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Bend Chamber Weekly
February 19, 2010
By Courtney Linville, Government Affairs/Public Relations
This Week's Highlights
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Bend Chamber Announces Health Plan for Members
 The Bend Chamber is very excited to announce the launch of the NEW Bend Chamber Association Health Plan!
The new healthcare program is the first ever offered by a Chamber of Commerce in the State of Oregon.
"We received unanimous approval from our board and are thrilled to provide more value to our membership by offering exclusive health benefits through the Bend Chamber. We are excited to provide our members with value-added services through Johnson Benefit Planning," stated Tim Casey, Executive Director of the Bend Chamber of Commerce. "Given local economic conditions, providing businesses with additional access to health care coverage is even more important. We consistently hear from employers that managing health insurance costs is one of their biggest challenges and we appreciate the support we received from Congressman Greg Walden in making this a success. Members have been asking for this type of plan for a while, and we believe this new, unique association plan will reduce insurance premiums for employers so they can offer affordable health care to their employees."
The new plan will provide Bend Chamber members with four different medical plan options that include major medical, preventive, maternity, mental health, alternative care, and prescription drug coverage.
In collaboration with Johnson Benefit Planning, a local health brokerage firm, the new Bend Chamber Association Health Plan will be available through Clear One Health Plans on March 1, 2010. The new Bend Chamber plan will be offered to businesses that are members of the Bend Chamber and currently employ two or more full-time employees.
For more information, contact Johnson Benefit Planning at (541) 382-3571 or visit www.bendchamber.org/insurance.
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Bend Chamber Weighs in on Downtown Parking Issue
After receiving communications from several downtown businesses, the Bend Chamber made a request to City Council asking them to hold their decision to move forward with the Mirror Pond pay to park issue.
The following is an excerpt from a letter to City Council:
The Bend Chamber has received extensive communications from our membership to justify our involvement in the parking issue. We request City Council take no action in regard to changing the current structure of parking in the Mirror Pond lot until the matter can be investigated further.
Parking for downtown businesses is a key element in providing service to customers who visit downtown. An open process with a broader community approach is needed to better understand consequences and concerns of the current proposal.
The Bend Chamber stands ready to help facilitate a town hall forum to develop solutions to this issue. Together we believe we can work together to find solutions which address the concerns of downtown merchants and the City Council.
The council was supposed to hold a public hearing on the Mirror Pond lots Wednesday evening, but decided to pull the item after receiving phone calls, emails, and petitions from downtown businesses and the Bend Chamber of Commerce.
Councilors also decided with the struggling economy, now wasn't the time to take away the two hour free parking in the lots.
"I am surprised we brought this forward, with the economy the way it is," said Councilor Oran Teater. "This puts businesses next to the parking (lot) at a huge disadvantage... We are one of the lucky communities to have a vibrant downtown."
Several councilors stated they were dismayed the downtown businesses couldn't come up with a viable solution for all parties.
The Downtown Bend Business Association supported the decision to remove the two-hour free parking in the lots, stating repeat parking offenders have been taking parking spaces reserved for customers.
City staff pointed out many employees and businesses owners figured out how to abuse the system. After two hours of free parking, they would go and put $1 into the electronic slot. The machine would think they just arrived in the lot and would give them two more free hours. The offenders would receive 5 hours of parking for $1.
The Bend City Council also held its first reading on updates to the Bend Code. Several of the updates in the ordinance were aimed at parking offenders.
"I think the real problem is stopping people that get 10 to 20 tickets a year, because those are not the people shopping downtown, those are merchants and business people and employees," said Councilor Mark Capell. "We need to make those tickets so expensive that it hurts. What I want to see is that they do the right thing."
Habitual parking offenders will see a significant increase in penalties when the number of parking violations reaches certain thresholds. When an individual has five to nine parking violations within a 365-day period, fines will increase by 200 percent from the base amount. For 10 to 14 violations, the penalty increase is 300 percent from the base amount. And finally, for 15 or more violations, the increase will be 400 percent. The base amount for a parking violation is $22.
To avoid tickets and fees, some offenders continually move their cars within the free zones. The ordinance will actually increase the distance to avoid parking time limits from 500 feet to a 1,000 feet radius.
City staff said this would be an incentive for employees and owners to utilize the parking garage since the ordinance would cover about 3.5 city blocks in any direction.
Several business owners stated they were concerned about the distance because of customers that might move from different spots while in the area. "I understand there are violators, however I am more concerned about my customers not falling into the same trap as (downtown) employees," said Jon Hayes, Bend Burger Company.
Councilors did discuss the possibility of lowering permit rates within the parking structure so employees and owners would use the facility. The councilors charged downtown businesses with coming up with a solution. |
Congressman Walden Visits with Bend Chamber and Local Officials
In a meeting with Bend Chamber Board members and members of the Deschutes County Commission, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) discussed a variety of issues including the budget, the deficit, healthcare, and job creation.
Walden says one of the most disturbing things right now in Washington D.C. is the budget and debt. "The rate of growth of debt is astounding and will see lots of debate," he said. "Long term debt implications are dramatic and will cause inflation. That's just not a good thing."
Walden is also concerned about the day America defaults on its debt. "When that day happens, the financial world around the world will stop," he said.
Walden also believes a freeze in spending needs to happen this year, rather than waiting until next year. He's concerned about the massive amounts of spending proposed in President Obama's budget.
"The point is, we need to get an adult in the room to say give me back the credit card and stop spending," said Walden. "We can't bailout everyone, we just can't."
Another hot item right now is health care. With Walden's help, the Bend Chamber of Commerce was able to create its own association health care plan.
However, in Washington D.C., there is a lot of posturing going on right now with the national bill, and the President plans to hold a bipartisan health care summit on February 25. Walden says the only problem is there are already plenty of backroom negotiations by Democrats in advance of the summit. "When legislation is crafted behind closed doors and one party is out of the room completely, it's hard to be bipartisan," he said.
Walden also pointed out Republicans had at least 18 amendments to the bill and somewhere between the committee and the floor, those amendments were taken out. Walden pointed out some of the amendments were good policy that wouldn't have cost anything.
Turning to social security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Walden is worried about where these programs are headed. "(We need to talk) about practicality in the real world and sustainability," he said. "This is a local, state, and national problem not only for our grandkids, but also for us."
Walden says the programs are an unfunded liability and the current system is unsustainable, especially since we don't have the economy to back it. "If an issue ever cried out for bipartisanship, it's this one," he said. "However, whoever leads on social security or Medicare is immediately demonized by the other party."
The political machine is at times out of control, but Walden says until America faces an extraordinary crisis, there is no will to face this problem head on.
Job creation is on the top of everyone's mind these days and Walden says it's time for the nation to use its current resources. Whether using nuclear energy, biomass, gas, or lumber, Walden believes the country needs to use its resources "to be productive again."
Chamber officials talked with Walden about opening up credit lines and capital for businesses. Walden said one of the issues he is seeing right now is that many lenders and banks don't want to be in the businesses of to extending lines of credit to businesses anymore. With fewer places to turn to for capital, Walden said the financial rules need to be scrutinized so funding can be available for businesses. |
State moves closer to having Annual Legislative Sessions
Voters could get a chance to decide on annual legislative sessions after a 24-6 vote from the Oregon Senate.
The Senate voted to refer the time-restricted annual sessions to the voters stating annual sessions would avoid unplanned special sessions. The Legislature would meet for up to 135 days in odd-numbered years and 45 days in even-numbered years, and for a total of 180 days over a two year period.
Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn) said because the Legislature is only in session a few months every other year, it is no longer a co-equal branch of government.
"Our state is being governed, more and more, by the executive branch and agency heads, the courts, the initiative process and, yes, even lobbyists and the media," said Courtney. "Annual sessions will allow the Legislature to provide the proper oversight of agencies, manage the budget better and to respond to emerging issues in a timely manner. It will give the people the opportunity to take back the Statehouse."
Minority Leader Senator Ted Ferrioli (R-John Day) believes the annual sessions are "an opportunity to great evil more often."
Oregon is one of five state legislatures that meet every other year. |
In the News
Avoid Extra Corporate Fees, Pay Early: Those companies who pay their state corporation registration fees by February 26 will avoid paying the new approved increases. Measure 67 will increase several fees including corporate income taxes starting February 27. All fees for assumed business names, trademarks and nonprofits will remain at $50. Oregon business entities will see an increase to $100 for articles of formation, supplements, and annual reports. Out-of-state businesses will also see fees rise to $275. And finally, all UCC filings will increase to $15 and notary commission applications will be $40.
Oregonians above average in Internet Use: According to research released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Oregon's Internet usage is considerably higher than the national average. The study shows 80.6 percent of Oregonian households have Internet access. Translation: more than 2.9 million people age 3 and older have Internet access. The national average is 73.5 percent which translates to 213 million Americans.
Nominations sought for City of Bend Arts, Beautification and Culture Award: The City of Bend Arts, Beautification and Culture Commission is currently seeking nominations for The Arts, Beautification & Culture Award (the ABC Award) 2010. This annual award recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses who have made significant contributions to the celebration, promotion, beautification or preservation of the City's arts, culture, natural environment or public spaces completed in 2009. Please go to www.ci.bend.or.us/abc_awards.html to learn more and to download a nomination form. Nominations must be in by April 23 and the awards will be announced on May 13 at the City Council meeting.
Members needed for Committee on Accessible Transportation: The City of Bend is seeking applicants for the Committee on Accessible Transportation (CAT). This committee provides members of the community the opportunity to give direct feedback to the City and transportation officials about public transportation services. The committee consists of community members with disabilities, representatives of people with disabilities, and people who use Bend Area Transit services. Applications are available at City Hall and on line at www.ci.bend.or.us. All applications are due February 26 by 5 p.m. For more information, contact Susan M. Duncan, Accessibility Manager, at (541) 693-2141 or sduncan@ci.bend.or.us. |
Upcoming Events:
 February 22- 2010 Real Estate Forecast Breakfast - Technically, the recession is over and we are on the road to recovery. But what does that mean for local real estate markets? How much inventory do we really have? What does the future hold? Join fellow Chamber members and get your questions answered! This year's Real Estate Forecast Breakfast features great experts including Linda Stelle, President of AmeriTitle and Steve Scott, Steve Scott Realtors. Stelle will help attendees to understand the effect of defaults in the current marketplace. She will also explore the "upside down syndrome" and the impact of the rental market. Scott will discuss real estate inventory and how that relates to the future turn around for our area. He will also talk about niche opportunities. Don't delay and sign up today to attend this premiere breakfast event at www.bendchamber.org/REFB. Individual seats (unreserved) are available for $45 each. If you are interested in a great marketing opportunity and would like reserved seating, consider purchasing a table sponsorship for $595. This table sponsorship will not only give you a great table location for the presentation, but it will also give you the following: a reserved table for 10, table stanchion with logo, business name listed in the event program, logo on the event Power Point program (displayed before and after the presentations), and logo and name listed on the Bend Chamber's Web site. Partial-table sponsorships are also available. If you would like more information, contact Diana Haffner at 382-3221 or diana@bendchamber.org.
 February 23 - Business Success Program - Managing Marginal Employees - What do you do when employee performance or behavior is not meeting your standards or needs? Too often, managers ignore or side step the problem until it is a crisis. In this interesting and interactive presentation, you will get some practical tips and guidelines to help raise performance standards, identify behavior and performance problems and determine the appropriate actions. Everyone in attendance should gain at least one take away. This presentation is also relevant for issues with volunteers and board members. Cindy O'Neal, Senior Professional in Human Resources, Regional Manager and member of the Executive Team for Cardinal Services will help you learn:
- How the hiring process relates to employee success
- The importance of setting clear behavior and performance standards from the start
- How to get more of what you want and less of what you don't want
- Why employees fail to meet expectations
- Identifying marginal and "toxic" employees
- Creating performance improvement plans that work
- What to do when an employee needs to ship out
If you are interested in attending this session, please RSVP by Monday, February 22 at www.bendchamber.org.
 March 4 - County Forecast Breakfast 2010 - It's your turn to ask questions of the Deschutes County Commissioners, County Administrator and Sheriff. How will the economy affect County operations in the 2010-11 fiscal year? Find out more about the proposed Jail Expansion Bond, learn about last year's successes and challenges, upcoming goals and objectives, and priorities for the legislative session. Prices for this even are as follows: Member Price: $30 each ($50 at the door), Corporate Table: $395 (includes 8 seats), Non-Member Price: $50 each, and Non-Member Corporate Table: $595 (includes 8 seats). Please RSVP by noon, Wednesday, March 3 to receive the pre-event prices at www.bendchamber.org/county.
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