This form of government originated in
Galveston, Texas, as a response to the
Galveston Hurricane of 1900, mainly for the reason that extra support was needed in certain areas. After its constitutionality was tested and confirmed, this form of government quickly became popular across the state of
Texas and spread to other parts of the
United States.
Des Moines, Iowa, became the first city outside Texas to adopt this form of government. However, the council-manager form, which developed at least in part as a response to some perceived limitations of the commission form, became the preferred alternative for progressive reform. After
World War I, very few cities adopted the commission form and many cities using the commission plan switched to the council-manager form. Galveston itself changed forms in 1960. A ballot measure passed in 2022 to replace it with a
mayor-council government passed with 57% of the vote and
Portland City Council was established. == See also ==