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Bend Chamber Weekly
December 4, 2009
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator
This Week's Highlights
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Bend Chamber testifies before Oregon Senate Commerce and Workforce Committee
Recently, Senator Chris Telfer convinced the Oregon Senate Commerce and Workforce Committee to hear testimony from businesses across the state, including Central Oregon. The Bend Chamber's Executive Director Tim Casey was invited, along with EDCO and a few other businesses from Bend to attend.
With just a short amount of time to prepare, Casey picked up the phone and sent emails out to elicit feedback from some of the local business leaders in the community. Below you will find some of the comments Casey provided to the committee:
- Help contractors: Currently, the State and Federal government contracts for opportunities generated by Federal Stimulus money seem to be only awarded to contractors who have already done business with the government. It is extremely difficult for a small construction company to bid for a government contract job because of the bonding requirements.
- Repeal the tax increases from this last session, as we are doing with ballot measures 66 and 67. "Those types of measures will simply kill small businesses, like ours. We sell product every year and always have sales, but that doesn't mean our company is profiting in times like these! Our volume has been extremely soft the last couple of years."
- Energy credits should be curtailed. The Senate last year had it right, and the Governor's veto was wrong. Send it through again.
- Prevailing wage is doing more harm than good for businesses. "Though I understand some changes are underway for the calculations, prevailing wage takes small businesses out of the game. Because of the calculation, employers are unable to hire more employees. Thus, stifling job creation in these tough economic times."
- In general, there is too much new regulation along with too many new rules, procedures, required forms, submittals, reports, etc. It's hard enough to stay in business without additional burdens from government. Generally, the result is government is hiring additional people to handle the new paperwork, and small businesses are struggling to stay in compliance and stay on top of the new regulations.
- We cannot tax ourselves to prosperity. Businesses are the engine that will pull us out of this mess. Until the state recognizes this, unemployment will continue to spiral out of control.
In addition to member's feedback, Casey also provided a statement to the committee. Below is an excerpt from his testimony:
"I received several phone calls when businesses received their 'Unemployment Tax Rate Notice.' These people were very upset, as they simply can't afford to carry the additional burden. One comment that stuck with me was 'If I had known the unemployment costs were going to be so high, I would have laid off an extra employee so I could afford to pay for it.' When we extend and increase benefits, while lowering the standards for qualifications, we increase the taxes needed. It becomes a vicious cycle where businesses have to pay more taxes. In this economy, sales are not increasing, so net gains must come from cutbacks. Businesses need to lay off more employees to be able to afford the increased burden. This is not a solution. We are simply taking food out of one mouth, giving it to another, and crippling businesses as a byproduct.
"In a nutshell, businesses are struggling with the burden of increased taxes. One member put it to me this way, 'With all the taxes, charges, and fees, I feel like I'm being marched toward a death by a thousand cuts.'
"We need to stop the momentum of increasing taxes and take a fundamental approach. At every opportunity, look for ways to reduce the burden of government from the backs of businesses. Strong and healthy businesses will create jobs, and in turn increase revenue back to the state." |
Trash rates to increase
Businesses and residents will see an increase in their garbage bills starting January 1, 2010. The Bend City Council unanimously approved the increase during Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Garbage rates have not seen an increase in more than a year. However, due to the increased dumping rates at Knott Landfill from $45 per ton to $50, Waste Connections Inc. and Bend Garbage & Recycling asked the council for the increase to balance the additional costs.
Brad Bailey, the president of Bend Garbage & Recycling, told councilors this industry has been hit hard by higher gas prices, decreased revenues from recycling, and lost service revenue from customers who are opting out of garbage pickup.
"(We've had) a historic level of business decrease that we've never experienced before in 22 years in Bend, and I'm sure we're not alone," he said. "We don't intend to come in for rate requests, but the (landfill) disposal increase is a significant portion of our business expenses, and we can't absorb that increase."
The approved rate increases are as follows: 40 cents per month for 32-35 gallon cans, 85 cents per month for 64-65 gallon cans, and $1.25 per month for 95-96 gallon cans. Commercial containers will see increases ranging from $2.97 for each weekly pickup for 1-cubic-yard containers to $23.74 for each weekly pickup for 8-cubic-yard containers. |
City Council Highlights
Council Approves Financial Hardship Utility Assistance Program: The Bend City Council voted unanimously to approve a new program to help some residents pay their utility bills with donations from other utility customers. Finance Director Sonia Andrews told councilors the city has seen an increase of people who can't afford to pay their bills and those who are just paying the minimum amount to avoid shut off of utilities. She also stated the city currently doesn't have a program to help those who can't afford to pay their bills. To qualify for the new program, a utility customer's income must be less than 80 percent of the area median income. Under the current qualifying guidelines, the maximum allowable income for a single member household is $35,550 per year, and the amount increases with each additional member. The income limit for a household of six cannot exceed $58,950 per year. The donation program is expected to raise $5,000 to $10,000 in funding per year. Customers can begin making contributions to the program in January 2010. City officials state they will also look at other sources of funding including a $60,000 to $80,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funding could help 425 to 600 customers annually with a maximum assistance of $150 per customer per year for water, storm water, and wastewater payments.
Council Looks at Ordinance on Solar Standards: The Bend City Council held its first reading on an ordinance that would update the Solar Standards in the Development Code. The updates include new solar lot standards that would apply to the creation of lots within new subdivisions, and solar setback requirements. Under the ordinance, at least 70 percent of all new lots in Residential Urban Standard Density (RS) and Residential Urban Medium Density (RM) zones will need to be "solar lots." The Oregon Department of Energy believes the city should require at least 80 percent of all lots to be "solar lots." Andy High, Central Oregon Builders Association VP of Government Affairs, encouraged the council to keep to 70 percent of lots because anything higher could drive up the prices of housing. Councilors Tom Greene, Oran Teater, Jeff Eager, and Mark Capell stated they preferred the 70 percent option. While Councilors Jim Clinton and Jodie Barram stated they preferred the Oregon Department of Energy's recommendation of 80 percent. Councilor Clinton stated he believes additional clarifications are needed in the ordinance. He suggested the ordinance be reconsidered once building picks up again.
Council gets preview of Oregon Transportation Commission Presentation: The Bend City Council received a preview of the presentation staff will give to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) on December 16. City staff walked the council through the presentation including looking the Transportation Planning Rule (TPR), funding for future projects, financial planning for Juniper Ridge, and more. Staff pointed out the TPR would need to be phased in over time. A phasing plan would need to be created to establish the number of trips for a given time period and the improvements to mitigate traffic impacts. The city would also request ODOT give allowances to exceed current standards while mitigation projects are designed and constructed. City staff told councilors the city and ODOT would come to an agreement on how the phasing would be implemented. The city will only have one hour to make its presentation at the OTC meeting. |
Bend Chamber Member Holiday Party Recap
| Bend Chamber Holiday Party was brought to you by: |
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With a winter chill in the air, holiday spirits were high at the 2009 Bend Chamber Member Holiday Party sponsored by the Bend Radio Group. As early as 4:45 p.m., members were lining up to partake in the holiday festivities.
The halls of the High Desert Museum were filled with merriment and cheer as members tasted scrumptious food from Awbrey Glen, Baldy's Barbeque, Jake's Diner, Old Mill Bistro, and the Pine Tavern. Members also discovered savory delights with desserts from The Cake Lady, Goody's and Healthy Bites Personal Chef Service. The lines were long as members patiently waited to wet their whistles with Deschutes Brewery microbrews, Grocery Outlet wine, and Bendistillery's martinis and coffee drinks.
There was something to match the palate for every member, and some vendors ran out of food within the first hour! With over 650 members in attendance, that isn't too impossible to believe!
The event was a huge success, but make sure to keep your calendar open again next year. The Chamber will start sending out reminders in early November next year. |
City of Bend seeks committee applicants
The City is seeking applicants for several advisory commissions and committees. Positions are open on the Arts, Beautification and Culture Commission, the Affordable Housing Committee, the Budget Committee, the Planning Commission, and the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee.
For a full list of openings and more information about each position, visit
www.ci.bend.or.us/city_hall/committee_openings/index.html.
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, December 4. For applications or more information, please contact the City of Bend at 388-5505. |
Tis the Season for Holiday Shipping Tips
With only 21 days left until Christmas, the rush is on to make sure presents and packages arrive on time. Jim Kane, owner of Bend PostNet, has some quick tips to make your holiday season as worry free as possible.
1. Pack properly. If you are packing a gift yourself, make sure it is in a sturdy box. Cross out any old labels and adequately protect the contents inside. A good general rule of thumb is to make sure packages could be dropped a few feet without breaking.
2. Plan ahead. You can always overnight, but be prepared to pay the price. Ground shipping is typically the least expensive option, and for Christmas deliveries, you should plan on shipping by Dec. 15, 2009.
3. Fruits and veggies - know before you buy. States such as Arizona, California, Florida and Hawaii have more restrictions than others. Information on what items can be shipped and where can be found on the Department of Agriculture's Web site www.usda.gov.
4. Send to workplaces. If packages are delivered to a home and the delivery is repeatedly missed, the recipient may end up going out of their way to pick up the package at the shipping company's nearest hub. Aside from the convenience factor, shipping to an office can also prevent theft and keep neighbors from snooping.
5. Tracking numbers. Always keep your tracking number so packages can be located at any given time. A tracking number will also provide anticipated delivery dates.
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In the News
Talk of the Town: In June of 2009, the Oregon Legislature put forth two tax increases intended to balance the state budget. Measure 67 would raise corporate taxes and fees. Measure 66 would raise individual personal taxes. Tax proponents portray these tax measures as fairer than the current structure as well as the only way to protect essential services. Tax opponents claim these taxes will increase further job loss and cause many businesses to either fail or retreat completely from Oregon. COTV-11's Talk of the Town plans a town hall discussion covering Measures 66 & 67, both of which head to voters in a special election January 26, 2010. Which businesses would pay more taxes under Measure 67? With Measure 66, if approved, which individuals would pay more on their personal income taxes and which would get a tax break? Panelists will include: Tim Knopp (COBA) and Steve Novick (political activist). Other participants include Senator Chris Telfer; Bill Sizemore, anti-tax crusader; OSU-Cascades VP Becky Johnson, and many more.
What questions are on your mind? What information can you share with viewers? Contact Jamie Christman to participate. Join the televised town hall taping on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Cascades Theatrical Company in Bend. RSVPs are required. To RSVP send an email to talk@bendbroadband.com or call 388-5814.
Santa Express 2009: Bend Fire Department's Santa Express food and clothing drive is heading into Bend Neighborhoods Monday, December 7 through Thursday, December 10. The Bend Firefighter's Association and Bend Fire and Rescue are working with The Salvation Army to collect non-perishable food items, clothing, and toys for needy families in Bend and Central Oregon. Neighborhood residents are encouraged to listen for the fire engine and Santa, and bring donations to the street for collection. There will be many volunteers walking along with Santa the fire engines to collect the donated items. Please advise children to use caution around the moving fire engines. To see the schedule, go to www.ci.bend.or.us. Donations can also be dropped off at the Bend Fire Department Fire Station, Bend Memorial Clinics, or the Salvation Army.
Fair & Expo Center Books Two Large Events for Summer 2010: The Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center recently announced the confirmation of two international rallies to be held next summer. Both rally events are expected to bring an estimated economic impact of over $30 million to the Central Oregon region. The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America International Rally will be held July 15 through 18, 2010. The Expo Center expects 9,000 motorcycle owners to attend the event. The Family Motor Coach Association International Rally and Convention will be held August 11 through 14 of next year. This event marks the fourth time the Fair & Expo Center will host the event for the group of approximately 5,000 motor home owners and their RVs. |
Upcoming Events
December 12 - 13 - Holiday Magic Moves to Summit High School!! Featuring Soloist Lindy Gravelle! A musical concert by the COCC Cascade Chorale and full orchestra to benefit CORIL and presented by SELCO Community Credit Union will be held on Saturday evening, December 12 and Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Director Jim Knox is describing this production as the "rebirth of Holiday Magic," now in its fifth year! "The music this year is filled with wonder, joy and peace and will be clearly presented throughout each performance," he said. The Summit High School Music Department will also be participating in the performances. Knox says, "The concert will include Mark Brymer's, "The Christmas Suite"- a wonderful work scored for choir, soloists, and orchestra." This special salute to the season will feature many cherished pieces such as: Sing we now of Christmas; What Child is this; Master in the Hall; Hallelujah Chorus; Jingle Bells and much more. Lindy's famous song, "Christmas Corsage" will also be featured. Tickets are for open seating and all reserved seats can be purchased through the Central Oregon Resources for Independent Living (CORIL) Web site www.coril.org or by calling the main office at 388-8103. All tickets will be at the bargain price of $15, a tremendous value! |
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