The following information is provided for a better understanding of how the public can participate in Silverton city government and the opportunities available to address the City Council.
City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The City Council Agenda is available (normally the Friday before) prior to each meeting on the City's web page under Upcoming Meetings.
Silverton City Council
The City of Silverton is a Council-City Manager form of government and derives its power from the City Charter, the Oregon Constitution, and laws enacted by the State legislature. All legislative power is held by the publicly-elected, seven member City Council, which consists of the Mayor and six Councilors. While all Councilors enjoy the same powers and privileges, the Mayor has the additional responsibility of presiding over City Council meetings, signing official documents, and officiating at ceremonies and events.
Councilors serve a four-year term. The Mayor serves a two-year term.
Public Participation
The City of Silverton welcomes your participation at Council meetings. Opportunities for the public to address the City Council are provided under the Citizen Comment and Public Hearing sections of the agenda. If you wish to address the City Council, please sign in on the clipboards at the presenter tables near the front of the Council Chambers. You will be called up at the appropriate time. State law prohibits the Council from taking action on any item not listed on the agenda. Each speaker is given up to three minutes to address the Council. Depending upon the number of speakers for an item, the Mayor may extend speaker time limits.
If you are unable to attend a Council meeting, written communications may be sent to the recorder [at] silverton.or.us (City Recorder by email) or by regular mail to the City Recorder's Office, 410 N. Water St., Silverton, OR 97381. Communications received by 3 pm the day of the Council Meeting will be made available to the Council at the meeting. You can also address the Council electronically under Public Comments or for a Public Hearing. There is a link at the top of each City Council Meeting Agenda where you can register.
Agenda Items
The Council meeting begins with a Call to Order by the Mayor and the Pledge of Allegiance is recited by those in attendance.
Work Sessions provide an opportunity for City staff to report to the City Council on a variety of items and issues. Work Sessions are open to the public. Unlike regular Council meetings, Work Sessions do not include public hearings or other opportunities for citizen comments. Check the City's website for times and locations.
The Public Comment portion of the agenda provides the public with an opportunity to address the Council on any item that is within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Comments must address the Council as a whole, not individual members or City staff, and should be limited to issues regarding City government. Council may refer the matter to a committee or to staff. Each speaker is given up to three minutes to address Council. The Council may not take action on an item presented during Citizen Comments, and this forum is not designed to be a question-and-answer session. Any materials which you wish to present at the Council meeting should be given to the City Recorder before addressing the Council. Any material submitted becomes part of the public record and will not be returned.
Consent Agenda items are typically routine in nature and are considered for approval by the City Council with one single action. The Mayor or a Councilor may request removal of an item for the purpose of discussion and consideration separately from the Consent Calendar. The Consent Agenda is then voted on, in total, without discussion (excluding those items previously removed for individual action).
Public Hearings are held on matters required by law (often pertaining to land use) or items of significance for which public input is desired. The Mayor begins a Public Hearing by asking for presentations from staff and from the proponent or applicant involved in the matter under discussion. Following questions from the City Council, the Mayor will open the hearing to the public for input from citizens. Following the close of the hearing, the City Council takes action on the subject of the hearing.
The Regular Meeting covers those items which require Council discussion and/or decision but do not legally require a Public Hearing. Council members are permitted to ask questions of staff before any action takes place.
The Staff Comments portion of the meeting allows the City Manager and Staff to brief the Council on items of interest. No Council action is taken.
The Communications from City Council portion of the meeting provides an opportunity for the Council members to make a brief announcement or report on their activities, including reports on City Council liaison assignments.
City Council Actions
The City Council takes action in three different ways:
Ordinances are laws adopted by the City Council which usually amend the Municipal Code. Most ordinances become effective 30 days after adoption. To pass an Ordinance, a Public Hearing is required.
Resolutions express decisions, opinions, or actions by the City Council but do not amend the Municipal Code or other City laws. Resolutions do not require a public hearing.
Motions are formal procedures for taking actions on business. To make a motion, a Councilor must first be recognized by the presiding officer (Mayor). After the Councilor has made a motion (and after the motion is seconded), the Mayor then calls for discussion prior to a vote of the Councilors. Another Council will second the motion, and then there will be a vote.
Special Meetings
Executive Sessions are held for specific purposes such as possible litigation, real property transactions, and/or personnel matters as allowed under State law. Executive Sessions are not open to the public. Representatives of the news media are allowed to attend executive sessions except those held under ORS 192.660(2)(d) relating to labor negotiations.
For questions or further information, cityrecorder [at] lebanonoregon.gov (email the City Recorder) or call 503-874-2221