A seat at the table with Central Oregon LandWatch!
April’s meeting will focus on the upcoming May fire levy and Central Oregon LandWatch. Board members and neighbors will have a first-hand opportunity to have a dialogue with Bend’s Fire Chief, Larry Langston, Deputy Chief of Administration, Bill Boos, and Public Information Officer, Jodie Barram, as well as a conversation with Central Oregon LandWatch Executive Director, Paul Dewey, and Staff Attorney, Rory Isbell.
Fire Levy
At the Dec. 20 City Council meeting, City Councilors unanimously agreed to ask voters if they want to renew a five-year local operating levy for Fire and Emergency Medical Services. This levy will be on the May 15, 2018, ballot.
In 2014, Bend voters approved a levy of 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. This added about $2.6 million per year to the Fire Department budget and investments from levy funding have been associated with improved response times and cardiac survivability.
The May ballot measure will ask voters if they want to renew this levy when it expires.
Central Oregon LandWatch
A watchdog in Central Oregon for more than 30 years, LandWatch has worked to protect Central Oregon’s forests, high desert, rivers, springs, fish and wildlife, and well-designed communities.
LandWatch has played a vital role in achieving a responsible, balanced approach to planning for and conserving Central Oregon’s land and water resources while recognizing the needs of future generations. They work to protect and conserve the region’s ecosystems and wildlife habitats, to foster thriving, sustainable communities and to spread the costs and benefits of growth equitably across the community as a whole.
Both Paul and Rory have extensive backgrounds in environmental law. Click on the links to read more.
In the last 30 years, a few of LandWatch’s achievements include:
- Protecting the Metolius Basin from development and saving its ancient forest.
- Keeping Whychus Creek flowing freely in its banks and not through a pipe for hydroelectric power.
- Preserving deer and elk winter range and safeguarding wildlife corridors.
- Keeping Bend livable by limiting urban sprawl.
- Maintaining vistas of ridges from Shevlin Park instead of views of condominiums.
- Preventing a proliferation of destination resorts that fragment and destroy wildlife habitat and dewater streams for the benefit of a few.
COLW recently undersigned a letter addressed to city councilors recommending the Council move quickly to create an Urban Renewal Area in the Bend Central District and recommending the Council consider including the adjoining KorPine opportunity area within the same URA. KorPine is within the geographical boundaries of the SCNA. Whether it is greater public involvement, higher density, lower density, limiting or expanding the urban growth boundary, we have invited Paul and Rory, among the most astute environmental land use lawyers in Oregon (we think) to get the conversation rolling.
Garage Sale(s) on Duncan Lane
The Larson’s at 61443 Duncan Lane, are planning a garage sale April 6-8. Thinking about having a garage sale too? Join us! Our combined efforts yield great results! Please consider in the future that we as a neighborhood adopt the first full weekend in April to be our annual neighborhood garage sale time. Maybe we could expand it and make it something even more fun for everyone!
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!
Land Use
If you care about what’s happening in your neighborhood, you won’t let this pass by. Click here to see land use notices. There is a lot happening in our neighborhood, including a number of public meetings. Let your voice be heard and be part of shaping the future of Bend!
Click here to read the latest on Bend’s Urban Renewal and Tax Increment Financing.
NART/NLA
It’s happening! The Neighborhood Association Round Table (NART) is creating a Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA), an in-codified city recognized alliance. Click here to see the latest markup of approved code language. There’s much more to come. The subcommittee meets on an ongoing basis.
Civic Equity Project (CEP)
The latest Civic Equity Project (CEP) event was scheduled for Friday, March 16, 2018, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (PDT) at Central Oregon Community College, Coats Campus Center RM 116, 2600 NW College Way. All were invited.
The Civic Equity Project (CEP) is a two-year program focusing on building the capacity of under-represented organizations to participate in civic dialogue and decision-making in Bend. The project is funded through a $100,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust, a Portland-based foundation supporting equity-advancement projects in Oregon.
Background of Neighborhood Associations
Neighborhood associations provide opportunities for shaping the future of your neighborhood. Membership is open to all citizens who live, own property or operate a business with the association’s boundaries. Membership is free! The work we do is voluntary.
Membership Benefits
Neighborhood Associations draw people closer to their city government and closer still to their fellow neighbors. Neighborhood participation gives residents a stronger, united voice in civic life and joins them in shared neighborhood projects.
Neighborhood associations are inclusive, reflecting the diversity which enriches a community. Members include families, singles, retirees, youths, business owners, faith-based organizations, schools, homeowners, renters, and many more people from every background. Formally recognized and well-developed Neighborhood Associations can provide recommendations to the local government on a variety of topics, including:
• Neighborhood streets, traffic control, and patterns
• City services
• Budget
• Crime prevention
• Capital improvements
• Land use (zone changes, variances, subdivisions, and zoning ordinances)
• Transportation
We look forward to seeing you Thursday, April 19, 2018.