Change may be coming for Bend’s city government

Bend’s form of city government may be in for some changes. At the very least, the issues revolving around the best form of representation are back up for discussion, as they have been periodically through the city’s century-plus history.

Three groups held a city charter review forum Tuesday night, hoping to engage the community in how they’d like Bend’s government to be run.

Audience members were quick to ask questions during the Q&A. There were many topics to discuss.

It was a crowded ballroom full of politicians, bend chamber members, and citizens with questions and concerns. The goal of the gathering: To start a conversation about one of Bend’s most complex issues. The big question was, how should Bend’s government operate?

One audience member asked, “the bigger question is, if we had an elected mayor, does that change the power of the mayor?”

In answer to that question, Mayor Jim Clinton — who decided not to seek a new term this year — said an elected mayor would bring accountability to the people, of Bend, not just to the other councilors.

One of Bend’s former mayors, Oran Teater, also spoke his piece on the issue., explaining why he feels four years as an elected mayor is better than two as a mayor chosen by fellow councilors.

Over two years, “you don’t have time to develop relationships with your fellow mayors in the region, or with your legislators,” Teater said.

Another topic of interest, how much to pay councilors for their work. Currently, Bend City Council members are paid $200 a month. Clinton said with the amount of work they do, that comes to about $2 an hour.

“You want a $2-an-hour person to represent you, in all these complex issues that the city deals with?” Clinton asked the audience.

The issues did not stop with the mayor’s selection or salaries. There’s also been discussion about whether some or all councilors should be elected by areas of the city, known as wards.

Councilor Victor Chudowsky, who is also leaving office at the end of his term, said the representation numbers don’t match up, compared to the number of voters on the east versus the west side of Bend.

“The planning commission, 5-to-2 (Westside). Budget committee, not a single from the east side of town on the budget committee — that’s a citizen part of our budget committee,” Chudowsky said.

As to how to fix these city issues, there are plenty of options and ideas on the table, but no consensus — yet.

At the next forum, officials hope to bring more possible answers to some questions posed by the audience. Its set for Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m., again at the Central Oregon Collective, 62070 SE 27th Street.

The group plans to have answers to some of the questions audience members turned in.

Bend’s city charter was last revised some 20 years ago, and any new changes would need voter approval to implement.