BCD Business Association
March 14th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:03 pm – Board Updates
Next: April 11th, Campfire Hotel
Campfire Hotel
February 14, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:03 pm – Board Updates
1:07 pm - New Council Liaison – Mayor Kebler & Councilor Campbell
1:15pm – Treasurer Update – Chris Starling
1:25 pm – Social Event Update & Next
1:35 pm – Social Media, Paige discussion
1:45 pm – Bottle Drop Update – Alyssa
1:50 pm – Council Update – Councilor Barb Cambell
2:00pm – City Staff Updates – Allison Platt
2:30 pm – Open Discussion
2:35 pm - Finished
Next: March 14th, Campfire Hotel
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel
January 10th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Attendees:
Molly Hogan, realtor, long-time Bend resident
Matt Latimer, new to Bend, in commercial real estate
Kurt Alexander
Tod Breslau
Daniel Elder
Alyssa Heim
Allison Platt
Sue Peterson
Chris Starling
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:05 pm – Board Updates
Project X
1:10 – Board Member & Vote
Replace Charlie Thiel with Leah Rutz
Tod moved
Chris seconded
Unanimously approved
1:15 pm – January 19th BA Event
One more invite being sent today or tomorrow
1:35pm – Social Media, Paige discussion
Paige Bevando is working on social
IG is going well
But, need to keep FB up to date and can still use FB for event promotion, including boosting of events
Include in our next email that we have social media and looking for content from local businesses
Board members should provide feedback to Daniel to provide to Paige:
Like business spotlights weekly
Also, provide our own social media contacts to Daniel to provide to Paige
1:45 pm – Bottle Drop Update & Discussion– Alyssa
Alyssa shared with the Bottle Drop folks about suggesting to donors that they provide their bottles to a blue bag rather than individuals
She can invite him to a subsequent BCDBA meeting if we’d like him
We’d like to make a recommendation about the Bottle Drop as a group
Melanie would like to have a solution where BCDBA is working together with the Bottle Drop
They are interested in moving, but nobody wants them
Tentatively consider inviting them to the March 14 meeting
2:05pm – City Updates – Mayor Kebler, Allison Platt
Moving through appointment for Council vacancy - sworn in on Jan 18
Jan 19 Council listening sessions for goal setting - CAAB has outlined some goals they’d like to advocate for, including evaluating barriers to development in the area such as infrastructure requirements and code restrictions. Also asking for Council to provide more clear leadership on City plans in the area (City Hall, Parks & Rec). Finally, that Council would take a larger role in evaluating future options for the Bottle Drop.
City is currently drafting business assistance program options.
To present to the CAAB on Jan 19 from 3-4:30pm. BCDBA members are welcome.
City is starting to draft the RFP for the midtown crossing improvements.
State legislation session starting, so doing advocacy for bridge - would like to have a follow-on from the BCDBA on why the bridge would be good. Column in the Bulletin is where Council is submitting. Op-ed from Landwatch, Chamber and City to support the bridge.
Mary to help with getting the letter going.
2:20 pm – Open Discussion
Consider a map with all member businesses
Update the map in general?
Fire on the Mountain coming to Campfire Hotel - great social engagement on this
Building Better Central Oregon award nomination
2:30 pm - Finished
Next: February 14th, Campfire Hotel
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel
December 13, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Introduction of Molly Hogan sitting in on meeting (add to email list)
Molly Hogan - 541.408.6033 [email protected], 839 NE Jones 97701
1:05 Board Updates
Project PDX - Kurt (public announcement of projects in January)
Businesses & Orgs should start tagging the B_C_D_A insta account
Daniel to send out copy explaining how to share content to Paige
Promoting the paid members first and then non-paid members to incentivize signing up
Doing a Dues call in July.
1:10 Bottle Drop Update & Discussion
Reach out to have relationship with them
Weary of leveraging relationships (Balancing out interests with their interests)
We would like them to relocate
To Share - Eric Chambers is the direct contact for BCD issues (REACH) (i.e. loitering, problematic activity)
16,000 people on his email listserve. Option to highlight businesses or BCDBA. Should we associate? Should we suggest advertising the Blue Bag program at first.
1:30 PM January 19th BA Event
Mary to lead up process
Paige to market
1:40 PM 2023 Goal Setting Discussion
1:55 PM City Updates - Allison Platt, Mayor Elect Kebler
CIP Adoption Summary
Approved CORE Area Board suggestion
Camping Code was approved - City Manager will be reporting back to us early next year
BURA next steps, benchmarks, What to look forward to
2.5 Mil for the next 5 years for Business Grant distribution
Ex-Officio City Councilor. Do We get the Mayor?
Can Kebler be on the board? Goal setting last week of January. Need new council member. Should know by the end of January who liaisons will be. January 19th (5-7 PM) is the input meeting for developing liaison relationships. One rep from BCDBA should attend.
2:20 PM
Business Grants - Storefront, street improvements
Getting feedback from Businesses to help shape the Grant Program
(Storefront, business stabilization, larger development program)
Sponsored Chamber for business consultations (Colima, Midtown Ballroom)
What is the CORE Area Advisory Board working on in 2023? Meeting in January
Allison pitching Developing adaptive code changes, improvements out of scope, can we look at reduced improvement requirements temporarily (i.e. 2nd Street), Concept planning for the area
Council is considering removing parking minimums. No parking mandates
NEXT MEETING January 10th 1-2:30 PM
BCD Business Association
DVA Building
November 8th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:05 pm – Board Updates
2:00 pm – City Updates –
-1,000 ft Rainbow Buffer - Unsanctioned Camping Code Update - Councilmember Anthony Broadman
The City is hoping to gather some input from BCD/Core Area businesses to help inform the development of some potential business assistance programs. I am hoping the BCDBA can share this survey with your members and businesses in the area.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/coreareabiz
2:30 pm - Finished
Next: December 13th, 1:00-2:30pm @ Campfire
Meeting Agenda
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel – The Outpost
October 11th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
Next: November 8th, 1:00-2:30pm @ DVA
September 13, 2022
Attendees:
1:05 pm – Board Updates
1:25 pm – September 22nd BA Event - Tod
Next: October 11th, 1:00-2:30pm @ Campfire Hotel
For this meeting, remember to include final approval of the crossing letter
October 20, 2021
Clean up neighborhood
Bylaws
Goals
Meeting with police
November 17, 2021
Marketing
Bend Humanity Coalition - Jeff Eager (previous mayor, attorney)
Sweeps - City has a process for clearing camps
Campfire worked with nonprofit to provide inexpensive option for them to house people when the hotel is slow
Mary - separate politics around home/houseless and focus on public safety and health concerns
Legal action that Paulson can take
Mary shared resource flyer with community resources
Allie Platt - update
December 15, 2021
BEDAB
Executive Team adjustments
Website launched
Social Media
Membership expansion
PR on homeless issue
Membership
January 19, 2022
1:30 pm — President Updates – Mayor Candidate, EID Update
1:55 pm – BEDAB/City Council Presentations Discussion
2:00 pm - Intro Chris Starling
Motion to add to Board as Spokesmen/PR
https://www.visitbend.com/bend-sustainability-fund/
2:15 pm – City Staff Update – Allison Platt
Next: February 16th, 1:30pm
Meeting Agenda
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel – The Outpost
February 16th, 2021, 1:30pm- 2:30pm
1:30 pm — Pleasantries
1:33 pm – President Updates – Crossings Funding letter (Allison), March mtg date Change, BEDAB update, Camps Unsafe Perspective
Next: March 16th, 1:30pm - 3:00pm at Campfire
BCDBA Board
3/16/22
Attendees:
Kurt
Coalition building (Kurt)
Pivot from homelessness, health & safety back to economic development, coalition-building
Allison
Kebler
Q&A
Brad: we were opposed, but supportive of the rainbow situation as part of turn key, and as soon as we turned out back, it came back without letting us know
He is afraid that 3 years down the road, you’ll have a different council and how can you possibly shut something like this down
If we don’t have something in writing, despite intention, it will become permanent
Kebler: rainbow purchase decision was made in executive session. We can try to be more communicative with this group now that we’re more official.
Transition issue: if we have more shelters throughout Bend, that will allow us to abandon this one, and this is county-wide
Tod: the Portland hotel is transitioning without uproar after 2 years, after original 6-month timeline, that got extended a few times
Tod isn’t as concerned
Allison - the two new shelters need renovations, so rainbow will help relieve pressure
Kebler - this is temporary, transitional housing
Kurt - terminology is important, like low barrier, so this is an opportunity to get on the same page to remove uncertainty
Baldwin:
Is there data that shows the people who left 2nd street had an impact on the shelter availability?
2nd street (congregate) doesn’t work for a lot of people
Kebler: people who were here have a multitude of issues and we don’t have good options for them, like a managed camp or tiny house where they can stabilize and receive services
Baldwin: we have a situation, but where are they going to reestablish themselves when something like the rainbow won’t actually help them. What’s going to happen in this community for people who don’t want help.
Kebler - that is the most difficult population to help, so we try to get people who are at the earlier stages before they get to this point, and then find places where it’s safe for the more troubled people to go
Allison: county is providing with mental health and other services and we’re working on a more joint process
Kebler - they proposed a bill to fund a joint office on homelessness - county, Bend, Sisters, LaPine, Redmond
Kebler - cities that have solved homelessness have a list by name and provide services for each individual person
Kurt: camping isn’t illegal, but they’re breaking other laws. Can we enforce those laws? So we’re treated equally.
Kebler: if there is criminal, threatening, violent behavior, then we can enforce that.
Juhnke: we could have done more, our tracking is a little antiquated. We provided over 50 citations over the last 6 months. Pandemic resulted in less community exposure, less jail space, less shelter space for homeless. Jail won’t accept a number of crimes, DUIs, low level misdemeanors. It was a tool taken out of our control. The criminal citation isn’t as good as teh paper it’s written on. It goes to teh DA’s office, but it takes time to deal with it. Now the jail officially april 1 will go back to pre-pandemic acceptance. It’s possible the pre-pandemic rules might provide a deterrent to some degree. Reminder, please continue to call the police. The data is important and it holds people accountable. You are not trespassing until you are asked to leave. We should let people know that they can ask people to leave.
Brad: but, if they are scary, then asking an employee to confront doesn’t have to be done. But, you can tell police say i don’t feel comfortable, which means i do want to be a victim of trespass.
Sue: do signs count? It’s harder because it’s not consistent.
Juhnke: No trespassing sign, but customers, UPS, tenants are allowed. So, how do you enforce that? Plus, difference between private property and City easement property.
Kebler: there needs to be a response to crime, threatening behavior, trespassing, but they are likely not to be held so it’s a revolving door that doesn’t solve the root problem. We’re trying to get different kinds of people to respond to different kinds of calls, like crisis response teams. We don’t have enough officers for all the calls in this city, as well.
Juhnke: Mobile crisis team can be used for someone in mental crisis. If you call the police department, ask for an incident number or case number (has a police report attached). Then we can also build the amount of contacts that we have.
Daniel: there’s a concern about trust. I feel like we make it too easy for people to just camp rather than take advantage of our services. If we addressed the camps earlier on, it would be easier to address and get them to take services.
Arbor mortgage guy: $10 million for Rainbow seems crazy. What could the city be doing with $10 million that is a better solution? Do you track the people and whether they are from Oregon? Do you have a strategy to track homeless. So, how is the rainbow the right solution for that money?
Kebler: we feel this is the best approach, based on homeless count, unsheltered percentage, and yes, they are from central oregon. The strategy is to create more shelter beds, and that allows us to enforce the right of way because we can’t unless we have shelter beds available. So we don’t incur financial costs and setbacks by being sued. We will be moving forward with a more actual code for public right of way for camping. Not actually $10 million for just Rainbow.
Kurt: we’d like to have some real investment in the BCD from the City. and want it short term. Street scapes, etc.
Allison: we paid a high rate for the site, but that allows us to use the current building short term and this was the best value for the options available.
Kebler: on the topic of investing, urban renewal funding will come through core advisory board
Sue: with all new funds coming in, are there any funds to help business owners with clean-up?
Kebler: arpa funding is available, plus money from legislature for mitigation measures that could be used. Central Oregon Biosolutions is the contractor for the City. Need to address with the police to try to get clean up on your property.
Alyssa: what are our rights now with tents as they pop up, for example two tents on the north side of Greenwood.
Juhnke: don’t get hopes up that all tents will be removed until we have a rule on the books. And that will take a while. But, keep in touch and they’ll investigate.
Kebler: also trying to open a navigation center for where they can go during the day with their stuff.
Allison: camping code, within a month, then right of way policy sometime this year.
Kurt: bottle drop?
Kebler: not under our jurisdiction
Kurt: is it unfair to expect that 2nd street will now remain clear?
Kebler/Juhnke: i don’t know how Emerson stayed clear. Stacy is telling people they can’t go back. The fact that the road was closed for two days means they moved on and likely won’t come back (went to Hunnel, Redmond, Revere, China Hat, etc.)
Tod: can we get a parking district? Permit parking?
BCDBA Board Meeting
4/20/22
Attendees:
President update
Katy Brooks presentation:
Spring event updates - Alyssa
Kurt Sustainability Fund Update
Website needs
“The Great Pivot”
Dues discussion
Allison update
Meeting date options
BCDBA Board Meeting
5/10/22
Attendees:
President’s report
North Camp update - Elise, Charlie & Alyssa
June 1, 4pm BA Event - Alyssa
Call for paid membership for July 1
Rainbow Motel good neighbor agreement & design meeting
The Bottle Drop is the elephant in the room
Any councilmember that wants to be our liaison needs to be against the Bottle Drop
Homeless town hall meeting
Short-term goals for the organization
March 14th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:03 pm – Board Updates
- Spoken Moto going through.
- Fire on the Mountain opening in July at Campfire
- “Cult following” in Portland
- “Cult following” in Portland
- Sue entered sale agreement with City, approved by city council
- Potential lot with rainbow, to become part park and part city building
- City to buy Paulson’s??
- Barb thinks it was a win win
- Potential lot with rainbow, to become part park and part city building
- $8902.51 in account
- July is fiscal year renewal. Push?
- April event to collect dues
- Goal - 80 paid members
- Goal - 80 paid members
- Mary/DVA to do press release
- Email to current emails about membership dues
- Email to existing members
- Email to potential members
- Email to existing members
- Increase list of emails and word of mouth
- Board members and members canvas and spread the word
- Mollie volunteered to canvas with April event invite
- Tod to create invite and print
- Board members and members canvas and spread the word
- Set up Mail Chimp
- Paige to look into and send notes
- Paige to look into and send notes
- April event to collect dues
- April 27th 4-8p
- Brad to host booze
- Cascade School of Music - entertainment, Dawn & Kurt know owner
- Awesome bands - teenagers
- Tod & Kurt to talk to him, Dawn to introduce
- Awesome bands - teenagers
- Ax throwing
- Food
- New Cuban food restaurant on Revere
- Promotion
- Dawn to reach out
- New Cuban food restaurant on Revere
- Fire on the Mountain to provide food for summer or fall mixer
- Eric Chambers will be at the May 9th meeting
- Kurt curious if other city officials can be present. Barb thinks it’s a good idea.
- City Manager, Deputy, City Councilors
- City Manager, Deputy, City Councilors
- Kurt curious if other city officials can be present. Barb thinks it’s a good idea.
- Bottle Drop behavior
- Daniel - civil response
- Camping is handled through camping code within BCD up to Greenwood
- Take down fences?
- No renovations that will trigger them doing sidewalks, waiting for city to do 2nd with TIF
- Allison - progressive design build to phase construction. Packaging all projects into one large contract. Design Summer 2023, phase construction 2025. 8 foot wide sidewalks, streetscaping trees,utilities underground, evaluate lighting
- Allison - progressive design build to phase construction. Packaging all projects into one large contract. Design Summer 2023, phase construction 2025. 8 foot wide sidewalks, streetscaping trees,utilities underground, evaluate lighting
- Not ready. Could have people hanging out
- 5 day turnaround to get people out.
- No renovations that will trigger them doing sidewalks, waiting for city to do 2nd with TIF
- Daniel - civil response
- Mary stepping down from Secretary Executive Board Member
- Dawn, Daniel, Mollie
- Daniel on board of Visit Bend, redundant
- Today to decide on Dawn as Secretary
- Dawn currently serves on two boards: Chair for Healing Reigns, Treasurer for Saving Grace. Bank is very supportive and required for her position.
- Voting on board seat, Exec. Secretary position
- Dawn currently serves on two boards: Chair for Healing Reigns, Treasurer for Saving Grace. Bank is very supportive and required for her position.
- Daniel on board of Visit Bend, redundant
- 7 currently - Kurt, Tod, Chris, Sue, Alyssa, Leah
- Motion Tod, Kurt second. All for, no against
- Motion Tod, Kurt second. All for, no against
- Mollie spoke about her interest in being a part of the BCDBA
- How can she help? Getting the word out, take initiative
- Interested in being at all of the meetings and helping regardless of board position
- How can she help? Getting the word out, take initiative
- Council working on deciding where City Hall will be going.
- Progressive design build to phase construction. Packaging all projects into one large contract. Design Summer 2023, phase construction 2025. 8 foot wide sidewalks, streetscaping trees,utilities underground, evaluate lighting
- 705 and 755 1st Street, officially closed on properties
- Opportunistic investments - acquisitions in BCD
- City Hall + other community benefits (low income housing, city plaza, park, city buildings)
- Opportunistic investments - acquisitions in BCD
- CAAB to review draft programs on Thursday
- Business assistance program - internal or external improvements $100,000 annually
- Design Assistance - renderings & cost
- Construction Assistance
- <10k - 0% match
- Tiered match
- Match can be funded by a bank, no lending restrictions
- <10k - 0% match
- Design Assistance - renderings & cost
- Development assistance program - $650-800k
- All costs are eligible
- All costs are eligible
- Allison emailed wording, would like any feedback
- Presenting at Council April 5th meeting
- Business assistance program - internal or external improvements $100,000 annually
- Camping code in affect
- Ben & Allison - staff resources are limited (Sheri)
- Have to notice camp before removed, includes storage
- Could take 5 days to remove
- Have to notice camp before removed, includes storage
- Report a camp online. Call non-emergency line.
- One page emailed.
- 12x12ft space. 3 camping spaces together, within # ft to next camp
- One for tents and one for vehicles
- 12x12ft space. 3 camping spaces together, within # ft to next camp
- Link to camping code webpage:
- Into effect March 1, 2023
- Ben & Allison - staff resources are limited (Sheri)
- Private developments going through
- Timber, Les Schwab, Box Factory
- Timber, Les Schwab, Box Factory
- Allison is 5 months pregnant. Out July through October.
- No staff person unless requested through Barb
- No staff person unless requested through Barb
- Sue wondering if Rainbow is closed, very quiet/vacant
- Allison to check and follow up
- Kurt heard they are not functioning, no provider
- Allison to check and follow up
- Project X to come and present to us, land use submitted to the city. Les Schwab site.
- Brooks joined Taylor Brooks (TB). Blue Dog relocating, may have another RV sales for a couple of years. Committed to doing project in the next 3-5 years.
- Olney & Second
- Yogurt/Ice Cream shop - Grey Duck
- Mollie to ask if they can bring ice cream to April event
- Mollie to ask if they can bring ice cream to April event
- Yogurt/Ice Cream shop - Grey Duck
- Chris - Orchard District to join BA? Land Use Chair for Orchard District, Danielle.
- Largest district in the city
- Can we blast our event to their neighborhood?
- Largest district in the city
- April 6th event at Chamber of Commerce
- Kurt, Allison to present
- Tetherow
- Exposure to business wonders in the city
- Kurt, Allison to present
- Daniel
- Collaborating with Oregon Spirit Distillers for St Patty’s event
- Support other BCD businesses with events
- Collaborating with Oregon Spirit Distillers for St Patty’s event
- Paige
- Comments from public. Why change things? Homeless comments. How should Paige respond
- Kurt, city needs urban core. Provide housing and jobs in this area. Economic development helps get people off the street.
- Dawn knows people on the news…
- Paige to forward these comments to Exec Board for help with response
- Comments from public. Why change things? Homeless comments. How should Paige respond
Next: April 11th, Campfire Hotel
Campfire Hotel
February 14, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:03 pm – Board Updates
- Kurt - Spoken Moto close to closing the deal with Kurt. Conditional use permit applied for, small events.
- Chris - Rainbow will be run by NeighborImpact. New agreement. Expanding on services: navigation center, job development. Chris on board with Shepherd’s House. They are buying transitional houses that house 6 or so men.
- Alyssa & Leah - BCDC event was a success
- Member present
- Dawn from First Interstate Bank - New client to build large apartment complex, 40 units
- ProjectX submitted for Land Use at Les Schwabb location
- BCD events - Fall Fest move from downtown
1:07 pm - New Council Liaison – Mayor Kebler & Councilor Campbell
- Supporter of urban renewal area and code changes
- Business owner downtown previously
- Involved in BCD since UGB expansion
- Potential
- Lives just east of BCD. Lived in Bend for 31 years and saw growth and evolution everywhere else in Bend, except BCD. Excited for the recent developments
- Wondering how we get the CIP projects moving
1:15pm – Treasurer Update – Chris Starling
- 2022
- $9,000 membership dues
- Net income $6,000
- Bank balance $9,000
- Enhancing membership building experience
- Call for membership dues in summer
- Mollie offered to assist with increasing membership
1:25 pm – Social Event Update & Next
- BCDBA to be a part of future LandWatch events
- BCDBA event at DVA in January
- Good socializing
- Split level was a challenge
- Next event in the Spring - April (last two weeks)
- Location - Oregon Spirit
- Food donation
- Business booths
- Entertainment - Cascade School of Music
- Dawn to contact
- Goal of event - membership
- What does it mean to be a part of an association?
- Benefits
- Voice through an organization
- Something fun and different
- Ax throwing - mobile
- Take pictures/video to post
- Pictures/posters to show future
- Membership table
1:35 pm – Social Media, Paige discussion
- One more month
- Kurt thinks money well spent
- Paige come to meeting
- Membership
- Members to share content for website
- Instagram on website
1:45 pm – Bottle Drop Update – Alyssa
- No update. Last meeting the exec board was going to discuss how to proceed? Including Eric in future meeting
- Our goal is for them to move out of the neighborhood
- Adjust the agreement with local grocery stores
- If they stay, how do we make that work?
- Deterring people coming in
- Invite Eric to meeting?
- March or April
- Come in person to meeting
- Interested in 2 locations - north and south ends
- Industrial land is 1.3% vacancy rate
1:50 pm – Council Update – Councilor Barb Cambell
- 8 years on council
- Goals and budget
- No goals in writing yet
- Need staff in many places
- Funding discussions
- Frozen tax base is one of the lowest in the state
- “More united now”
- Reed Market closed for construction in the future
- Competing for resources, inflation
- Transportation Bond
- ODOT example - 30% increase in their budget for a project
- Federal transportation package
- School improvements
- Transportation Bond
- State Legislature
- Hire lobbyist for City of Bend
- Serves on regional boards
- COAX
- Oregon MPO Consortion
- Both talking about housing
- Bottle Drop opinion
- Attracts people to the area
- Does the city have land?
2:00pm – City Staff Updates – Allison Platt
- Approximately May - RFP for design to begin on Franklin, Hawthorne & Greenwood
- Kurt - BCD is where the infrastructure would have the most opportunity to assist with housing
- Approx. 400 units in BCD, thousands can come into the area, climate friendly.
- Kurt - BCD is where the infrastructure would have the most opportunity to assist with housing
- Received site plans for Les Schwabb site
- 200 units
- Timber yard site - Korpine
- Master plan land use application
- Over 20 acres in size
- Two separate parcels - up to 1,400 units
- 6-7 story buildings, 9 buildings
- Site plan for Kurt’s project
- Brooks - Blue Dog site
- Keep similar use for 2-3 years
- Committed to future mixed use
- Camping code going into effect March 1?
- Parking minimums removed city wide
- Some ADA parking
- Doesn’t stop developers from providing parking
- Addresses rules coming from state
- Unlocks housing potential
- Goes into effect in about 30 days
- Starting improvements on Olney between Wall and 2nd Street
- Enhanced intersection at 2nd and Olney
- Actively pursuing federal funding for Hawthrone
- Should hear back in next couple of weeks, 12.5mil
- Another federal funding opportunity called raise
- CAAB
- Program criteria for Business Assistance, developers
- Store front and internal improvement grants
- Prioritization criteria
- Pre-design assistance
- Construction grant - matching program
- Council to adopt in April
- 2024 spending
- Development assistance - 650k in 2025
- Mixed use projects
- Bend Beautification Project
- Volunteer events
- Trash pickup?
- Franklin, Hawthorne, Greenwood
2:30 pm – Open Discussion
- Leah
- Tiff Krueger
- Bringing Remax brokers to Open Space, end of March
- Commercial
- Anyone want to take the brokers on a tour
- Kurt? Allison?
- Tiff Krueger
2:35 pm - Finished
Next: March 14th, Campfire Hotel
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel
January 10th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Attendees:
Molly Hogan, realtor, long-time Bend resident
Matt Latimer, new to Bend, in commercial real estate
Kurt Alexander
Tod Breslau
Daniel Elder
Alyssa Heim
Allison Platt
Sue Peterson
Chris Starling
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:05 pm – Board Updates
Project X
1:10 – Board Member & Vote
Replace Charlie Thiel with Leah Rutz
Tod moved
Chris seconded
Unanimously approved
1:15 pm – January 19th BA Event
One more invite being sent today or tomorrow
1:35pm – Social Media, Paige discussion
Paige Bevando is working on social
IG is going well
But, need to keep FB up to date and can still use FB for event promotion, including boosting of events
Include in our next email that we have social media and looking for content from local businesses
Board members should provide feedback to Daniel to provide to Paige:
Like business spotlights weekly
Also, provide our own social media contacts to Daniel to provide to Paige
1:45 pm – Bottle Drop Update & Discussion– Alyssa
Alyssa shared with the Bottle Drop folks about suggesting to donors that they provide their bottles to a blue bag rather than individuals
She can invite him to a subsequent BCDBA meeting if we’d like him
We’d like to make a recommendation about the Bottle Drop as a group
Melanie would like to have a solution where BCDBA is working together with the Bottle Drop
They are interested in moving, but nobody wants them
Tentatively consider inviting them to the March 14 meeting
2:05pm – City Updates – Mayor Kebler, Allison Platt
Moving through appointment for Council vacancy - sworn in on Jan 18
Jan 19 Council listening sessions for goal setting - CAAB has outlined some goals they’d like to advocate for, including evaluating barriers to development in the area such as infrastructure requirements and code restrictions. Also asking for Council to provide more clear leadership on City plans in the area (City Hall, Parks & Rec). Finally, that Council would take a larger role in evaluating future options for the Bottle Drop.
City is currently drafting business assistance program options.
To present to the CAAB on Jan 19 from 3-4:30pm. BCDBA members are welcome.
City is starting to draft the RFP for the midtown crossing improvements.
State legislation session starting, so doing advocacy for bridge - would like to have a follow-on from the BCDBA on why the bridge would be good. Column in the Bulletin is where Council is submitting. Op-ed from Landwatch, Chamber and City to support the bridge.
Mary to help with getting the letter going.
2:20 pm – Open Discussion
Consider a map with all member businesses
Update the map in general?
Fire on the Mountain coming to Campfire Hotel - great social engagement on this
Building Better Central Oregon award nomination
2:30 pm - Finished
Next: February 14th, Campfire Hotel
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel
December 13, 1:00 – 2:30pm
Introduction of Molly Hogan sitting in on meeting (add to email list)
Molly Hogan - 541.408.6033 [email protected], 839 NE Jones 97701
1:05 Board Updates
- Excited about allocated money - 2.5m 2nd street revitalization & 2m toward business and Development
- Upsizing waterline
- Combining 2nd Street & Hawthorne Crossing projects working under one team.
- Design starting in 2023 for Hawthorne
- Design starting 2nd Street to start in 2025
- City going after grants for Hawthorne
Project PDX - Kurt (public announcement of projects in January)
Businesses & Orgs should start tagging the B_C_D_A insta account
Daniel to send out copy explaining how to share content to Paige
Promoting the paid members first and then non-paid members to incentivize signing up
Doing a Dues call in July.
1:10 Bottle Drop Update & Discussion
Reach out to have relationship with them
Weary of leveraging relationships (Balancing out interests with their interests)
We would like them to relocate
To Share - Eric Chambers is the direct contact for BCD issues (REACH) (i.e. loitering, problematic activity)
16,000 people on his email listserve. Option to highlight businesses or BCDBA. Should we associate? Should we suggest advertising the Blue Bag program at first.
1:30 PM January 19th BA Event
Mary to lead up process
Paige to market
1:40 PM 2023 Goal Setting Discussion
- Website updates
- Recruitment
- Business Advocacy (website, marketing funnels, social)
- Hawthorne Bridge/Redevelopment of
- Bottle Drop Relocation
- Bringing more businesses to the district
- Development roundtable
1:55 PM City Updates - Allison Platt, Mayor Elect Kebler
CIP Adoption Summary
Approved CORE Area Board suggestion
Camping Code was approved - City Manager will be reporting back to us early next year
BURA next steps, benchmarks, What to look forward to
2.5 Mil for the next 5 years for Business Grant distribution
Ex-Officio City Councilor. Do We get the Mayor?
Can Kebler be on the board? Goal setting last week of January. Need new council member. Should know by the end of January who liaisons will be. January 19th (5-7 PM) is the input meeting for developing liaison relationships. One rep from BCDBA should attend.
2:20 PM
Business Grants - Storefront, street improvements
Getting feedback from Businesses to help shape the Grant Program
(Storefront, business stabilization, larger development program)
Sponsored Chamber for business consultations (Colima, Midtown Ballroom)
What is the CORE Area Advisory Board working on in 2023? Meeting in January
Allison pitching Developing adaptive code changes, improvements out of scope, can we look at reduced improvement requirements temporarily (i.e. 2nd Street), Concept planning for the area
Council is considering removing parking minimums. No parking mandates
NEXT MEETING January 10th 1-2:30 PM
BCD Business Association
DVA Building
November 8th, 1:00 – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
1:05 pm – Board Updates
- Camp cleared on 2nd, fewer people on the corner, feels more investable
- City’s revocable permit for fencing in place
- Influx of money to BCD in terms of crossings (Greenwood, Franklin & Hawthorne)
- City bought two more properties on 1st - $3 million purchase - shows more commitment to the District
- City sustainability grant for Kurt’s Catalyst project - also makes it appear that the new Hawthorne bridge is going “somewhere”
- Core Area Advisory Committee - unanimously agreed to direct $2.5 million for 2nd street improvements between Franklin & Greenwood
- Chamber Impact Conference is next week - about five BCD folks attending
- With BOTC and First Interstate for 14 years, from Portland
- Doesn’t feel safe walking in the neighborhood, has had to redo landscaping because of homeless camps
- FI is largest property owner in downtown
- Excited about the Central District and development in this area and they want to be involved
- 2% of everything they get goes back into the community in the form of grants
- Involved with several non-profits in the area, including The Giving Plate (95% of people served by the Giving Plate are not homeless). They’d like to be involved with the BCD, as well. They are building in the BCD.
- We’d like the Giving Plate to come in to talk to the BCD Board - Dawn will invite Renee from The Giving Plate to the 12/13 BCDBA Board Meeting.
- She has a lot of businesses in the BCD and has been suggesting they become members.
- The bank loans money, but also helps to acquire grant money
- Moved to Bend in 1990
- Became a volunteer disabilities rights advocate
- Accomplished ADA street/sidewalk access in Bend
- Advocates for consistent code enforcement - that City rights of way can’t be utilized for private use by any group
- Brian is now suggesting that we go out for a $200 million general obligation bond to build 2,000 pallet homes
- His organization is B. Douglass & Associates Community Advocacy
- Discussion of what is needed - content first, then social
- Content on events, new development, camp clean-up, investment in the District
- Spend $500/month for three months to develop content initially
- Update website, as well?
- Goal of gaining members vs goal of communication
- Tod moved to do a three-month contract with Paige at $500/month, Kurt seconded, unanimously passed
- Is there grant money for marketing of organizations like ours?
- Tod will ask the Main Street person
- DDBA Executive Director
- Visit Bend Cultural Tourism Fund
- Bottle Drop
- Website
- Continuing events
- Recruitment
- Business advocacy
- Hawthorne Bridge
- 2nd Street improvements
- Moving businesses into the District? Probably will start more when developments of things like five over one buildings (residential on top of retail) start happening.
- Would like to see more restaurants/food service/coffee shops in the District
- Mailer? Flyer? Emails
- Email lists from Orchard and Larkspur neighborhoods, as well
- Building ownership will plan and execute the event - more details to come shortly
- Food/beverage?
2:00 pm – City Updates –
-1,000 ft Rainbow Buffer - Unsanctioned Camping Code Update - Councilmember Anthony Broadman
- Four councilors wants to limit to 24 hours or less, one councilmember (Broadman) who wants to limit to less than 24 hours and three who want to allow unlimited camping - likelihood that the 24-hour code will pass (in non-residential area, regardless of whether there is a shelter bed available)
- County is closing Hunnel in March for road construction
- We’ll see how things progress under joint effort with County
- 1000 foot buffer around homeless facilities should remain in place with the new code Most Importatnt Point of the Meeting
- Residential areas, waterways and the buffer around homeless facilities should remain as areas not allowed for camping
- Drafting a capital improvement plan for Bend Urban Renewal - reviewing on 11/17, includes $3 million for Franklin improvements and $3 million for Hawthorne over crossing plus another $12 million from Bond and other funding sources. Also includes $2.5 million for 2nd Street corridor improvements to start construction in 2025.
- Starting with Greenwood striping changes and looking at crossing improvements, as well.
- Moving forward with design of Franklin next year and construction start in 2024.
- Should hear about $12.3 million grant in Feb ‘23.
- CAAB subcommittee on additional $2 million in development assistance, like grant program, focused on housing - Nov 14, 10:30am-noon, Council Chambers, if you want to attend
The City is hoping to gather some input from BCD/Core Area businesses to help inform the development of some potential business assistance programs. I am hoping the BCDBA can share this survey with your members and businesses in the area.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/coreareabiz
2:30 pm - Finished
Next: December 13th, 1:00-2:30pm @ Campfire
Meeting Agenda
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel – The Outpost
October 11th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
1:00 pm — Pleasantries/Member Comment
- Approval of meeting minutes from September. Tod first, Alyssa second. All in favor.
- 6 new paid members
- Brad is stepping down from the board, still supporting board as member
- January 19th event at DVA, 5pm start due to CAAB meeting from 3p-5p
- Social
- Move over to Campfire
- Tod asked Cyrus about members of Bend Chamber who are in the BCD
- Daniel attending roundtable. Three different groups invited (service providers, businesses, govt entities). Services went first, insightful to hear their perspective around concerns, coding. Testimony of camper at Chinahat. Katy Brooks talked about how to execute anything new, right-of-way code unenforced. Hotel room usage, system of knowing about open rooms.
- Kebler - citations, fines. Homeless court within municipal court, aimed at helping homeless person receive services. Also had roundtable with advisory groups. Continuing to discuss time restrictions (ex. Camp from sunset to sunrise). Service providers feedback, where do they go? City cannot stop someone from sitting on a sidewalk. Do we have resources to support that? 72 hour notice is always in effect, based on Oregon State Legislature for sanctioned camp site. Asking for BCDBA to be present at meetings.
- Pass code in December and then enforcement in March. 1000 radius could be implemented sooner.
- Mary to draft letter for BCDBA. Tod to create his own.
- Daniel is asking for more unity from the BCD community.
- Need to get it on the books. Ok to create a priority for specific areas. Hunnel Road to have construction coming up and those folks will need to relocate. Storage solutions are needed. Other cities with storage solutions?
- Letter is helpful detailing what would help, not just “fix it”
- Letters or participants at the meeting from BCD residents, different voice from businesses
- Chris - Has to be a better solution than pushing the camps around 2nd street
- Tod - city needs to be responsible to address sanitary issues: provide trash pick up, bathrooms
- Sheri, Bend Health and Safety Compliance Coordinator - focus on unhoused, keep streets, sidewalks clear and safe. Previously Captain in Eugene. Retired. Receives all complaints through public works and looks into them and follows up.
- Safe camping program. Parking lot with up to 6 spaces. Includes 500 foot barrier. Sanitation provided. Expectations for staying. In Bend called Safe Parking Program. Sheri offering to take us on a tour to view.
- Tod asking for signage. Sheri says the unhoused know.
- Consider finding BCD property owners to participate in Bend Safe Parking Program. With proper placement throughout the BCD. Vetting process is strict. With 3+ spots, need a case manager. Tent camp or vehicles. 80 people in the program have transitioned into permanent housing.
- Sheri left business cards. Open to taking us on a tour.
- Crossings
- Feasibility study complete
- Hawthorne 1 performed the best, then Greenwood 2, then Franklin
- Tod - does the council need another email/letter sharing our collective push
- Likely, franklin corridor, Greenwood, and Hawthorne matching dollars from federal funding
- Reliant on federal funding/grants for Hawthorne.
- Near term corridor improvements
- We will know by February if we are successful with grant
- Relationship with BCDBA
- Hosts annual impact conference (Nov 15), focusing on economic vitality (hospitatlity, real estate and retail)
- $70 members, $100 non-members
- Prepandemic - 500-600 attendees
- Hoping for 500 attendees in 2022
- What’s beneficial for businesses in BCD? Chamber know the BCD is the future of growth for Bend.
- Frontdoor Back - Day after the conference they will visit the business and put together a presentation of updates to storefronts with costs and provide a report to businesses. Report costs $800. Chamber hoping to get funding for businesses. They can do up to 5 consultations.
- BCDBA become a sponsor and BCD businesses would be selected.
- Allison shared the City may be open to contributing the $4000 for 5 consultations.
- BCDBA hand
- Compass Commercial is the gold sponsor. Talking about tenant improvements.Sponsors of Frontdoor Back could have time to speak to attendees.
- Chamber’s highest priority right now is workforce housing.
- Allison shared how she will be putting together a survey to send to businesses in BCD around tenant improvements, capital to spend, etc. Utilize BCDBA list and Chamber list to contact businesses.
- Central Oregon Landwatch may be interested in sponsoring.
- $440 Chamber’s lowest membership
- Hosts annual impact conference (Nov 15), focusing on economic vitality (hospitatlity, real estate and retail)
- Crossings
- Kurt will email out info so we can vote and move forward
- $35/hour
- Elevate Chris to non-voting to board member. He would become treasurer
- 4 votes for yay!
- Bottle Drop - developer in Portland is suing Bottle Drop. Developer owns the complex and had to hire security
- Bend Bottle Drop
- Daniel has spoke with Eric Chambers, not a decision maker
- City Thrift offers to go in and buy them out.
- Bottle Drop doesn’t want to sell. Needs alternative location in Bend. Needs to have contracted grocery stores within 3.1 miles. And another buffer within 6 miles.
- 9000-10000 sq ft
- Bottle Drop doesn’t want to sell. Needs alternative location in Bend. Needs to have contracted grocery stores within 3.1 miles. And another buffer within 6 miles.
- No updates from City on Rainbow and Paulsons
Next: November 8th, 1:00-2:30pm @ DVA
September 13, 2022
Attendees:
- Councilor Melanie Kebler
- Allison Platt, City of Bend staff, Ex Officio
- Kurt Alexander
- Tod Breslau
- Chris Starling
- Sue Peterson
- Daniel Elder
- Alyssa Heim
- Mary Angelo
- Alex Hardison, COLW
1:05 pm – Board Updates
- Last month’s minutes approved
- Dawn Cofer from First Interstate Bank is a new member
- City Thrift building owner is also a new member
- Kurt is participating in Midtown Crossings roundtable (along with Alex Hardison)
- Planning to have a community event and celebration of the BCD on November 1, 5-8pm (with walking tour 4-5pm), Central District Celebration
- Asking for involvement in how they can involve BCD businesses
- Event will touch on concepts of a complete community, how BCD is emblematic of a lot of community efforts - policy & business priorities
- Fun, celebratory atmosphere, live music, food & drink vendors
- At Open Space Studios
- Will also be a walking tour to a targeted list of individuals, route TBD - one way for business owners to participate would be to be a part of the tour, provide services for the event
- What sort of building are they looking for for the tour? Time of route is important (so proximity to Open Space), Somewhere that’s Green, Colima Market, Oregon Spirit Distillery, emblematic of businesses people associate with the BCD, or other businesses who want to be seen/known
- Could include businesses who do First Fridays in the walking tour
- Show arts/culture in the area, as well
- Try to show what is already here, what could be here, future vision, potential
- Look at TIFF investments, future investments
- Let Alex know who wants to be involved in this
- The BCDBA can help Alex by sending info to the rest of the BCD
- Allison recommends keeping the geography of the tour very small
- Alex on crossing: COLW aligns with BCDBA on being behind Franklin for easy improvements, but Hawthorne was the placemaking opportunity
- BCDBA letter of recommendation is due by October 19, coordinated with Bend Chamber and COLW
- From Allison:
- On Wednesday, September 14 (tomorrow) from 4-6pm, the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC) will be hosting a subcommittee meeting with members of the Core Area Advisory Board (CAAB) to discuss the Midtown Crossings Feasibility Study. Members of the public can attend in person at Bend Municipal Court at 555 NE 15th Street Bend, OR or virtually through Zoom (see link in Agenda). The project team will provide an update on the project followed by public comment and joint committee discussion to help inform final recommendations to be presented to the City Council in October.
1:25 pm – September 22nd BA Event - Tod
- We won’t be doing a hard mailing, just an email
- Tod and Daniel working final logistics
- Name tags, signs, table from Alyssa & Leah under Daniel’s pop-up tent
- Tod & Kurt to speak
- Can promote at events between now and then, as well
- Chris can send an event update in the BCD including our event, as well as other events at Open Space, etc.
- Updates planned ahead of 9/22 event
- Social media on the docket - Chris offered to build a FB/IG page for the BCD
- Approved as currently written, send to [email protected] plus Council. Here’s a link to the letter:
- City Council unsanctioned camping code roundtable, BCDBA representative: Chris (first), Daniel (second if Chris can’t make it) - scheduled for either 9/27 or 9/29
- New City ROW person is now the point person for safety issues in the right-of-way - Sherri Meisel, Health & Safety Compliance Coordinator - have her come to a meeting in Oct or Nov, works in transportation and mobility department
- City is working on a “by name” list for every homeless person
- They want to develop a subcommittee on private/public partnership opportunities in CORE Area, might include surveys in district and grants for businesses making improvements to get help with City upgrade requirements triggered by improvements
- City of Portland ADA lawsuit - the City is aware of this and will be discussing it.
- We’d like to invite representatives from Brooks and Project^ to come talk to BCDBA.
- Should we invite the Bottle Drop folks to come talk to us?
Next: October 11th, 1:00-2:30pm @ Campfire Hotel
For this meeting, remember to include final approval of the crossing letter
October 20, 2021
Clean up neighborhood
- Tent camp at Paulson’s
- Speaking with businesses for location
- Meeting with police
- Bottledrop
- Core Area
Bylaws
- Committees
- Organization
- Promotion
- Events
- Recruitment
- Design
- Website
- Neighborhood look
- Economic Vitality
- $250
- Downtown taxes the district based on sq ft of space
- Could become part of the city to tax the local businesses (EID assessment)
- Why? Longterm. Improve neighborhood, cleanliness
- Email lists (landlords, business owners)
- Ask what they would like the association to do?
Goals
Meeting with police
- Bottledrop, crime
- Biohazardous materials
- Right-of-Way - Alley ways
November 17, 2021
Marketing
- Logo made
- List of resourceful contacts
- Website
- Brochure
Bend Humanity Coalition - Jeff Eager (previous mayor, attorney)
- Organized in September 2021
- Advocate for more effective approach to homelessness
- Urging city council to take a more forceful approach to enforcement
- Enforce ordinances that are expected of all people in Bend. Ex. drinking alcohol in public
- Use administrative policy (swept Emerson) to clear camps in public right-of-way
- Safety for people who live and work by them
- Building managed capacity spaces without enforcement doesn’t work
- Geographically constrained problems
- Build out shelter capacity and hope unmanaged camps move there
- Clear camps that are unsafe
- Comes down to politics and where they will apply funds and focus. Not prioritizing these types of problems.
- City’s proposed solution does not include punishment
- Jeff will add us to the BHC email list
- Put together a call for other businesses that are affected by the same problem, citywide. Get everyone on the same page
Sweeps - City has a process for clearing camps
- Jeff shares it is a political decision to not enforce and roll out in more areas
- 9th circuit court of appeals (Idaho ruling)
- Jeff - not as broad as the city is sharing
- People can not sleep on the street if there are practical places for people to go
- Does not stop city from moving camps
- Convenient excuse
- How to encourage city to move along with the response to campsites
- Ex. Hummel - snowplow
- Criminal activity
- Help public voice their thoughts without judgement
- Share tools with public to express themselves to policy makers
- Jeff - not as broad as the city is sharing
Campfire worked with nonprofit to provide inexpensive option for them to house people when the hotel is slow
- statistics of homeless folks are catching up with the stereotype of homeless, mental illness and hard drugs
Mary - separate politics around home/houseless and focus on public safety and health concerns
- Existence of camps on public property are significant problems
Legal action that Paulson can take
- Not on their private property
- Some items on fence of business
- ADA compliance on city sidewalks
Mary shared resource flyer with community resources
- Printing 100 to distribute
Allie Platt - update
- Opened positions for Core Advisory Board
- Oversee how funds get allocated
- 2-3 year terms
- 3-5 hour per month commitment
- Allie, staff liaison
- Business owners, home owners
- Released midtown crossing proposal
- Franklin, Greenwood and Hawthorne
- 20 million over next 10 years
- Requested a better understanding from city council for what would be deemed unsafe or unhealthy
- 215 beds in city
- over 1,000 homeless
December 15, 2021
BEDAB
Executive Team adjustments
- Mary, Secretary
- Brad, Treasurer
- Tod, VP
- Motion approved
Website launched
- Bendcentral.org Live
- Neighborhood resources flyer printed and some distributed
Social Media
- Someone on board to create presence
- [email protected]
- Main email
Membership expansion
- Visit businesses to share BCDBA and gain membership
- Each board member, bring in 5 new members by end of January!!!
- Share Neighborhood Resources flyer
PR on homeless issue
- KTVZ, CO Daily, etc.
Membership
- What if a business wants to join but doesn’t have a budget for the annual fee?
- Discount
- Tier membership
- Lower tier doesn’t have advertising, etc.
- Include homeowners?
January 19, 2022
1:30 pm — President Updates – Mayor Candidate, EID Update
- EID - Economic Improvement District - BCD joining Bend Downtown Assoc. around 2024, City Council will need to agree to adopt framework. Meet once a month to discuss possibility of joining. Money to start beautifying, using tax dollars. Downtown and BCD utilizing funds, downtown first?
- CAAB First Meeting - January 20th
- https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/committees/core-area-advisory-board
- Architect to prepare for revitalization. March 17th meeting. Share grand vision.
- Stacey has been an architect in Bend since 2003, with wife. Active in land use and urban design. Part of consultant team that made BCD possible (city adopted code in 2020). Active projects in construction and other coming up.
- Work with BCDBA to produce rendering for 2nd street between Franklin and Greenwood. Wanting to show simple updates to the BCD, show developers and landowners that things are changing and can change quick. Street frontage improvements, curbed sidewalks. Not huge, expensive projects. Jumpstart district.
- Use as a template to move through district, north past Greenwood.
- Hawthorne corridor could happen quicker if BCD revitalizes faster.
- 5-50 year plan. If adjustments to code change are made the difference can become more dense and vibrant
- This area has more housing per acre than anywhere else in Bend
- First 60,000 sq ft build doesn’t require parking
- Action item
- Member contact spreadsheet - Update with those interested
- Name and contact info, property owner?
- Update with everyone you speak with
- They will then start receiving emails with BCD info
- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QqJeb7S64K4YA3VN0UdkN2mYCOApZMon4eGF1O__W4g/edit?usp=sharing
- Member contact spreadsheet - Update with those interested
- April BCDFF
- Held at Open Space, Oregon Distillers or Camp Fire
1:55 pm – BEDAB/City Council Presentations Discussion
2:00 pm - Intro Chris Starling
Motion to add to Board as Spokesmen/PR
- Shepherd’s House
- Concerned about health and safety of 2nd street
- December Kurt was approached to be on the news. Chris would be the one to take this role.
- Added as a one year non-voting member. Brad made motion, Charlie second. Passed
- Communication will continue to go through Kurt
https://www.visitbend.com/bend-sustainability-fund/
2:15 pm – City Staff Update – Allison Platt
- CAAB - first meeting 1/20 3-5p. Explain TIF, funding priorities, establishing performance metrics to measure success, establish private redevelopment partnership program
- Houselessness - work being done to free up space at 2nd street shelter. City looking for shelter sites. Bend Value Inn. Weekly cleanups, not a long term solution. Initiating project to clear right of way.
- Future sites for City Hall, checking in with city council at March meeting
- Allison is not responsible for city homeless effort
- Carolyn Eagen, working with hotels to house those in the camp. 2nd Street shelter (low barrier shelter)
- Tod - could miss out on lease to new restaurant at Camp Fire. Bad reviews. Jobs lost
- Chris & Kurt - getting calls about business owners getting an attorney
- .5% taking more consideration
- Add a council member to the board
- Brad - New code - allowing for camps to be in more zones. Allow camps/managed camps in Juniper Ridge
- Allows for camps and shelters in every zone throughout city. Creates new definitions for shelters. Conditional (transitional) would change to allowed uses.
- Could be tailored language added to pair down on the verbage
- Rep for BCD to oppose at meeting
- Polling shows community is against it
- https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/committees/sounding-board-to-house-our-neighbors
- Brad to speak for BCDBA in opposition with interest in review
Next: February 16th, 1:30pm
- Potentially at Camp Fire
Meeting Agenda
BCD Business Association
Campfire Hotel – The Outpost
February 16th, 2021, 1:30pm- 2:30pm
1:30 pm — Pleasantries
1:33 pm – President Updates – Crossings Funding letter (Allison), March mtg date Change, BEDAB update, Camps Unsafe Perspective
- Allison presented IIJA letter to request $15 million for midtown crossings, presented to OR Transportation Commission
- Presenting to City Council May 4
- Chris Piper open to help with presentation
- Presenting to City Council May 4
- BEDAB went well, their support is important to get funding
- Meghan will give report to council re: what was discussed at the BEDAB meeting
- Biggest mantra: lack of housing in BCD
- Camps unsafe - don’t stop here!
- Use momentum to keep going.
- Consistency is important
- Tod - 5
- Chris - working on one
- Alyssa - 4, waiting on 3 more to follow up
- Sue - 2
- Brad - 4, working on more
- Leah - 2
- What will members receive with membership?
- Regular communication
- Members listed on website
- First Friday advertising
- Event calendar for BCDBA & businesses
- Added to BCD map
- Ran Bend Bulletin, two terms on City Council
- Eric King, City Manager - meet monthly
- Was on news and shared Right of Way policy
- Believes the council doesn’t want to touch it
- Tack of enforcement
- Council is feeling stuck, and now feeling pressure
- Enjoys being a public servant, being out in the community and being visible
- Bend is not a town anymore, it is a city. Needs leadership to grow with city and make tough love decisions
- Homeless issue shouldn’t be the role of the City
- County is responsible
- Listen, Lead and be held accountable
- Council is missing a sense of reality
- Wants to bring council back to center, and put community hat on. Focus on pillars of the city
- Believes code enforcement is understaffed
- Election in November 2022
- Melanie Kebler will probably run
- 3 point plan shared in 2021 re: homeless
- To be emailed
- Will vote next month whether we will support as BCDBA
- Moderate voice of community. As counselor endorsed by The Source
- https://piperforbend.com/
- May 6, 4pm - 6pm
- Need location
- Open Space
- Alyssa and Leah will discuss
- Work together to set up drink & food specials
- Manzanita Grill or El Taquero
- Paid by BCDBA
- Open Space
- Kurt to welcome, share BCDBA mission and where we are going
- Chris Piper speak
- Ask for membership, Square
- Have blown up images
- BCDBA merch?
- BCDBA pamphlet complete?
- Giving out $1mil this year and going forward
- Apply for up to $400k and apply twice
- Worth going for this fund. Looking for urban environments
- Commit to 10 years, tracking for 2 years
- Submissions due July
- Idea: Turn lot into a Farmers Market
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GXP4JH9LBJOEWlBgSJHnMSvUkgyOPdnBhbZzV2lRdt0/edit
- Action items
- Measurements to hold the council to
- Motion to approve - Kurt
- Sue seconded
- All in favor
- Tod abstained
- Chamber of Commerce - Bend
- Eugene going through the same thing right now, Eugene Chamber of Commerce put together presentation to the City of Eugene. This can be shared as a message
- Share messaging from all angles (BCD Initiative, Chamber of Commerce)
- Police assessment of 2nd street camp. Forwarded to city manager, who will accept assessment and request action. Two week time frame hasn’t started yet. Goal to have announcement at council. Division Street open for space.
- Kurt requesting for businesses to be informed
- 2 weeks for service providers
- 72 hour notice on camp site
- Storage facility of personal belongings up to 30 days and post where belongings are held
- Members are worried about where camp participants will go next
- Ex. Emerson is a “no camp zone”, will this be the expectation on 2nd as well
- City will hire health and safety human right of way position
- City Council meeting with discuss 2nd street
- Jeff Eager
- Private/anonymous donations
- Public outreach to talk to counselors about enforcement
- Change perception of what is humane
- Hearing to allow camps in any area - vote extended
- Nuisance claim against the city from bordering property owners
- Organize meeting of other groups that are working against the homeless issue
Next: March 16th, 1:30pm - 3:00pm at Campfire
BCDBA Board
3/16/22
Attendees:
- Kurt
- Tod
- Brad
- Mary
- Alyssa
- Leah
- John Paul
- Allison
- Adam Juhnke
- Daniel
- Sue
- Baldwins (both)
- Councilor Kebler
- Rob Moore, Arbor Mortgage
- Katy Brooks, CEO of Bend Chamber
Kurt
- Likely to get federal dollars for bridge???
Coalition building (Kurt)
- Met with Chamber, coordinated Rainbow letter
- Met with Travis Davis, chair of Bend Econ Dev advisory board (BEDAB)
- David Wellington, head of YIMBY
Pivot from homelessness, health & safety back to economic development, coalition-building
Allison
- Introduced councilor kebler, to provide some depth to the written rainbow response
- Committed to working with us to be a good neighbor with the rainbow
- Want to be an active partner in the future development of that site
- Still committed to the BCD vision
Kebler
- Rainbow addresses an immediate need, as well as opportunities for the future
- It won’t be a congregate overnight shelter, rather a transitional home
- The service provider will want to be a good neighbor (yet to be hired), that health and safety will be a priority
- Can’t give us a timeline on transition to another use
- They are looking to the BCD as first choice for a new city hall
Q&A
Brad: we were opposed, but supportive of the rainbow situation as part of turn key, and as soon as we turned out back, it came back without letting us know
He is afraid that 3 years down the road, you’ll have a different council and how can you possibly shut something like this down
If we don’t have something in writing, despite intention, it will become permanent
Kebler: rainbow purchase decision was made in executive session. We can try to be more communicative with this group now that we’re more official.
Transition issue: if we have more shelters throughout Bend, that will allow us to abandon this one, and this is county-wide
Tod: the Portland hotel is transitioning without uproar after 2 years, after original 6-month timeline, that got extended a few times
Tod isn’t as concerned
Allison - the two new shelters need renovations, so rainbow will help relieve pressure
Kebler - this is temporary, transitional housing
Kurt - terminology is important, like low barrier, so this is an opportunity to get on the same page to remove uncertainty
Baldwin:
Is there data that shows the people who left 2nd street had an impact on the shelter availability?
2nd street (congregate) doesn’t work for a lot of people
Kebler: people who were here have a multitude of issues and we don’t have good options for them, like a managed camp or tiny house where they can stabilize and receive services
Baldwin: we have a situation, but where are they going to reestablish themselves when something like the rainbow won’t actually help them. What’s going to happen in this community for people who don’t want help.
Kebler - that is the most difficult population to help, so we try to get people who are at the earlier stages before they get to this point, and then find places where it’s safe for the more troubled people to go
Allison: county is providing with mental health and other services and we’re working on a more joint process
Kebler - they proposed a bill to fund a joint office on homelessness - county, Bend, Sisters, LaPine, Redmond
Kebler - cities that have solved homelessness have a list by name and provide services for each individual person
Kurt: camping isn’t illegal, but they’re breaking other laws. Can we enforce those laws? So we’re treated equally.
Kebler: if there is criminal, threatening, violent behavior, then we can enforce that.
Juhnke: we could have done more, our tracking is a little antiquated. We provided over 50 citations over the last 6 months. Pandemic resulted in less community exposure, less jail space, less shelter space for homeless. Jail won’t accept a number of crimes, DUIs, low level misdemeanors. It was a tool taken out of our control. The criminal citation isn’t as good as teh paper it’s written on. It goes to teh DA’s office, but it takes time to deal with it. Now the jail officially april 1 will go back to pre-pandemic acceptance. It’s possible the pre-pandemic rules might provide a deterrent to some degree. Reminder, please continue to call the police. The data is important and it holds people accountable. You are not trespassing until you are asked to leave. We should let people know that they can ask people to leave.
Brad: but, if they are scary, then asking an employee to confront doesn’t have to be done. But, you can tell police say i don’t feel comfortable, which means i do want to be a victim of trespass.
Sue: do signs count? It’s harder because it’s not consistent.
Juhnke: No trespassing sign, but customers, UPS, tenants are allowed. So, how do you enforce that? Plus, difference between private property and City easement property.
Kebler: there needs to be a response to crime, threatening behavior, trespassing, but they are likely not to be held so it’s a revolving door that doesn’t solve the root problem. We’re trying to get different kinds of people to respond to different kinds of calls, like crisis response teams. We don’t have enough officers for all the calls in this city, as well.
Juhnke: Mobile crisis team can be used for someone in mental crisis. If you call the police department, ask for an incident number or case number (has a police report attached). Then we can also build the amount of contacts that we have.
Daniel: there’s a concern about trust. I feel like we make it too easy for people to just camp rather than take advantage of our services. If we addressed the camps earlier on, it would be easier to address and get them to take services.
Arbor mortgage guy: $10 million for Rainbow seems crazy. What could the city be doing with $10 million that is a better solution? Do you track the people and whether they are from Oregon? Do you have a strategy to track homeless. So, how is the rainbow the right solution for that money?
Kebler: we feel this is the best approach, based on homeless count, unsheltered percentage, and yes, they are from central oregon. The strategy is to create more shelter beds, and that allows us to enforce the right of way because we can’t unless we have shelter beds available. So we don’t incur financial costs and setbacks by being sued. We will be moving forward with a more actual code for public right of way for camping. Not actually $10 million for just Rainbow.
Kurt: we’d like to have some real investment in the BCD from the City. and want it short term. Street scapes, etc.
Allison: we paid a high rate for the site, but that allows us to use the current building short term and this was the best value for the options available.
Kebler: on the topic of investing, urban renewal funding will come through core advisory board
Sue: with all new funds coming in, are there any funds to help business owners with clean-up?
Kebler: arpa funding is available, plus money from legislature for mitigation measures that could be used. Central Oregon Biosolutions is the contractor for the City. Need to address with the police to try to get clean up on your property.
Alyssa: what are our rights now with tents as they pop up, for example two tents on the north side of Greenwood.
Juhnke: don’t get hopes up that all tents will be removed until we have a rule on the books. And that will take a while. But, keep in touch and they’ll investigate.
Kebler: also trying to open a navigation center for where they can go during the day with their stuff.
Allison: camping code, within a month, then right of way policy sometime this year.
Kurt: bottle drop?
Kebler: not under our jurisdiction
Kurt: is it unfair to expect that 2nd street will now remain clear?
Kebler/Juhnke: i don’t know how Emerson stayed clear. Stacy is telling people they can’t go back. The fact that the road was closed for two days means they moved on and likely won’t come back (went to Hunnel, Redmond, Revere, China Hat, etc.)
Tod: can we get a parking district? Permit parking?
BCDBA Board Meeting
4/20/22
Attendees:
- Kurt Alexander
- Brad Irwin
- Sue Peterson
- Chris Starling
- Alyssa Heim
- Mary Angelo
- Daniel Elder
- Allison Platt
- Charlie Thiel
- Katy Brooks
- Tod Breslau
President update
- Northern BCD camps - working together, track losses, report garbage pick-up and non-emergency police calls
- Charlie Thiel update on his situation:
- theft, vandalism, graffiti, impact on children for theater program and staff, concern about increase in illegal behavior
- Harassment of customers leading to reduction in customers
- There doesn’t seem to be a mentality in the City of how do we stop it, rather, we allow it to happen until it becomes a bigger problem
- How long do we have to wait? Until there’s an actual assault?
- From Allison:
- Both Councilor Perkins and I were able to connect with Keller from the law firm on Greenwood yesterday for quite awhile. Council will get an update tonight on Council Goals, the camping code is officially being added to the work plan/council goals and once the shelter code project is done, we will start work on that project.
- Council presentation in May from BCDBA is planned
Katy Brooks presentation:
- Bend Downtown Chamber - 1700 members
- Hold events, but lately they’ve been convening people from all sectors to deal with larger issues as employers, like shortage of child care and attainable housing
- We’re working on policies to help employees obtain housing
- Working with County on ADU code and other things
- Bottom line is they’re trying to make meaningful impact on issues that are larger than one organization can tackle
- Housing is a big issue, impacts the ability to attract and retain employees and creating a mono-culture
- Also supporting the Central District by sending developers there, working with Allison, bring business sector to bear on getting the Central District up and running sooner rather than later
- Supported the transportation bond
- They feel the transportation measures need to be done as soon as possible
- They do lot of advocacy at local, state and sometimes federal level
Spring event updates - Alyssa
- Rescheduled to Wed, June 1, 4-6pm at Open Space
- Intent of event is for business owners in the BCD to meet, network, inspire membership, begin creation of more of a community in the BCD, the first of more events
- Budget of $1,200 conservatively for invitations (printed), food & drink
- Board approved unanimously this budge allocation
- Would like to have signage developed, as well like banner or posters - at least for now a pop-up banner would work
- Allison can work with us and be point of contact on sign stuff
- Need email set up for RSVP
- Hoping for 50 people
Kurt Sustainability Fund Update
- He met with Visit Bend and wants to pursue a grant to turn one of his lots into a farmers market, food card, event space, gathering space
- He’d like to hear whether the Board supports this effort
- He’s looking for $450K for two years for this and obtain support by other organizations and Council
- Unanimously supported by the Board
Website needs
- Looking for someone from the Board to take on the leadership for the website
- Tod and Daniel may be able to take this on - Tod will start out talking to Reese
- Kurt still wants to shift everything over to a Google platform
- Mary to make introduction between Reese, Daniel and Tod via email that included the most current scope items
“The Great Pivot”
- We’ve accomplished many of our initial goals:
- Reducing blight, infrastructure work, CORE members, working with Council
- Working with the police department
- Taking ownership of our own streets by cleaning, clearing, 2nd Street renderings
- So, what does the Board want to see accomplished?
- Promote businesses in the BCD
- Security for businesses in the BCD
- Promote the YIMBY idea - we want housing and can handle the density
- Add some language into our mission on promotion, security and housing
- From Allison:
- The City's housing need/forecast in the BCD is 230+ units by 2028 and nearly 1,000 by 2040
- But this area will likely need to accommodate more following adoption of the State Climate Friendly & Equitable Community rules.
- It is zoned to allow for more but that is how many we forecasted based on redevelopment rates/assumptions that seemed realistic in 2016.
- Beautification of the area
- Short-term, looking for more community involvement, knowing who your neighbors are so ultimately people think where should I open my business, they think BCD as an option - Alyssa & Leah will write a sentence on this short-term goal (building community and recognition now)
- We can’t let up off the gas on the homeless camp issue and we have responsibility to the whole district, share what we know, partner with all the businesses in the district to campaign against homeless camps
- Chris will take on drafting a recommendation for the membership on how to address homeless
- Kurt will provide list of the businesses in that area currently affected
Dues discussion
- Do we ask for dues again July 1 or wait until Jan 1?
- Tod is going to see how other organizations do this.
- How many paying members do we have now? Around 20.
- Is there a benefit to being fiscal vs calendar?
- Brad thinks we should use momentum of June 1 event to pitch membership, then prorate by quarter with big membership push on July 1-Sept or Oct, then you get a discount if you join after that.
- We’ll move forward with Brad’s suggestion at this point.
Allison update
- Bringing tax exemption programs for Council focusing on Core area of Bend (including BCD) to support multi-housing construction projects if you meet certain public benefit requirements
- Working with CORE on funding priorities, looking for 5-year funding road map of investments to be adopted by Jan ‘23 (like 2nd Street redevelopment)
- What type of business investments would you want to make in your businesses? Maybe she can provide a survey by a future member event to ask businesses those questions.
- Continuing to coordinate with staff on homelessness - very aware of the issue on the north side of 2nd Street
- The camping code will be an important tool and it’s on the workplan, but need shelter code finished before they can get it done
- They have been doing clean-ups there and removed two tents
- Reach out to Stacey Whitie from Reach - she has relationships with them
Meeting date options
- Shift from 3rd week of the month
- Mary to send a Doodle poll to Board with the following options:
- 2nd Tues, Wed, or thurs 11am or 1pm
- 4th Tues, WEd or Thurs 11am or 1pm
BCDBA Board Meeting
5/10/22
Attendees:
- Kurt Alexander
- Brad Irwin
- Sue Peterson
- Chris Starling
- Alyssa Heim
- Mary Angelo
- Daniel Elder
- Charlie Thiel
- Tod Breslau
- Elise Jones
President’s report
- Tour of DVA/Imagine Stoneworks new building at 221 Hawthorne - should be moved in early June
- Tod and Kurt presented at Council on May 13
- Kurt met with Board of the Chamber of Commerce who apologized for not paying more attention to the BCD’s issue but they want to spend more time on homelessness and blight in neighborhoods. They’ve put out a survey on the subject. They’re interested in workforce housing, as well. Kurt will present to their Board, as well.
North Camp update - Elise, Charlie & Alyssa
- Elise spoke at Council on May 4 and at that time there were 11 tents
- The next morning there were 4 - it had been cleaned up
- Lt. Juhnke thought there was a scheduled clean up, but it seemed like the most confrontational left
- Now number of tents starting to creep back up again
- Elise has been pretty vocal and she feels like if you approach it as an individual behavioral level, rather than systemic, it’s more manageable. It’s better now with less conflict.
- She talked to Charlie Miller at Miller Lumber to place boulders when there were fewer tents, but supply of boulders is tight and now tents are starting to come back.
- It’s quieter now so as a business owner, that’s been much better.
- Elise feels like a lot of her neighbors could use some looping in on the shared log for police calls, clean-up requests, value lost
- Daniel suggested also including the feature on the City’s website for requests for service and to post photos - he’ll send that to Kurt and Charlie
- Kurt would like to assign a Board liaison for the north side of the neighborhood - Charlie would be happy to act in that role
- Somewhere that’s green - reported drug deals, casing of businesses and vehicles, defecating in the streets, all very open and no attempt to hide any of these activities. Also, taking space 3-4 feet into the street. Hopefully that is now reduced.
- John Kish is not excited about boulders because they would reduce his parking space.
June 1, 4pm BA Event - Alyssa
- Invites are printed and being delivered to Leah today. These are an opportunity for us all to go out and visit our neighbors to hand deliver. Then, an email will be sent to businesses, as well.
- Everything else is ready. Working through food and space arranging (looking for assistance on that day to set up the room).
- Tod suggested emailing ahead as well as after invite delivery
- Speakers:
- Kurt, Brad, Tod, Charlie - go around and do introductions of each Board member with a minute for them to introduce themselves, as well
- Name tags & email sign up list when they first arrive
- Alyssa to send an email invite to Board members, too
- There will not be City representation
- Leah will promote in local print/web calendars, also
Call for paid membership for July 1
- Email with invoice to go right after the meeting, but will aim for getting paid members at the event, as well
Rainbow Motel good neighbor agreement & design meeting
- Who enforces issues - the shelter
- American Institute of Architects - not contracted by the City, so nothing official, more of a brainstorm
- Sue talked to the developer from Brooks Resources - the Rainbow purchase took their feet out from under them, so holding Blue Dog lease in place
- A $34 million project is now $55 million, so now put on hold indefinitely and see what happens to the area
- The Les Schwab property is still in progress with Property X still reviewing - they are looking at rehabbing old buildings into retail and adding 5-story residential
- They all agreed that they’d need to add property to make anything like a City Hall work there
The Bottle Drop is the elephant in the room
Any councilmember that wants to be our liaison needs to be against the Bottle Drop
Homeless town hall meeting
- Elise attended
- Speaker from Portland who has been successful in managing homeless populations - focus on accountability vs management of shelter population
- There was another group there vocally lobbying no shelters near a school, and they think we should be voting on every issue instead of Council making decisions (seemed extreme to Elise)
- Lisa Baker is the head of that group, Kurt met with her, they are working on a petition and put together these town hall meetings - Brad will reach out to her
- Fairly well attended
Short-term goals for the organization
- Alyssa & Leah were going to put together a sentence or two on this topic - see notes from 4/20 meeting