Colleen Johnson Mayor

The Mayor and six City Councilors are elected by the voters of La Grande. The Mayor position becomes vacant every general election year.

The Mayor is the presiding officer of Council and represents the City at a variety of meetings, conferences, and ceremonial events.

The Council is empowered by the City Charter as the policy-making body of the City, adopting policies and legislation which will affect the City's growth and quality of life in the long term and the efficient, cost-effective delivery of daily services in the short term.

Boards, commissions and committees are appointed by the City Council to help advise and provide technical expertise to Council members and proceedings.

Each year, the City Council identifies City Goals that are used in the preparation of the City Budget.  For Fiscal Year 2009 - 2010, the Council has identified and adopted the following Goals: 

• Formulate an Economic Development Strategy for La Grande
• Implement Action Phases of the Oregon Main Street Program, to include development of projects 
• Support Business Retention and Expansion Program
• Conduct a Community Visioning Process 
• Develop a Capital Improvement Program 
• Explore the Feasibility of creating a Railroad Quiet Zone
• Implement portions of the Bike and Pedestrian Plan within resource constraints
• Participate in the formulation of an Economic Development Strategy for Union County
• Develop an Ambulance/Fire apparatus replacement strategy
• Revise the Urban Growth Boundaries as part of the Goal 9 process

See City Council