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 Bend Chamber
 777 NW Wall St, Ste 200
 Bend, OR 97701

 Phone: (541) 382-3221
 Fax: (541) 385-9929
 info@bendchamber.org
 www.bendchamber.org

Bend Chamber Weekly
September 12, 2008
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator

This Week's Highlights....

• New UGB Maps available

• Time running out for Economic Stimulus Checks

• Change to the Excise Tax Filing

• In the News

• Upcoming Chamber Events

New UGB Maps available

     The Bend Planning Commission has released the three alternatives for the Urban Growth Boundary it will consider.
     With a strong emphasis on state requirements, Alternative 1 extends the UGB to all four sides of the current line. Those areas that are currently designated in the Urban Area Reserve are included as well as 1,600 acres of exception land.
     Alternative 2 emphasizes employment lands in the north, south, and east sides of the existing UGB. According to the city’s Web site, “This alternative places an emphasis on inclusion of lands that are estimated to have relatively lower combined costs for public infrastructure: transportation, sewer, and water. Alternative 2 seeks to maximize the cost-effective, orderly, and economic provision of public facilities and services as these areas are urbanized.”
     Alternative 3 tries to balance the long term needs for the city in terms of employment, commercial, residential, and industrial areas. “Mixed-use employment centers are proposed in locations that are well suited for meeting employment-related criteria,” states the Web site. “These centers are comprised of varying combinations of general industrial, commercial, moderate-density housing, and high-density housing.”
     The Bend Planning Commission will continue to move forward with the UGB process and on September 22 will receive analysis comparing key alternative features from the City of Bend Planning staff. The commission hopes to have a final alternative selected by September 29.
     The alternative will then go before a joint session between the Bend Planning Commission and the Deschutes County Planning Commission sometime in October. The commission hopes to have a final plan to the Bend City Council by November.
     The City of Bend has posted the three updated Alternatives on its Web site at www.ci.bend.or.us.
 

Time running out for Economic Stimulus Checks

     For those who haven’t yet filed their tax returns, time is running out to possibly receive an Economic Stimulus Check. Eligible taxpayers must have their taxes filed by October 15 to receive a check this fiscal year.
     More than 124 million households will receive a check this year. The payments started in May and will continue to be delivered throughout 2008. Those individuals who are eligible will receive between $300 and $600.
     For more information about the Economic Stimulus Checks, go to www.irs.gov.
 

     According to the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site, individuals and organizations with 25 or more trucks, tractors or other heavy vehicles used on highways must now file their excise tax electronically instead of by paper.
     Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, is used to report and pay highway-use excise taxes. Last year truckers and others filed over 700,000 forms and paid over $1 billion in federal highway use taxes. E-filing of Form 2290 began in August 2007.
     The IRS states electronic filing helps to streamline the processing of Form 2290 and is “more safe and reliable than paper filing and reduces preparation and processing errors.” Though the form is not required to be filed electronically for taxpayers who report 25 or fewer vehicles, the IRS strongly encourages this practice.
     To file electronically, taxpayers need to select an approved transmitter/software provider for Form 2290. More Form 2290 information is available on the IRS Web site. In addition to Form 2290, Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, and Form 8849, Claim for Refund of Excise Tax, may also be e-filed electronically.
     This information was provided by www.irs.gov.

     Study finds reason behind high oil prices: In a recent study completed by Masters Capital Mangement, speculation by large investors and not oil demand was the reason for the surge in oil prices during the first part of the year. Investors were reported to have put $60 billion dollars in oil futures causing the price to dramatically climb from January to July. The report also stated investors have now pulled out at least $39 billion in oil futures, which has caused prices to decrease. “We have clear evidence the fund flow pushed prices up and the fund flow pushed prices down,” Michael Masters of Masters Capital Management told MSNBC.
     China to make space walk: In late September, China plans to make its first space walk. The Schenzhou 7 is planned to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center sometime between September 25 and September 20, said a state news agency. Three astronauts will go into space, with only one conducting the actual space walk.
     Kids targeted for new flu vaccine: As the winter season draws closer, the government is recommending children from age 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated for this year’s flu season. Over a period of four winters, Harvard researchers found adults with flu-like symptoms were generally located in zip codes which had the most children. Often times, these zip codes were some of the hardest hit areas for the flu virus. Researchers hope by targeting the vaccine towards children, the spread of the virus could cut back on missed school and parents’ missing work.
 

     September 16 - Project Management: From Critical path structure to process improvement - Do you have trouble with project management? Are you struggling with organizing and implementing your ideas? Is it difficult to get all your employees on the same page? Key elements in project management are planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives. Many projects fail because the processes behind the projects are seldom defined and rarely implemented. Join speaker Kerry Sharp, MBA/Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, and look at project management from a process perspective and help identify the organization as an adaptive system. Please RSVP for this event by noon on Monday, September 15 at www.bendchamber.org. If you have trouble signing up, call 382-3221.
     September 19 - Government Services: Tightening the Belt - In this tough economy, are there ways for local governments to work together on certain services? What are they currently doing? Do you have any ideas to help these entities? Join the Community Affairs Council (CAC) Town Hall luncheon as officials from the city and county talk about what they are doing to combine services and what the future holds. To join the CAC Town Hall luncheon series, register online by noon on September 18 at www.bendchamber.org.
     October 7 - Business Leader Forum – How Green Practices Increase Profits and Customer Satisfaction, co-sponsored by Oregon Environmental Council, Central Oregon Environmental Center, and the Bend Chamber of Commerce. Interact with and learn from company leaders from a variety of industries about the business value of “going green.” Discover new ways to improve your business practices and operations, cut costs, reduce waste, and use less energy, thereby increasing profitability. Featured speakers include Hank Ashforth, CEO, Ashforth Pacific; David Williams, CEO, ShoreBank Pacific; and Tim Fallon, President, Kettle Foods. St. Charles Learning Center, 2500 N.E. Neff Road, Bend. Breakfast served. $35 general public; $25 OEC members, nonprofits and government agencies. To register: www.oeconline.org or (503) 222-1963 ext. 100.