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7 Shocking Decisions And The Full Roster Of The Bend Oregon City Council (2025 Update)

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The Bend Oregon City Council is currently navigating one of the most transformative and contentious periods in the city's history, with major decisions on housing, climate policy, and internal governance dominating the agenda as of December 2025. The Council, composed of a Mayor and six Councilors, is the central legislative body responsible for guiding Bend's rapid growth, managing its essential services, and addressing the critical issues facing Central Oregon residents, from a deepening housing crisis to ambitious climate initiatives. This article breaks down the key elected officials and the most significant, and sometimes controversial, decisions shaping Bend's future right now.

The 2025-2027 biennium is defined by a set of aggressive goals established by the Council, focusing heavily on sustainable growth and equitable access to city resources. Recent actions, including a highly debated Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion and the development of a potential carbon fee, underscore the body's commitment to these goals, while a significant internal investigation has recently brought the culture of City Hall under intense public scrutiny. Understanding who serves and what they are prioritizing is essential for any resident or stakeholder in the City of Bend.

The 2025 Bend City Council Roster and Key Elected Officials

The Bend City Council consists of seven elected officials—a Mayor and six Council members—who serve four-year terms. These officials are the primary policymakers for the City of Bend, Oregon, and are responsible for setting the strategic direction for the municipal government. The following list details the key officials in office for the 2025 term, serving as the core entities driving local policy and governance.

  • Melanie Kebler (Mayor): As the elected Mayor, Kebler serves as the political head of the city and presides over Council meetings. She is a key proponent of the city’s climate resiliency and housing affordability initiatives.
  • Megan Perkins (Mayor Pro Tem): Serving as the Mayor Pro Tem, Perkins steps in for the Mayor when needed. She is a returning incumbent who has focused on real estate development and sustainable growth management within the city's boundaries.
  • Megan Norris (City Councilor): A returning incumbent, Councilor Norris has been instrumental in discussions regarding infrastructure improvements and maintaining the city's financial stability through careful budget oversight.
  • Steve Platt (City Councilor): Elected to Position 4, Platt is a newer voice on the Council, bringing a background focused on community engagement and addressing the immediate needs of Bend's rapidly expanding population.
  • Gina Franzosa (City Councilor): Franzosa joined the Council as a newcomer, bringing fresh perspectives to the ongoing debates on housing density and the balance between development and preserving Bend's unique quality of life.
  • Tobias Colvin (City Councilor): An incumbent who has been involved in public safety and local economic development, Colvin's work often centers on ensuring essential city services meet the demand of Central Oregon's growth.
  • Clifford B Evelyn (City Councilor): Evelyn is a key figure in community outreach and equity discussions, advocating for accessible services and opportunities across all demographics in the Bend community.

The Council relies on the expertise of key administrative entities to execute its vision, including the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the City Recorder, all operating from the main Bend City Hall located on NW Wall Street.

The 2025-2027 Council Goals: Six Pillars of Bend’s Future

Following extensive community input and strategic planning, the Bend City Council adopted a comprehensive set of 2025-2027 goals, which serve as the strategic roadmap for all city departments. These goals directly address the most pressing issues facing the city and establish a framework for a more sustainable and equitable future.

1. Housing: Addressing the Affordability Crisis

Housing remains the paramount issue. The Council's goal is to significantly increase the supply of diverse and affordable housing options. This includes utilizing city-owned land for development and clearing the path for projects like a recent plan to build row houses and single-family detached townhomes to help the local school district. A major recent action was the 4-2 approval of a controversial Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Expansion to add 91 acres in southeast Bend, known as the Caldera Ranch site. This expansion is designed to provide land for additional housing, though it sparked debate over the pace and nature of Bend's growth.

2. Climate Resiliency and Carbon Reduction

The Council is committed to reducing community-wide carbon emissions, a goal that has led to one of the most high-profile policy debates: the potential implementation of a Carbon Fee. This proposal is part of the city's broader strategy to meet shared climate targets and transition to more sustainable energy use. The Bend Chamber of Commerce has been actively involved in these discussions, expressing support for climate goals while scrutinizing the economic impact of the proposed fee on local businesses.

High-Profile Controversies and Major Policy Decisions

Beyond the strategic goals, the Bend City Council has been at the center of several high-stakes, headline-grabbing events and decisions in late 2024 and throughout 2025, demonstrating the complex nature of governing a rapidly growing city.

The Portela Departure and City Hall Investigation

One of the most dramatic events was the resignation of Andrés Portela III, Bend's Equity and Inclusion Director, in September 2025. His departure was followed by claims of racial bias within the municipal government, which generated significant public and media attention, raising serious concerns about the culture at City Hall. However, a subsequent investigation into his claims concluded that the allegations were "implausible," "inconsistent," and "unsubstantiated" by the evidence. This investigation, and the Council's response to its findings, became a major point of discussion regarding transparency and accountability within the City of Bend administration.

Future of Infrastructure: New City Hall and Midtown Projects

The Council is also actively considering major infrastructure and capital improvement projects. Discussions are underway regarding the revitalization of city-owned land to foster economic development, and there are active considerations for a New City Hall building. These projects, including developments in the Midtown area and the status of the Hawthorne Bridge, are part of a larger effort to update the city's aging infrastructure and accommodate future growth. The evaluation of options emphasizes a forward-thinking vision for transforming underutilized land.

Financial and Administrative Stability

In a move to secure the city's long-term financial health, the Council recently approved a resolution creating a New Internal Service Fund: Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB). This administrative decision ensures that the city is responsibly planning for the future obligations of its employees, demonstrating a commitment to sound financial governance and stability. This fund is one of many behind-the-scenes actions that ensure the continuity of essential services, including those provided by the Bend Police Department and Bend Fire & Rescue.

The work of the Bend City Council in 2025 is a dynamic blend of high-level strategic planning and high-stakes political debate. From approving the Caldera Ranch UGB expansion to debating a new Carbon Fee, and from navigating the fallout of a major internal controversy to planning a New City Hall, the decisions made by Mayor Kebler and the Councilors are fundamentally shaping the economic, environmental, and social landscape of Central Oregon for years to come. Residents and stakeholders should closely follow the weekly Council meetings and the progress on the 2025-2027 goals to understand the direction of this rapidly evolving city.

7 Shocking Decisions and the Full Roster of the Bend Oregon City Council (2025 Update)
bend oregon city council
bend oregon city council

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