Is less public involvement better for Bend?

The best way to influence the direction of the Bend City Council is to vote for whom you like in those councilor elections. Another avenue for influencing the Council's direction may be going away.

Councilors took the first step last week to implement a change in city code so city committees are no longer required to include an opportunity for public involvement, such as public comment. Under the proposed change, the language of city code would be altered from “These meetings shall be an opportunity for public involvement” to “These meetings are an opportunity for public involvement.” The new language also says: “an opportunity for public comment is not required by this chapter.”

You see what they are doing there. They are removing the requirement for public involvement.

It may not make much difference. City committees — such as the committees that advise the council on matters such as economic development, transportation, housing and so on — have traditionally been open to allowing members of the public time to speak. That may not change. And if you really want to alter what the city might do or not do, the people who make the decisions are the councilors, not the committee members.

But there was no public discussion before the vote on this change at the May 20 city council meeting. It seems to us there should be a justification from city staff and Bend City Councilors before the change is implemented. How does it make Bend better to remove a requirement for public involvement?

You can tell councilors what you think at council@bendoregon.gov. That method of public involvement has not gone away.

Editorials reflect the views of The Bulletinʼs editorial board, Editor Jody Lawrence-Turner, Editor Tim Trainor and Editorial Page Editor Richard Coe.

Bend City Councilors may push through a change to remove a requirement for public involvement in committee meetings.

CITY OF BEND