City of Bend seeks applicants for various advisory committees

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Community committees are a great way to get involved with City of Bend government. The City has several Council-appointed boards, committees, commissions, and advisory groups that make recommendations to City Council or City administrative staff.

Applications are being accepted for the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Bend Economic Development Advisory Board, Budget Committee, City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee, Core Area Advisory Board, Environment and Climate Committee, Landmarks Commission and Planning Commission. The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) is also recruiting for its Budget Committee.

Committee members are eligible for a stipend ($40/meeting, not to exceed $500/year) to help lower barriers to participation. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29, 2024.

Visit bendoregon.gov/committees to learn more and to apply.

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC)

This Committee provides policy, code and funding recommendations to City Council in alignment with the goals outlined in the City’s Consolidated Plan. The City of Bend will consider individuals to fill an At Large position (3-year term) and an individual who is a member of a tenant’s organization or a community member in affordable rental housing in Bend (partial term, ending July 1, 2026). For more information, visit the AHAC webpage. 

Contact: Racheal Baker, Affordable Housing Manager, 541-323-8550 or rbaker@bendoregon.gov 

Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (BEDAB)

This group provides input to the Bend City Council on economic development and business issues and initiatives. The board seeks to provide broad representation from representatives of local key industries. Members work closely with the City’s economic development partners including the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development for Central Oregon, Visit Bend, East Cascade Works and the Small Business Development Center at Central Oregon Community College. For more information, visit the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board webpage. The Bend Economic Development Advisory Board is seeking applicants to fill one vacancy for a three-year term.

Contact: Ben Hemson, Economic Development Manager, 541-388-5529, bhemson@bendoregon.gov 

Budget Committee

The Budget Committee receives the City Manager's proposed biennial budget and budget message, which explains the proposed budget and significant changes in the City's financial position. The Budget Committee may make additions or changes to the proposed budget, at which time the committee will approve the document and forward it to the City Council for adoption. The Budget Committee also approves a rate of total ad valorem property taxes to be certified for collection. For more information, visit the Budget Committee webpage. The Budget Committee is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies for four-year terms.

Contact: Samantha Nelson, Finance Director, 541-693-2154, snelson@bendoregon.gov

City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (COBAAC)

The City of Bend’s Accessibility Advisory Committee’s purpose is to assist and advise the City on the most efficient and responsible means by which to make its programs, services, activities and facilities accessible to all of Bend’s residents and visitors. The City of Bend’s Accessibility Advisory Committee is a City Manger-appointed Committee. For more information, visit the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee webpage. The City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies; one full three-year term and the last two years of a vacated three-year term.

Contact: Cassandra Kehoe, Accessibility & Equity Manager, 541-693-2141 or ckehoe@bendoregon.gov. 

Core Area Advisory Board (CAAB)

The Core Area Advisory Board oversees the implementation of the Core Area Tax Increment Finance Plan and actions that support development in the Core Area, including oversight of the $195 million of maximum debt that can be issued to invest in projects in the area. The plan identifies a variety of projects and a funding source (tax increment) to invest in the area over the next 30 years as it transforms into an urban, mixed-use area where people can live, work, and play. For more information, visit theCore Area Advisory Board webpage. The Core Area Advisory Board is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies for three-year terms. Please review the membership representation requirements. 

Contact: Gina Kadow, Senior Administrative Support Specialist, 541-693-2162, gkadow@bendoregon.gov.   

Environment and Climate Committee (ECC)

The primary focus of the Environment and Climate Committee is to provide input and recommendations to the City Council on topics related to environmental stewardship and to oversee the implementation of the Community Climate Action Plan, adopted in December 2019. The Committee is made up of individuals who have experience or expertise, professional or lived, in the following or other related subject matters: energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy-efficient building, environmental justice, equity in environmental stewardship and sustainability, alternative transportation and mobility, energy policy, environmental policy, forestry, water resources, ecology, other life sciences, carbon emission reduction, and other related areas. For more information, visit the Environment and Climate Committee webpage. The Environment and Climate Committee is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies; one full four-year term and the last two years of a vacated four-year term.  

Contact: Cassie Lacy, Senior Management Analyst, 541-323-8587 or clacy@bendoregon.gov. 

Landmarks Commission 

Candidates for the Bend Landmarks Commission are required to be a community member residing within the Bend Urban Growth Boundary with an interest in architecture, history, architectural history, planning, prehistoric and historic archaeology, folklore, cultural anthropology, curation, conservation, landscape architecture or related disciplines.  For more information, visit the Landmarks Commission webpage. 

The City is inviting interested community members to attend one of the regular monthly Landmarks Commission meetings to learn more about serving on the advisory board. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Please check the City of Bend calendarfor details.

The Bend Landmarks Commission is seeking one new alternate member to fill the last three years of a four-year term alternate position. Alternates for this commission play an active role and may take part in any deliberation. Alternates may be counted as part of the quorum and may vote if their participation is necessary to make a quorum.

Contact: Heidi Kennedy, Senior Planner, 541-617-4524 or hkennedy@bendoregon.gov.  

Planning Commission 

This group is the appointed citizen body that provides recommendations to the City Council on land use policies and development standards, makes land use decisions on planning applications, and provides a public forum for community values, visioning, and strategic thinking in long-range planning. For more information, visit the Planning Commission webpage. The Planning Commission is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies: one full four-year term and the last year of a vacated four-year term.

Contact: Renee Brooke, Planning Manager, 541-330-4008, rbrooke@bendoregon.gov. 

Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee (BMPO)

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) is the lead agency for regional transportation planning and the decision-making body for federal and state transportation funding for the Bend area. The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization was formed in December 2002 when the Bend area reached 50,000 in population. The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization works cooperatively with local governments to set priorities for transportation needs. Metropolitan Planning Organizations are charged with maintaining and conducting a "continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive" regional transportation planning and project programming process for the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization area. For more information, visit the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization webpage. 

The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on its budget committee, two full three-year terms and one interim vacancy ending June 30, 2025. The committee typically meets once per year to review the proposed Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization budget and make a recommendation to the Policy Board. The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee members are not eligible to receive a stipend for committee services. 

Contact: Kelli Kennedy, Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Program Coordinator, 541-693-2122 or kkennedy@bendoregon.gov. 

Stipends 

The City of Bend offers a stipend program for City advisory board, committee and commission voting members who choose to participate. The intent is to expand opportunities for community members to connect with the City and lower barriers to engagement. The program will provide members of City advisory boards, committees and commissions with a stipend of $40 per meeting, not to exceed $500 per person annually. This stipend covers assumed costs of volunteering on an advisory group such as travel, parking, stable internet connection and other expenses. Please note, non-voting members and Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee members are not eligible for the stipend.