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A new City Club of Portland report on city governance suggests that Portland would be better served by moving away from its current commission form.

The report concludes, among other things, that the commission system is financially and operationally inefficient and incentivizes zero-sum competition among commissioners and city bureaus. Also, the system, according to the report, has barriers to equitable representation 鈥� one reason why no other major city in the U.S. uses it.

The report suggests the city should switch to geographic-based wards for city council elections, with multiple council members per district. In addition, it recommends Portland hire a city manager and centralize executive authority in the new position.

Another recommendation from the report calls for increasing the size of city council to at least eight members, plus a mayor.

鈥淚 sometimes hear people say that Portland is weird, so its government should be weird,鈥� Amanda Manjarrez, vice-chairwoman of the research committee, stated. 鈥淏ut it’s not weird. It’s deeply inequitable.鈥�

The final report was released ahead of a City Club presentation slated for Tuesday at the Alberta Rose Theater, 3000 N.E. Alberta St. in Portland. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the event, which will run from 6:30-8:30.

The report can be downloaded by visiting www.pdxcityclub.org/new-government.