Hermiston to Host Town Hall on Potential City Charter Updates

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The City of Hermiston is hosting a community town hall on March 4th to discuss potential updates to the city's charter. The charter review committee has recommended changes to election processes, the roles of city officials, and charter maintenance procedures. Residents are invited to attend the meeting and offer feedback on the proposed updates, which could be put before voters in the November 2026 election.

Why it matters

Hermiston's city charter establishes the structure and governance of local government, so any updates to the charter can have significant impacts on how the city is run and how residents are represented. The town hall provides an opportunity for community input on these proposed changes.

The details

The town hall will include a presentation on the charter review committee's recommendations, which include redrawing city council ward boundaries, changing the election process for ward councilors, transitioning the municipal court judge role from elected to appointed, altering the selection of the city council president, and requiring more frequent charter reviews. Residents unable to attend can submit written comments to the city.

• The town hall will be held on March 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Hermiston City Hall.
• Hermiston's current city charter has not been updated in 10 years.

What’s next

The feedback and recommendations from the town hall will help the Hermiston City Council determine which charter updates, if any, should be put before voters in the November 2026 election.