BEND, OR -- The three newest members of the Bend City Council continue New Councilor Orientation, this week, while remaining Councilors prepare for their arrival. City Manager Eric King says there won’t be any major policy changes until after Bill Moseley, Justin Livingston and Bruce Abernethy are sworn in. "There is this transition period over the last few months. For example, there was one Councilor interested in short term rentals; maybe making some decisions on that issue before the new Council takes office. Something like that – putting in new laws or regulations – the way the process works, there’s a first reading then a second reading and then those policies don’t take effect until 30 days after that second reading." And, he tells KBND News the group that votes on a first reading really should vote on the second reading, as well.
King says major decisions will wait until the new Council can decide where to focus its efforts. "We go through a goal-setting process that we begin in January and it lasts through February and the first part of March. And so, the goals they’ll establish for themselves are really for the next two years. Those goals really set the policy framework, so I don’t anticipate, right out of the gate, some type of policy work because we haven’t formed what our goals and priorities are, yet." And, some of that will depend on state lawmakers. "That’s one of the other things they’ll do early on in January, is firm up their Legislative priority as the State Legislature begins their session in February."