Commissioners Propose New Board Rules to Promote Transparent and Balanced Government

Portland, Oregon, March 31, 2025 – Commissioner Meghan Moyer (District 1) and Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon (District 4) have released for public comment revised board rules that will bring Multnomah County into alignment with widely accepted standards long championed by advocates for accessibility, accountability, and transparency in local government.

New Board Rules Ordinance 3.31.25 (143.26 KB)

Multnomah County’s current board rules are confusing and do not align with the County’s stated values of inclusivity and transparency. The revised rules will make it easier for residents to participate in county decisions. Notable changes include:

Regular Meeting Agendas will be posted with seven days prior notice rather than three days;
Board rules and definitions for commonly used terminology will be publicly available;
ADA accessibility and language translation will be provided;
Conflicts of interest will be stated for the record, explained, and preclude the affected board member from voting on the matter.

These rules also clarify roles and powers of the Chair and Board Members regarding board meetings and processes. Current confusing board rules have created inconsistency in implementation. Therefore, these new rules aim to ensure everybody understands the rules and charter that govern Board meetings. These changes include:

Board rules will be approved on the first board meeting of the calendar year and can be changed at the request of the majority of board members;
Commissioners shall have greater power to place items on the agenda and weigh in on meeting processes;
Meetings will not be ended or cancelled without a majority consent;
Two or more board members will be able to motion to move an action item onto the agenda, and one member will be able to move for a discussion.

These proposed rule changes build off the Board’s proposed workplan for 2025 and work of the consultant ManageWise. We are grateful for these efforts and look forward to bringing this proposed ordinance for discussion to the scheduled April 8th work session on board rules.