South Bend council needs citizen members to advise on public safety, development and more

Jordan Smith, South Bend Tribune
The exterior of the County-City Building Tuesday, April 23, 2019 in downtown South Bend.

SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Common Council is seeking people to volunteer their time and serve as citizen members of council committees.

An ideal citizen member has some expertise in the topic under their chosen committee's purview, according to a council press release. Citizen members participate in discussions and can vote on all matters that come before the committee. All bills and resolutions pass through committee before reaching the full nine-person Common Council for a vote.

To be eligible to serve on a committee, you must have lived in South Bend for at least one year. Members are also expected to regularly attend committee meetings. The full Common Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and committees discuss bills beforehand.

Interested South Bend residents must complete an application by Feb. 29 at https://southbendin.primegov.com/public/committees. Separate applications should be filled out for each committee.

Council members will interview and select citizen members to be sworn in by the city clerk.

Committees meet on the following topics:

  • Community Investment Committee: Oversees the Department of Community Investment. This committee reviews all tax abatement requests.

  • Community Relations Committee: Oversees the Office of Community Affairs. This committee facilitates partnerships with other public and private entities in South Bend.

  • Health and Public Safety Committee: Oversees the South Bend Fire Department and the South Bend Police Department, as well as emergency medical services and code enforcement. This committee discusses ordinance violations and public safety concerns.

  • Information and Technology Committee: Oversees the information technologies division, which is responsible for South Bend's open data portal among other things.

  • Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Entertainment Committee: Oversees Century Center, Four Winds Field, Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art and the recreational programming of South Bend's Venue, Parks & Arts Department.

  • Personnel and FinanceCommittee: Oversees the Department of Administration and Finance, reviewing all proposed salaries, budgets, appropriations and other fiscal matters.

  • Public Works and Property VacationCommittee: Oversees the Building Department and the Department of Public Works.

  • Residential NeighborhoodsCommittee: Oversees issues related to neighborhood development and enhancement.

  • UtilitiesCommittee: Oversees the Bureau of Waterworks and the Bureau of Sewers and all related matters.

  • Zoning and AnnexationCommittee: Oversees the Board of Zoning Appeals, recommendations from the Area Plan Commission and the Historic Preservation Committee, as well as all related matters addressing annexing and zoning.

Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Join a South Bend Common Council committee as a citizen member

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