Charting a Course for Local Control of our City

Protecting Sherwood’s Right to Shape Its Own Future

In Oregon, home rule (the principle that cities govern themselves on local matters) is not symbolic. It was enshrined in our Constitution in 1906, when voters amended Article XI to give cities the power to write their own charters. That change shifted authority from the state to the people, affirming that those who live in a city should decide how it grows and governs.

Over time, Salem has chipped away at that foundation. Laws such as HB 2001 (2019), SB 1537 (2024), and SB 974 (2025) have steadily eroded cities’ ability to manage growth and ensure meaningful public participation in land-use decisions. What were once local choices made after public hearings are now dictated by state statute. Preemption of local authority is no longer rare; it is routine, and cities across Oregon are feeling the effects.

For Sherwood, this trend is wrong. Cities experience the impacts of growth firsthand: in neighborhoods, schools, traffic, and natural areas. Our residents deserve more than closed-door decisions made in Salem without their input. They deserve a seat at the table. That is why I support a series of Charter amendments to safeguard citizen voices and reassert Sherwood’s home-rule rights over land-use decisions and annexations.

These amendments do two essential things. First, they make public participation a permanent part of Sherwood’s land-use process. No major development could move forward without at least one neighborhood meeting and one public hearing before the City Council or a delegated body. Appeals would also require a public hearing. Notice of all meetings must be given in a way that ensures those most affected have a fair chance to understand and comment. This guarantees transparency and gives residents confidence that decisions shaping their neighborhoods will always include their voices.

Second, the amendments reaffirm Sherwood’s exclusive authority over annexations. Setting city boundaries is not a bureaucratic act; it is a core expression of local self-government. The amendment states that Sherwood alone determines when and how to expand, following fair procedures adopted by ordinance. This authority “shall not be pre-empted by state laws that modify or eliminate this authority,” because annexation defines a community’s political identity. Protecting this power in our Charter ensures growth occurs at a pace and scale that matches Sherwood’s capacity to provide services and maintain quality of life.

The timing matters. Over the past decade, the Legislature has repeatedly undermined local control. SB 1573 (2016) forced cities to approve certain annexations without a vote, even when local charters required one. SB 1537 and SB 974 went further, eliminating public hearings and appeals for housing-related projects. These laws were passed in the name of solving Oregon’s housing crisis, but instead of building consensus, they silenced communities and sidelined public trust.

Oregon’s own Statewide Land Use Goal 1 calls for citizen involvement in all phases of planning. Yet recent legislative actions directly contradict that principle. The proposed Charter amendments aim to restore what the state has taken away, making citizen involvement not just a policy goal but a constitutional right within our city.

This is not opposition to growth. Sherwood has long embraced thoughtful, collaborative planning. Our expansion into Sherwood West, developed in partnership with our residents, demonstrates what happens when community vision leads the process. That plan, shaped through extensive public engagement, focused on hospitality, jobs, and attainable housing, balanced development that strengthens neighborhoods. Without strong home rule protections, our ability to ensure that Sherwood West grows in line with that shared vision could be diminished or lost.

These amendments matter because they preserve the foundation of our local democracy. They declare that Sherwood’s structure, procedures, and the relationship between its government and citizens belong to its people. Our city can meet housing goals and support regional solutions without surrendering our local voice. We can promote affordability while maintaining transparency and trust.

Through this Charter process, we reaffirm a timeless idea: government in Sherwood remains of the people, by the people, and for the people. These amendments will not alter existing development processes or delay housing production. What they will do is draw a clear boundary between local democracy and state overreach.

If the Council chooses to send these amendments to voters, the people of Sherwood will decide whether citizen involvement and annexation control deserve constitutional protection at the city level. I believe they do. Cities are the laboratories of democracy, and Sherwood has shown that collaboration and public input lead to better results.

When Salem asks us to trust them to make our decisions, my response is simple: I trust our people. I trust our residents to shape their own future and uphold the values that make Sherwood the vibrant, family-oriented community it is today.

Finally, I want to thank Senator Courtney Neron-Misslin, who represents Sherwood in Salem, for consistently defending home rule. She has been one of the few voices in the Legislature who believes cities should control their own destinies.