Mayor Bill Friedman proposed during the May 19 City Council meeting to keep the city administration and its employees at the present City Hall location, and move employees of the planning, building, and engineering departments, including those in the annex building located near the City Hall on Bond Street, to the public works building, and then demolish the annex building for either a new building or a parking lot. Only sewer and water employees should remain in the City Hall building to keep the same convenient location for people to pay their water and sewer bills, and to start or cancel water and sewer services. Additional parking by City Hall has been needed since the opening of the popular McMenamins restaurant in the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic school buildings on Bond Street, across from City Hall. This plan would allow the City Council chamber to be expanded and enlargened for a larger seating capacity for meetings. The last two City Council meetings have well demonstrated the need for a larger City Council chamber.

A third-story addition to the City Hall building should be explored so additional office space could possibly be added for City Hall administration employees. The plan of having City Hall remain at its present location and having public works, along with the planning, building and engineering departments, be located and combined into one facility at the public works building on Forbes Road would be an idea most ideal.

Keith Scott

Bend