City Manager Martha Bennett

Meet City Manager Martha Bennett

Selected by the Lake Oswego City Council, Ms. Bennett began as City Manager on August 19, 2019. 

Prior to joining the City of Lake Oswego, Bennett was the Chief Operating Officer of Metro. Bennett brings over 25 years of solid local government experience. Her employment history includes the positions of City Administrator at the City of Ashland, Executive Director at the Columbia River Gorge Commission, and Assistant City Manager at the City of Milwaukie. Her educational achievements includes a Master of Public Policy from the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts degree at Willamette University where she majored in history and political science.

Upon being selected for the Lake Oswego City Manager position, Bennett stated: “I am thrilled to be coming to the City of Lake Oswego. Lake Oswego is a strong community with an exceptional quality of life. I look forward to working with the City Council, the City’s top-notch staff, and the residents and businesses of this special place.”

Ms. Bennett replaced City Manager Scott Lazenby who retired at the end of June 2019. 

City Manager Position

The City of Lake Oswego operates a council-manager form of government, which vests policy authority in a volunteer city council and administrative authority for day-to-day operations in an appointed, professional City Manager.

The City Manager is the full time Chief Administrative Officer of the City and is responsible for the effective and efficient administration of the City, assuming full management responsibility, leadership, and accountability for all City operations, including direct or indirect supervision of all employees. The City Manager conducts or coordinates, through department heads, departmental strategic planning efforts and other studies of City services to ensure they are provided in the most effective manner. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the Council and is accountable for achieving policies, goals, and objectives established by the Council.

The City Manager performs all duties as provided in the Charter and ordinances of the City of Lake Oswego. The City Manager directs the development and implementation of the City’s goals, objectives, policies, and priorities and routinely provides advice and assistance to the Mayor and Council on a wide variety of issues. The City Manager prepares and submits a proposed City budget for the ensuing fiscal year, properly administers the budget as adopted, and keeps the Council advised of the financial condition and needs of the City. The City Manager is also responsible for enforcing and administering all City laws, ordinances, policies, and regulations.