Let us strive for a sense of place.

Special September 2008 Forum

Marion County Governance

A Model for the Future

Are 5 Commissioners Better Than 3?

Hear from a series of speakers about how Marion County can better address the challenges of the 21st Century.

Except for Marion County, all of Oregon's larger counties use a Charter-form of Government. 25 years ago, Marion County voters decided against changing their form of government. Is it time now to look at what's worked well in the past and ask whether it will work well in the future? Yes, it is.

Guest speakers are Marion County Commissioner Patti Milne, former State School Superintendent Vern Duncan, and Portland State faculty member and small-business owner, Ron Johnson.

Salem Public Library,

Anderson Room

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

7-9 PM

Free Admission

Free Refreshments

Sponsored by Friends of Marion County

http://www.FriendsOfMarion.org

Map of envisioned districts

About FMC Activities Board of Directors Links Issues Membership Minutes Notices Pictures Measure 37 Opinion

Friends of Marion County (FMC) was organized in 1998 to watchdog land use decisions in rural and urban Marion County. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan volunteer organization. We do not endorse or oppose political candidates. We are affiliated with 1000 Friends of Oregon, a private, nonprofit organization formed in 1975 to protect Oregon’s quality of life through the conservation of farm and forest lands, protection of natural and historic resources, and promotion of more compact and livable cities.

FMC works to safeguard our farm and forest lands, and keep their economies strong. We work to make existing communities livable, by opposing sprawl, shopping malls, and highway projects that threaten the livability of our towns. We monitor compliance by builders, developers, and landowners with state and local land use planning requirements. We encourage public participation in the land use planning process to determine where new urban growth should grow, how it should be designed, and how best to protect our rural lands. We provide public information and education, and advocacy before local planning bodies and elected officials.