Chapter 3: Form of Government

Section 7. Where Powers Vested. All powers of the City shall be vested in the City Council, except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter, and the Council shall provide for the exercise thereof and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the City by law.

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

Section 8. Council. The Council shall be composed of nine Councilors, one from each ward. The term of office of Councilors shall be two years. There shall be elected one Councilor from each ward at each general municipal election. The Councilors in office at the time this Charter is amended shall continue in office until the election of Councilors at the first general municipal election after adoption of this amended Charter section.

[As amended by special election May 27, 1971; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 9. Wards.

(a) For the purpose of municipal representation, the City of Corvallis shall be divided into nine wards designated by the City Council by ordinance not later than five days or earlier than 30 days before the first date on which candidates may file for each election as Councilors.

(b) The Council must, by ordinance, revise the description of any wards or ward in order to conform to the one person, one vote principle. Ward boundaries shall conform to the principles of neighborhood groupings, compactness of area, and regularity of boundaries insofar as can reasonably be attained.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 69-22, February 17, 1969, adopted by Charter amendment special election March 18, 1969; special election May 27, 1971; special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 10. Mayor. At the biennial general election held in 1954 and every fourth year thereafter, a Mayor shall be elected for a term of four years.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 54-6, March 1, 1954, adopted by Charter amendment special election May 21, 1954; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 11. Council-appointed Positions. The offices of City Manager, Municipal Judge, and City Attorney are hereby created. The Council shall fill each of these offices by appointment as the need so arises.

[As amended by special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 12. Other Officers and Employees. The Council may create such additional appointive offices as it deems necessary. No person may fill more than one appointive office without approval of the Council.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 59-1, January 19, 1959, adopted by Charter amendment special election February 19, 1959; special election May 23, 1972; special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 13. Compensation.  The Council must authorize the compensation of City officers and employees as part of its approval of the annual City budget.

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

Section 14. Officers Generally.

(a) The Mayor and each Councilor must be a qualified elector under state law and reside within the city for at least one year immediately before election or appointment to office.

(b) No person may be a candidate at a single election for more than one City office.

(c) Neither the Mayor nor a Councilor may be employed by the City.

(d) The Council is the final judge of the election and qualifications of its members.

[As amended by special election May 19, 2026; special election November 2, 2021; general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered); and special election held May 23, 1972.]