Mayor & City Commission

Regular Meetings


  • 6:00 p.m.
  • 1st and 3rd Monday of each month
  • City Hall Commission Chambers
    301 Washington Avenue
    Bay City, MI 48708

The mayor and commissioners encourage the interest, attendance and participation of the public at commission meetings. The public is invited to speak on issues during public hearings and general audience participation.

Commission Meeting Schedule

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas & Minutes / Supporting Documents

Ward Map

A map of the different wards of Bay City.

Members

Mayor

Commission President, 1st Ward

Commissioner, 2nd Ward

Commissioner, 3rd Ward

Commission Vice President, 4th Ward

Commission Sgt-at-Arms, 5th Ward

Commissioner, 6th Ward

Commissioner, 7th Ward

Commissioner, 8th Ward

Commissioner, 9th Ward

About the City Commission

The City of Bay City operates under a Commission-Manager form of government. Under this system, all corporate authority is vested in the commission, consisting of nine commissioners elected by ward and a mayor elected at large on a nonpartisan ballot. The commission is similar to a board of directors of a corporation, in which all policy-making or legislative functions that are part of a city's government are the exclusive domain of the commission. The commission's primary business is the passage of laws in the form of ordinances or resolutions. Their terms last four years and are staggered to ensure experienced legislators at all times. Commissioners of Wards 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are elected at the same time, and Wards 2, 4, 6, and 8 are elected at the same time.

Mayoral Responsibilities

The Mayor serves as the chief executive officer and presides at the commission meetings. He or she may vote in case of a tie and has veto authority. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term. Election of the mayor is held in November of even-numbered years at a coinciding time as even ward commissioner elections. 

Commissioner Responsibilities

A commissioner is responsible for representing the concerns of the ward from which he or she was elected. In addition, commissioners have a responsibility for the overall health, welfare and safety of the city as a whole. While an individual commissioner has no specific authority, together as a group (functioning as the commission), they possess all the authority and power vested in a local government.


Charter of the City of Bay City