Cities, Special Districts and School Districts

We advise the elected boards and the administrators of cities, counties, special districts (water, irrigation, fire, cemetery, park and recreation, port and others) and school districts, and we work with the body’s own staff.

We attend meetings when asked, review the agenda and the resolutions before the meeting, and answer the questions that come up between meetings. We advise public officials on government ethics: conflicts of interest, gifts and the use of office. We also give new board members an orientation on the law the body operates under.

The body’s contracts, personnel matters, records requests, ordinances and disputes are described on the other pages in this section.

Services we provide

• Meeting attendance
• Agenda and resolution review
• Government ethics advice
• Orientation for new board members

Statutes and rules

• ORS chapter 221, Organization and Government of Citiesthe powers of a city under its charter, the council, and the city's dealings with utilities and the public right of way.
• ORS chapter 198, Special Districts Generallythe provisions common to every special district: formation, boundary change, elections and dissolution; each kind of district has its own chapter as well.
• ORS chapter 332, Local Administration of Educationthe school board, the superintendent, and the district's powers and duties.
• ORS chapter 244, Government Ethicsconflicts of interest, gifts and the use of office, enforced by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

Resources

• Oregon Government Ethics Commissionthe guides for public officials on conflicts of interest, gifts and executive sessions.