While much has changed at the City of Portland, one thing that remains the same is the Council Clerk team’s dedication to providing access to Council meetings so community members may participate in the City’s legislative proceedings and policy decision-making. We are a small but mighty team of six staff, and we are eager to help Portlanders understand how to participate in City government.
As we welcome the City’s first-ever, 12-member Council to the newly renovated Council Chambers on January 2, I want to share with you the different ways you can engage with your elected officials.
Do you want to watch a Council meeting, learn more about what is on the Council agenda, register to provide verbal testimony at a meeting, or submit written testimony? You can do all of that by viewing the Council agenda online:
- To sign up to provide verbal testimony at Council meetings on issues that matter most to you, look for the button that says “Testify on this item.”
- To submit written comments on a specific agenda item, review the item you are interested in, and look for the button that says “Submit written testimony.”
Do you want to sign up for a public communication to address Council at a regular meeting for three minutes about any topic of your choosing? You can learn more by visiting the Council Clerk’s website:
Request a public communication spot
Work sessions are another type of meeting where members of Council meet to discuss important issues impacting our City. Members of the public are welcome to watch work sessions in person at City Hall in Council Chambers, or via streaming on the City’s YouTube channel. Find out when work sessions are scheduled and what the topics will be by visiting the Council Clerk Events webpage:
You can reach out directly to your City Councilors through the online Contact an Elected Official form:
We are happy to answer any questions you have about how to engage with City Council. You can reach out to us by email at councilclerk@portlandoregon.gov or by phone at 503-823-4082. We look forward to hearing from you!