The South Bend Common Council has 11 committees, which have at least 3 Council Members on each. Citizens are encouraged to participate, with all committees, except the Council Rules, having 1 or 2 citizen members. Each Committee makes advisory recommendations to the Common Council.

For additional information about participating as a citizen member on a Council Committee, view the 'Get Involved Stay Involved' brochure.*

The following is a summary of the committees.

• Community & Economic Development:
  Oversees the various activities of the Department of Community & Economic Development Department & the programs directed by the Division of Community Development, Division of Economic Development & Financial & Program Management.  This Committee reviews all real & personal tax abatement requests.
• Derek D. Dieter, Chairperson
• Henry Davis Jr., Vice-Chairperson
• Ann Puzzello, Member
• Karen L. White, Member
• M. Catherine Andres, Citizen Member
• Mark Smith, Citizen Member
• 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.
• Henry Davis, Jr., Chairperson
• Karen L. White, Vice-Chairperson
• David Varner, Member
• Ann Puzzello, Member
• Council Rules Committee:
  Oversees the regulations governing the overall operation of the Common Council, as well as all matters of public trust.  It duties are set forth in detail in Section 2-10.1 of the South Bend Municipal Code.
• Timothy Rouse, Chairperson
•  David Varner, Vice-Chairperson
• Derek Dieter, Member
• Ann Puzzello, Member
• Oliver Davis, Member 
• 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.
• Karen L. White, Chairperson
• Ann Puzzello, Vice-Chairperson
• Henry Davis, Jr., Member
• Derek D. Dieter, Member
• Pamela Brunette, Citizen Member
• Donald J. Brubaker, Citizen Member
• Information and Technology Committee:
  Oversees the various activities of the City's Division of Information Technologies in the Department of Administration & Finance so that the City of South Bend remains competitive and on the cutting edge of developments in this area.  Reviewing and proposing upgrades to computer systems and web sites, developing availability & access to GIS data and related technologies are just some of its many activities.
• Dr. David Varner, Chairperson
• Thomas LaFountain, Vice-Chairperson
• Henry Davis, Jr., Member
• Karen L. White, Member
• Parks Committee (Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment):
  Oversees the various activities of the Century Center, College Football Hall of Fame, Coveleski Regional Stadium, Morris Performing Arts Center, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Regional Museum of Art, Potawatomi Zoo, and the many recreational and leisure activities offered by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
• Ann Puzzello, Chairperson
• Derek D. Dieter, Vice-Chairperson
• Oliver Davis, Member
• Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Member
• Ralph Lampkin, Jr., Citizen Member
• Martha Lewis, Citizen Member
• Personnel and Finance:
  Oversees the activities performed by the Department of Administration and Finance, and reviews all proposed salaries, budgets, appropriations & other fiscal matters, as well as personnel policies, health benefits & related matters.
• Thomas LaFountain, Chairperson
• David Varner, Vice-Chairperson
• Oliver Davis, Member
• Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Member
• Roger Hamburg, Citizen Member
• Public Works and Property Vacation Committee:
  Oversees the various activities performed by the Building Department, the Department of Public Works & related public works & property vacation issues.
• Dr. David Varner, Chairperson
• Thomas LaFountain, Vice-Chairperson
• Derek Dieter, Member
• Henry Davis Jr., Member
• Residential Neighborhoods Committee:
  Oversees the various activities of the Neighborhood Partnership Centers & issues related to neighborhood development & enhancement.
• Timothy A. Rouse, Chairperson
• Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Vice-Chairperson
• Karen L. White, Member
• Derek D. Dieter,Member
• 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.
• Oliver Davis, Chairperson
• Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Vice-Chairperson
• Ann Puzzello, Member
• Thomas LaFountain, Member
• Zoning and Annexation Committee:
  Oversees the activities related to the Board of Zoning Appeals, recommendations from the Area Plan Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission, as well as all related matters addressing annexation and zoning.
• Al "Buddy" Kirsits, Chairperson
• Oliver Davis, Vice-Chairperson
• Thomas LaFountain, Member
• David Varner, Member
• Sub-Committee on Minutes:
  Reviews the minutes prepared by the Office of the City Clerk of the regular, special and informal meetings of the Common Council and makes a recommendation on their approval/modification to the Council.
• Timothy Rouse, Chairperson
• Dr. David Varner, Vice-Chairperson
  
  

Minutes of meetings of each of the Standing Committees are filed in the Office of the City Clerk. They are available online or for public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., excluding holidays. All meetings are called by the Chairperson of each committee and are subject to the Indiana Open Door Law.

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Common Council
227 West Jefferson Blvd. • Suite 400 S
South Bend, Indiana 46601
574.235.9321 • Email