News

Bend picked over Redmond in affordable housing project: The state Land Conservation and Development Commission selected Bend over Redmond for its Affordable Housing Pilot Project, which was authorized under state House Bill 4079. The two cities were finalists in the program for cities over 25,000 residents. The state will allow the winning city to develop affordable and market rate housing on land outside its urban growth boundary, with at least 30 percent of it designated for affordable housing. Bend is planning to develop 394 homes on 35 acres along Highway 20 just east of the city limits. Redmond’s development would have been on 40 acres east of town that are owned by Deschutes County near the High Desert Sports Complex.

SHOP WITH A COP: Donations are being accepted for the 2018 Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Shop with a Cop program, which will run from Dec. 18-20 this year, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. The program allows low-income children a chance for positive interaction with police, while brightening their Christmas, Last year, 105 children participated, shopping for themselves and approximately 420 family members. Participants are referred by a community-based advocacy group that works in schools, as well as by Central Oregon Partnership for Youth. In addition to shopping with the students, Shop with a Cop also partners with Walmart to help provide a Christmas meal for some families. The program, which began in 2001, is funded by community donations, which can be mailed or dropped off 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, 63333 West Highway 20. Bend, OR 97703, as well as the sheriff’s office stations in Sisters and LaPine.

SMITH ROCK MASTER PLAN: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites the public to comment on long-term planning for Smith Rock State Park as part of the process of updating the park’s master plan, which will guide recreation use and resource management for the next 20 years, according to a news release. A concept development plan outlining infrastructure changes, as well as meeting notes and materials from past public meetings, has been posted at smithrockparkplan.com. Park users and community members may review the plan and submit comments on the website. Public comments may also be emailed to robin.wilcox@oregon.gov or mailed to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Attn. Robin Wilcox, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem, OR 97301, and will be accepted through Dec. 15. Comments will be collected and incorporated into the draft master plan to be presented summer 2019. A final round of public meetings will be held when the draft plan is released.

City seeks committee member: Redmond is accepting applications for 34 openings on the following city committees and commissions: airport committee, urban growth boundary, bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, budget committee, downtown urban renewal advisory committee, historic landmarks commission, housing and community development committee, Juniper Golf committee, nuisance appeals board, parks committee, Redmond Committee for Art in Public Places and urban area planning commission. In addition, the city is accepting applications from youth for youth ex-officio positions in all committees. These are volunteer positions with specific terms of service. For more information about the city’s committees, contact Kelly Morse, City Recorder 541-923-7751 or visit www.ci.redmond.or.us. Committee and commission applications are available online at www.ci.redmond.or.us/government.commissions-committees and at Redmond City Hall, 411 SW 9th Street. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

Business

Washington, D.C., youth tour: Central Electric Cooperative, a Redmond-based company, is accepting applications from local high school juniors for the 2019 Youth Tour program, which takes students to historic sites including the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall, Arlington National Cemetery and Lincoln Memorial, as well as the opportunity to meet their representatives and senators. The cooperative will select two high school students for the all-expense paid trip which will take place June 2019. Applicants’ families must be Central Electric Cooperative members and the application, which includes an essay on current issues, is due by 5 p.m. Dec. 7. The students selected will be expected to speak about their trip at the cooperative’s annual meeting in April 2020. The application is available at cec.coop/youth-tour.