Chapter 2: Powers

Section 3. Powers. The City has all powers that the constitutions, statutes, and common law of the United States and Oregon expressly or impliedly grant or allow the City, as fully as though this Charter specifically enumerated each of those powers.

[As amended by special election May 19, 2026]

Section 4. Responsibility to All People. The City shall exercise its power to ensure the equal protection, treatment, and representation of all persons without discrimination including, but not limited to, age, citizenship status, color, familial status, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religion, religious observance, sex, sexual orientation, and source or level of income. Corvallis is a community that honors diversity and diverse interests, and aspires to be free of prejudice, bigotry, and hate.

[This section added by general election November 7, 2006.]

Section 5. Construction. The Charter will be liberally construed so that the City may exercise fully all powers possible under this Charter and under United States and Oregon law. The specific mention of particular powers in the Charter shall not be construed as limiting in any way the general power granted in this Section. This Charter’s interpretation shall be examined in its entirety.

[As amended by special election May 19, 2026; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 6. Distribution.  The Oregon Constitution reserves initiative and referendum powers as to all municipal legislation to City voters.  This Charter vests all other City powers in the Council except as the Charter otherwise provides.  The Council has legislative, administrative, and quasi- judicial authority.  The Council exercises legislative authority by ordinance, administrative authority by resolution, and quasi-judicial authority by order.  The Council may not delegate its authority to adopt ordinances.

[As amended by special election May 19, 2026; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]