code as well as the internal process for scheduling and managing these events. A proposal was presented to the City Council on December 7, 2011 and, with their support, staff is initiating an open house for interested parties to discuss these proposed changes.

At the open house, staff will provide a summary of the permit process. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for the public to voice questions, comments and concerns in an informal manner. As these changes will impact our residents, the City wants to ensure that potentially affected businesses and residents are aware of the proposed changes and that the public has an opportunity to provide feedback.

More info: http://www.downtownbend.org/events-next-steps/

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City to hold Transportation G.O. Bond Program Kickoff Meeting

[singlepic id=96 w=320 h=240 float=left]The City of Bend is holding two kickoff meetings for the transportation General Obligation (G.O.) Bond program. Both meetings will be held Tuesday, Jan. 24 in the City Council Chambers at Bend City Hall, 710 NW Wall St. A daytime meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and an identical evening meeting will follow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The public is invited to drop in at any time.

The G.O. Bond program is a voter-approved package of street and intersection improvements located throughout the city. The bond measure authorized $30 million for eight separate projects which were selected based on known safety and congestion issues, geographic location, and the opportunity to provide local construction jobs. Currently, the projects are being designed, with construction on some starting as soon as this summer.

At the meetings, staff will provide an overview of the program as well as general information about each construction project. Future public meetings will be held closer to construction, as well as briefings with Neighborhood Associations this spring.

For more information, visit www.bendoregon.gov/GOBond.

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Bend Planning Commission Opening

City of BendThe City of Bend is seeking applicants for one position on the City’s Planning Commission. Committee members are appointed by the City Council to review and make recommendations regarding land use matters. The applicant appointed to the current opening will serve through December 2015. Applicants must be city residents.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, January 13, 2012. For applications or more information, please contact:

City of Bend
710 NW Wall Street
Bend, OR 97701
541-388-5505

Or visit the City’s website at bendoregon.gov/committees.