Bend Council, Deschutes commissioners open communications channel 

     Hey, it’s a start: Bend city councilors and the three Deschutes County Commissioners met Wednesday night in an informal meeting, the first time in more than a year they’ve held a joint session. There was no formal agenda, but the elected officials did agree to meet again on September 17 to discuss, among other things, Juniper Ridge and surrounding roads, as well as public transportation. The increased communication couldn’t come at a better time, with the city moving forward fast on Juniper Ridge. At a June meeting among the city of Bend, Deschutes County and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) regarding traffic issues in north Bend, the facilitator recommended the groups get together more often to hammer out issues before they became critical.

Top of Page

Ride the bus free on Friday 

     In recognition of Energy Independence Month, all rides on Bend Area Transit’s fixed routes will be free on Friday. That does not include Dial-A-Ride or the “Ride the River” shuttle along the Deschutes River. BAT has seven routes that run Mondays through Saturdays, and fares usually are $1 per ride or $2 per day for unlimited use. In a press release, the city said the free-ride day is an opportunity for first-time users to find out what the BAT service is all about. For more information, go to www.ci.bend.or.us or call 322-5870.

Top of Page

No quick turnaround for housing market, survey respondents believe

     Last week’s survey question was, “Is Bend’s housing market going to turn around anytime soon? Are prices going to go down, go up or stay level?” Most respondents believe the market is likely to remain level, or maybe decline some, but not a lot. Some replies:
     “”We don’t see the housing market truly turning around until next year, and expect prices to continue to soften some, especially in the resale or used home market. While the new home market has improved a bit since last July, we will continue to see concessions, discounts and incentives for some time ahead.”
     “As long as agents and sellers are pricing homes well, there are enough buyers to keep properties moving and hopefully level out the market. Overpriced listings, however, perpetuate the drop by keeping too many houses on the MLS for too long. It’s up to us in the market to turn it around, and hopefully it will happen by the end of the year.”
     “Our market will continue to outperform most others nationally, but prices may dip a little before they return to rising. This is still one of the best places in the country to live, and with all the destination resorts underway, tens of millions are being spent on marketing Bend and the Central Oregon lifestyle in markets that make our housing prices seem very reasonable.”

Top of Page

Move to repeal Eugene gas tax fizzles

     As Bend ponders how to pay to expand Bend Area Transit and fix roads, it’s interesting to see what’s going on in Eugene. An effort to repeal Eugene’s gas tax increase apparently has failed to gather enough valid signatures to put it on the November ballot. Eugene city councilors in May voted to increase the city’s gas tax to eight cents per gallon (the highest in Oregon), up from five cents, to collect an extra $2 million for street repairs. Neighboring Springfield has a gas tax of three cents per gallon, and Lane County doesn’t have a gas tax. Bend has tried at least twice to levy a gas tax within city limits, but both efforts were trounced at the polls. An interesting sidelight to this: The first U.S. state tax on fuel was introduced in February 1919 in Oregon. It was one cent per gallon. In the decade to follow, every state (48 at the time), along with the District of Columbia, introduced a gasoline tax. By 1939, an average tax of 3.8 cents per gallon was levied by the individual states.

Top of Page

Events in fall to focus on workforce housing, homeless 

     Two events in the fall will be held to address the problems of workforce housing and the homeless. On Sept. 27, several organizations including the Bend Chamber are planning a breakfast workshop at Bend Golf & Country Club titled “Workforce Housing Solutions 101.” Watch for more information from the Chamber as the day draws closer. The event will focus on community-based solutions to Central Oregon’s workforce housing needs. On Oct. 13, Project Homeless Connect will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center. Project Homeless Connect is a nationwide movement to increase access for the chronically poor and homeless and to engage communities in finding solutions for homelessness. During the day, meals, services, advocacy and free childcare will be available to homeless people and children requiring such services. Sponsors, in-kind donations and volunteers are needed. Contact: sponsors - ehitt@bendbroadband.com or 419-4715; donations – www.cohomeless.org or 390-3433; volunteers – www.cohomeless.org or 350-0643.

Top of Page

And even more events …

     The Bend Chamber has secured a speaker for its November 7 Economic Forecast Breakfast – Tom Potiowsky, professor of economics at Portland State University and past Oregon State Economist … Housing Works will celebrate its 30^th anniversary from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26 at the Seventh Street Plaza in Redmond. The public is welcome. Commute Options and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance are sponsoring a bicycle safety training day from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 27 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 28 at Commute Options, 155 NW Irving Avenue. The fee is $15. To register, call 330-2647 or e-mail laurakay@commuteoptions.org

Top of Page

This week’s survey question 

    Would you support a local gas tax to pay for Bend Area Transit expansion and/or to fix roads? Please e-mail your responses to:  jeff@bendchamber.org.