Village (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
A village in the U.S. state
of Oregon
is a model of local governance
that only exists in Clackamas County
. Like village
s elsewhere, it is a subnational entity; like New York's villages, the definition is unique to a state (at the moment, to one county in a state).
Villages in Oregon are in addition to hamlets in Oregon
(which were defined at the same time as villages) and to Community Planning Organizations (CPOs), which predate both villages and hamlets.
In June 2006, citizens in the Mount Hood Corridor communities of Brightwood
, Wemme
, Welches
, Zigzag
, and Rhododendron
voted to become the Villages at Mount Hood, Oregon's first village. From a census perspective these communities are part of the Mount Hood Village
CDP
.
The residents of Boring
voted against forming a village in July 2006 http://www.wolfpk.com/boringvillage/section.cfm?wSectionID=3199.
Government Camp
, another community within the Mount Hood Corridor, is considering a village as a possible governance option.
According to Chapter 2.10 of the Clackamas County Code, a village is
A village's boundaries cannot overlap the boundaries of another hamlet, village or city.
A public hearing is then held, with a defined method of public notice beforehand. The BCC can then approve the petition as is, approve it with modifications, or reject it.
If approved, within thirty days an organizational meeting must be held by the village's citizens. The purpose of the meeting is to establish a list of candidates for the village's Board. That list must also be approved by the BCC; once approved, the citizen's meet again, to vote on their board.
Once elected, the Board defines the village's bylaws, which must also be approved by its citizens and the BCC. The Board also defines a village's plan, which defines the activities to be undertaken by the village, and which, like the bylaws, must be approved by its citizens and the BCC.
Unlike hamlets, villages have specific public alternatives available to them for financing improvements in services and facilities within the village. Subject to state and county law, funding can be based on a tax
, fee
s, local improvement district, or other service district
. New taxes require approval in an election that the BCC orders on the village's behalf.
The ordinance defining villages defines similar processes for other aspects of villages, such as their dissolution. In particular, Board members acting within their authority as defined by bylaws and county policy are treated as agents of the county for claims made against the organization, officer or member for the purposes of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
is a model of local governance
Local government in the United States
Local government in the United States is generally structured in accordance with the laws of the various individual states. Typically each state has at least two separate tiers: counties and municipalities. Some states have their counties divided into townships...
that only exists in Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
. Like village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s elsewhere, it is a subnational entity; like New York's villages, the definition is unique to a state (at the moment, to one county in a state).
Villages in Oregon are in addition to hamlets in Oregon
Hamlet (Oregon)
A hamlet is a model of local governance in Clackamas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. Like hamlets elsewhere, it is a country subdivision; like New York's hamlets, the definition is unique to a state ....
(which were defined at the same time as villages) and to Community Planning Organizations (CPOs), which predate both villages and hamlets.
In June 2006, citizens in the Mount Hood Corridor communities of Brightwood
Brightwood, Oregon
Brightwood is an unincorporated community within the Mount Hood Corridor in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located between Wemme and Sandy just off of U.S. Route 26 at an elevation of 355 meters. It is one of the communities that make up the Villages at Mount Hood.A post office...
, Wemme
Wemme, Oregon
Wemme is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Welches and Brightwood along U.S. Route 26. It is one of the communities that make up the Villages at Mount Hood....
, Welches
Welches, Oregon
Welches is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor between Zigzag and Wemme along U.S. Route 26. It is one of the communities that make up the Villages at Mount Hood....
, Zigzag
Zigzag, Oregon
Zigzag is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Rhododendron and Welches on U.S. Route 26...
, and Rhododendron
Rhododendron, Oregon
Rhododendron is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor, between Government Camp and Zigzag on U.S. Route 26...
voted to become the Villages at Mount Hood, Oregon's first village. From a census perspective these communities are part of the Mount Hood Village
Mount Hood Village, Oregon
Mount Hood Village is the name of a census-designated place within the Mount Hood Corridor in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 3,306...
CDP
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
.
The residents of Boring
Boring, Oregon
Boring is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 212. It is approximately eight miles south of Gresham and about the same distance from Clackamas, both suburbs of Portland. The town is roughly twenty-two miles southeast from downtown...
voted against forming a village in July 2006 http://www.wolfpk.com/boringvillage/section.cfm?wSectionID=3199.
Government Camp
Government Camp, Oregon
Government Camp is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, south of Mount Hood and north of Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain. It is a gateway to several ski resorts, the most popular being Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Skibowl. Also, Government Camp has its...
, another community within the Mount Hood Corridor, is considering a village as a possible governance option.
Definition
For purposes of the laws related to hamlets and villages, a "citizen" means either- a resident at least 18 years of age living within the boundaries of a hamlet or village, or
- a non-resident who owns property or a business there.
According to Chapter 2.10 of the Clackamas County Code, a village is
A village's boundaries cannot overlap the boundaries of another hamlet, village or city.
Process
To establish a village, a chief petitioner is responsible to collect the required number of citizen signatures and complete a village application form within 120 days. The petitionmust be signed by at least 15% (vs. 10% for hamlets) of the citizens located within the proposed village boundary or 150 citizens (vs. 100), whichever is the lesser number, and shall state the proposed name, preliminary purpose, boundaries, number of Board members, and activities for the village.
A public hearing is then held, with a defined method of public notice beforehand. The BCC can then approve the petition as is, approve it with modifications, or reject it.
If approved, within thirty days an organizational meeting must be held by the village's citizens. The purpose of the meeting is to establish a list of candidates for the village's Board. That list must also be approved by the BCC; once approved, the citizen's meet again, to vote on their board.
Once elected, the Board defines the village's bylaws, which must also be approved by its citizens and the BCC. The Board also defines a village's plan, which defines the activities to be undertaken by the village, and which, like the bylaws, must be approved by its citizens and the BCC.
Unlike hamlets, villages have specific public alternatives available to them for financing improvements in services and facilities within the village. Subject to state and county law, funding can be based on a tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
, fee
Fee
A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a payment, salary, or wage, and would often use guineas rather than pounds as units of account...
s, local improvement district, or other service district
Special-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
. New taxes require approval in an election that the BCC orders on the village's behalf.
The ordinance defining villages defines similar processes for other aspects of villages, such as their dissolution. In particular, Board members acting within their authority as defined by bylaws and county policy are treated as agents of the county for claims made against the organization, officer or member for the purposes of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
External links
- Hamlets and villages and Three communities apply for special status from the Clackamas CountyClackamas County, OregonClackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
website - Clackamas County Considering Hamlets and Villages, a September 2005 article from Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcasting is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington. With its headquarters and television studios in Portland, OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over...
- Official website for the Villages at Mount Hood, the first village