Two years after bailing out of the local chamber over concerns about its political activities, the Bend City Council will likely weigh an invitation to reunite with the organization.

At the chamber’s request, City Manager Andy Anderson will ask councilors tonight to reconsider the city’s 2003 decision to leave the chamber.

Chamber President and CEO Mike Schmidt said chamber board members asked him to float the idea to city officials.

Schmidt said the chamber has been working with the city on several issues recently, such as the development of a new industrial and research campus in Bend. He said the collaboration sparked a discussion about the city’s possibly renewed interest in the chamber.

”I said let me raise the flag and see if anybody salutes,” said Schmidt about approaching the city.

Schmidt said the chamber has been working with the city on several issues recently, such as the development of a new industrial and research campus in Bend. He said the collaboration sparked a discussion about the city’s possibly renewed interest in the chamber. ”I said let me raise the flag and see if anybody salutes,” said Schmidt about approaching the city.

The annual membership dues for government agencies range between $305 and $422 at the chamber.

He added that the chamber has addressed the political activity issue by abandoning its practice of endorsing political candidates. In the future, said Schmidt, the political endorsements will be handled by a stand-alone political action committee that the chamber plans to spin off from its other operations.

The organization, which will likely be called the Bend Business PAC, will have its own board of directors to oversee its fundraising and advocacy efforts. But it will also maintain a relationship with the chamber, which the PAC will rely on to provide information about the Bend business community.

Schmidt said the new structure is more in step with the chamber’s focus on economic development. He said it also avoids possible problems that candidate endorsements can create for the organization with Internal Revenue Service because of its tax-exempt status.

He said the two-pronged approach also works better for members. ”It lets those who want to be involved in the political world get their oars in the water,” Schmidt said. ”But a lot of businesses, they want to be below the radar.”

However, Schmidt added, the Bend Chamber plans to continue its lobbying efforts on issues that impact its members – an approach, he said, is permitted by the IRS rules. For example, the organization has lobbied against a proposed business tax in Bend.

Several councilors said they were willing to consider the chamber’s request. ”I think the chambers of commerce and cities do well to partner together and collaborate on things and if this is going to be supported by the city, the chamber and citizens of Bend, I would support it,” said Councilor Chris Telfer.

Telfer said she is a chamber member already through her accounting business.

Councilor John Hummel, who supported an equal rights ordinance last year that the Bend Chamber initially opposed, said he is willing to consider the chamber’s offer.

”I will be open minded,” he said. ”I wouldn’t have a philosophical opposition, but I’m concerned about a slippery slope. Friends of Bend might want us to join, and Rotary and a lot of other worthwhile organizations. Do you join them all or do you pick and choose?” Hummel said.