Boards & Commissions Orientation Manual

Message From the City Recorder

Oregon City LogoDear Friend,

Thank you for your interest in serving your community through participation on a City of Oregon City board, commission, or committee. Members of boards and commissions provide an invaluable service to our City. They advise the City Commission on a wide variety of subjects by making recommendations on important policy matters. The City of Oregon City currently has fifteen active boards, commissions, or committees that consist of volunteers appointed by the Mayor or City Commission. The member's role is crucial to the success of Oregon City's representative government. By sharing their experience, expertise, and time, citizens provide valuable insight - the citizen's point of view - to the operations of the City and the City Commission's decision-making process. Boards and commissions review new and existing operations in specific areas and suggest an appropriate course of action to City management and the City Commission.

On behalf of the City Commission, I wish to thank each board, commission, and committee member for their service and extend an invitation to all Oregon City residents to give serious consideration to serving their community.

Note: Board, commission, and committee are used interchangeably throughout this manual.

Apply to serve on a City Board or Commission!

Orientation Manual

General Information

  1. City Commission-City Attorney Relationship (PDF)
  2. City of Oregon City Organizational Chart (PDF)
  3. Guidelines and Duties for Elected Officials (PDF)
  4. Oregon City Form of Government (PDF)
  5. Policy Making and Rules of Procedure (PDF)

Chapter I - Introduction to Boards & Commissions

  1. A. Citizen Participation (PDF)
  2. B. Board and Commission Origins (PDF)
  3. C. Board and Commission Functions (PDF)

Chapter II - Serving on a Board or Commission

  1. A. Membership - Application and Interview Process (PDF)
  2. B. Appointment (PDF)
  3. C. Terms of Office (PDF)
  4. D. Boards and Commissions (PDF)
  5. 1. Budget Committee (PDF)
  6. 4. Library Board (PDF)
  7. 5. Enhancement Grant Program Committee (PDF)
  8. 6. Natural Resources Committee (PDF)
  9. 7. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PDF)
  10. 8. Planning Commission (PDF)
  11. 9. South Fork Water Board (PDF)
  12. 10. South Fork Water Board Budget Committee (PDF)
  13. 11. Transportation Advisory Committee (PDF)
  14. 12. Urban Renewal Commission (PDF)
  15. E. Board-Commission Application (PDF)
  16. F. Board-Commission with Special Regulations (PDF)
  17. G. Appointment to Boards-Commissions (PDF)
  18. H. Attendance Requirements and Quorum (PDF)
  19. 1. Attendance (PDF)
  20. 2. Quorum (PDF)
  21. 3. No Quorum (PDF)
  22. I. Resignation Procedure (PDF)
  23. J. Accommodations for Disabled Commissioners (PDF)
  24. K. Conflict of Interest - Prohibited (PDF)
  25. L. Disclosure Statements Required (PDF)
  26. M. Public Meetings (PDF)

Chapter III – Coordination with Commission, City Staff, and Others

  1. A. Coordination with the City Commission (PDF)
  2. 1. Relationship to City Commission (PDF)
  3. 2. Communications from Board or Commission (PDF)
  4. 3. Presenting Agenda Items to Commission (PDF)
  5. 4. Commission Meetings and Agendas and Annual Reports (PDF)
  6. B. Coordination with City Staff (PDF)
  7. 1. Duties of Staff (PDF)
  8. 2. Relationship with the City Manager (PDF)
  9. C. Relations with other Commissions, Outside Agencies, and General Public (PDF)
  10. 1. Other Boards-Committees (PDF)
  11. 2. Outside Agencies (PDF)
  12. 3. General Public (PDF)
  13. 4. Analytical Problem Solving Approach (PDF)
  14. 5. Individual Members (PDF)
  15. 6. Press and Other Media (PDF)

Chapter IV - Commission Goals, Procedures and Legalities

  1. A. Goal Statement (PDF)
  2. B. Meetings (PDF)
  3. 1. Rules of Procedure (PDF)
  4. 2. Requirement to Meet in Public (PDF)
  5. 3. Requirement to be Accessible to Public (PDF)
  6. 4. Public Comment (PDF)
  7. 5. Meeting Types (PDF)
  8. 6. Board, Committee, and Commission Conduct (PDF)
  9. 7. Conduct of Public Attendance (PDF)
  10. 8. Rules of Debate (PDF)
  11. 9. Interruptions (PDF)
  12. 10. Notice of Meetings (PDF)
  13. 11. Polling, Quorum, and Voting (PDF)
  14. 12. Polling for Special Meetings (PDF)
  15. 13. Minutes (PDF)
  16. 14. Recording Meetings (PDF)
  17. 15. Official Board, Committee, and City Commission Records (PDF)

Full Manual

  1. Boards and Commissions Orientation Manual (PDF)