Meeting Guide -- Form of Government, Elected Officials, Elections - MARCH16UPDATE 04 TiWid
Charter Review Committee Meeting Guide
Form of Government, Elected Officials, Elections
Form of Government
Discussion Questions
1. Tigard currently operates under the Council-Manager form of government. Is this still the
appropriate form of government for the City?
2. If not, what form of government does the Committee recommend?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
• Section 10—Other Officers
• Section 17—Mayor's Functions at Council Meetings
• Section 20—Mayor
• Section 20A—City Manager
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (rows 16-19), City Manager(rows 51-52)
• So,You Want to Run for Local Office..., pages 6-7
• Cities 101— Forms of Local Government
• Form of Government: Longitudinal Statistics
• Common Issues and Pro/Con Argument to Changes in Form of Government
• Guide for Charter Commissions, pages 35-39
Mayoral Powers
Discussion Questions
1. After reviewing Tigard's current mayoral powers and the powers held by mayors in other
jurisdictions—are there changes, additions, restrictions, or removals that the Committee
recommends?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
• Section 13—Meetings
• Section 17—Mayor's Function at Council Meetings
• Section 20—Mayor
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (rows 16-19), City Manager(rows 51-52)
Mayoral Selection
Discussion Questions
1. The Mayor is elected at-large by all Tigard voters. Does the Committee recommend retaining the
method or making changes?
2. The Mayor is elected to four-year terms. Does the Committee recommend retaining the term
length or amending it?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (row 17)
Limitations on Councilors
Discussion Questions
1. Tigard does not currently have a 'No Interference' clause in the Charter. Does the Committee
recommend adding one?
2. Tigard does not currently have a 'Representing the City' clause in the Charter. Does the
Committee recommend adding one?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
• Section 13—Meetings
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (row 17), No Interference (rows 21-22),
Representing the City(rows 37-38)
Number of Councilors
Discussion Questions
1. Tigard currently operates with four City Councilors with the Mayor sitting as the fifth member of
Council. Is this still the appropriate number of councilors for the City?
2. If not, what number of councilors does the Committee recommend?
3. Does the Committee recommend that the Youth Councilor as an advisory member of the
Council be added to the Charter or remain as a position at the discretion of the Council?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (row 17)
Council Selection
Discussion Questions
1. Tigard currently elects City Councilors at-large, meaning that all voters vote on all vacant Council
seats, and the candidates with the most votes win. Other jurisdictions choose to elect some or
all of their Councilors by position or by geographic region. Does the Committee recommend
retaining Tigard's current election method, or would the Committee prefer to explore other
options?
2. Does the Committee recommend some or all council seats be elected by position or geographic
region?
3. Councilors are elected for four year terms, does the Committee recommend retaining the term
length or amending it?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (row 17)
Elected Officials Term Limits
Discussion Questions
1. What, if any,term limits does the Committee recommend?
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Mayor and Council (row 17), Terms (rows 73-74)
Council President Powers and Selection
Discussion Questions
1. Tigard currently operates with a City Council President, does the Committee recommend that
Tigard retain this position?
2. If this position is retained, does the committee recommend the powers of the Council President
be retained or amended? If amended, how?
3. The Council President is selected by members of the Council every two years. Does the
committee recommend keeping either or both the method of selection and term length?
Charter Sections
• Section 18—President of the Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: President of the Council (rows 45-46)
Elected Officials Vacancies
Discussion Questions
1. What could create a vacancy?
2. How does the Committee recommend vacancies be filled?
Charter Sections
• Chapter VII—Vacancies in Office
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: What Creates Vacancy(rows 81-85)
Elected Officials Recall/Removal from Office
Discussion Questions
1. Does the Committee recommend adding a process for recall elections to the Charter?
Charter Sections
• Is not port of Tigard's City Charter
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Removal from Office (rows 39-40)
Resignation Requirement
Discussion Questions
1. Does the Committee recommend retaining the current requirement that an elected official
running for a different office that would commence before the end of their current term be
required to resign from their current office? (Note: Two Council positions are impacted by this)
Charter Sections
• Section 7—Mayor and Council
Reference Material
• No comparison available
Qualifications for Nominations
Discussion Questions
1. Does the Committee recommend retaining the qualifications for nominations in the Charter or
delegating this area to ordinance?
2. If the Committee recommends retaining this area in the Charter, are there any changes that the
Committee recommends, such as requiring nominees to be Tigard electors?
Charter Sections
• Section 12—Qualifications of Officers
• Section 31—Nominations
Reference Material
• Charter Comparison Spreadsheet: Nominations (rows 77-78)
General Reference Material
Guide for Charter Commissions
• When to Consider Changing the Charter p. 7
• What Charter Change Can and Can't Do p. 7
• Does Our Problem Have a Charter Solution p. 8
• What Qualities Make a Good Charter? p. 24
• Essential Components of a Charter, p. 26
Other
• So,You Want to Run for Local Office...
• 2018 Municipal Form of Government Survey
• Municipal Form of Government Survey Infographic