City Charter Section
[Ch. 1903, sec. 6; am. May 3, 1913, sec. 3; rev. 1914, sec. 148; 1928 pub., sec. 148; 1942 recod., sec. 8-105; rev. Nov. 6, 1962; am. Nov. 7, 1978; am. May 17, 1988; am. May 14, 1994; amended November 8, 2022, effective January 1, 2025.]
- The City of Portland shall not be bound by any contract nor in any way liable thereon, unless the same is made in writing and signed by some person or persons duly authorized. But the Mayor may authorize any board, body, officer or agent to bind the City without contract in writing for the payment of any sum not exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000); such amount to be adjusted annually based on the average inflation rate for the Portland Metropolitan Area as determined from the U.S. Department of Labor statistics. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, however, the Mayor may waive the written contract requirement when work, materials or supplies are necessary for an emergency involving public safety or health.