Explore Bend's Neighborhood Associations: Empowering Local Communities

by Stacey Sebastian

The City of Bend is broken up into 13 Neighborhood Associations (NAs)

NA’s are comprised of local volunteers who are elected by their neighbors as board members. These board members coordinate and facilitate, often times, monthly meetings to inform their residents on issues within their boundaries and discuss important topics. The purpose of the Neighborhood Associations is to assist these residents with interacting with City government officials on a variety of topics from new developments to street repairs to traffic control. NA leaders also help the city, as well as developers, inform the public on different projects going on or being planned in their communities. Neighborhood Association members should be able to help direct residents who need information from local government with who the need to talk to.

There is some confusion with Neighborhood Associations and Home Owners Associations (HOA). The main difference between the 2 is that NA’s are run by volunteers who are mainly serving a communications role for an organization that may or may not get funding from the City.

HOA’s are private entities that are usually set up by a specific neighborhoods developer to get home owners to follow certain guidelines while they work to finish building the development. After the construction ends the Developer hands the HOA over to the residents who elect board members, collect dues, and make decisions on rules for the residents of the HOA to follow. There is often upkeep and maintenance to community buildings, parks, roads, and other structures that is coordinated by HOA’s as well.

The City of Bend has taken an additional step of adding a new standing committee called the Neighborhood Leadership Alliance (NLA) This is a group of elected and appointed NA leaders who bridge the gap between the NA and the City Council. The NLA will take an active role in communicating with residents and giving recommendations to the City Council on a variety of issue.

Through these channels listed above, the City of Bend has set itself up to communicate with their residents in ways that will give them high quality feedback. The community is given a voice and an outlet to organize with other citizens to affect desired change in their neighborhoods.

Here are a list of the 13 Neighborhood Associations inside of the UGB (Urban Growth Boundary):

Awbrey Butte Neighborhood Association

Boyd Acres Neighborhood Association

Century West Neighborhood Association

Larkspur Neighborhood Association

Mountain View Neighborhood Association

Old Bend Neighborhood Association

Old Farm Neighborhood Association

Orchard District Neighborhood Association

River West Neighborhood Association

Southeast Bend Neighborhood Association (None)

Southern Crossing Neighborhood Association (None)