Proposed City Charter Amendment - Chapter X Utilities
The City Council has referred a ballot measure that proposes an amendment to the City Charter to the voters to vote on at the November 3, 2026 election. If the ballot measure is approved, Chapter X of the City Charter would be amended to delegate exclusive authority over both electric and water utilities in the City to Canby Utility; permit Canby Utility to issue revenue bonds, make expenditures, and otherwise incur debt for both the water department and the electric department without the restrictions and limitations currently imposed by Chapter X of the City Charter and subject to applicable state law; further revise Chapter X of the Charter to modernize certain language, increase the number of successive terms that members of the Board may hold; and clarify the role of the General Manager position. If the ballot measure is not approved, the City Charter would remain the same.
Background: In December of 2025, the Canby City Council convened a Charter Review Subcommittee to review the City’s Charter for revisions to propose to the voters. In consultation with the City Council and the Canby Utility Board, the Subcommittee recommended that Chapter X be amended as follows:
What are the ballot measure's proposed changes?
- Combine the electric and water departments into a Department of Water and Electric Services (“Department”).
- Grant the Canby Utility Board exclusive authority and control over the Department and authority to issue water revenue bonds.
- Remove language requiring the voters to approve certain electric department costs that exceed the department’s gross revenue for the prior fiscal year.
- Clarifies existing voter rights under state law about bond issuance.
- Change language limiting the Board’s total of outstanding short-term loan from 50% to 100% of the department’s gross revenue for the prior fiscal year.
- Modernize language and grammar.
- Increase Board members’ maximum number of successive terms of office from two to three.
- Clarify General Manager position’s role.
- Require the Board to provide quarterly operation reports to the City Council.
- The City Council approved sending the Subcommittee’s recommendations to the voters. If this measure is approved, the Charter would be amended as explained above. The full text of the proposed amendments can be found at the City’s website.
- If this measure is not approved, then Chapter X would not change.
If the ballot measure is approved by the voters, how would the changes affect the City of Canby and Canby Utility?
- Under the current charter, Canby Utility owns and manages the Electric Utility, and the City of Canby has ownership and control over the Water Utility and associated facilities. Canby Utility operates and manages the water utility through an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Canby. The proposed changes move the ownership and management of the water utility and facilities to the Canby Utility.
- Under the current charter, Canby Utility does not have the ability to issue debt to fund a water system improvement, the City Council must authorize a debt issuance. The charter amendments would allow CU to issue debt, This means that CU would be able to issue a bond or take on a loan to fund the construction of the new water treatment plant and other water system infrastructure improvements without the City’s assistance or participation.
- Under the current charter, voters must approve expenditures for energy supply projects that exceed the annual revenue of the electric department. Proposed language would allow the Canby Utility Board to approve such expenditures.
- Currently, Board members may serve up to two, three-year terms, for a total of six years. The amendments if passed would allow Board members to serve for three terms, or a total of 9 years. Board members are appointed, and can be removed, by the Canby Mayor and approved by the City Council.
Where can I find the full text of the changes?
Amendments are posted on the City’s website here: https://www.canbyoregon.gov/city-recorder/page/ballot-titles
Contacts: If you have additional questions about the amendment, please contact
Canby Utility: 503-266-1156, customersupport@canbyutility.org
City of Canby: 503-266-4021
