A special Bend City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Nov. 30. The public will have a chance to address the Council about the proposed fuel tax ballot measure. The City Council will also have a work session on text amendments to the Bend Municipal Code and the Bend Development Code for Marijuana Businesses and Licensing Program.
Bend City Councilors adopted and approved several resolutions during the Nov. 18 work session and regular meeting. The Council voted to unanimously authorize the purchase of six ambulances and emergency medical equipment for up to 1.6 million dollars. A resolution allowing upgrades for wastewater treatment was also adopted. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Agreement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality was approved for $12,200,000.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture made millions of dollars available to owners of farmlands, wetlands, and grasslands to help restore and protect their natural lands. The Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon is accepting applications until Jan. 15 for the 2016 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program—which provides resources helping landowners to conserve wetlands and agricultural lands. The purpose of the program is to protect the United States' food supply by not allowing non-agricultural use of working food-producing lands. The funds are also intended to help preserve crucial water resources and wildlife lands.
Business Oregon and Governor Kate Brown announced a commitment of $250,000 in grants to support nonprofits, public agencies, and entrepreneurial programs in rural areas. The new rural entrepreneurship program will help expand business opportunities for people living throughout the state. In August, the state made an investment to help strengthen Oregon startups.
The Colorado Bridge opened on Friday, Nov. 20. Areas of downtown will be closed from 9 am until noon on Thanksgiving Day for the I Like Pie Run.
