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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