Bend voters may face road measure, charter change

The Bend City Council continues to firm up its goals for the next two years, and that includes the possibility of going to voters for transportation funding and a possible change in the city charter on how to fill future vacancies when a councilor runs for mayor.

Nothing is official yet, but the discussion at a Wednesday afternoon goal-setting session made clear the city could be looking to ask voters in May 2020 for a funding package to tackle several road projects.

One of the council’s goals is improved transportation, meaning many projects are on the table.

Right now, the council’s still wrestling with exactly how much money it might request from voters and if that funding package could include housing needs in some form, as well.

Mayor Sally Russell said there are many transportation projects that need to get done in the city, adding that many of the projects and goals the council have go hand in hand with the city’s growth.

“Our expectations and our financial capacity — I mean, we’re always trying to align those,” Russell said. “And just keep up with the values that are near and dear to our community’s heart at the same time. Which may not look anywhere like housing or transportation, although those are certainly core and fundamental.”

The city is also going to look into other funding options to get the transportation projects done.

The council still has to decide what the ballot measure might look like.

The council also talked about amending the city charter and bringing that issue before voters to change the way council vacancies are filled.

That means voters could be asked to vote on those changes in November of 2020.

Russell said the council plans to look at the policy behind a sitting council member running for mayor and whether or not they should be required to vacate their council position.

She said something she’s heard from people is that they would like to see the entire council be elected. A vacancy caused by Russell’s election by mayor was filled by appointment, in a process that sparked controversy.

“We need to look and strengthen the charter,” Russell said. “Probably make some changes, so it all goes out at once. But the biggest issue is when somebody sitting on council decides to run for mayor, how are we going to move through that process? So that deserves some look, and that deserves some changes, for sure.”

Russell added she hopes the council will be able to have good conversations surrounding amending the charter, as well as be able to hear from people about their opinions on the matter.

These issues will be addressed at next week’s city council meeting.

Russell said the hope is to have these council goals firmed up after that meeting, so the city can move forward with efforts to accomplish them.