Giraffes at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, which is operated by Metro. (Oregon State Archives Scenic Image Collection)
Contact
Contact: Andy Shaw, Government Affairs Director
Address: Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland 97232
Phone: 503-797-1700
Councilors
President Lynn Peterson (2027); Ashton Simson, Dist. 1 (2027); Christine Lewis, Dist. 2 (2027); Gerritt Rosenthal, Dist. 3 (2029); Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Dist. 4 (2027); Mary Nolan, Dist. 5 (2029); Duncan Hwang, Dist. 6 (2029); Brian Evans, auditor (2027)
The council president and auditor are elected regionally. The remaining six councilors are elected by district. All serve four-year terms. The auditor reviews Metro’s operations.
About
Metro is a regional government responsible for managing issues that cross city and county lines. It serves more than 1.6 million residents in the 24 cities and three counties in the Portland area. Metro’s core responsibilities include management of the region’s garbage, compost and recycling system; support of the economy through management of the Oregon Convention Center and Expo Center; preserving farm and forestland through regional planning and management of the region’s urban growth boundary; management of a regional affordable housing and supportive housing program; preservation of our environment through management of 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas; and management of some of the state’s top entertainment venues, including the Oregon Zoo and Portland’s Centers for the Arts.
An elected seven-member council oversees Metro, and its day-to-day affairs are managed by a chief operating officer, who is appointed by the council.
History
The Metropolitan Service District was formed in 1970. The current Metro charter and system of governance was approved in 2002.