Ballot Measure 34-298

Proposed Beaverton Charter of 2021

Proposed Beaverton Charter of 2021 - PDF

About the City Charter

The Beaverton City Council referred a proposed city charter that was approved by Beaverton voters during the May 19, 2020 election. The Beaverton Charter of 2021 went into effect June 18, 2020, and becomes operational on January 1, 2021.

During the next several months, a series of next steps will guide implementation including community engagement to support recruitment of a full-time city manager, and preparations for the November 2020 election to fill a new council position and elect the Mayor.

What is a Charter? A city charter is like a constitution that outlines the principles, structures and process of government. Beaverton’s existing Charter was approved by voters in November 1980, and subsequently amended once in 2008 when voters changed a section relating to urban renewal.

  1. What is a city charter?
  2. When was the existing city charter last adopted?
  3. How does the city charter get changed?
  4. Will there be a public vote?
  5. If approved by voters, when would the new charter take effect?
  6. What happens if the proposed city charter does not pass?
  7. If the measure passes, what would be the cost to tax payers?
  8. Why was the city charter referred to voters for consideration?
  9. What would the proposed city charter do?
  10. If the measure passes, would the position of mayor remain a full-time position?
  11. If the measure passes, would councilor positions remain part-time positions?
  12. What are the basic forms of government utilized by other Oregon cities?
  13. Was there a public process to receive input from Beaverton voters?
  14. How can Beaverton voters and community members get information about the proposed city charter?

Overview

The approved city charter outlines specifications to the city’s form of government, term limits and languages preferences, such as:

  • The mayor will no longer be the city’s administrative head. Instead, the city council will appoint a full-time city manager to oversee the city’s day-to-day operations.
  • The council will expand from five members to seven members: six part-time city councilors and one full-time mayor with voting privileges. The council will serve as the city’s governing body and be responsible for the city’s legislative functions. In addition to serving on the council, the mayor will serve as the city’s chief elected official.
  • All council positions remain nonpartisan and elected at-large by Beaverton voters. The councilors and the mayor will be limited to three consecutive four-year terms in office for their respective positions.
  • The new charter will no longer use gender-exclusive references.

Timeline

Virtual Charter Information Sessions

Public Discussions

The Beaverton City Council held a series of public discussions, work sessions and hearings on the Beaverton Charter of 2021

June 23, 2020Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
March 3, 2020City Council Meeting (Voters Pamphlet Explanatory Text Action)
Agenda ItemWatch
Feb. 11, 2020Resolution referring Charter measure to votersAgenda ItemWatch
Feb. 4, 2020Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Jan. 28, 2020Second Public HearingAgenda ItemWatch
Jan. 14, 2020First Public HearingAgenda ItemWatch
Jan. 7, 2020Draft Charter presented to Beaverton City CouncilAgenda ItemWatch
Dec. 17, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Dec. 3, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Nov. 5, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Oct. 15, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda Item
Watch
Oct. 1, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Sep. 10, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda ItemWatch
Sep. 3, 2019Work Session at City Council MeetingAgenda Item
Watch