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City of Portland Government Structure

The City of Portland was issued a territorial charter in 1851, incorporating 2.1 square miles of forest, stumps and houses. In May, 1913, citizens narrowly approved a commission form of government and that structure remains in place today. The commission form of government differs from most municipal governments in that its members (four Commissioners and the Mayor) serve both as the City's legislative body and as administrators of city departments, individually overseeing bureaus and carrying out policies approved by the Council while wearing its legislative hat. The assignment of departments and bureaus is determined by the Mayor and may be changed at her/his discretion. Council members also act in a quasi-judicial capacity when hearing land-use and other types of appeals.

The Mayor, four Commissioners and the Auditor comprise the City's six elected officials. All are elected at large on a non-partisan basis and serve four-year terms. Commissioners are elected to numbered positions, with Position One and Position Four and the Mayor decided in one election, and Positions Two and Three decided two years later. The staggered election schedule avoids a complete change of elected officials in any one year, except under unusual circumstances.

Council Meeting Dates

The Council holds regular weekly sessions at 9:30 am and 2:00 pm on Wednesdays and on Thursday afternoons at 2:00 pm, if there is sufficient business. On the third Wednesday of the month, the pm session is held at 6:00 pm. Council meetings are held in Council Chambers City Hall, 1221 SW 4th Ave.

The Council Agenda

The Council Agenda, which lists all items to be considered by the Council at each week's sessions, is available to the public Friday afternoon preceding the Council meeting. The Agendas are posted on the Internet at http://www.ci.portland.or.us/agenda. It is also published in the Daily Journal of Commerce each Tuesday and copies are available outside Council Chambers. General items of business are heard by Council on Wednesday mornings while Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for land-use plans or appeals.

Council Actions:

The Council has several ways of acting on an agenda item:

Ordinances:
Ordinances are formal documents which carry the binding force of law and are passed by the Council in accordance with rules set forth in the City Charter. Two kinds of Ordinances, emergency and non-emergency, appear on the Agenda. Emergency Ordinances, designated in the Agenda by an asterisk preceding the agenda number, require a unanimous vote with at least four Council members present to vote. Non-emergency ordinances come before Council twice and go into effect 30 days after passage by Council. Public testimony is generally taken only at the first reading and the vote is taken at the second reading. Only three votes are needed for approval.
 
Resolutions:
A resolution usually establishes Council policy or directs certain administrative actions. It requires only one reading and approval by three Council members.
 
Reports:
Reports provide information, transmit other documents and/or make recommendations. Reports are commonly used to approve bids and the completion of contracts, make appointments to boards or commissions, make recommendations, etc.
 
Time Certain:
When an important or controversial item is scheduled, it may be designated "Time Certain." Such matters are not heard before the stated time, but may begin later if other business takes longer than planned. Council may also consider routine items listed after the Time Certain if it knows they can be disposed of quickly.
 
Consent Agenda:
To expedite Council business, routine and non-controversial items are placed on a Consent Agenda which is passed without discussion and with a single vote of approval by at least four Council members. Anyone who wishes to comment on any item on the Consent Agenda may ask the Council Clerk to remove that item from the Consent to be heard as part of the Regular Agenda. The Mayor will also provide an opportunity to make such a request prior to calling for the vote.
 
Quasi-Judicial Proceedings:
Special rules apply to land use appeals, which are quasi-judicial in nature and are conducted in accordance with Oregon State statutes and City Code provisions. Those rules are stated in the hearing notification and at the beginning of the session.
 
Communications:
In addition to testifying before Council on any item listed on the Agenda, citizens may address a communication to Council, in care of the Council Clerk, requesting to be heard by Council. Generally, the request is placed at the beginning of the Wednesday morning Council session and the correspondent is given three minutes to speak. This procedure is normally used only after the matter has been brought to the attention of the appropriate bureau or Commissioner. The Ombudsman's Office may also be helpful in resolving problems.
 
Citizen Participation:
Council Members welcome public testimony. As each item pulled from the Consent Agenda and all those on the Regular Agenda are read, the Mayor will ask if anyone wishes to be heard. Normally, anyone wishing to speak is given three minutes and Council Members may then ask questions. When many people are expected to testify, sign-up lists are placed outside Council Chambers. Names are called by the Clerk, usually three at a time, and the persons testifying take a seat at the table facing Council. Written materials may also be submitted to the Council Clerk for distribution to Council members either prior to or at the meeting. Those wishing to make slide or video presentations or use overheads, should check with the Council Clerk prior to the meeting (503-823-4086). Written material for distribution to Council members may also be submitted by those unable to attend in person. Assisted listening devises for the hearing impaired are also available and may be checked out prior to the meeting from the Sergeant at Arms or the Council Clerk.

City Council meetings are cable-cast live by Portland Cable Access (CityNet Channel 30 for TCI and AT&T Broadband) and rebroadcast later that evening and again on Saturdays. Call (503) 288-1515 for specific information.

City Council meetings are cable-cast live on City Net 30, Portland Cable Access television, and rebroadcast at the following times:

  • Wednesday 9:30 am replays on Wednesday at 11:00 pm and Saturday at 7:30 am
  • Wednesday 2:00 pm or 6:00 pm replays on Thursday at 1:30 am and Saturday at 10:00 am
  • Thursday 2:00 pm replays on Thursday at 10:00 pm and Saturday at 1:00 pm

Saturday dates reflect back-to-back replay coverage of all City Council meetings occuring that week.

If you have any questions about how you may participate in the governmental process, please do not hesitate to call the Council Clerk's office, (503) 823-4086.

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Disclaimer • The City Home Page Group last reviewed this page April 3, 2002 .