Measure 26-89 calls for review of city charter

Measure 26-89, which calls for the implementation of periodic review of the Portland city charter, is one of four measures that could drastically change how the Portland city government operates.

Measure 26-89 would require that a 20-member commission review the charter at least every 10 years. This commission would be comprised of citizens and would have super-majority authority (15 or more votes) to forward changes to the ballot box without City Council approval.

The city charter is the manual for Portland’s operation.

Amanda Fritz, a nurse, mom, community activist, and former City Council candidate, said she is skeptical of the measure. She said she thinks the charter is a constitution and does not need to be changed every 10 years.

“Imagine if we were talking about the U.S. Constitution here. I doubt people would be in favor of 20 citizens getting together every 10 years, reviewing it, and then having you and I vote on their recommended changes,” Fritz said.

Kyle Chisek, the campaign manager for Citizens to Reform City Hall, a group in favor of Measure 26-89, sees no problem with the measure.

“The measure does not mandate changes to the charter, it just means that people will take a look at it every once in a while,” Chisek said. “For instance, there is offensive language to women in the charter, which could and should be cleaned up.”

Fritz said that there is no clause ensuring that the review commission would be demographically representative of the Portland area. Nowhere does it mandate a certain number of women, African-Americans, or Latinos to be on the commission, she said.

“This is cause for concern,” Fritz said.

Chisek said that City Council members will choose the committee and voters will keep the City Council members in check.

“If City Council members choose 20 white males for the Charter Review Committee, then so be it, but they are elected officials and voters will make note of this,” Chisek said.

According to Chisek, everything should work out for the better, with voters keeping City Council members in check, and voters keeping the Charter Review Committee’s recommendations in check.

But Fritz said she doesn’t think it’s that simple. This measure will be voted on this month, during an off-year election that she said makes fewer voters turn out.

“This is not the time to be voting on such important constitutional changes,” Fritz said.

Measure 26-89 originated in November 2005 when Portland Mayor Tom Potter assembled a citizen Charter Review Commission to review the city charter. After more than a year of meetings, the commission came up with four recommended changes to the city charter.

The other measures include: 26-91, which would adjust the mayor’s role in the government; 26-90, which would reclassify certain city employees; and 26-92, which would rework the relationship between the City Council and the Portland Development Commission.