Metro (Oregon Regional Government) - History and Evolution

History and Evolution

Metro in its current form evolved from Columbia Region Association of Governments (CRAG) (1966–1978) and a predecessor Metropolitan Service District (MSD) (1957–1966). Measure 6, a 1978 statewide ballot measure established Metro, effective January 1, 1979. In 1992 voters approved a home-rule charter that identified Metro's primary mission as planning and policy making to preserve and enhance the quality of life and the environment, and changed the agency's name to Metro. This charter was amended in November 2000 when Ballot Measure 26-10 was passed by voters, although the principal changes did not take effect until January 2003. The measure eliminated the Executive Office and reorganized executive staff. The position of Executive Officer, elected by voters, was merged with that of council presiding officer, chosen annually by fellow Metro councilors, creating the position of Metro council president. As of 2002, the agency had about 700 employees.

The agency's first president was David Bragdon, who served in the office from January 2003 until September 2010.

According to the 2010 census, the average district population is 248,362 and the current population is as follows:

District Includes (as of 2010) 2010 Population Change since 2000 census
1 Fairview, Gresham, Maywood Park, Troutdale, Wood Village, Happy Valley, Damascus, Boring and portions of East Portland 253,858 +2.21%
2 Gladstone, Johnson City, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Rivergrove, West Linn, a portion of Southwest Portland and unincorporated parts of Clackamas County, including Stafford north of I-205 230,157 -7.33%
3 Most of Beaverton and all of Durham, King City, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville, plus portions of Stafford south of I-205 248,541 +0.07%
4 Northern Washington County, including cities of Cornelius, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and northwest portion of Beaverton, plus communities of Aloha, Bonny Slope, Bethany, Raleigh Hills, West Slope, Cedar Mill and Cedar Hills 272,566 +9.75%
5 All of North and Northwest Portland and portions of Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Portland (including downtown) 245,890 -1.00%
6 Portions of Southwest, Southeast and Northeast Portland 239,159 -3.71%

Since the 2010 census revealed districts 2 and 4 populations changed by more than 5%, Metro boundaries had to change. In May 2011, Metro announced changes in its district boundaries, ensuring that effective January 2013 all districts are within 3.5 percent of the average district population. The changes include the following:

  • District 1 will no longer include Happy Valley (now in District 2) and Maywood Park (moved to District 5);
  • District 2 will include all of the Stafford area within Metro’s jurisdiction (the portion of Stafford south of Interstate 205 was previously in District 3);
  • District 4 will be entirely within Washington County.
  • District 5 will also include an area in Washington County north of U.S. 26 and north and east of the Beaverton city limits (the Cedar Mill area), which was previously in District 4.
  • District 6 will be entirely within Multnomah County.

As July 2011, the start of Metro's 2011-12 fiscal year, Metro had a $389 million total budget, down 9.7% from the previous year; allowed headcount was 750, down seven employees from the previous year.

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