Engage with Council

Contact a member of Council 

Provide feedback on policy or actions of the City of Portland to your district or request a meeting with a Councilor. 

Contact an Elected Official Form

Register to provide verbal testimony on an agenda item

City Council welcomes public testimony. Verbal public testimony registration for agenda items opens when the meeting agenda is published (committee agendas are available on the right side of the webpage). Committee agendas are published on the Thursday before the meeting. Verbal testimony will be heard on the following agenda items:

• Resolutions
• Emergency ordinances
• First readings of non-emergency ordinances (listed on the agenda as “ordinance” – if the ordinance states it is a second reading, testimony will not be heard)
• Reports (at the presiding officer’s discretion)
• Public hearings
• Agenda items appearing on the Council consent agenda are passed by a single unanimous vote without discussion. To pull one of the above agenda item types from the consent agenda for discussion:
  1. Email your name and the document number to councilclerk@portlandoregon.gov before the start of the meeting.
  2. The Council Clerk will add the agenda item to the testimony registration form to register for verbal testimony on the item. Members of the public must sign up in advance to provide verbal testimony during the meeting.
  3. Attend the meeting to explain why the item was pulled for discussion. Testifiers will have three minutes to testify unless otherwise stated at the meeting. The item will typically be heard following all other Council business.
• Testimony is not taken on public communications, presentations, or the second readings of ordinances in accordance with City Code Section 3.02.030.

For more information, see ARA-7.02 - Council Agenda Public Communications and Testimony. 

How to register for verbal testimony:

Register online

1. Visit the Council or committee agenda to sign up to provide testimony on an available agenda item. 
    
2. Select the "Testify on this item" button and complete the required information on the form.

Register in-person

1. Visit the 311 Customer Service Center on the first floor of the Portland Building at 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204.
   Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. except holidays.
    
2. Visit the Auditor's Office on the first floor of City Hall at 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 130, Portland, OR 97204. 
   Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. except holidays.

Register by phone

1. Call 311 to speak with a representative to register to testify over the phone.

Additional information

• Individuals have three minutes to testify unless otherwise stated at the meeting or on the agenda.
• For those providing testimony virtually, Zoom login information will be emailed at least 30 minutes before the meeting.
• The testimony order for each agenda item is available in real-time on the Council or committee agenda.

Submit written testimony on an agenda item

Written testimony may be submitted for specific agenda items by visiting the Council or committee agenda, or by mail to: Council Clerk, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 130, Portland, OR 97204. Written testimony is accepted for ordinances, resolutions, reports, and public hearings.

Written testimony is not read out loud into the record during the meeting. Written testimony will be added to the public record if received before Council votes unless otherwise stated during the meeting or on the agenda. To view current written testimony submissions, select the agenda item title followed by "View written testimony."

Request a public communication

Public communications provide an opportunity for individuals to address Council on a subject of the requester's choosing for three minutes. Up to five public communications are heard at regular Council meetings at 9:30 a.m. on the first, second, fourth, and fifth (if applicable) Wednesday and 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Two alternates may sign up in case of cancellation.

Individuals may sign up for a public communication on the published agenda no more than once a month. Community members are encouraged to resolve issues directly by contacting the appropriate City department or Councilor for assistance prior to requesting a communication spot. The Ombudsman's Office may also be helpful in resolving concerns.

View ARA-7.02 - Council Agenda Public Communications and Testimony for more information.

How to request a public communication:

(Starting December 5, 2025)

Register online

1. Visit the Council agenda on Friday the week before the meeting. The agenda is published by 9:00 a.m.
    
2. Locate the Public Communications section of the agenda and select the "Testify on this item" button. 
    
3. Complete the required information on the form.
   1. Spell out acronyms and abbreviations.
   2. Third party names will not be published on the agenda.

Register in-person

1. Registration for public communications opens when the Council agenda is published at 9:00 a.m. on Friday before the meeting:
   1. Visit the 311 Customer Service Center on the first floor of the Portland Building at 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, OR 97204.
      Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. except holidays.
   2. Visit the Auditor's Office on the first floor of City Hall at 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 130, Portland, OR 97204. 
      Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. except holidays.

Register by phone

1. Call 311 to speak with a representative to register to testify over the phone.

Additional information

• The Council Clerk will review public communication requests and add confirmed individuals and their topics to the agenda.
  • If you provided your email address when you registered, you will also receive confirmation by email with instructions on how to join the Council meeting in-person or virtually.
• Notify the Council Clerk as soon as possible if you cannot attend the meeting so an alternate community member may provide a public communication. 

Subscribe to receive updates from the Council Clerk 

The Council Clerk sends out emails at least once a week to announce the upcoming City Council meetings. Sign up to find out when the meeting schedule is updated or the meeting agenda is available.

Subscribe to receive notice of scheduled Council meetings and agenda updates

Request interpretation or accommodation

Request interpretation or an accommodation online or call 503-823-4000 (please make your request at least 5 days in advance of the meeting). Community members using interpretation services to address Council during a public communication or testimony will be allotted additional time to speak.

Public records information

Contact information provided to participate in Council meetings or submit written testimony, including an email address or phone number, may be shared with City staff to facilitate engagement or other follow up. Public testimony is a permanent public record subject to Oregon public records laws (ORS Chapter 192). Individuals can make a request to exempt personal information from disclosure by requesting a safety exemption.

Tap here to access the Council agenda, sign up to testify, and view other helpful resources