Month: December 2025

Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — For several months, the Problem Solvers have been sharing stories about the parking challenges facing downtown Bend. Many residents say they avoid the area because finding parking is difficult, and local businesses report feeling the impact.

Parklets: A Pandemic Lifeline Turns Permanent

One side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic remains with us: outdoor dining parklets. These parklets converted parking spaces into dining areas.

While some business owners feel restaurants are unfairly favored by being allowed to take away convenient parking, others argue they are vital to keeping downtown vibrant.

Business Owners Divided on Parklets’ Impact

Sarah Roberts, owner of Oregon Body and Bath, believes the parklets have outlived their usefulness.

“There was a need for them then. But I think that time has come and gone. We don’t have COVID any more,” she said. She frequently hears complaints about the loss of parking affecting business.

On the other hand, Mac McDonald, owner of Lemon Tree, paints a different picture.

“It creates an ambiance, an opportunity. It looks fresh, exciting,” he said. He notes that the restaurant’s parklet attracts tourists who are exploring downtown for the first time. “If my parklet went away, I would lose 10 percent of my sales.”

McDonald says he is convinced that other businesses rely on parklets to help attract customers. “Again, absolutely,” he said when asked if parklets help bring more customers downtown.

The True Cost of Parklets: City Revenue Losses

Among the roughly 2,500 parking spaces in downtown Bend, 13 businesses have dedicated around 30 spots to parklets. According to the City’s Transportation Department, each parking space generates about $250,000 in annual revenue.

This puts the city’s potential revenue loss at over $7.5 million. However, this figure doesn’t factor in the possible boost in business and tax revenue that these parklets may bring by attracting more visitors to the downtown area.

December 2024 parking strategy updateDownload

Roberts says this loss translates not only financially but also keeps locals from patronizing downtown businesses.

“I think it comes down to that convenient parking that the locals have been used to for a long time,” she added.

Mayor and Business Association Look to the Future

Mayor Melanie Kebler sees parklets as community gathering places that help all businesses. “Having gathering places for people and having places for people to stay longer downtown generally benefits all the businesses,” she said.

However, the Downtown Bend Business Association is pushing for changes. In a letter to the city, they requested that parklets become a summer-only feature, adhere to design standards, and have increased permit costs.

DBBA letter to the City of Bend on parkletsDownload

The mayor is open to these changes but emphasizes the need to improve how parking options are communicated and made accessible.

“You might be surprised at how many different little parking lots there are downtown, as well as the parking garage,” she said. “We need to do a better job of making all the other parking options understandable for people.”

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KTVZ

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – AccuAir Heating and Cooling, based in Redmond, has been named the winner of the 2025 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics for the state of Oregon. 

The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is the most prestigious honor the Better Business Bureau Foundation bestows on businesses operating within its eight-state service area. Winners must demonstrate a high level of personal character, meet the highest standards of ethics, and build trust with their customers, team and the community.  

“The businesses we’re honoring this year have exemplified that doing the right thing for their community and customers is good for business,” said Tyler Andrew, president and CEO of BBB Great West + Pacific. “They’ve shown what it looks like to lead with values and build a better marketplace for everyone. That’s the kind of leadership BBB looks for and is proud to spotlight with these awards!” 

For AccuAir founder and owner David Sale, the recognition is deeply personal. 

“Being recognized by the Better Business Bureau for our commitment to customer satisfaction and community involvement means the world to us,” Sale said in a news release from the company. “Our team works hard every day to deliver the highest standard of service, and seeing that dedication acknowledged makes me incredibly proud.” 

A Redmond local and U.S. Army veteran, Sale founded AccuAir in 2007 and has built a business known not only for expert HVAC services, but for giving back. To date, AccuAir has donated more than $179,000 to local charities, schools, and nonprofits — along with countless volunteer hours supporting Central Oregon families. 

“To me, this award isn’t just about our business—it’s about how our community sees us,” Sale added. “We want people to think of AccuAir not just for heating and cooling, but for the difference we make here at home.” 

About Better Business Bureau: BBB Great West + Pacific serves more than 20 million consumers in Alaska, Central Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Western Wyoming. BBB Foundation, the charitable arm of BBB Great West + Pacific, is dedicated to consumer protection and business celebration initiatives across the local service area. For more information, visit BBB.org/gwp. Torch Awards winners from each state were announced as part of a virtual ceremony held on October 30. 

About AccuAir Heating and Cooling: Founded in 2007, AccuAir Heating and Cooling provides trusted heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services throughout Central Oregon. Locally and veteran-owned, AccuAir is dedicated to delivering top-quality service and building lifelong relationships through integrity and expertise. Learn more at accuairheat.com.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As midterm races approach, KTVZ is bringing viewers in-depth interviews with candidates in local and statewide contests.

If you have an issue or question you would like me to ask candidates who are running for local, state, and national races, reach out to me at spencer.sacks@ktvz.com.

I recently sat down with Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell, a Republican candidate for Oregon governor. The two discussed topics including the recent Oregon Department of Transportation tax and fee increases, wildfires, education and immigration.

I opened the interview by asking Bethell why she is running for governor.

“Because it’s time that Oregon has a leader who understands the function of government from an executive perspective, not just a legislative perspective,” Bethell said. “As a Marion County commissioner, I have struggled for the last five years to have an active partner in the governor’s office with all the issues that we face across Oregon, from homelessness to housing to economic development.It feels like we’ve had an agenda-oriented individual in that office for far too long. I just want to come in and run the government so it’s efficient and effective. I want to lower the cost of government so that we’re not paying so much in taxes as citizens.”

I then asked what distinguishes Bethell from Republican front-runner Christine Drazan.

“I don’t come from the Legislature,” Bethell said. “I don’t have the need to create more laws and rules. My job as a commissioner is to make sure that my neighbors and my community are served properly, that businesses can thrive, and that our health and human services departments are effective.”

One of the major issues in the campaign is the recently passed ODOT funding bill. Bethell criticized the measure, which includes $4.2 billion in taxes and fees.

“We didn’t need to have that $4.2 billion tax package forced through,” she said. “What we needed was a leader to sit down with the director of ODOT and prioritize differently — to look at the funding space, live within their margins and partner locally.”

On immigration, Bethell addressed recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Portland.

“Right now, Oregon doesn’t have a good grasp on who is here legally and illegally,” she told KTVZ. “I don’t believe it’s appropriate for anybody to be living among our community scot-free. We all have to earn our way. We all have to invest in the system, and we need to do it in a way that maintains safe communities. Unfortunately, I think the individuals who are here illegally have committed a crime. They should go back to their country of origin.”

The interview also touched on Oregon’s education system and newly released state performance numbers.

“One of the biggest challenges we have in Oregon today is that we don’t allow parents in the classroom like we once did,” Bethell said. “Parents are trying to survive, and they miss a lot of opportunities to know what is going wrong in our education system. School districts should be the ones running what’s happening in their neighborhoods.”

She added that Oregon’s current approach is “top-down” and lacks accountability.

“We need to go back to real accountability in the classroom,” Bethell said. “We need to be able to serve each kid individually. Every brain is different in how it learns and comprehends, and we’ve created a one-size-fits-all system that doesn’t work. We’ve also removed academic standards — we’re not testing kids to determine whether they have the comprehensive foundation needed to move forward.”

Many residents in Eastern Oregon say they feel left out and ignored by state leadership. Sacks asked Bethell how she plans to connect with those communities if elected governor.

“I can understand why they feel left out and ignored, and I think that’s unacceptable,” Bethell said. “I made a commitment to set a table for them. I also inform them of the civic process and that the governor doesn’t have authority in every space, but the governor’s job is to listen and make connections.

“And while I am not a proponent of losing most of the best part of the state to Idaho, I understand that they want to be heard, and I’m going to show up for them.”

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