Residents can apply to be a citizen member on a Common Council Standing Committee, Board, or Commission. Citizen members volunteer their time and subject matter expertise on their respective committee, board, or commission.
Who are Citizen Members?
Citizen members are active participants in Common Council Standing Committees.
To be a citizen member, you must:
- Be a City of South Bend resident for at least one year (and inform the Chairperson if your address changes while a citizen member)
- Be able to attend meetings regularly
Read more about being a citizen member in South Bend’s Code of Ordinances.
Apply to be a Citizen Member
Residents of South Bend, Indiana are invited to apply using the 2025 South Bend Common Council Standing Committee Application Form.
Standing Committees
Find more information on Standing Committees.
| Community Investment Committee | Oversees the various activities of the Department of Community Investment. This Committee reviews all real & personal tax abatement requests. |
| Community Relations Committee | Oversees the various activities of the Office of Community Affairs and is charged with facilitating partnerships & ongoing communications with other public and private entities operating within the City. |
| Council Rules Committee | Oversees the regulations governing the overall operation of the Common Council, as well as all matters of public trust. Its duties are set forth in detail in Section 2-10.1 of the South Bend Municipal Code. |
| Health and Public Safety Committee | Oversees the various activities performed by the Fire and Police Departments, EMS, Department of Code Enforcement, ordinance violations, and related health and public safety matters. |
| Information and Technology Committee | Oversees the various activities of the City’s Division of Information Technologies in the Department of Administration & Finance. |
| PARC Committee (Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment) | Oversees the various activities of the Century Center, Four Winds Field, Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art, and the many recreational activities offered by the Venues Parks & Arts Department. |
| Personnel and Finance Committee | Oversees the activities performed by the Department of Administration & Finance, and reviews all proposed salaries, budgets, appropriations, and other fiscal matters. |
| Public Works and Property Vacation Committee | Oversees the various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works & related public & property vacation issues. |
| Residential Neighborhoods Committee | Oversees the various activities & issues related to neighborhood development & enhancement. |
| Utilities Committee | Oversees the activities of all enterprise entities including but not limited to the Bureau of Waterworks, Bureau of Sewers, and all related matters. |
| Zoning and Annexation Committee | Oversees the activities related to 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. |
Boards & Commissions
This web page was last updated on November 24, 2025. Links to other resources on this web page may have been last updated on a different date.
Email
sbcityclerk@southbendin.gov
sbcityclerk@southbendin.gov
Phone
574.235.9221
574.235.9221
Address
215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Suite 400
South Bend, IN 46601
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Upcoming Public Meetings
Jan12 |
Common Council Meeting Common Council |
Jan26 |
Common Council Meeting Common Council |
Feb09 |
Common Council Meeting Common Council |