Bend City Council
Posted inLocal News

Bend Awards $100,000 to Support Immigrant Families Amid Federal Crackdown 

The City Council condemned the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics with a resolution Wednesday
Avatar photo by Clayton Franke

The Bend City Council denounced the Trump administration’s mass deportation effort and awarded a nonprofit $100,000 to help families affected by the immigration crackdown.  The move came in response to calls for support by the Latino Community Association, a Central Oregon nonprofit providing support services for immigrants. Half of the funding awarded Wednesday will help the nonprofit work with the City to produce Bend’s Welcoming Week, the annual slate of events promoting diversity and culture, and connecting people to […]

Posted inOpinion

The Public Wasn’t Willing to Flock Around

Bendites came out against Flock cameras and potentially problematic surveillance
by The Source Editorial Board

First it was the invitation to the public to add their personal surveillance cameras to the network of cameras that can be automatically (or manually) accessed by law enforcement. Then it was red light cameras. And this summer, police in Bend added yet another tool ostensibly meant to monitor criminal behavior: Flock cameras installed along the highway. At […]

Posted inNews

Emerson’s Cleared. Now What?

The City’s after-action report from the closing of a camp on Emerson Avenue could guide future closures on City-owned right of ways
Avatar photo by Jack Harvel

On June 23 the Bend Police Department, in coordination with social services agencies, closed and cleared Emerson Avenue, where 40 to 50 unhoused people were living on City right of ways, using a City policy uniquely tailored for Emerson that could guide how unhoused encampments are swept in the future. At the Bend City Council meeting approving the policy […]

Posted inNews

Enterprise Zones Redrawn

Will Bend keep one of its key tools in attracting new businesses?
Avatar photo Jack Harvel

Deschutes County Commissioners approved redrawn boundaries to the Bend Enterprise Zone at their meeting on Wed., April 14, moving one step closer towards final approval from the state. Enterprise Zones are touted as one of the key benefits for businesses in Oregon, and Bend’s hosts 54 companies that have created over 1,400 jobs and invested $256 […]

Posted inNews

New City Council Takes Office

New councilors take their oaths remotely, with family, laughs and serious moments reflecting on the news at the Capitol
by Ashley Moreno

New Bend City Councilors Anthony Broadman, Melanie Kebler, Megan Perkins and Rita Schenkelberg took their oaths of office at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, and Councilor Gena Goodman-Campbell was unanimously voted the new mayor pro-tem. The person in the mayor pro-tem role can serve as the presiding officer any time the mayor isn’t available. While the […]

Posted inNews

Resolution Easing Church Restrictions Fails; Neighbors Speak Out Against Juniper Ridge

A recap of Wednesday’s Bend City Council meeting
Ashley Moreno

City of Bend Councilors Bill Moseley and Justin Livingston’s attempt to bar the use of city funds for enforcing pandemic-related restrictions at churches failed Wednesday on a five-two vote, with only Moseley and Livingston voting in favor. Moseley introduced the resolution, which read: “The City of Bend shall not use city monies, equipment, or personnel […]

Posted inNews

City May Fund Services for the Unhoused

Bend City Council considers a tax levy to fund social services for people without homes
by Laurel Brauns

The Bend City Council debated various building tax levies for funding services for the unhoused during its Nov. 4 City Council meeting. The number of local people experiencing homelessness went up by 60% since 2015, according to the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition, to an estimated 969 people in 2020. City Manager Eric King introduced […]

Posted inOpinion

Vote Melanie Kebler, Bend City Council Pos. 1

Kebler believes that timely communication with the public is key to the role
by The Source Staff

Bend’s City Council position 1 race has two qualified and competent candidates running—and while the position is nonpartisan, the two bring differing backgrounds and philosophies. While it’s true that a city council’s role lies in handling the mundane business of roads and sewers and city codes, increasingly it’s clear that Bend also is sorely in […]

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