James Rose:

1. Restoring the faith & trust that people have in their local government. North Bend city government is viewed by many people to be dysfunctional and is not seen right now as serving the citizen’s needs. Changing this perception is job #1.

2. We have a spending problem – not a tax problem in North Bend. The city government certainly has financial challenges that need to be addressed. However, just like all of us must do in our own households – the city must live within its means. However, the most solemn duty of this city is to provide for the public safety of its citizens and on that there is absolutely no compromise. Fully funding the city’s public safety requirement is a necessity – not an option.

3. “Now Hiring” is a sign seen displayed on businesses throughout our community right now. The combination of the lack of affordable housing and an ever increasing cost of living on the coast is a significant problem that is a direct cause of the lack of available workers for local businesses. A viable workforce is absolutely essential to sustainment of the economic engine of our city. We must do all we can as a city to support existing businesses and expand the capability to attract and retain employees. That is not a quick fix and the solutions are complex and will take a cooperative effort of public-private partnerships to create an environment that generates persistent economic growth. We must put our foot on the “gas pedal” and keep it there in order to work to reverse the trends of the last decade.

Jessica Engelke:

• Like many other public employers, we are constantly challenge by dwindling or flat revenue streams and rising expenses that are outside of our control.
• Lack of workforce housing and housing options for all people.
• The need for good, family wage jobs that allow people to take care of their family with dignity and not have to rely on public assistance.

Eric Gleason:

As a lifelong citizen of North Bend, only leaving to serve in the US Navy for 8 years, our challenges have not changed much over those years. Those challenges are public safety issues, business that promotes intercity tourism and the peoples trust in the local government in order to work together to find avenues to improve our wonderful city.

Jonathan Vinyard:

1) Transparency. There has been a lack of this in recent memory. Due to COVID19, there has been a move to live streaming city council meetings (which I think is a great thing). However, this was done out of necessity, not willingness and foresight. I believe this option needs to stay as not all people can physically come to a city council meeting. This will allow for more inclusiveness for all. This will give citizens more visibility and input on issues they have concerns about. Additionally, as I have attempted to research, I have noticed it is hard to get information about our city. There are a lot of voids when it comes to work session minutes, budget committee meeting minutes, urban renewal agency meeting minutes and special work sessions minutes from the City of North Bend’s official website.

2) Land locked. We have no more land for growth in our city.

3) Financial. As seen in the latest voting cycle, our City seems to have found itself in a financial struggle. In which, the problem was placed squarely on the citizens shoulders in the form of a public safety fee.

Pat Goll:

Budget, Budget and Spending!. To have the city and all of its departments live within its means.

Ron Kutch:

A. Undoubtedly, the citizens have lost confidence in the City’s leadership. City Council and Administration have lost touch with what citizens want, don’t seek input in a meaningful way and provide information back to the citizens in a meaningful way. We need communication. We need to have a conversation.

B. Economic Development. When we lose business, we lose tax revenue. We can’t support ourselves solely on minimum wage tourist jobs. We need to actively search out and engage in responsible business to locate here. Not slash-and-burn-and-leave-town business, but good responsible employers, providing good, responsible jobs. As a member of the South Coast Development Council, (SCDCinc.org) we do just that.

C. Housing. Not “Homelessness”, but housing. Homelessness is part of that, but we need places for people to live. That is one of the barriers to increased economic development – employers don’t commit to coming here because there is no place for their employees to live. North Bend is land locked and doesn’t have much room left to expand. As a member of the Housing Action Team, we are looking at ways to be creative in providing housing. The City of North Bend has chosen to not participate in these productive meetings.

D. I would be negligent if I didn’t mention our young people. They are the future and will be choosing our nursing homes. We need to be teaching them about citizenship, need to give them places to grow up and play, and need to leave them a City worth being proud of.

Susanna Noordhoff:

The top three challenges are reconciling the budget to fund public safety, repairing the streets as per the completed engineering study, and upgrading our infrastructure for an eventual earthquake, including our water storage and distribution system.

Timm Slater:

The most important challenge facing the city continues to be jobs and the economy. In support of that end is a solid upgraded infrastructure of roads, natural gas, electrical redundancy and broad band coverage.

Secondly is communication and transparency. We need a well-functioning method of dialogue.

Thirdly is Apathy. We have to engage our citizens in city projects, opportunities
and growth. We do that by showing this work is a valuable use of their limited time off.