May 2026 - Measure to Remove Corvallis City Charter Provisions to Align with Model Charter

Notice of Receipt of Ballot Titles

Notice is hereby given that on January 20, 2026, the Corvallis City Council referred to the May 19, 2026, election the following four ballot titles and explanatory statements to amend the Corvallis City Charter. On January 21, 2026, the City recorder published the ballot titles, explanatory statements, and full text of the proposed amendments for each measure. 

Any elector who is dissatisfied with any of the ballot titles or explanatory statements may file a petition to review the ballot title(s) or explanatory statement(s) issued by the Corvallis City Attorney in the Benton County Circuit Court. The filer must name the Corvallis City Attorney as the respondent of the petition; state the reasons the title filed is insufficient, not concise, or unfair; and notify the City Recorder in writing that a petition has been filed. The petition to review must be filed with Benton County Circuit Court no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026.

Measure numbers will be assigned by Benton County following the deadline for the petition to review.

These measures were referred to the voters by the City Council based on the recommendation of the City's Charter Review Task Force Phase 1. The Task Force's final report can be found here.

Measure to Remove Corvallis City Charter Provisions to Align with Model Charter

 

Ballot Title

Caption: Remove Corvallis City Charter Provisions to Align with Model Charter

Question: Shall the City of Corvallis remove provisions from its charter to align with the League of Oregon Cities’ model charter?

Summary:

This measure would amend the City’s existing home rule charter. The Oregon Constitution gives city voters the right to adopt and amend charters.  Charters grant legal authority to cities, describe a city’s form of government, and assign duties to city officials.  Corvallis voters last amended the current charter in 2021. 

If approved, this measure would remove certain provisions of the Corvallis city charter which are not included in the statewide model charter published by the League of Oregon Cities. Specifically, it would remove Sections 18, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 42, and 48 of the charter. No other provisions of the Charter would be changed by this measure.

This measure was referred to the voters by the City Council based on the recommendation of the City’s Charter Review Task Force.

 

Explanatory Statement

If approved, this measure would amend the City’s current charter.

The proposed charter amendments are based on the unanimous recommendation of the City’s Charter Review Task Force.  The Task Force included the following individuals:

  • Charles Maughan (Mayor)
  • Tony Cadena (City Councilor)
  • Charlyn Ellis (City Councilor)
  • Jim Moorefield (City Councilor)
  • Hyatt Lytle (Community-at-Large)
  • Jack Sattler (Community-at-Large)
  • Curtis Wright (Community-at-Large)

The City Council unanimously approved submitting this measure to the voters.

The Oregon Constitution gives city voters the right to adopt and amend home rule charters.  A charter grants legal authority to a city government, describes the city’s form of government, and defines the roles and responsibilities of city officials.

 This measure would remove certain provisions of the Corvallis city charter which are not included in the statewide model charter published by the League of Oregon Cities. The charter sections which would be removed by this measure were recommended by the Charter Review Task Force for that reason and because their subject matter is already addressed in state law and other sections of the charter, or is or can be addressed in City ordinances.

Specifically, this measure would remove the following sections of the charter:

  • Section 18, relating to public meetings;
  • Section 25, relating to general elections;
  • Section 27, relating to qualifications of electors;
  • Section 28, relating to special elections;
  • Section 30, relating to notice of elections;
  • Section 31, relating to canvassing of election results;
  • Section 32, relating to initiative and referendum;
  • Section 42, relating to public improvement contracts; and
  • Section 48, relating to amendments to the charter.

No other provisions of the Charter would be changed by this measure.

 

Full Text of the Proposed Amendments

The full text of the proposed amendments are available in the pdf in the Supporting Documents below.

Supporting Documents

Measure Ballot Title, Explanatory Statement, and full text of the proposed amendments
Charter Review Phase 1 Task Force Final Report
  • Printer-friendly version