Chapter 4: Council

Section 15. Meetings and Rules.

(a) The Council must meet at least once each month at a time and place designated by its rules and may meet at other times in accordance with the rules and laws of the state of Oregon.

(b) The Council must by resolution adopt rules to govern its meetings.

[As amended by special election May 19, 2026; special election November 2, 2021; and general election November 7, 2006.]

Section 16. Quorum. Except as specifically addressed here and in Section 34, a majority of the Council members is a quorum to conduct business. In the event of an absence, a smaller number may meet and compel attendance of absent members as prescribed by Council rules. In the event of a vacancy due to resignation or other events, the quorum is reduced accordingly solely for the purpose to make necessary appointment(s) to reach the required quorum as outlined in Section 34.

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

Section 17. Record.  A record of Council meetings must be kept in a manner prescribed by the Council rules and the laws of the state of Oregon.

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

Section 18 removed by special election May 19, 2026. Section 19. Mayor's Functions at Council Meetings. The Mayor shall be chair of the Council and preside over its deliberations. The Mayor shall not vote except in the case of a tie vote of the members of the Council present at the meeting. The Mayor shall have authority to preserve order, enforce the rules of the Council, and determine the order of business under the rules of the Council.

[As amended by special election November 2, 2021; general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

Section 20. President of the Council. At its first meeting after this Charter takes effect and thereafter at its first meeting of each odd-numbered year, the Council by ballot shall elect a president and a vice-president from its membership. In the Mayor's absence from a Council meeting, the president shall preside over it; in the absence of both the Mayor and the president, the vice-president shall preside. Whenever the Mayor is unable, on account of absence, illness, or other causes to perform the functions of the office, the president of the Council shall act as Mayor; in the absence of both the Mayor and the president, the vice-president shall act as Mayor.

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

Section 21. Vote Required. The express approval of a majority of a quorum of the Council is necessary for any Council decision, except when this Charter provides otherwise. The voting requirement to fill Council member vacancies, if there is less than a majority of council members remaining, is separate from the quorum requirement required to conduct all remaining City business unless otherwise stated.

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