Just Released: Restudy of City government
In September 2019, the League of Women Voters of Portland completed our city government study, “The City that Works: Preparing Portland for the Future.”
Portland League members voted to conduct this two-year restudy of city government in May 2017. Members realized that Portland’s voters needed more up-to-date and complete information to decide on possible changes to the City Charter.
The restudy looks closely at many parts of our current government. It examines strengths and weaknesses of the government’s structure and then explores different options for changing it. The goal is to provide useful ideas for how to improve the government so it serves the people of Portland as well as possible.
Read the study
You can read full text of the study report here.
View the panel Discussion
The video of a panel discussion about Portland’s government is now available here.
The panel included these speakers:
- Mike Gleason, speaking on Why Do Cities Matter? What Does It Mean to Be a Successful City? Gleason served for 18 years as Eugene’s city manager.
- Chris Tobkin, addressing the strengths of Portland’s commission form of government. Tobkin worked for Bud Clark during his two terms as Portland Mayor.
- Julia DeGraw, looking at the weaknesses of the commission form, why it needs to change, and what should be changed. DeGraw is an activist and community organizer.
- Betsy Pratt concluded the panel presentation with additional information on Portland’s government. Pratt was the chair of the League of Women Voters of Portland city government study committee.
The Multnomah Bar Foundation and the Carol & Velma Saling Foundation donated funding for the recording.