[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6646423,"mediaKeyId","2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6","parentId",2626792,"title","COBAC honors outgoing member Corey Sparks; Councilor Barb Campbell reflects on accessibility progress","audioSeconds",1589,"startMs",4232000,"endMs",5821000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6&start=4232&end=5821","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6/thumbnail_4232000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646423/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/COBAC-honors-outgoing-member-Corey-Sparks-Councilor-Barb-Campbell-reflects-on-accessibility-progress","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646423-3fb85b8f24df0ba0e749e942fcf88295/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185287&Signature=Nl8GT6HdGNlTGMJUclBhRraCoICtdlGH95CUoj6jpU35XjYyS1tN-mRP93gdT4~9V5FHYaSHnB8rSaZP2ODTorrHQe8o6A-c8xoXgRBi76kHfsZjILiRLexbQE2vpDC0iU4RzCM8BukJFBUnJWWeC7nFm85F~~v1EBA2h-N2At-EF4YTAcaWlknjQlF0QI7DnwRTObIJNqi2UqCyHg9NkhEQZDUwkdYUqd2qftXHx-t0~CoeW3wZtBD8TM8kv5hiIibFb4~gugdC1cE-u96VAMYzzfIgegPVFAzW2hkbmHPpO-4ernnE9tHqQyL~8fFMDP~qfjMpQgw9HKaOgmU53A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bend, OR","date","2025-01-13T13:32:24.87Z","article","The City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (COBAC) on Dec. 19 formally recognized member Corey Sparks for six years of service and accepted brief remarks from Councilor Barb Campbell, who is leaving the committee when her council term ends in January.

Cassandra, COBAC staff liaison, read a summary of Sparks’s contributions and accomplishments, which the committee cited as: work on the ODOT Highway 20 Greenwood Project, the Drake Park footbridge, Columbia Park footbridge accessibility improvements, taxi licensing discussions, outreach at CityFest and other community engagement, and advocacy on sidewalk and snow-removal issues. Corey Sparks responded to the recognition, noting she joined COBAC in February 2018 after a recent epilepsy diagnosis and said she appreciated the learning and friendships developed while serving.

Councilor Barb Campbell addressed the committee and reflected on the group’s evolution. Campbell said the committee shifted from a period of frustration and litigation to a “hopeful” working posture in which members focus on what is possible. She encouraged strengthening the committee’s relationship with the Central Oregon Coalition on Access (COCA) and praised recent progress in local transportation management. Campbell highlighted a regional development: Bob Townsend, formerly ODOT Region 4 director, is now director of Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council/Central Oregon Transit (referred to in the meeting as CET) and, she said, brings deep technical knowledge and ideas for service and cost improvements.

Committee chair Liz Woodfin and members offered thanks to Sparks and Campbell and invited Campbell to remain involved as her schedule allows. No formal action was required for the recognitions; they were recorded as expressions of gratitude during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee Regular Hybrid Meeting - 12/19/2024 - 1:00PM","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee recognized outgoing member Corey Sparks for six years of service and heard departing Councilor Barb Campbell praise the committee’s shift toward constructive work and express optimism for regional transit leadership changes.","taxTitle","Bend, Deschutes County, Oregon","taxId",2850,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646430,"COBAC considers consolidating subgroups; city attorney outlines public meetings law implications",561,1794000,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6&start=1794&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6/thumbnail_1794000.jpg","/articles/6646430/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/COBAC-considers-consolidating-subgroups-city-attorney-outlines-public-meetings-law-implications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646430-4099cb70b309890485138312dadea53c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185287&Signature=hBlkysMfi6Cp9bFusnQKgiqyVkjF8hgpm4znovslGkrEdD09uOI9EWDnT5hSn5Z7rgPO0fPiokZs-pUyXWunjtdAdn2RWkWpR5oyqRuMk-65~xwxEXh29hqLhVS-erDbwxESSdJkJPmO71u1sde8~QgqtXXOHNegLzafn4F4MT-OZBtKTJ-nDKM-NImoEyLsYEsaqWC1T2Y4b3D88SMx~WIdWbApnuO707LoiQfEdWMOlVZzhg6ueCIBNgJ5NwN0qja0R33CDptg9z664dxSLAEI9jB8cp9AnXVZcoFxMMtb25~9P9qJNIhl6SwXgSBBzcjUGZg9ir2rBLGnoIhRaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Dec. 19 meeting, the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee (COBAC) reviewed proposed 2025 priorities and discussed whether to reorganize existing subgroups into a more formal subcommittee structure. Committee members raised the possibility that consolidating subgroups could allow focused work on infrastructure, outreach and the Breaking Barriers conference, but they were also concerned about the public-record and meeting-notice requirements that apply to formal subcommittees.

Ian Whitehead, City Attorney, joined the meeting to explain legal distinctions. Whitehead told COBAC that, under state public-meetings law, groups that are a governing body of a public body or that make recommendations to the parent body are subject to public-meeting requirements. “Don’t get too hung up on what you’re calling something,” Whitehead said, but he added that a subgroup that digs into an issue and brings recommendations back will almost always be treated as a public body under the law and therefore needs public notice, accessibility accommodations and a record of the meeting.

Whitehead described several practical effects: meetings of such subcommittees must be publicly noticed and accessible, a record of the meeting must be kept, and the public must have the ability to view proceedings in real time (though the public meetings law does not automatically require public comment). He also explained quorum-related risks: for COBAC’s full complement of 11 members the committee’s majority — and thus a quorum — would be six members; gatherings that approach a quorum can raise transparency concerns even if they technically fall short of a quorum.

Committee members noted the trade-offs of a formal subcommittee: greater transparency and legal obligations versus convenience and scheduling burden. Several members said focused subcommittees could increase deliverables in 2025, including more engaged outreach, infrastructure reviews and a potential tabling presence at the regional Breaking Barriers conference in April. Cassandra (COBAC staff liaison) said staff will compile outstanding 2024 initiatives and members will finalize the 2025 work plan at the Jan. 23 meeting, when the new members can vote.

The committee also discussed logistics and representation: staff announced an advisory body summit Jan. 14 (4:30–6:30 p.m.) and invited COBAC to send a representative; Cassandra said multiple members may attend. No formal change to subgroup status was adopted at the Dec. 19 meeting; members were asked to consider structure and capacity over the holidays and resume the discussion in January.

The committee approved the Nov. 21 minutes by unanimous voice/hand vote earlier in the meeting; the mover was not clearly audible in the transcript and the motion was seconded on the record by Carl Burnett.","City Attorney Ian Whitehead told the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee that any subgroup that researches or makes recommendations to the committee is likely subject to Oregon public meetings law, a point the committee weighed while discussing 2025 priorities and possible reorganization of subgroups into formal subcommittees.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6646435,"Public commenter urges design changes to Franklin Corridor bike lanes to improve accessibility",417,509000,926000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6&start=509&end=926","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2626792-b51bb1df0e5a8398ac3c0a1fbe9494f6/thumbnail_509000.jpg","/articles/6646435/Bend/Deschutes-County/Oregon/Public-commenter-urges-design-changes-to-Franklin-Corridor-bike-lanes-to-improve-accessibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646435-8b4b52164a6ae560f5aaaf4c2e1f16a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185287&Signature=VYyfrkLBOLkbKWgywVc2~C3YzCqp18701kC5uwkIAri-xRtNVQUxXKmsICR2slCYre5b3QU-erL8iwfOr5c8LzYfvxLEaDa3BL~3KeXG~kIFiSIwOF~6Opuua-L8ig9Yah0QSE2NYdlcxtZtA7gaNqgfr6EjbB2ZTcvE4ntum9MKtgoBXmzwcFHXMltZHXH0QM5qUBlzyQQYmZrAj9A1y7OQ0QM8XtHQJpcKn2iIJ9kfGefHYGpVriBXSo--9HbhBv8nahiw1MaRgVdxthJlZYws4grrRG20g-4CY8DRtu88nXoY6jrChR0fwKIzRbyHdqIFHhocxSSLuiQQIRKCUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James (public commenter) told the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee on Dec. 19 that designers should move separated bike lanes adjacent to sidewalks and follow specific tactile, alignment and refuge-island practices to make corridors such as Franklin safer for people with disabilities. The commenter said he has family members with mental and physical disabilities and described seven areas of concern, including the placement and alignment of tactile ground surface indicators and the need for refuge islands between bike lanes and traffic.

The comments matter because the Franklin Corridor design is in public review: committee members noted the city's Franklin open house comment period closes Jan. 7. Several COBAC members said they support reviewing the technical suggestions and weighing whether to send committee feedback to city staff and project leads before that deadline.

In remarks to the committee, James described the design preference and safety rationale: “I have been advocating for roadway designers to pull the bike lane out of the street and put it adjacent to the sidewalk,” he said, and added that when a bike lane is treated as a distinct path of travel, people walking and people with vision impairments need clear surface indicators and refuge locations to cross it safely.

He recommended seven specific changes in his written material and oral remarks: placing tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI) on both sides of separated bike lanes; providing refuge islands where pedestrians must cross bike lanes; using raised (“race”) crossings that continue sidewalks and bike lanes across local streets so drivers are made visibly aware they are entering a non-vehicle priority zone; aligning directional TGSI dots with the direction of intended travel and extending them across the full width of the accessible path; clearly delineating the sidewalk from the bike lane with visual contrast and detectable surface changes; and maintaining consistent pathway types across intersections (either a separated facility on both sides or a shared-use path on both sides) to avoid conflict and user confusion.

COBAC members thanked the commenter and proposed follow-up. Liz Whitman, COBAC member, told the meeting: “We will consider reviewing this more in detail at our January meeting.” COBAC members including John Heelan and Derek Hoffbauer suggested the committee could review the written material and consider whether to send a letter or provide staff with technical questions; Heelan noted the Franklin project open house deadline and asked members to review the draft letter and consider an email vote if timing requires it. Hoffbauer said much of the material is “fairly technical” and recommended coordinating with city staff to understand trade-offs and feasibility before endorsing specific technical prescriptions.

Committee members also discussed how COBAC can best provide input on street designs: members suggested inviting the city’s project staff to brief the committee on design trade-offs during or before public comment periods so COBAC can provide informed feedback. No formal action on the Franklin design was taken at the Dec. 19 meeting.

Looking ahead, members said they will consider the written recommendations and the timing of the open house and may bring a draft committee letter or a staff briefing to the Jan. 23 COBAC meeting for further discussion.","At the Dec. 19 meeting of the City of Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee, a public commenter outlined seven technical recommendations for Franklin Corridor and other separated bike-lane designs, and committee members discussed next steps before the project open house deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

COBAC honors outgoing member Corey Sparks; Councilor Barb Campbell reflects on accessibility progress

COBAC considers consolidating subgroups; city attorney outlines public meetings law implications

Public commenter urges design changes to Franklin Corridor bike lanes to improve accessibility