Cr Andrea Metcalf said she would like to see rates waived for businesses for "a period equivalent to the period their businesses have not been able to operate."

"If their businesses are only partially operating through the pandemic their rates, I believe, should reflect a similar percentage," she said during last night's council meeting.

It was the first time the council had met since March, having postponed its April meeting out of concern about gathering in-person.

Last night's meeting took place as an audio-only live broadcast to the City of Greater Bendigo website, and on Phoenix FM.

Cr Metcalf's comments came as councillors ratified the city's initial suite of responses to the global pandemic, as well as the delay of the draft budget.

"I know others at the council table might not agree with me," she said as she proposed waiving rates for affected businesses.

"But it is one way the City of Greater Bendigo could provide an economic stimulus to businesses to help them get back on their feet.

"Businesses are asking for this and I encourage businesses to contact all councillors with ways to City of Greater Bendigo can assist them to restart their businesses."

None of the other eight councillors directly responded to Cr Metcalf's suggestion.

But, in speaking to the city's initial COVID-19 supports and budget, Cr Rod Fyffe said he believed a stimulus could be provided by supporting local industries, both as a council and as a community.

"I think that will be one of the best ways of supporting businesses as they emerge from this," Cr Fyffe said.

Cr James Williams said some businesses had "taken a real hit," while others had recorded some of their best returns.

He said one of the ways council supported businesses came in the form of the amazing community assets.

"We are working very hard and the staff are working very hard behind the scenes to try and balance out an outcome for the community, knowing there will be further hardship," Cr Williams said.

Cr Malcolm Pethybridge said councillors would keep gathering information, comparing it and "seeing what we can do".

City of Greater Bendigo chief executive Craig Niemann said council was still in the process of developing its 2020/2021 budget, including consideration about rates.

"Our discussions with the State Government have focused on stimulus support in the form of funding various shovel-ready projects that will employ the local construction industry and deliver important facilities for our community," Mr Niemann said.

"We feel this is a useful way for a range of capital works projects to be completed and for these two levels of government to most effectively work together for the benefit of the community."

The draft budget is expected to be released on May 20.

The city's immediate coronavirus pandemic supports were unanimously ratified.