City Official Questions

Information
On this page, you will find a list of frequently asked questions about the City's lobbying regulations for City officials.
On this page

A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding questions for City officials. For exact language and legal requirements, view Portland City Code and City Charter.


Who is a City official?   

In general, the program considers City officials as high level officials who have independent decision-making authority and are exempt from civil service. The Auditor's Office maintains a public list of City officials for lobbying regulation purposes on its website here.

 Lobbying regulations specifically define "City Official" to include:

  • Any City elected official (Mayor, Commissioner, or Auditor)
  • All at-will staff of a City elected official (administrative staff that work directly for elected officials),
  • Deputy directors of most bureaus, and high-level officials within the Office of Management and Finance. 
  • Directors of City bureaus, except for the City Attorney’s Office
  • Appointees to the:
    • Design Commission
    • Fire & Police Disability & Retirement Board
    • Prosper Portland (previously the Portland Development Commission)
    • Portland Planning & Sustainability Commission

What are the calendar posting requirements for City elected officials and City bureau directors?

The required quarterly calendar posting must:

  • Reflect official City business;
  • Post by the filing deadline, the 15th day after the end of each quarter;
  • Include the date and length of scheduled official business with other elected officials, City directors, or any outside (non-City) party or event;
  • Include the primary organizations or participants in attendance;
  • Post publicly on the originating office's website for a period of at least one calendar year; and
  • Be retained in accordance with City administrative rules.

When are reports and calendar postings due for City officials?

City official quarterly reports and Elected official/bureau director calendar postings are due by 5:00pm as follows:

QuarterReporting PeriodLast Day to File
1January 1 - March 31April 15
2April 1 - June 30July 15
3July 1 - September 30October 15
4October 1 - December 31January 15

*If a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal City holiday, the report shall be due by 5:00 pm the next business day.

Are there any prohibited activities?

Yes. The program regulates conduct for post-employment of certain City officials. Details of prohibitions for each type of official is listed below:

  • No former City elected official shall, for a period of two years after the termination of the official's term of office, lobby for money or other consideration a City elected official or their salaried at-will staff. 

  • No former salaried at-will staff of a City elected official shall, for a period of one year after the termination of employment, lobby for money or other consideration any City elected official or their salaried at-will staff. 

  • No former City director shall, for a period of two years after termination of the director's appointment, lobby for money or other consideration the current City director of the office or bureau to which the former City director was appointed, or regarding matters within the powers and duties of the bureau to which the former City director was appointed.  

  • No former City employee shall lobby a City official for money or other consideration regarding a contract if the employee exercised contract management authority with respect to that contract while employed by the City. 

These prohibitions shall not apply to:

  1. Prevent any former City elected official or other City employee from representing himself or herself, or any member of his or her immediate family, in their individual capacities in connection with any matter pending before the City;

  2. The activities of any former City elected official or other City employee who is an elected or appointed officer or employee of any public body, when that former City elected official or other City employee is solely representing that agency in his or her official capacity as an officer or employee of the public body;

  3. Any ministerial action. A ministerial action is one that does not require a City official or other City employee to exercise discretion concerning any outcome or course of action; or

  4. Prevent City officials or other City employees from seeking information or participation from former City elected officials or other City employees where the public interest would be served by the information or participation.


Have additional questions? Please contact the City Elections Office at lobbyist@portlandoregon.gov or 503-865-6503.

Contact

Lobbying Regulations

Office of the Auditor

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