$125,000 - $140,000 plus excellent benefits
Open Until Filled - First Applicant Screening January 12, 2010
Why Apply?
The City of Oregon City is dedicated to providing outstanding services to its citizens as well as a welcoming experience to its visitors. Oregon City offers an outstanding quality of life and residents that truly care about their community. This position is an excellent opportunity for the right public sector professional who is ready to accept the challenge and make a difference in a community that takes pride in its history, natural surroundings and quality of life.
Challenges and Opportunities
Finances: The City is currently financially healthy, however, Measure 50 impact on General Fund trending indicates costs continue to increase faster than revenue. Difficult budgetary decisions will be required in the future. The management of service delivery, growing subsidies in Community Development, and the growth of services will determine the timing when budget adjustments or new revenues are needed. The City is also entering the third year of its pledge given to voters in the fire annexation campaign of no new programs. Managing the need to increase General Fund services remain a challenge under this pledge. The City is also faced with a charter rollback of water rates in 2014.
Urban Renewal: Two complex multi-million dollar projects, The Cove and The Rivers, require significant investment from Oregon City’s Urban Renewal Agency. The estimated return on investment if these projects are developed is projected in the range of 14:1 to 20:1. Additionally other economic development efforts and desires to speed up projects for Main Street are vying for the Commission attention and funding.
Growth: The City has seen a steady rate of growth over the past few decades. Growth issues are interrelated in the Metro area and coordination of efforts to address future growth along with the needs and challenges of the City will continue to be a challenge for the next City Manager.
The Community
Historic Oregon City is perched on the bluffs overlooking thundering Willamette Falls and situated in the lush green valley at the confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers. Oregon City has a long-standing reputation for its livability and growing economic climate. Known as “The City at the End of the Oregon Trail,” Oregon City has easy access to all the amenities of the Portland metropolitan area while maintaining the quality of small-town life. It is ideally located less than 30 minutes from downtown Portland and the Portland International Airport. The County seat of Clackamas County, Oregon City enjoys the distinction of being the center of local government and the root of Oregon’s heritage.
The City (population 30,405) occupies a territory of approximately 9.2 square miles. Interstate 205 and State Highways 99E and 213 provide links to Portland, Salem, Molalla, and Southwest Clackamas County.
What Oregon City Has To Offer
With the abundance of rivers, excellent golf courses, and the proximity to Mt. Hood and the Oregon Coast, Oregon City offers an expansive range of recreational opportunities. Boaters, water and snow skiers, swimmers, golfers, and anglers have virtually a limitless playground in and around Oregon City.
Additionally, the City offers numerous parks, hiking trails, a municipal swimming pool and recreation center. The Oregon City Library houses over 120,000 volumes and offers a variety of special learning opportunities for residents. The Pioneer Center provides year round social and learning opportunities for seniors.
Oregon City Government
Oregon City was established in 1844, the first incorporated city west of the Rockies. The City of Oregon City operates under a Home Rule Charter that was last amended by the voters in 1982. The Charter provides for a council/manager form of government. The council, by charter, is referred to in name only as a commission, but operates with the powers and responsibilities of a council. The City Commission consists of a mayor and four council members. The Mayor and Commission Members are elected at large and serve staggered terms of four years. The City Commission appoints the city manager, city judge, and all boards and commissions.
The Position of City Manger
Reporting to the City Commission, the City Manager directs and supervises all activities of the City departments, appoints and removes all staff, and implements policy as established by the City Commission. He/She directs issues to the City Commission for consideration and recommends policy options.
The City Manager represents the City on numerous committees and public-private projects. He/She will meet with private citizens, civic groups, other government leaders and business organizations to provide information on City policy, programs and activities.
Experience and Education
Competitive candidates should have a minimum five years senior level public sector management experience with a successful record of accomplishment in local government or business management (including supervision of employees). Progressive management responsibilities would ideally include positions such as City Manager / Assistant Manager, Finance Director, Public Works Director, or equivalent. CEO level municipal experience is preferred. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration or related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary: $125,000 to $140,000
- Professional Services Contract with Severance
- Oregon State Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
- Medical / Vision / RX Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- Vacation
- Sick Leave
- Holidays
- HRA-VEBA
- Optional Deferred Compensation
- 125 Flexible Spending Account
- Employee Assistance Program
Application Process
The City of Oregon City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates are
strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible but the position is Open Until Filled.
First screening of applicants is January 12, 2010.
Job profile and application materials are located at the bottom of this page via the links.
To apply candidates must submit the following via email to jobs@orcity.org or mail to the address below:
1. Cover letter describing how your education and experience relate to the position and why the job is desirable to you
2. Current resume
3. Completed Oregon City Application
Staffing: The City still has a few areas that either are understaffed or has not been able to develop funding to provide needed staffing. The two primary areas of concern presently are parks maintenance and administration. Other areas will continue to vie for funding to maintain the gains in staffing that have been made.
