Roles and Responsibilities

Council Subcommittees consist of three City Councilors. They focus on various aspects of City policy, planning, and decision-making. Here are their key roles and responsibilities:

  • Focus Areas: Community Building, Stewardship, Public Contracts, and Audit Committee.
  • Early Advice: Provide early guidance to staff on important issues, sometimes with help from advisory bodies.
  • Recommendations: The Subcommittees suggest ideas to the full Council when it's time to make decisions.
  • No Formal Decisions: The Subcommittee doesn’t make formal Council decisions during Subcommittee meetings.
  • Public Meetings: All Subcommittees welcome community participation at these public meetings.

Community Building Subcommittee

The Community Building Subcommittee collaborates with the Planning Commission, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) and City staff to make recommendations to the City Council. This Subcommittee discusses topics like development code audits, housing policies, alternative housing models, land use planning, traffic safety, and sidewalk plans.

Inactive: Stewardship Subcommittee

This subcommittee is no longer active. The Stewardship Subcommittee collaborated with the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (BEDAB), Environment & Climate Committee (ECC), and the Human Rights & Equity Commission, City staff and community groups to make recommendations to the City Council on various community issues such as housing, climate action, and public safety.

Public Contracts Subcommittee

The Public Contracts Subcommittee, formerly named the Local Contract Review Board (LCRB) Subcommittee, collaborates with City Departments to discuss updates to the City's procurement program and significant contracts for Council approval. Topics include supplier diversity initiatives, major construction contracts, and reviewing procurement presentations before Council meetings.

Audit Subcommittee

The Audit Subcommittee meets with the City’s independent auditors to review results of the yearly audit, audit reports and opinions.  This is required by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in recognition of the importance of two-way communication in an audit of financial statements and to communicate timely observations arising from the audit that are significant and relevant.