"Budget Enthusiast"
(A name given to me by the City Controller since I regularly attend the Council Meetings and 14 Budget Hearings)

What is a Councilperson expected to do?

Math Homework for a Councilperson: Binder is 14 Budget Hearings, CAFR Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (273 pages of mostly spreadsheets), Adopted Budget (243 pages of mostly spreadsheets) These are available electronically for both Council and Citizens.  This is what spending over $330 million dollars looks like and it needs to be spent responsibly.
(There is a lot of other homework on the other issues, but those are packets stored electronically.)
A lot!
If you think they just attend a couple meetings a month and make a few votes, you are only seeing a very small part of the duties. I've been faithfully attending both Full Council and pre-committee meetings for over three years as a Citizen Advocate along with the 14 Budget Hearings. I've been known to also show up at quite a few of the Board meetings and special hearings.

Here's a short list of duties...
  • Attend the Full Council meetings twice a month
  • Review and have notes ready on the often 20+ page background packet that comes out so you know what questions to ask and have a good understanding before you vote at the Full Council
  • Attend the Monday afternoon Committee Meetings and Full Council Planning Session that is before the Full Council
  • Serve on multiple Standing Committees and Chair at least one of them
  • Review and research your committee issues, more if you are the Chair of that committee
  • Go to the 14 Budget Hearings and do your financial homework before the meetings - These coming four years will be even more challenging with the Circuit Breaker going into effect (Hope you are good at math!)
  • Executive Sessions with the Council Attorney to discuss legal issues such as Police Tape updates and other issues that come up
  • ​Special topic meetings to address pressing issues
  • Go to community outreach events
  • Answer questions from the public
  • Work with Community Advocates
  • Work on solving a lot of problems and creating solutions
  • Research and write both Resolutions and Ordinances
  • Coordinate with the City Administration
  • Meet with City Departments that involve your standing committee
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Go out on neighborhood tours
  • Help respond when there are emergencies like the flooding

    (I've probably left out a few things)

Oh, and fit in some joking around! It helps to enjoy those you are working with. I was leaning on one of the Council desk chairs talking with someone and I got chided to, "Don't sit down. You aren't on the Council yet!"  

I understand what it takes and I have already researched a lot of what needs to be addressed. 

Standing Committees

Be prepared to serve on multiple Standing Committees, Chair at least one and knowledgeably vote on all these areas of City Government.
There are 11 STANDING COMMITTEES on the South Bend Common Council.

It would be great to have Citizens make a commitment to attend at least one of them on a regular basis and post observations. You can also be a Citizen Member of these committees.

1. Community Investment Committee
2. Community Relations Committee
3. Council Rules Committee
4. Health and Public Safety Committee
5. Information and Technology Committee
6. PARC Committee - Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment
7. Personnel and Finance Committee
8. Public Works and Property Vacation Committee
9. Residential Neighborhoods Committee
10. Utilities Committee
11. Zoning and Annexation Committee

This is where a lot of the discussion and information is disclosed. From these meetings, recommendations are made to the whole Council.

If you want to know what is coming up and have time to voice your concerns, this is where it happens. There are also opportunities to serve as a citizen member on other boards and commissions. Those are:

1. South Bend Commission on African-American Males
2. Animal Control Commission
3. Century Center Board of Managers
4. Historic Preservation Commission
5. MBE/WBE (Minority and Women Business) Utilization Board
6. Redevelopment Commission
7. TRANSPO
8. Urban Enterprise Association UEA

As a citizen, to be on one of these boards or commissions, you may apply on the 4th floor at the Clerk's Office. All of these meetings are public, so you may attend at any time as an interested party throughout the year. This is YOUR CITY. Be part of it!
It is my goal as an Advocate to involve YOU in the process.