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Workforce
housing problems apparent, but
solutions elusive
More than 100 people attended
the Workforce Housing Solutions
101 breakfast this morning at
Bend Golf & Country Club,
sponsored by the Bend Chamber
and the Central Oregon Builders
Association (COBA). The
statistics for home ownership in
Central Oregon are grim: With a
median home price of $350,000 in
Bend, a family earning the
median income of $47,050 has
virtually no chance of affording
a home. Even a family earning
$70,560, which is 120 percent of
the annual median income in
Bend, would be hard-pressed to
come up with a down payment of
20 percent - $70,000 – plus a
$1,411 monthly mortgage payment.
Cyndy Cook, executive director
of Housing Works, took the
opportunity to announce a new
program called HomeQuest. It’s
designed to allow working
families to be able to purchase
an affordable home, and meet the
goals of developers to assist in
providing affordable housing by
creating a land-lease program.
Tim Knopp, executive vice
president of COBA, told the
audience the skyrocketing price
of land, due to the city’s
difficulties in expanding the
urban growth boundary (UGB), is
the biggest single factor in the
rise of housing prices in Bend.
He called on the city to
untangle Juniper Ridge and UGB
issues and provide more land for
homes. The Chamber is putting
together a working group to turn
ideas into action, and 29 people
signed up at the breakfast. If
you’re interested in this
effort, which is so vital to
businesses throughout Central
Oregon, contact Chamber CEO Mike
Schmidt at 382-3221 or
mike@bendchamber.org.
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Fireworks
takes headlines, but ADA a big
issue for council
The Bend City Council on
Wednesday on a 4-3 vote last
night decided not to ban
fireworks in the city, but will
take up the matter again at its
next meeting on Oct. 17 by
considering an amendment by
Councilor Bill Friedman to ban
the sale, not possession, of
fireworks. But the real action
came at the council’s work
session before the regular
meeting, when the council
received its quarterly update on
efforts to make city bus routes
and parking spaces downtown
compliant with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). The
city settled a lawsuit by the
federal Department of Justice by
agreeing to make changes to 70
percent of sites identified
within three years. The price
tag for the fixes is between $12
million and $14 million, and the
city has budgeted $2.12 million
in the 07-09 biennium to begin
compliance. Of that total, $1
million is for curb ramps,
$400,000 each for bus stops and
sidewalks and $320,000 for
on-street parking.
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Chamber
gets high marks for political
activities
Last week’s survey question was,
“Is
the Chamber doing enough or not
enough as a voice in the
political arena to advance
business issues?” Some
responses:
“Lately, the Bend Chamber has taken a higher level of
community visibility and
influence. This is needed and it
is a good change. In my opinion,
the Chamber has significant
expertise and experience that
our community needs. Issues such
as Juniper Ridge require a
higher level of community
dialog. In my opinion, the
Chamber has contributed a needed
voice of perspective, caution
and information. These kinds of
actions by the Chamber will
always be controversial.
Reasonable people see things
differently. To me, the key for
the Chamber is to take a
facilitator role, encouraging
dialog, respecting different
opinions and keeping the
rhetoric on a collegial level.”
“Two of the biggest business issues in this community
are Juniper Ridge and the
expansion of the urban growth
boundary (UGB.) The city does
not belong in the real estate
development business and the
delays and political pressure
being exerted in the UGB
expansion are unacceptable. The
“state regulations” excuse for
the delay does not wash. By the
way, I am not in real estate.
Don’t let up on either one.”
“I think it is about right. Prepare to get more
involved with the city until
they straighten up if that’s
what it takes.”
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Mortgage
market still shaking out
Bear Stearns Cos., the
second-largest underwriter of
U.S. mortgage-backed securities,
is cutting 310 jobs after the
firm reported the biggest profit
decline in more than a decade.
Other major underwriters such as
Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch
also have eliminated mortgage
jobs after record U.S.
foreclosures cut demand for
bonds backed by home loans. The
failure of two Bear Stearns
hedge funds that bet on mortgage
securities caused $200 million
in losses.
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Upcoming
Events
Oct. 9: Reasonable
Accommodations Training from
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the
Worksource Center of Oregon,
1645 NE Forbes Road in Bend.
Are you hurting for qualified
employees? Learn about an
untapped employer resource. Save
money with tax credits, save
time and energy with free
on-site support and time
recruiting with a pool of
prescreened applicants. Call
Gary Daniele at 548-8196 ext-345
or via email at:
gdaniele@coic.org. This is a
free event, so ditch the myths,
find the facts, and fill your
employee needs!
Oct. 16: Education Forecast 2007- Hear the
leaders of three of our Central
Oregon educational entities –
Bend- La Pine Public Schools,
Central Oregon Community College
and OSU Cascades Campus –
discuss the challenges and
opportunities that lie ahead for
education in Central Oregon and
the state overall. Members $25,
corporate table sponsors $350.
Register online:
www.bendchamber.org/education
or call 382-3221.
Oct. 23: Drug Free Workplace – Hands-On Drug and
Alcohol Policy Writing. 8 a.m.
to 12 p.m. Develop a customized
drug and alcohol policy that is
ready for legal review. Coast is
$25 for members. RSVP to Lindi
at
lindi@bendchamber.org or
call 382-3221.
Oct. 23: St. Charles Foundation Legacy Planning
seminar, including three
sessions for varied audiences:
non-profit leaders, estate and
financial planning advisors, and
individuals who are interested
in learning about planning their
own legacy. There is no cost to
attend. Information: Ellyce
Whalen or Dwight Heaney, St.
Charles Foundation, 633-2929.
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This week’s survey question
Should
the sale, but not the possession
or use, of fireworks be banned
in Bend? Please email your
responses to:
jeff@bendchamber.org.
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