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 Bend Chamber
 777 NW Wall St, Ste 200
 Bend, OR 97701

 Phone: (541) 382-3221
 Fax: (541) 385-9929
 info@bendchamber.org
 www.bendchamber.org

Bend Chamber Weekly
October 10, 2008
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator

This Week's Highlights....

• Bend Business PAC City Council Forum Recap

• COCC survey for local businesses

• County payments back online

• Businesses need to be mindful of freezing temperatures and irrigation systems

• Oregon Senator forms committee dedicated to recreation assets

• Upcoming Chamber Events

Bend Business PAC City Council Forum Recap

     The Bend Business PAC held its second candidate forum at Touchmark on October 2. The candidates included in the event were Don Leonard, Jim Clinton, Tom Greene and Peter Gramlich. Oran Teater moderated the morning event.
    A unique format was used to introduce the candidates to our community. The process began with a brief introduction from the candidates and then individually they were brought on stage for a series of five preselected questions. Candidates were allowed to give a two minute response to each question. At the end of the forum the candidates were brought back on stage for a series of eleven yes or no questions. Below is a recap of the yes or no question segment.

	Did you, or would you, sign the Infrastructure First initiative?
		Don Leonard- NO Jim Clinton- YES Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- YES
	Is the $400,000 +/- spent thus far on the 2030 Vision project money well spent?
		Don Leonard- NO Jim Clinton- YES & NO Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- YES
	Should we dredge Mirror Pond?
		Don Leonard- YES Jim Clinton- YES Tom Greene- YES Peter Gramlich- YES
	Is hiring a consultant to hire a consultant to find a college or university to locate in Juniper Ridge a good use of tax payer money?
		Don Leonard- NO Jim Clinton- NO Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- NO
	Were there successful, independent groups of Bend citizens donating and working to improve the City of Bend prior to the 2030 effort?
		Don Leonard- YES Jim Clinton- YES Tom Greene- YES Peter Gramlich- YES
	Should a city councilor have the duty/responsibility to pick and choose who gets to own property in Juniper Ridge?
		Don Leonard- NO Jim Clinton- NO Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- NO
	Is $450 for a simple sign permit reasonable?
		Don Leonard- NO Jim Clinton- NO Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- NO
	In general terms, do you feel the city staff has been supportive of growth in Bend?
		Don Leonard- YES Jim Clinton- YES Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- YES
	Is the level of spending on consultants necessary?
		Don Leonard- YES Jim Clinton- NO Tom Greene- NO Peter Gramlich- NO
	If you were going to cut the budgets, would everyone get a percentage cut or would you pick and choose?
		Don Leonard- Pick & Choose Jim Clinton- Pick & Choose Tom Greene- Pick & Choose Peter Gramlich- Percentage
	Would you be open to bidding out certain government services to private providers?
		Don Leonard- YES Jim Clinton- YES Tom Greene- YES Peter Gramlich- YES

COCC survey for local businesses

     Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is looking to hear from the local business community. The Computer and Information Systems department is conducting a very short survey of just eight questions.
     As a potential employer of COCC graduates, the college is looking to understand businesses current information technology requirements, staffing levels, and future needs. The average time to complete the survey is under 2 minutes.
     Please click the following link to be redirected to the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hiZM23dyZ7x9TdL10_2bLd_2fg_3d_3d
     If you have any further questions or additional comments, please contact Eric Magidson at COCC at 383-7262, or by email at emgidson@cocc.edu.
 

County payments back online

     With the approval of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Deschutes County will again see “county payments.” The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, commonly referred to as “county payments,” will extend through to 2012. Of the $3.3 billion provided for this program nationally, Oregon counties will receive about $740 million over the four year period. The measure was authored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden. Oregon receives a disproportionate share of funds because Oregon was historically the nation’s largest producer of timber from federal lands.
     “Oregon communities across the state can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and I want to thank the bipartisan cooperation of so many who made this possible,” said Wyden in a recent press release. “I promised I would attach my legislation to every bill moving in Congress until the job got done, and that’s what I did.”
     “I commend my colleagues in the House for breaking through partisan gridlock to restore a vital economic lifeline to Oregon’s counties,” said U.S. Senator Gordon Smith in a press release. “In a time of economic turmoil, this critical funding will ensure that thousands of Oregonians jobs will be safe and schools and libraries will remain open. (This) vote represents an enormous victory for rural communities across the country.”
     For perspective, these funds will increase the Deschutes County road budget by about 20 percent per year for the next four years. According to Bend Chamber Executive Director Tim Casey, “This is a big deal for Deschutes County, and it simply would not have happened without the tenacity of Senator Wyden, Senator Smith, and Congressman Walden.”
 

Oregon Senator forms committee dedicated to recreation assets

      It’s no secret that many people move to Deschutes County because of the quality of life and the availability of recreation. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) decided it was time to bring members of the community together to talk about the assets recreation brings to the community. By November 2007, the Deschutes County Ad Hoc Committee on Recreation Assets was formed.
     The committee was tasked by Wyden to focus on three goals which include economic development, quality of life, and health and wellness. Wyden believes these are issues that should be important to the community.
     The committee, co-chaired by Peter Miller (a longtime Bend La Pine School District official) and Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Melton, proposed a number of projects out of ideas submitted by recreation enthusiasts and communities. The committee recommends restoring healthy forests along Century Drive, providing better access to high-use recreation areas, and promoting connectivity between towns.
     Wyden will be in Deschutes County on October 15 to meet with the committee and discuss the projects. The meeting will take place at Aspen Hall (18920 Shevlin Park Road) from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
      For more information about the committee and the projects contact Senator Ron Wyden's Field Representative David Blair at David_Blair@wyden.senate.gov.