Chapter 3: Form of Government

            Section 7.  Where Powers Vested.  Except as this Charter provides otherwise, all powers of the City shall be vested in the Council.

[As amended by general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 8.  Council.  The Council shall be composed of nine Councilors, one from each ward.  The term of office of Councilors shall be two years.  There shall be elected one Councilor from each ward at each general municipal election.  The Councilors in office at the time this Charter is amended shall continue in office until the election of Councilors at the first general municipal election after adoption of this amended Charter section.

[As amended by special election May 27, 1971; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 9.  Wards.

            (a)  For the purpose of municipal representation, the City of Corvallis shall be divided into nine wards designated by the City Council by ordinance not later than five days or earlier than 30 days before the first date on which candidates may file for each election as Councilors.

            (b)  The Council must, by ordinance, revise the description of any wards or ward in order to conform to the one person, one vote principle.  Ward boundaries shall conform to the principles of neighborhood groupings, compactness of area, and regularity of boundaries insofar as can reasonably be attained.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 69-22, February 17, 1969, adopted by Charter amendment special election March 18, 1969; special election May 27, 1971; special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 10.  Mayor.  At the biennial general election held in 1954 and every fourth year thereafter, a Mayor shall be elected for a term of four years.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 54-6, March 1, 1954, adopted by Charter amendment special election May 21, 1954; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 11.  Council-appointed Positions.  The offices of City Manager, Municipal Judge, and City Attorney are hereby created.  The Council shall fill each of these offices by appointment as the need so arises.

[As amended by special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 12.  Other Officers and Employees. The Council may create such additional appointive offices as it deems necessary.  No person may fill more than one appointive office without approval of the Council.

[As amended by Ordinance No. 59-1, January 19, 1959, adopted by Charter amendment special election February 19, 1959; special election May 23, 1972; special election November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 13.  Salaries.  The compensation for the services of each City officer and employee shall be whatever amount the Council fixes.

[As amended by general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]

            Section 14.  Officers Generally.

            (a)  Qualifications.  No person is eligible to fill an elective office of the City unless the person is a qualified elector of the City and unless the person has resided in the City one year immediately preceding any election at which the person is a candidate.

[As amended by special election November 2, 2021]

            (b)  Conflicts of interest.  Conflicts of interest are prohibited.  All officers of the City are subject to the strictures, limitations and penalties of all applicable laws.

[As amended by special election held May 23, 1972; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]