Government
Clackamas County

Governmental Structure (1969, 1981, 1989, reviewed without change 1995)
Support a Clackamas County governmental structure that provides:

• ample opportunity for citizen involvement
• flexibility, efficiency and accountability to the citizens of the county;
• a general grant of powers form of government;
• commissioners having equal power and holding all legislative and administrative power;
• full-time commissioners who are salaried and elected-at-large;
• election of a minimum number of other officials as allowed by law;
• an administrative officer appointed by the commissioners with defined powers to execute administrative and budgetary policies;
• an adequate tax base.

Library Facilities and Services (2000, 2011)
Supports quality library facilities and services with maximum public involvement in decision- making in the areas of maintaining and expanding library services and facilities, including the allocation of funds. Supports adequate funding from the library services district for maintaining at least a threshold (basic) level of library service as defined by the current version of the Oregon Library Standards. Encourages additional support by cities in order to achieve a higher level of library services. Supports bond issues for needed capital improvement. Encourages the maintenance and development of other supplemental revenue sources. Supports new avenues of funding sources such as a library Capital Improvement District.

Emergency / Disaster Planning and Preparedness (2008):
The League of Women Voters of Clackamas County believes that emergency/disaster planning and preparedness are necessary to save lives and minimize the effects of an emergency or disaster.

Everyone shares responsibility for planning and preparedness:  individuals, neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and all levels of government.

Adequate and stable funding for planning and preparedness are essential.

Planning and preparedness should protect life, protect property, and provide for the return to normalcy.  Some areas that should be addressed include:  public health, public safety, infrastructure, and the environment.  A reliable and compatible communication system, as well as local and regional coordination, is crucial.

Planning and preparedness should be a continuous process of education, practice, and evaluation.

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Cities

Lake Oswego City Charter (1972, 1979, 1997)
Support of the Council/Manager form of government for Lake Oswego because it best meets the following criteria of good local government:

• responsive to the needs and wants of the people;
• capable of long-range planning to anticipate future needs;
• effective and economical; and
• organized with clear assignment of responsibilities for legislative and administrative functions.

Support of the following positions in the Lake Oswego City Charter (LOCC):

1. Chapter III. Section 8. Councilors. Support electing councilors at large. (1997)
2. Chapter III. Section 9. Qualifications of Council. No one who is a qualified elector and has resided in the City for twelve months should be denied the right to run for office. (1972)
3. Chapter III. Section 10. Councilor Resignation Required to Run for Mayor. Support a provision, which requires resignation of a Councilor who is filing for the office of mayor. (1979)
4. Chapter III. Section 11. Mayor. Support electing mayor by popular vote. (1997)
5. Chapter III. Section 13. Salaries. No change should be made in the Charter. Expenses of council members should continue to be met by the City and handled in such as way as the Charter is not violated; the word "compensation" should be defined to reflect the actual practice and could be documented by ordinance. (The word "compensation" has been defined in ordinance #OR2107-LOC 12.02.060) (1972, 1979)
6. Chapter V. Section 21A[4]. City Attorney. The phrase "shall engage in no incompatible businesses or occupation" should apply to the City Attorney as well as the City Manager (see Chapter V. Section 20B[10], that the attorney, have no other clients besides the City. (1979)
7. Chapter VI. Section 29. Nomination for Elective Office. This section should remain in the Charter. (1979)
8. Chapter VII. Section 31A. Filling Vacancies. Support current LOCC provision that includes filing of vacancies by appointment. Support expanding Section 31A to establish a public process of appointment that includes application and screening. (1979, 1997)
9. Chapter IX. Section 40. Major Road Expenditures. This amendment should be retained. The League is not opposed to making it more workable as along as citizens know what the changes mean and approve of these changes. (1979)
10. Chapter XI. Section 48A. Previously Enacted Provisions Retained, Modified. 2 (two) mill park levy - no Charter change should be made in view of legal opinion that amendment of the provision may result in invalidating the park levy. (1972, 1979)
11. Chapter XI. Section 48B. Previously Enacted Provisions Retained, Modified. (Charter Amendment.) This section is a permanent record of the bonds voted in by the City, and, as such, should remain recorded in the Charter. (1979)

Recommendations regarding additions to LOCC (1997):

1. Support amending charter to contain a section requiring a vote of the people to annex Metro-designated urban reserve lands (outside the Urban Growth Boundary) that are contiguous to Lake Oswego's Urban Service Boundary.
   Note 1: A majority of units support League action to initiate an amendment regarding this issue).
   Note 2: An annexation amendment was passed in November 1998, placed partially on the ballot due to League action.
2. Support adding a preamble to the LOCC.

Lake Oswego City Library (1999)
The League of Women Voters of Clackamas County supports:

• expanded library facilities and services;
• the retention and use of the existing Lake Oswego Library building at 4th and D Streets as a library;
• maximum public involvement in the decision-making process;
• exploring alternate approaches to providing library services.

LWVCC supports the general criteria as developed by the City of Lake Oswego for rating potential new library sites; however, weighting for specific criteria should be changed as follows:

• Increased weight (10 points)
  • non-automobile access, e.g. bike, pedestrian, public transportation
  • availability of off-site parking
  • proximity to commercial district
  • proximity to public facilities
• Decreased weight (5 points)
  • opportunity for partnership

The League supports the acquisition of a site that would allow for future expansion.

P.O. Box 411, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 | Contact us: lwvclackamas@lwvclackamas.org
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