Community committees, boards and commissions are a great way to get involved with local government. The City has several Council-appointed advisory groups that make recommendations to City Council or City administrative staff. Applications are being accepted for the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Environment and Climate Committee, Landmarks Commission, and Transportation Bond Oversight Committee, as well as the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Budget and Technical Advisory Committees. Advisory body members are eligible for a stipend ($40/meeting, not to exceed $500/year) to help lower barriers to participation (See information below). Applications are due on May 15, 2025, by 5 p.m.
Visit bendoregon.gov/committees to learn more and to apply.
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) provides policy, code and funding recommendations to the City Council in alignment with the goals outlined in the City’s Consolidated Plan. The City of Bend will consider individuals with lending and financing experience to fill one partial term vacancy (ending July 1, 2026). Members may seek reappointment for up to two consecutive three-year terms, not including any partial terms. For more information, visit the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee webpage.
Contact: Racheal Baker, Affordable Housing Manager, 541-323-8550 or rbaker@bendoregon.gov.
Environment and Climate Committee
The primary focus of the Environment and Climate Committee (ECC) is to provide input and recommendations to the City Council on topics related to environmental stewardship and to oversee the implementation of the Community Climate Action Plan, adopted in December 2019.
The Committee is made up of individuals who have experience or expertise, professional or lived, in the following subject matters: energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy efficient building, environmental justice, equity in environmental stewardship and sustainability, alternative transportation and mobility, energy policy, environmental policy, forestry, water resources, ecology, other life sciences, carbon emission reduction, and other related areas. For more information, visit the Environment and Climate Committee webpage.
The Environment and Climate Committee is seeking applicants to fill two partial term vacancies (ending January 1, 2027 and January 1, 2029) Members may seek reappointment for up to two consecutive four-year terms, not including any partial terms.
Contact: Cassie Lacy, Senior Management Analyst, 541-323-8587 or clacy@bendoregon.gov.
Landmarks Commission
Candidates for the Landmarks Commission are required to be a community member residing within the Bend Urban Growth Boundary with an interest in architecture, history, architectural history, planning, prehistoric and historic archaeology, folklore, cultural anthropology, curation, conservation, landscape architecture or related disciplines. For more information, visit the Landmarks Commission webpage.
The City is inviting interested community members to attend one of the regular monthly Landmarks Commission meetings to learn more about serving on the commission. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Please check the City of Bend calendar for details.
The Landmarks Commission is seeking candidates to fill a partial alternate term (ending January 1, 2028). Alternates for this commission play an active role and may take part in any deliberation. Alternates may be counted as part of the quorum and may vote if their participation is necessary to make a quorum. Please note, alternates are not eligible for the stipend program.
Contact: Heidi Kennedy, Senior Planner, 541-617-4524 or hkennedy@bendoregon.gov.
Transportation and Bond Oversight Committee
The Transportation Bond Oversight Committee (TBOC) advises the Bend City Council and City staff on the implementation of the $190 million voter-approved 2020 transportation general obligation bond. Implementation oversight currently includes ensuring transparency and accountability to the program and project delivery, recommendations to the City Council for project prioritization in the capital improvement program (CIP) and providing recommendations to the City Council on program and project considerations as requested. For more information, visit the Transportation Bond Oversight Committee webpage.
Please note, the City Council is currently considering expanding the committee’s role, likely leading to additional time commitments beyond the current quarterly meeting schedule.
The Transportation Bond Oversight Committee is seeking applicants to fill several vacancies (full four-year terms).
Contact: Garrett Sabourin, Principal Engineer, 541-323-8591, gsabourin@bendoregon.gov.
Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee and Technical Advisory Committee
The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) works cooperatively with local governments to set priorities for transportation needs and is charged with maintaining and conducting a “continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive” regional transportation planning and project programming process for the Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization area. The BMPO is seeking applicants to fill two vacancies (3-year terms) on the BMPO Budget Committee and one vacancy (3-year term) on the BMPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
The BMPO Budget Committee typically meets once per year to review the proposed Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization budget and make a recommendation to the Policy Board. BMPO Budget Committee members are not eligible to receive a stipend for committee services.
The Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization TAC typically meets once per month, and provides technical analysis, review, comments and recommendations on draft BMPO plans, programs, studies and issues.
Contact: Kelli Kennedy, BMPO Program Coordinator, 541-693-2122 or kkennedy@bendoregon.gov.
Stipends
The City of Bend offers a stipend program for City advisory board, committee and commission voting members who choose to participate. The intent is to expand opportunities for community members to connect with the City and lower barriers to engagement. The program will provide members of City advisory boards, committees and commissions with a stipend of $40 per meeting, not to exceed $500 per person annually. This stipend covers assumed costs of volunteering on an advisory group such as travel, parking, stable internet connection and other expenses. Please note, non-voting members, alternate members, and Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Budget Committee members are not eligible for the stipend. View the Advisory Body Stipend Program Policy for additional information.
Accommodation Information for People with Disabilities
To obtain this information in an alternate format such as Braille, large print, electronic formats, etc. please -contact Jacob Larsen at 541-647-0696 or jlarsen@bendoregon.gov.
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