Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler delivered her State of the City Address, where she highlighted how city leaders are stepping up to meet the challenges of growth and plans for the city’s future. Mayor Kebler’s priorities include housing and homelessness, public safety, transportation, and water conservation.
In her remarks, Mayor Kebler noted the city is working to address affordable housing and homelessness from every angle and detailed several efforts underway. The city has supported the creation of nearly 1,000 affordable homes and changed policies to make it easier for residents to build ADUs and multi-family homes. She also shared how Bend is working to change codes to make it easier to create safe parking sites and shelters, investing in a Navigation Center, and converting motels into places for elders and families to stay.
Mayor Kebler highlighted public safety efforts with fire and police, sharing how the city recently passed a local fire levy to help keep response times low and launched a comprehensive data dashboard to help residents get timely information on public safety data.
“If there’s one thing I know about Bend, it’s this – we are a community that has always adapted to meet the challenges of our times. And I hope that as we all walk into the future together, you’ll join your City Council and the City of Bend in owning that future and setting a course that our kids and grandkids can be proud of,” said Mayor Kebler.
Read Mayor Kebler’s full address here.
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