On Thursday, January 15, 2026, our lead petitioner delivered the following prepared statement as public testimony at both the Multnomah County Commissioners meeting and the Metro Council meeting:
My name is Mattt Zmuda. I’m the founder of MultNoMo, and I’m here today to provide advance notice of our intent to initiate proceedings under Oregon’s City-County Act of 1971.
Next week, we plan to file a petition with the County Clerk to begin gathering signatures. If successful, this would trigger the formation of a 13-member charter commission to study city-county consolidation and, if warranted, draft a proposed charter for voters. This notice is a courtesy and not a legal requirement—and we are not seeking your endorsement today.
Some brief context:
Multnomah County was created in 1854 because the people living in Portland found it difficult to travel to Hillsboro, which was then the seat of Washington County. From the very beginning, this region has been shaped by growth outpacing the structures meant to govern it. And that dynamic continues today.
Four out of five residents of Multnomah County now live in Portland. We share the same economy, infrastructure, tax base, and challenges. Yet, we maintain two separate governments with overlapping responsibilities and duplicate administrative systems.
Oregon anticipated that this region might eventually need another option. In 1968, voters approved a constitutional amendment narrowly tailored to counties with a city over 300,000 residents—effectively, Portland. The Legislature codified this in the City-County Act of 1971.
The process it establishes is deliberate and democratic. A successful petition does not force consolidation. Rather, it creates a charter commission with representatives from county and city governments and the state legislature. That commission would have up to two years to study the issue, gather extensive public input, and draft a charter that addresses both urban and rural needs. Other cities may choose whether to participate. Unincorporated areas receive explicit protections. And consolidation would occur only if voters approve it—by majority vote in both Portland and the county.
This effort is not about blame or dissatisfaction with any individual or institution. It’s about asking whether a governmental structure designed in the 19th century still best serves a 21st-century region. Other cities, including Nashville, Jacksonville, and Louisville, have chosen consolidation when it made sense for their communities—often to reduce duplication, clarify accountability, and better align services with how people actually live.
At its core, this is about giving voters a choice—after analysis, public engagement, and a transparent process.
Thank you for your time. I’m happy to answer any questions.