The Bend City Council debated during Wednesday night's City Council meeting whether the City should switch to electing its mayor, like most large cities in the state. A split Bend City Council voted 4-3 Wednesday night not to send the question to voters; that decision goes along with a citizen committee’s recommendations. City Councilor Jim Clinton feels strongly we should change. “But a committee selected to look into the matter, recommended we continue to appoint the position.” Councilor Clinton says that's not what he's hearing from residents: “Yeah, I've heard feedback and its why wouldn't you want an elected mayor? but realizing that they've never gotten to vote for mayor. The main reaction I get is why wouldn't you do that since most cities do it pretty much.” Bend is only one of 19 cities in Oregon that doesn't elect its mayor. Councilors also agreed to proceed with a hydroelectric project on the major new City Surface Water Project. Councilor Mark Capell noted that with revenue from power generation, it will make the spendy project “cash-flow positive from the first year.”