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We’re at the
Table – Water and Sewer Rate
Structure under study
Once there were no meters, and
then there were water meters and
a two-level rate payer system,
residential and commercial. The
Bend Chamber is at the table
with advisory committee members
from Bend 2030, the school
district, parks and recreation,
builders association, large
water users like Deschutes
Brewery, nonprofit
organizations, neighborhood
associations, private citizens
and city staff to work on
developing a “conservation-based
rate system” to take to the Bend
City Council for action. With
the cost of delivering water
increasing, aging water and
sewer systems in need of major
repair and multiple years of
under funding for needed
maintenance, it’s no doubt that
water and sewer rates will be
increasing for most residential
and commercial users.
Interestingly enough, of the
three water entities, (city of
Bend and Avion Water) who
deliver water within the city,
the city’s rates are by far the
lowest. Given the City Council’s
direction to develop a
“conservation-based” rate
system, the good news is there
will be incentives to use less
water and become “water-wise,”
therefore helping to hold down
potential rate increases. As we
move closer to the rate
structure being developed, I
will keep you informed.
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Request
for Ideas – Owning our own
facility
At the General Membership
Meeting on October 30th,
I announced the Bend Chamber has
set a goal of owning its own
building, either via an existing
structure or building our own
office. We want to have an
office where members can hold
meetings, large and small; where
our board is able to hold its
meetings and where we have space
for start up businesses to have
an office as they launch from
their home business to their
first office. To obtain a copy
of the “Request for Ideas”
facility requirements, email
mike@bendchamber.org
and I’ll send you a
specification sheet. Along with
the building goal in 2008, we’ll
be announcing the launch of our
capital campaign, a way for
members to participate in making
this dream a reality. Look for
more information in the January
2008 Business Journal.
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Economic
Census
The 2007 Economic Census is in
the mail to 3,200 area
businesses. Every 5 years, the
Economic Census develops a
comprehensive portrait of
American business, from national
to local level. By the way, if
you receive a census form, you
are required by law (Title 13,
U.S. Code) to complete and
return it by February 12, 2008.
To learn more about the 2007
Economic Census, the U.S.
Department of Commerce has
created a Web site:
www.business.census.gov.
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UGB Update –
Policy Discussion
The next meeting between the
Bend City Council and the City
Planning Commission will be
Thursday, November 29, 2007
beginning at 6:00 p.m. This
meeting will continue the
discussion of policy directions
regarding the urban growth
boundary expansion. It will be
held in the Barnes and Sawyer
Rooms at the Deschutes Services
Building, 1300 NW Wall.
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2007 Report
Card – Deschutes County
Community Plan
The 2007 Report Card, issued in
late October, was produced by
the Deschutes County Commission
on Children & Families and
supported by Bend 2030, Central
Oregon Partnership: Deschutes
County Board of Commissioners,
Health Department, Mental Health
and Juvenile Community Justice;
and, United Way of Deschutes
County. The report card
highlights accomplishments and
challenges in each of five
categories regarding the 2010
Plan developed after the turn of
the century. This report card is
packed full of data and
information on the progress
being made on a path to improve
the health and well-being of
Deschutes County citizens. For a
compete copy of the report, go
to the Deschutes County Public
Library or go online to:
www.deschutes.org/ccf/planning.
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Veterans’
Day Parade and Bridge Dedication
On Saturday, November 10, local
residents will have an
opportunity to attend the Annual
Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown
Bend. It begins at 11:00 a.m.
on Bond Street, proceeding down
to Franklin, and back down Wall
Street. The parade features
Veterans, dignitaries, elected
officials, local school marching
bands, military units, color
guards and more. Following the
parade, Mayor Bruce Abernethy
will dedicate the Veterans’ Day
Bridge, formerly the Newport
Bridge, and Randy Lee Newman
Memorial Walkway at Brooks Park.
Given we are currently at war,
honoring and remembering our
veterans for the sacrifice they
have made for our freedom and
continue to make today is
something each Bend resident
needs to do.
Also, this week Governor Ted Kulongoski proclaimed
November as “Hire A Veteran
Month” in order to honor
Oregon military veterans and
encourage employers throughout
the state to hire them. The
Governor noted in his press
release that Oregon is home to
355,000 veterans and many do not
have work despite their skills,
training and experience.
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Good Access
is Good Business
The Bend Chamber working with
the City of Bend, Central Oregon
Visitors Association, Bend
Visitor and Convention Bureau,
Bend Downtowners, and the
Central Oregon Coalition for
Access (COCO) will present a
seminar from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at
City Hall in the Council
Chambers. This seminar will
present background information
on demographic and census
statistics on disposable income
for people with disabilities,
access to business from parking
to entrance and accessibility
needs within a business location
plus tax incentives for
businesses to improve
accessibility. If you’re looking
for reasons why access is
important and local resources to
assist with access needs, join
us on November 15 at 8:00 a.m.
For more information, or to RSVP
for this informative seminar,
call Kim Burgess at
541-693-2182.
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One Voice Trip
– Speaking with One Voice in DC
In late March or early April of
2008 (we’re waiting to see the
2008 schedule for Congress) the
Chamber will once again be
conducting its One Voice trip
to Washington DC. The goal
of this trip is to meet with our
US Senators and Representative
to discuss issues important to
this community. If we can have a
cross-section from the
community; public, private,
businesses and non profit
organizations acting as “one
voice” on the issues we present,
the message is more powerful and
sounds less like a special
interest looking for its agenda
to be addressed. If you’re
interested in more details about
the 2008 One Voice DC trip
call Mike Schmidt at 382-3221.
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Coming
events
New Venue for Professional
Development
The Bend Chamber has secured a
new venue for the Professional
Development Series Morning
Education Programs. Beginning
with our November 14th
presentation titled, “Community
Involvement & You,” these free
monthly programs will be held in
COCC’s Hitchcock Auditorium in
Pioneer Hall and will continue
to be held in this venue through
2008. DIRECTIONS: From Newport
Avenue or Portland Avenue, take
College Way up the hill. Keep
driving until you pass College
Loop Road on the right. Just
past the Bookstore, turn right
on College Services Drive.
PARKING PERMITS ARE REQUIRED
and can be downloaded
HERE. Download and print the
PDF file for your date specific
Temporary Parking Permit.
Nov 9: Legislative Council
Breakfast at the Bend Golf
and Country Club from 7:00 to
8:30 a.m. RSVPs are required
for this breakfast meeting. Call
382-3221 to make a reservation.
This meeting is part two of
the Town Hall discussion on
Juniper Ridge and Ron Garzini
will be joining us. How about
the Ron Garzini memo? Is the
deal off with the Master
Developer? How about the land
changes relative to the UGB and
Juniper Ridge? Should the city
buy out Ray Kuratek and the
Juniper Ridge Partners, LLC? Let
your voice be heard! This is the
last breakfast meeting for 2007
and we will be unveiling new
2008 program changes. It’s
exciting, to say the least!
Nov 15: Roundtable on
Employee Wellness & Health
Consumerism at St. Charles
Medical Center from 8 to 10:00
a.m. This event is sponsored by
the Bend Chamber, Clear Choice
Health Plans and the Central
Oregon Health Collaborative.
Come join us for a light
breakfast as you learn about
healthcare-related topics such
as: research, versatile tactics
for any workforce and health
plan, proven solutions, how to
get results in 3-12 months,
local support for best success,
and enjoy great networking with
other local business leaders.
Cost to attend is $15. Please
RSVP today online
[sign up now],
by calling 382-3221 or email to
lindi@bendchamber.org.
Nov 15: Good Access is Good
Business Seminar in the City
Council Chambers at City Hall.
This informative seminar begins
at 8:00 a.m. To RSVP for this
informative 90 minute seminar,
call Kim Burgess at 693-2182 or
via email at
kburgess@ci.bend.or.us.
Dec 6: Member Holiday Party
at The High Desert Museum
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Parking is
limited as is the number of
attendees. RSVP early to make
sure you will have a reservation
for one of the best holiday
networking parties in Central
Oregon and it’s free to all
Chamber members.
[sign up now]
Call 382-3221 to reserve your
spot. Shuttle busses will be
provided for your convenience.
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