AMENDS CHARTER: REQUIRES CITY TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW CHARTER.
QUESTION: Shall Council convene Charter Review Commission at least every 10 years with recommendations submitted to voters in certain circumstances?
SUMMARY : Currently there is no requirement for periodic review of the City Charter. This measure requires the Council to convene a Charter Review Commission at least every 10 years. The first Commission will convene within two years after the effective date of this measure. The Commission will reflect the diversity of the City and will be made up of 20 residents. Each Council member shall nominate four Charter Commission members, subject to confirmation by the Council. The Mayor and Council can request review of specific Charter sections, but the Commission's review is not limited to such sections. The Commission must provide written reports to the Council. Charter amendments supported by at least 15 members of the Charter Commission shall be submitted to the voters of the City by the City Council. Charter amendments proposed by the Charter Commission that are supported by a majority but less than 15 members of the Charter Commission shall be recommendations to the City Council, which may, but is not required to refer such proposed amendments to the voters.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This measure is one of four recommendations by the 26 citizen-member Charter Review Commission.
It requires the City Council to convene a panel of citizens at least once every 10 years to review the City Charter and forward their recommendations directly to voters.
Background
In November 2005, Portland City Council appointed a panel of 26 Portlanders to take the first comprehensive look at the City Charter since 1913. This independent volunteer citizen committee – the Charter Review Commission – represented a wide range of ages, ethnicities, experiences and backgrounds.
To facilitate its work, the Commission held over 100 public meetings, collected information from a variety of sources, including review of written reports, invited testimony from legal and academic experts, and public testimony, including:
- Testimony from current and former elected officials of Portland and other municipalities, City employees, community organizations, neighborhood associations and other stakeholder groups and individuals;
- Testimony of outside experts in government studies and public administration; and
- A survey of comparably-sized cities.
What does the measure do?
Currently, the City Council decides when, or if, citizens can review the Charter, the document that spells out the laws and procedures that define how the city operates. Under the current system any changes proposed by citizens must be approved by the City Council and then referred to voters.
The measure:
- Provides more citizen oversight by requiring the City Council to convene a panel of no more than 20 citizens who are representative of the entire city to review the Charter at least every ten years.
- Establishes a process that allows the citizen commission to put recommendations directly before voters without City Council approval.
Elected officials would be excluded from being members of the Charter Commission. And, while the City Council can request the review of specific Charter sections, the Commission would be free to review any part of the Charter it chooses.
Each Council member would nominate four Charter Commission members, subject to confirmation by the entire Council. Charter amendments supported by at least 15 members of the Charter Commission would be submitted directly to the voters.
The Portland Metro area is expected to grow by 1 million residents in the next few decades. The Charter Review Commission recommended periodic review in order to permit citizens to periodically determine whether the City's governance reflected the changing needs of the city and its residents. The Commission also said that periodic review would continue Portland's tradition of civic engagement and citizen involvement in the workings of their government.
The first review would take place within two years of the passage of this measure.
Submitted by:
Mayor Tom Potter
City of Portland
No arguments AGAINST this measure were filed.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
PARENTS, TEACHERS, ACCOUNTANTS, RETIREES, COLLEGE STUDENTS, PARKS SUPPORTERS,
SCHOOL ADVOCATES, CONSER VAT IONISTS, GRANDPARENTS, AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE HOUSING ADVOCATES, SMALL BUSINESSES, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, SENIORS……
WE ARE CITIZENS TO REFORM CITY HALL*
Bertha M. Ferran
Becky Bilyeu
Barbara Roberts
Barbara Joan Hansen
Barbara J. Trachtenberg
John L. Trachtenberg
Harold C. Williams
Melanie C. Davis
Mahhew Aasen
Patricia McCaig
Namrata Singh
Kyle Harrington
Steffeni Mendoza Gray
Sen. Margaret Carter
Philip H. Lowthian
Carole B. Von Schmidt
Dana Estrada
Andrew S. Estrada
Teresa M. Bliven
Vaughn De Lorean
Skye Bordcosh
Marie Lisa Johnson
Grant L. Jones
Kevin Litle
Harry L. Newton
Tom Potter
Bob Ball
Karin Hansen
Kris Hudson
Jacqueline Mercer
Jaime Lim
Bruce Harder
Nichole Maher
David Kelleher
Shirley Minor
Paul Meyer
Kyle Chown
Robert Schmaling
Michaela Bancud
Janet Campbell
Scott Floyd
James Vukanovich
Brieanna Wilson
Tom Walsh
Linda L. Martin
Sarah Shepherd
Jay Clark
Melissa Crawford
Carolina Perkins
William David Shepherd
Herbert Hansen
Bernard V. Foster
Beverly Newton
Jamey Hampton
James A. Meyer
Gale Castillo
David Martinez
Lisa Naito
Kevin Kohnstamm
Vera Katz
Jason Lim
Charles Jordan
Linda Castillo
Jackie Lowthian
Elmer Bancud
Rodney Page
Marta Guembes
Steve Oster
Claire Oliveros
Debbie Kitchin
Sherry Fishman
Scott Andrews
Kilong Ung
Maren T. Walta
Madhusudan Ramachandran
Lauren Rhoades
Carol Blanusa
Ben Davis
Kari Easton
* a partial list.
We hope you'll join us….
For more supporters go to www.ReformCityHall.com
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Extensive Public Input
In November, 2005 a unanimous City Council appointed a panel of 26 Portlanders to take the first comprehensive look since 1913 at how the City was working. This independent volunteer committee spent 15 months developing their recommendations and held more than 100 public meetings .
These volunteers listened to over 2000 hours of testimony from:
• Current and former elected officials;
• Neighborhood organizations;
• Senior organizations;
• Minority media representatives;
• Youth organizations;
• City workers;
• Bureau directors;
• Academic and legal experts;
• Public administrators;
• Community organizations;
• Labor representatives;
• Auditors;
• Professional managers; and
• Community members.
The panel developed draft recommendations and presented them to more than 30 diverse community and neighborhood organizations for review and discussion .
All of the panel's meetings were open to the public and televised. The panel reported formally to the City Council 3 times throughout the 15 months in addition to meeting individually with City Commissioners. The panel's final recommendations were submitted to the City Council in January 2007 and referred to the voters.
Portlanders will have been discussing the need for these reforms for many years by the time they vote May 15 th .
And, these reforms are long overdue!
They are the first to be submitted to the voters in 94 years that include more citizen oversight, streamlined government, and increased accountability.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
A MESSAGE FROM TOM POTTER
Real Reform at City Hall
Dear Neighbors,
Two years ago I campaigned for Mayor by asking for your help in changing how City Hall works. You told me about the problems you had in accessing City services. We've made a good start together, bringing a renewed sense of openness and transparency, and making City Hall more welcoming to everyone.
Now it's time to finish the job.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to adopt four reforms proposed by an independent committee of Portlanders that will increase accountability, achieve more efficient use of tax dollars, and bring more community oversight to City Hall.
I'm proud to support this volunteer commission's recommendations for real reform at City Hall. Their reforms include some of the most significant changes to our City since 1913. And, it's about time!
- 89: Provide you the opportunity to review city government every ten years and allows the public to vote on community recommendations;
- 90: Streamline and modernize public employee provisions – eliminate outdated, confusing and conflicting rules;
- 91: Eliminate duplication of City services and improve communication and coordination between City bureaus by allowing managers to run City bureaus, and hold them accountable; and
- 92: Give the City Auditor more authority to conduct financial and performance audits on the Portland Development Commission;
Reforming City Hall will take hard work, but that's what you've elected me to do.
I need your help.
I hope you'll help me bring more accountability and citizen oversight to City Hall by supporting Reforms 89, 90, 91 & 92.
Take care and thank you,
Tom Potter
Mayor
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Governor Barbara Roberts
Citizen Oversight & Voters Make a Difference
Portland is a wonderful city and I'm proud to call it home. I've raised my children in this community, served as a legislator from Portland as well as our state's Governor. Today I live in a southeast neighborhood where I can walk with my grandchildren to the coffee shop, library and neighborhood park.
I believe one of the reasons Portland is such a special place is because of the quality and character of the people who live here – and their commitment to their community.
I also believe Portland faces real challenges in the next few decades. Our population is exploding, and our roads, parks and schools are stretched to the limit.
Reform 89 provides us with access to our most valuable resource – the people who live, work and raise their families here.
Reform 89 lets citizens review how government is working every 10 years and vote on recommendations for change.
To continue to protect what we value most about our community, we must engage our greatest resource. Only by allowing citizens to have a role in shaping our future can we hope for a future as good as our past.
I urge you to vote Yes so we can keep Portland a great City.
Sincerely,
Governor Barbara Roberts
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
GIVE PORTLANDERS MORE OVERSIGHT OF CITY HALL
And Give Voters a Voice
Today the City Council decides when, or if, community members can review the document that defines how the City provides services. Under the current system any changes to the Charter must be approved by the City Council before being referred to the voters.
That's just not right!
That's why an independent volunteer committee has recommended bringing more oversight to City Hall and requiring community recommendations to be passed on directly to the voters.
Community Oversight
Reform 89 provides more community oversight by directing the City Council to appoint an independent committee of community members at least once every 10 years to review how the government is working.
Give Portlanders a Voice
Reform 89 creates a process that allows the community's recommendations to go directly to voters-- without City Council approval!
This recommendation is one of four reforms designed to increase efficiency, bring more accountability and provide you more oversight of City Hall.
IT IS YOUR CITY AND YOU DESERVE A VOICE IN IMPROVING IT!
Vote Yes on Reforms 89, 90, 91 & 92.
For more information: www.ReformCityHall.com
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
Portland ranked 37th out of 46 cities in managing City finances.
As a small business owner on the Eastside, I know that watching the bottom line is crucial.
But, I am also willing to support quality services that make our City better – light rail, street car, clean water, parks and good schools.
These services make a difference to my business, but more importantly, to my family and our community.
I've reviewed the independent Charter Review Commission's recommendations to reform City Hall and believe reform is necessary if Portland wants to meet the needs of our growing population and protect our quality of life.
After 94 years, our government is outdated. It is not designed to meet today's challenges. It is inefficient, stifles communication, and limits coordination.
I have willingly supported increases in my taxes to pay for quality services. But, now it's time for City Hall to tighten its belt.
City Hall simply needs better management…more coordination and communication would help eliminate duplication and save money for needed services. The community proposed reforms do exactly that:
- 89: Give citizens the power to determine what's working at City Hall and what's not, and vote on changes to make things better.
- 90: Modernize and eliminate outdated, confusing and conflicting public employee regulations.
- 91: Stop the duplication and waste among City bureaus that often don't cooperate or communicate with each other, and hold more managers accountable for their performance.
- 92: Give the City Auditor more authority to conduct financial and performance audits on the Portland Development Commission.
I'm one of the hundreds of Citizens to Reform City Hall. I hope you'll join us.
Vote Yes on 89-90-91-92
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
IT'S ABOUT COORDINATION & ACCOUNTABILITY AT CITY HALL
Streamline and modernize City government
Portland is the last big city in America where politicians still run huge, highly technical bureaus….with little or no experience. That's in part why taxpayers pay $2.8 million a year for the four commissioners' staff on top of bureau management costs.
Our politician--run bureaus promotes a duplication of services, erects barriers between bureaus and creates blind spots that produce disasters like the Water Bureau's $ 10 million billings fiasco and a tram that cost four times the city estimate.
"….then each commissioner rules over his of her collection of fiefdoms. Remember, each commissioner is a politician first, and usually has no expertise in any of those departments. No wonder other large cities reject this problematic scheme."
The Columbian, 2/25/07
"The city's form of government invests extraordinary power in each city commissioner, often at the expense of the city as a whole."
The Oregonian, 3/5/2007
The package of reforms proposed by the independent volunteer commission will:
- provide coordination between city bureaus;
- implement consistent administrative policies in all bureaus;
- bring more accountability and citizen oversight to city government; and
- deliver more efficient services to taxpayers.
"We have a good city but changing the form of government would make it even better."
The Oregonian, 2/5/2007
Please support Reforms 89, 90, 91, & 92.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
WHY?
For years Portlanders have asked….
Why can't we do a better job coordinating City bureaus?
Why don't we have consistent administrative policies between City bureaus?
Why are we wasting taxpayers' dollars by duplicating services and personnel between City bureaus?
Why?
Because our form of government is obsolete and inefficient. No other large city in the nation still has politicians in charge of City bureaus. They just can't afford to.
Reforms 89-90-91-92 will end business-as-usual at City Hall:
- Increase coordination: Replace a system where the Water Bureau can withhold critical internal memos from other bureaus that foretold a multi-million dollar billing problem. The result? A $ 20 – 30 million billing fiasco that cost ratepayers.
- Increase accountability: Establish clear decision-making authority and hold managers accountable if they do not perform – and end the excuses that allow the price tag for the tram to go from $ 15 million to $ 55 million, and no one knows why or is held accountable.
- Increase citizen oversight: Finally bring citizens back into government. Establish citizen oversight to review how our government is working and make recommendations directly to Portland voters.
Citizen Inspired, Citizen Led Reforms
A package of reforms to bring more citizen oversight, accountability and efficiency to city government.
Vote YES on Reforms 89-90-91-92
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
PORTLANDERS TO REFORM CITY HALL
The independent Charter Review Commission members learned a lot in their 15 months of research about how and why Portland is run the way it is. And they learned how much it costs taxpayers to continue with a form of government that has not changed since 1913.
They learned that Portland is the last big city in the nation where politicians are in charge of multi-million dollar, highly complex bureaus.
And they learned that taxpayers foot the bill for our politicians' inexperience.
They also learned that our current government breeds inefficiencies and duplication, and limits coordination and oversight.
Audit exposes $10 - $15 million wasted annually.
One independent audit in 2006 estimated that the City is wasting $10 - $15 million a year.
The cost of this uncoordinated, haphazard approach to running our government is more than we can afford.
That's why the citizen led Commission recommended a package of reforms to:
- Provide more community oversight and give voters a voice in improving City Hall;
- Streamline and modernize City Hall; and
- Provide greater accountability through performance and financial audits.
We hope you'll support 89-90- 91- 92.
Please vote YES to Reform City Hall.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
POLITICIAN-RUN CITY BUREAUS—WASTE MILLIONS
Duplication Costs Taxpayers
In our outdated, politician-managed government, City bureaus change hands every few years with new politicians….
And that's costing taxpayers millions.
In the last 6 years:
- the Water Bureau has been managed by 5 different City Commissioners;
- the Transportation Bureau has changed hands 7 times ; and
- the Sewer Bureau 6 times…in the last 6 years.
Each time a new politician takes over, the bureau lurches off into a new direction—the politician can hire, fire, move personal staff into bureau positions, conduct studies, approve contracts and leases, all without coordinating or communicating with other commissioners, the mayor or any centralized clearinghouse.
Politicians think our system is great, and so do the special interests that elect them….
But there's a reason every other large city in America has abandoned the politician-managed bureaus – it is just too expensive:
- Today we pay $ 640,000 a year to keep City-owned space vacant while eight different bureaus rent private office space.
- While that space remains vacant, the eight bureaus pay $ 2.5 million a year for downtown offices.
- Four City bureaus don't even use the City's payroll system.
- Two different bureaus paid for multi-million dollar studies at the same time on the same issue, and over the same piece of property.
Bring accountability back to City Hall.
VOTE YES on Reforms 89-90- 91-92.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AT CITY HALL
"Bureaus bicker (especially when their respective commissioners are at odds), and some bureaus, in effect, run themselves, creating blind spots and disasters…"
The Oregonian 2/5/2007
After 100 plus public meetings, 2000 hours of testimony, and 15 months of work, the volunteer independent committee concluded that Portland has outgrown our politician-run government.
They recommended a package of reforms designed to increase efficiency and accountability and give Portlanders a voice in improving City Hall:
- 89: Give the community a chance to review how the City is working every ten years and then let the community vote on the recommendations.
- 90: Streamline and modernize public employee regulations – eliminate outdated, confusing and conflicting rules;
- 91: Eliminate duplication of City services and improve communication and coordination between City bureaus. Allow experienced managers to run day to day operations, but hold them accountable for performance; and
- 92: Give the City Auditor more authority to conduct financial and performance audits on the Portland Development Commission;
"Just as a city needs experts running police, fire and other key departments, a city hall needs a competent, non-political, public administration expert running daily operations."
The Columbian, 2/25/07
VOTE YES ON REFORMS 89, 90, 91 & 92
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
REFORMING CITY HALL IS NOT FOR CAREER POLITICIANS
Portland city commissioners must suppress the urge to protect their political turf and instead allow voters in a May election to decide the fate of recommendations from a citizen-led charter review panel that considered how City Hall can best operate in the future.
Portland Tribune 1/11/2007
Local career politicians have been lining up to come out against the citizen-led reforms that will bring more oversight, performance audits and efficiency to City Hall.
That's no surprise. After all, an independent volunteer committee is asking voters if they would rather have skilled and experienced managers look after our City's resources. If the answer is yes, we will replace a system where politicians now exercise total control with no oversight or accountability.
- 89: Give citizens the power to determine what's working at City Hall and what's not, and vote on changes to make things better.
- 90: Modernize the Civil Service that protects our workers, eliminating outdated, confusing and conflicting rules.
- 91: Stop the duplication and waste among City bureaus that often don't cooperate or communicate with each other, and hold more managers accountable for their performance.
- 92: Give the City Auditor more authority to conduct financial and performance audits on the Portland Development Commission.
Twenty-six of your neighbors spent 15 months and held 100 public meetings to develop these recommendations.
Now you can make these reforms real!
Vote YES on Reforms 89, 90, 91 & 92.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
More Community Access, Oversight & Representation
(Five Times (5X) More Access)
The independent Charter Review Commission's proposed reforms deliver:
- increased efficiency; AND
- more community access, representation and responsiveness.
Today, special interests take up too much time at City Hall. A neighbor with a problem, a senior with a question, a family confused about a water bill – we all have a hard time being heard.
Whether it is a problem with an abandoned car, too much traffic on your street, or you need to get the right permit to remodel your garage… you have to depend on the good graces of the one politician in charge of the City bureau to get anything done.
Reforms 89-90-91-92 change that.
An ordinary person could approach ANY City Council member for help. And all City Council members would have a stake in providing a response, not just one. The chances of getting something done are multiplied by five.
The package of reforms proposed by the independent commission puts the day to day management in the hands of experienced managers and allow City Commissioners to actually get out of their office and talk to real people about real problems in their community.
City Commissioners would have:
- the time to focus on people; and
- get out of their offices, be part of the community; and
- learn about the needs of all Portlanders.
That's the experience we desperately need at City Hall.
Vote Yes on Reforms 89-90-91-92
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.
Measure No. 26-89 | City of Portland
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
NO FALSE PROMISES
No new money needed to implement reforms.
(And ending duplication and inefficiency will save money.)
Rather than coming with their hand out again, this package of reforms will bring some common sense savings by making City Hall act the way the rest of us do who have to work within a budget, look for bargains and not spend money on things we don't need or already have.
Imagine a system where:
- We're not paying to have five different bureaus renting space in private buildings while a City-owned building sits vacant – essentially paying twice for everything.
- We're not humoring bureaus that want to run their own customized computer systems – costing all of us an extra $10-15 million every year.
- Bureaus aren't fighting over who owns what while they spend millions duplicating, studies on the same topic at the same time.
This package of reforms won't cost a dime in new money – but it will save us millions
Vote YES on Reforming City Hall – 89-90-91-92.
(This information furnished by Kyle Chisek, Citizens to Reform City Hall)
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.