Bend charter review committee narrows down options

The Bend City Charter Review Committee made more headway Tuesday afternoon on decisions about a proposal to choose city councilors through a geographically split ward system, as well as how the mayor — a position currently chosen by councilors — could be elected citywide.

The charter review panel has been working to craft he best proposal to bring before the city council by December, on a path to a possible spring citywide vote on one or more proposed changes.

A charter establishes the governmental process of a city. The committee analyzed four scenarios for a four-ward city system, with two at-large council positions. They narrowed it down to two of the four scenarios Tuesday.

Members also discussed a three-ward system, where each area would have two council positions. The committee also has to decide if candidates would be elected only by people within a ward or citywide.

The goal is a better balance of representation throughout the city.

“I think the advantage of the four-ward system is oftentimes, people tend to say, ‘Where are you from?’ and we go to a quadrant, you know — northeast, southwest, etc,” Bend City Councilor Bruce Abernethy said. “The advantage of a three-ward system is it really guarantees significant representation.”

In a three-ward system, no single area of the city would have a majority of councilors. Abernethy said in a four-ward system, it’s a possibility that with two at-large candidates, three councilors could be from the same part of town.

The committee did agree that a ward system for councilos and a directly elected mayor will be two different options. If mayors are elected, rather than chosen by councilors as they are now, it would be through a citywide vote.

“There are a number of citizens that feel disenfranchised, and they feel their voice is not being heard,” Abernethy said. “The sense is they want somebody they feel is more invested and is more directly responsible for their needs and their interests.”

The committee also has analyzed whether other cities the size of Bend have used a ward system.

The panel will meet again in three weeks. By the end of that meeting, they want to finalize the one option for both a three- or four-ward system, how councilors will be elected, and whether an elected mayor would serve for two or four years.

For more information: https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/citizen-committees/charter-review-committee