Inside Bend

We’re joined by Mayor Melanie Kebler as she discusses what it was like growing up in Bend and what lead her to run for Mayor. She also explains her vision for the council moving forward and what goals she hopes to accomplish over the next two years.  She also touches on ways community input influences policy decisions. You are not going to want to miss this episode! 

Bend Fire & Rescue provides medical serves not only the City of Bend but 1,450 square miles of surrounding rural area. That’s a big job! Making sure there are enough firefighters and paramedics to cover that area is imperative to keep our community safe. Deputy Fire Chief Drew Norris is our guest on the Inside Bend podcast this month as he explains how important it is to make sure there are enough resources to properly serve the community.

On this month’s episode, we take a look ahead at what’s to come for the City of Bend as we head into the new year. We’re joined by City Manager Eric King as he explains the process for goal setting, the creation of the City budget and how you can get involved in that process to help shape the work City Council will tackle over the next two years.

This month. we’re joined by Housing Director Lynne McConnell as we take a look at the work her department is doing.  We cover the need for more types of housing options, discuss affordable housing, and the role that this department plays in helping to create shelters.

Core Area Project Manager Allison Platt joins us to discuss what is taking place in the Core Area and why the City is investing in development in this area of town.

Interested in learning more about bicycle and pedestrian safety? Look no further than this month’s episode of Inside Bend! We dive into the Neighborhood Street Safety Program to learn more about how it works, and what it hopes to achieve by taking community feedback to make our streets better for everyone to use.

On this month’s episode of Inside Bend we are joined by two guests as we discuss the development of the camping code. Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins and Assistant City Attorney Ian Leitheiser discuss how the camping code is being developed, why it's being developed and how enforcement of the code will work.

Welcoming Week is right around the corner! This month’s guest on Inside Bend is Community Relations Manager Zavi Borja, who is organizing Welcoming Week. Zavi builds relationships with community members that may not otherwise be heard to help create an inclusive City for everyone. He also explains what he loves about Welcoming Week and how you can get involved with the events.

On this episode we’re joined by Long Range Planning Manager Brian Rankin, who is heading up the Stevens Road Tract Concept Plan. This is a plan that will add 261 acres of land to the Bend Urban Growth Boundary which was made possible by the passing of House Bill 3318 in 2021. The plan outlines the creation of a complete community that will include deed-restricted affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing. There will also be parks, mixed uses buildings, and transportation options that support walking, biking and transit.

In this special episode of Inside Bend, Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Trish Connolly explains how you can Own Your Zone. This episode breaks down defensible space and focuses on Zone Three, giving great tips on what you can do to protect your home and community.