about us

The City of Portland operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a nine-member City Council. Each of the City’s five voting districts elects one Council member, with four members being elected from the registered voters of the entire City at-large. The Council members are elected for three-year staggered terms. The City Charter grants to the City Council all powers to enact, amend, or repeal rules, ordinances and resolutions relating to the City’s property, affairs and government, to preserve the public peace, health and safety, to establish personnel policies and giving effect to any vote of the City and to authorize the issuance of debt. The entire Council, working as the Finance Committee, adopts an annual budget and provides for an annual audit. Each year following the municipal election in November, the City Council elects one of its members as Mayor for the ensuing year.

The City Manager is the administrative head of the City and is responsible to the City Council for the administration of all departments.

The regular meetings of the City Council are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (second floor of City Hall). Agendas are available in the City Manager’s office the preceding Friday. Portland residents are cordially invited to attend, and address the Council on matters of concern, in accordance with the Council Rules.