BEND, OR -- The city of Bend is implementing a program aimed at getting more public input on decision making. Citizens Assemblies are common in Europe and have been utilized by towns in Oregon and California to help local governments make decisions.

City manager Eric King tells KBND News it is similar to jury duty, “Citizens are asked to participate and they get a stipend, a pretty substantial stipend, to account for their time and they're sequestered in a location for a couple of days and they help make that decision. That decision then goes to the public body for a formal vote. Typically, it's in that 30 to 40 (people) range. It kind of depends on the topic. But I think that's what they're shooting for here. This is a pilot project with this topic. But the idea is that hopefully it can continue and be sustained.”

Previous Coverage: Citizen Assemblies Concept Proposed For Central OR

The first Assembly has an important task. “There is actually a group that has formed through a federal grant to just fully prioritize policy recommendations to prevent youth homelessness. So, they would like this group to weigh in and help kind of further some of those recommendations.” King adds the issue has far-reaching implications, “Homelessness is not something that's squarely within the city of Bend's purview. It's a county- and there's a newly formed joint office on homelessness. So, we'll have to think about not just the city of Bend hearing those recommendations but other local public bodies.”

Solicitation to recruit members for the assembly will happen this summer, with the goal of meeting in September.