Metro

Metro serves nearly 1.4 million people – from the Columbia River to farmlands south of the Willamette River near Wilsonville, and from the foothills of the Coast Range near Forest Grove to the banks of the Sandy River at Troutdale.

Metro is the only regional government agency in the United States whose governing body, the Metro Council, is directly elected by the region's voters. This meets a provision of Metro's home rule charter, approved by the voters in 1992, which insists that Metro's leadership be elected, visible and accountable.

The Metro Council consists of a president who is elected regionwide and six councilors who are elected by district every four years in nonpartisan races. The president presides over the council, sets its policy agenda, and appoints all members of Metro committees, commissions, and boards.

The Metro Council provides leadership from a regional perspective, reflects an ongoing, innovative planning orientation, and focuses on issues that cross local boundaries and require collaborative solutions. The Metro Council establishes policies for and oversees the operation of Metro’s programs, develops long-range plans and fiscally-responsible annual budgets and establishes fees and other revenue measures. The Metro Council ensures that the people of the region are notified, involved and ready to participate in the important issues that come before them.

Metro Website
2009 Spring Greenscene Newsletter