Portland & Oregon: Local & Regional Government
Oregon Government Resources
- Oregon.govThe primary website of the Oregon government and state agencies.
- Oregon Blue BookThe official state directory and fact book about all levels of government in Oregon. Published since 1911, it is produced and updated by the Oregon State Archives.
Regional Government Websites
State & Local Land Use Planning
- Clackamas County Department of Transportation & DevelopmentProvides information about long-range planning for the county, as well as various projects and studies being conducted.
- Washington County Land Use and TransportationProvides information on long-range, capital improvement, and immediate traffic concerns.
- Multnomah County Land Use PlanningCounty department focused on land and physical infrastructure.
- Clark County Community PlanningPlanning department in Clark County, Washington.
- MetroMetro is a collaborative agency between cities and counties in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Use the site to find Metro council documents and reports.
- Portland Bureau of Planning and SustainabilityPortland's planning bureau " develops creative and practical solutions to enhance Portland’s livability, preserve distinctive places and plan for a resilient future."
- Oregon Department of Land Conservation and DevelopmentAgency overseeing land use at a state level. Includes the state's Transportation and Growth Management Program, state-wide planning goals, and urban growth boundaries.
City of Portland
Portland's Unique Commission Structure
The City of Portland has the last remaining Commission form of government among large cities in the United States. The Mayor, four Commissioners and the Auditor comprise the City's six elected officials. The Mayor and the Commissioners together make up the City Council. The commission form of government differs from most other municipal governments in that its members have legislative, administrative and quasi-judicial powers.
Legislative: The City Council meets weekly in the Council Chambers to conduct the City's legislative business. The Council adopts the City budget and passes laws, policies and regulations that govern the City.
Administrative: The Mayor and Commissioners also serve as administrators of City departments, individually overseeing bureaus and carrying out policies approved by the Council. The assignment of departments and bureaus is determined by the Mayor and may be changed at his or her discretion. Bureau assignments do not necessarily correspond to departmental titles. (For example, the Commissioner of Public Works may not necessarily have any of the public works bureaus in his or her portfolio.)
Quasi-Judicial: Council members also act in a quasi-judicial capacity when hearing land-use and other types of appeals.
Information from: Office of the City Auditor (2015) City Government Structure. Available from: http://www.portlandonline.com/Auditor/index.cfm?a=9178&c=27481