County Commissioners to host public hearing on Community Development Work Plan

On Wednesday, May 7, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing to discuss the Community Development Department’s (CDD) Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-26. Community members are invited to attend in person or virtually and provide their feedback about the plan.

“CDD’s work plan is basically the roadmap we use to determine department goals and initiatives for the year ahead,” said Community Development Director Peter Gutowsky. “We value the feedback we receive from the public because it helps to ensure that the plan reflects the lived experiences, priorities and aspirations of the community we serve.”

The Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes the following highlights:

• Continue improving CDD’s customer-centric website
• Upgrade the Onsite Wastewater Division’s Operation & Maintenance software system to enhance tracking capabilities and streamline processes
• Explore options and approaches to address rural housing and homelessness as allowed under state law
• Coordinate with the Road Department to enhance the driveway access permit processes     
• Conduct pre-application meetings and respond to customer inquiries (counter, phones, and emails)
• Initiate an update to the Newberry Country Plan
• Coordinate growth management issues, including technical analyses related to housing and employment needs
• Participate in legislative or rulemaking processes to shape state laws that benefit Deschutes County
• Continue to participate in a County-led effort to create a Pre-disaster Preparedness Plan

The public hearing will be held during the Board of Commissioner’s regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, May 7 at 9 a.m. at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. The meeting agenda and virtual log in information can be found at www.deschutes.org/meetings.

For more information about the work plan process or the public hearing, please call (541) 385-1709. Written feedback can be submitted via email to peter.gutowsky@deschutes.org.

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Media Contact:

Peter Gutowsky, Community Development Director

(541) 385-1709