BALLOT TITLE
AMENDS METRO CHARTER BY ABOLISHING EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CREATING COUNCIL PRESIDENT
QUESTION: Shall Metro Charter be amended to abolish the Office of Metro Executive Officer and create new Office of Council President?
SUMMARY: Amends Metro Charter to abolish Office of Executive Officer and create new Office of Council President. Modifies composition of Metro Council from seven Councilors elected by district to six Councilors elected by district and Council President, elected at large. Establishes compensation of Council President as equal to salary of state circuit court judge. Requires creation of Offices of Chief Operating Officer and Metro Attorney; both serve at pleasure of Council. Measure takes effect 2003. Transition to six-member Council coincides with census required redistricting.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This measure is a referral to voters by the Metro Council seeking to amend the 1992 Metro Charter. If passed, the measure would abolish the Office of the Metro Executive Officer and would change the composition of the Metro Council to include a newly created position called Metro Council President. The measure would be effective in January 2003.
Currently the Metro Charter provides for a Metro Executive elected at large from the entire Metro Region and a Metro Council composed of seven Councilors, each nominated and elected from geographic districts within the Metro area. The Metro Executive Officer serves full time with the primary duty of enforcing Metro Ordinances and executing Council policies. The Executive Officer also administers Metro, except for the Metro Council and Metro Auditor; recommends appointments to Metro offices, boards, commissions and committees; proposes for Council adoption measures deemed necessary to enforce or carry out the powers and duties of Metro; prepares and submits the recommended annual budget of Metro; and advises Metro Council concerning Metro operations. Additionally, the Executive Officer has the authority to veto certain legislative acts of the Council. Each year, the seven Councilors select one of their members of the Metro Council to be the Presiding Officer. The Council Presiding Officer establishes the agenda for council meetings and appoints council members to serve on committees.
Under the measure referred to voters by the Metro Council, the Office of the Metro Executive Officer would be abolished. Additionally, the composition of the Metro Council would change to become six Councilors, each nominated and elected from a geographic district within the Metro area, as well as a Council President, elected from the Metro area at large. Under the measure, the Council President would preside over the Council and set the agenda of the Council subject to rules established by ordinance. The Council President would have authority to appoint all members of committees, commissions and boards of Metro and would have a vote on all matters before the Metro Council. The Council would no longer annually elect a presiding officer.
The measure also requires the Council to create the offices of the Metro Chief Operating Officer, who would undertake administrative functions that the Executive Officer now performs, and the Metro Attorney. The Council may also create other offices such as Zoo Director not subordinate to the Chief Operating Officer. The Council President would appoint the Chief Operating Officer, the Metro Attorney and the other offices, subject to confirmation by the Metro Council. Appointed officers would serve at the pleasure of the Council and be subject to removal by the President with the agreement of the Council.
The measure also establishes the compensation of Metro Council President as equal to that of state circuit court judges. The current charter sets salary by reference to the office of State district court judges, a judicial position that the 1997 Oregon Legislature abolished. The measure establishes the compensation of the Metro Councilors as one-third the salary of the Council President.
According to Metro’s Chief Financial Officer, passage of the measure would result in a cost savings in the $400,000 to $500,000 range, resulting from the elimination of up to eight duplicate staff positions currently authorized for the Executive Office and the Council.
Submitted by:
Mike Burton,
Executive Officer
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
FROM THE DESK OF BARBARA ROBERTS
Former Governor of Oregon
This past summer I had the pleasure of moderating Metro’s community meetings that led to the charter amendment before you.
From Gresham to Beaverton, Wilsonville to Portland, Cornelius to West Linn, citizens joined around the table, put their heads together and discussed how to make this region’s government work better for its citizens.
Measure 26-10 is the result of their collective involvement and I am proud to endorse it.
The common topic through all the conversations was the confusing relationship between the policy-making role of the Metro Council and the administrative role of the Executive Officer.
From the roundtable discussions, three priorities clearly emerged:
• Provide clarity regarding policy-making at Metro
• Maintain a leader position that is elected by all voters
• Increase efficiency
Like two gears not in sync with each other, the competing powers of the Presiding Officer and the Executive Officer often have not meshed. The result is a process that is at times a disservice to citizens and communities throughout the region.
Measure 26-10 – created by extensive public input – addresses those issues in a politically and fiscally responsible manner that I encourage you to support.
THE IMPACT OF MEASURE 26-10 WILL BE TO:
Place a regional voice and vote on the Metro Council
Make Metro more efficient
Eliminate duplicate staff positions
Save taxpayer money (est. $400,000 - $500,000 per year)
One participant wrote after the roundtable, "it felt like we were back in Philadelphia in 1787 creating a government!" I could not agree more.
Stay engaged in the public process. Make your government better.
Vote Yes on Measure 26-10.
Barbara Roberts
Former Governor of Oregon
(This information furnished by Barbara Roberts)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS FOR MEASURE 26-10
We are joining together from across the region to support Metro’s charter amendment, Measure 26-10.
We work with Metro on a daily basis to preserve the qualities that make this region one of the most livable in the country.
We understand how Metro works and what will make it more responsive to people’s needs.
Citizens and Communities deserve . . .
• A regional voice and vote on the Metro Council
• More accountable government
• Less bureaucracy
• $400,000 to $500,000 in annual savings
WE ARE VOTING YES FOR MEASURE 26-10.
PLEASE JOIN US.
Mayor Chuck Becker - Gresham
County Chair Tom Brian - Washington County
Mayor Ralph Brown - Cornelius
Commissioner Serena Cruz - Multnomah County
Mayor Rob Drake - Beaverton
Mayor Gordon Faber - Hillsboro
Commissioner Michael Jordan - Clackamas County
Mayor Vera Katz - Portland
County Chair Bill Kennemer - Clackamas County
Mayor Charlotte Lehan - Wilsonville
Commissioner Diane Linn - Multnomah County
City Commissioner Doug Neeley - Oregon City
City Commissioner Brian Newman - Milwaukie
Mayor Lou Ogden - Tualatin
Mayor Don Robertson - Wood Village
Mayor Paul Thalhofer - Troutdale
Mayor Jill Thorn - West Linn
Mayor Carolyn Tomei - Milwaukie
Mayor Roger Vonderharr - Fairview
Mayor John Williams - Oregon City
(This information furnished by David Levine, Citizens for Accountable Regional Government)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Reduce bureaucracy -- Increase efficiency
Less feuding -- More cooperation
Cut duplication -- Create cost savings
METRO COUNCILORS FOR A BETTER METRO
TEAMWORK
"I believe it would bring about more of a team approach. It wouldn’t have that dynamic tension that is built into the structure today."
- Susan McLain, The Oregonian, 3/17/00
EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
"A change could bring us less conflict and more efficiency while at the same time creating a structure that provides more accountability to the citizens."
- David Bragdon, Tigard Times, 6/23/00
REGIONAL VOTE
"It is important to have a regional voice on the council where the decisions are made."
- Mike Burton, The Oregonian, 6/7/00
$400,000 - $500,000 SAVINGS
"These amendments help us to move to the next level of maturity by streamlining Metro, saving taxpayer dollars and giving the voters the ability to directly elect the person who heads the Metro Council."
- Rod Monroe, Daily Journal of Commerce, 8/16/00
BETTER GOVERNMENT
". . . the thoughtful evolution of the fledgling regional government . . . is not one to agonize about; it’s one to applaud."
- The Oregonian 9/13/00
MEASURE 26-10 WILL HELP METRO BETTER SERVE YOU!
We experience Metro on a daily basis. We are part of the structure and see its successes and flaws up close and personal. Measure 26-10 makes a better Metro for citizens.
WE URGE A YES VOTE FOR MEASURE 26-10!
Mike Burton - Metro Executive Officer
David Bragdon - Presiding Officer and Metro Councilor
Rod Monroe - Metro Councilor
Rod Park - Metro Councilor
Susan McLain - Metro Councilor
Rex Burkholder - Metro Councilor - elect
(This information furnished by Richard A. Lloyd - Jones, Citizens for Accountable Regional Government)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
METRO 101:
Why Measure 26-10 serves the public interest
WHAT IS METRO?
Metro serves the 1.3 million people who live in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and the 24 cities in the Portland metropolitan area.
Metro provides a regional forum to resolve issues related to growth – protection of parks and streams, recycling, and land use and transportation choices.
Metro "protects the nature of our region."
SO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CURRENT STRUCTURE?
Currently, Metro has a split personality.
On the one side is the Executive Officer who, though elected regionally, has no vote on policy matters. On the other side is the seven-member Metro Council charged with making policy and led by a Presiding Officer.
Unfortunately, this unwieldy separation of power between the Executive and Presiding Officers produces unnecessary friction and costly duplication of staffing.
HOW WILL MEASURE 26-10 HELP?
Measure 26-10 combines the two leadership positions, often at odds with one another, into one regionally elected Council President.
In turn, Metro will run better.
• Citizens gain a regional vote on the Metro Council
• Political infighting takes a back seat
• The legislative and administrative process at Metro becomes more efficient
Metro will not only work better, it will work cheaper. Separation of power at Metro has meant separation and hence duplication of staff. The Chief Financial Officer of Metro estimates the savings from staff reduction at $400,000 and $500,000 annually.
Measure 26-10 will serve the public well.
Vote Yes on Measure 26-10.
Russ Dondero, Professor, Political Science
Ethan Seltzer, Professor, Urban Studies and Planning
Jim Zehren, Citizen member, Metro Policy Advisory Committee
(This information furnished by David Levine, Citizens for Accountable Regional Government)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
MEASURE 26-10 MAKES A MORE LIVABLE METRO
How do you feel about the livability of your community?
How do you feel about parks and open spaces? Recycling? The Oregon Zoo? Urban sprawl?
We care about these issues. . .and we care about Metro because Metro holds the keys to them. That is why we are asking you to join us in supporting Measure 26-10.
WHY WE ARE VOTING YES ON MEASURE 26-10:
1. Make Metro more accountable and efficient
2. Eliminate blurred lines of authority
3. Remove overlapping staff positions
4. Save taxpayers over a quarter million dollars every year
We support Metro and want to make it work better. Our region depends on it.
VOTE YES ON MEASURE 26-10
Portland Oregon Visitors Association (POVA)
Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland
Oregon Convention & Visitors Services Network,
Roy Jay Pres/CEO
Gussie McRobert, former Mayor of Gresham
Mike Houck, Urban Conservationist
(This information furnished by Richard A. Lloyd - Jones, Citizens forAccountable Regional Government)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
A letter from Metro Executive, Mike Burton:
Dear Citizens:
I am pleased the Metro Council put this measure on the ballot. Measure 26-10 is an opportunity to get rid of inside politics and improve the operation of the regional government. Why do I support this measure?
The outcome is a win-win for citizens:
• Measure 26-10 changes the process from an internal selection to a public election
• Measure 26-10 puts an end to the infighting and political maneuvering
• Measure 26-10 gives Metro and its citizens a single, regionally elected voice
• Measure 26-10 gives Metro and its citizens a single, regionally elected vote on the council
Metro grapples on a daily basis with tough issues – managing growth in our region, maintaining clean air and water, protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, providing transportation choices and mobility – voters need to tune in to what is happening here, not turn off. Infighting and political wheeling and dealing do not appeal to citizens.
Measure 26-10 serves the public good and will improve the operation of Metro.
You should know that this measure does not benefit me politically. My term expires at the same time Measure 26-10 would take effect. And due to term limits I am unable to run again for the position.
I urge you to say no to insider politics.
Vote YES for Measure 26-10.
Sincerely,
Mike Burton
Metro Executive Officer
(This information furnished by Mike Burton, Executive Officer, Metro)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.
METRO
Measure 26-10
ARGUMENT IN OPPOSITION
PLEASE VOTE "NO" ON BALLOT MEASURE 26-10
In America, good government is responsive and accountable. It includes an elected executive directly responsible to the people. Good government has checks and balances between the executive and the law-making body. But Measure 26-10 eliminates the regionally-elected Metro executive. It substitutes an elected Metro council chair with very limited executive authority and responsibility. The measure permits creation of an appointed "chief operating officer" who will be subject to daily interference by council members and shifting coalitions. No one will have clear accountability for Metro operations. The current carefully constructed balance between executive and council is destroyed. Moreover, the measure reduces the number of councilors elected by districts, making each district larger so councilors have more constituents and less time to respond to voters.
Voters deserve clear accountability—and a better charter revision process!
Measure 26-10 was concocted on a fast-track, low-visibility schedule, without any fact-finding analysis. Problems at Metro with both council and executive need in-depth review. We deserve better than this quick-fix amendment, designed to serve the needs of the Council, not the people of our region. A more legitimate process would clearly indicate and evaluate problems that need fixing, and not start with pre-determined solutions and try to rationalize them. The charter is our Metro constitution and ought no to be played with so lightly.
MEASURE 26-10 IS
• Vague, poorly drafted
• Not good government
• Not accountable government
• Not efficient government
• Designed to look like streamlining but won’t save money
• A self-serving power grab
• Perfect for more messy political maneuvering
PLEASE VOTE NO. ASK METRO COUNCILORS TO REVISE OUR CHARTER THE RIGHT WAY.
Ron Cease, Don Clark, Ken Gervais, Darlene Carlson, Lyn Musolf, Jane Cease, Don Carlson, and A. McKay Rich
(This information furnished by Ron Cease)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Multnomah County, nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument.