What's Happening in Portland, OR…

Recommendations delivered recently from a volunteer charter commission are, among others, for the City of Portland to have a larger city council, ranked choice voting and more district representation.

The vote was unanimously in favor of these recommendations by the 20-person Charter Review Commission. Their decision enables city lawyers to start drafting a ballot measure, that might be finished and ready for voters in November. Among the changes that may be voted on are implementation of ranked-choice voting, a more than 100 percent increase in the number of members of the city council and doing away with May primaries.

Flyer printing services offer an affordable way to keep the public informed on proposals or possible changes in their local government.

In June, a final vote by the commission on the charter amendment will take place. The matter will be put before the voters in November’s general election if 15 or more of the 20 members of the Charter Review Commission approve the amendment. If the minimal yes votes are not cast, then the recommendations will go directly to city council where they can be approved, ditched or reworked.

Portland is the last major U.S. city to have retained a commission system. City voters have voted down propositions to change Portland’s government seven times since the present system was adopted in 1913.