Updating Rules for Neighborhood Groups

Overview

Strong, engaged neighborhoods are vital to the life of our City.

The Office of Community and Civic Life (also known as Civic Life) is committed to supporting the neighborhood organizations that play such a critical role in the community. We recognize that several wide-ranging changes over the last few years, including the transition to the City's new form of government, have imposed significant challenges for our partners.

With the help of the community, we are going to update the regulations that govern the City's neighborhood organizations, including neighborhood associations, district coalitions, and business district associations. Our goals are to make sure the regulations:

• Uphold the spirit of the neighborhood program.
• Support and guide neighborhood groups.
• Line up better with the City's new form of governance.
• Honor the City's core values.
• Provide transparency and accountability.
• Are easier to follow.

These regulations, known as the ONI standards, were adopted in 2005 and have become outdated. For example:

• They use an obsolete format. Current City regulations take the form of administrative rules.
• They don't reflect the City's new form of governance.
• They contain numerous outdated references.
• They don't reflect the City's core values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility.

This project does not include revisions to City Code 3.96, which was recently updated in 2023 to align with Portland's new form of government. Civic Life is not proposing any updates to this code.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ONI standards?

ONI stands for the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, a former City office whose functions are now served by Civic Life. The ONI standards are a set of regulations that neighborhood associations, district coalitions, and business district associations need to follow to be recognized (or acknowledged in the case of business associations) by Civic Life. They include:

• Topics to be included in Association bylaws.
• Benefits of being recognized by the City.
• What communication funds can be spent on.
• How conflicts are resolved through the grievance process.
• Open meetings and public records rules.
• The roles of District Coalitions and Civic Life to serve the Neighborhood Associations.

What's the matter with the ONI standards?

The ONI standards were adopted in 2005 and have never been updated. As a result, they have become outdated. For example:

• They don't reflect the City's new form of governance.
• They don't align with City Code 3.96.
• They contain numerous outdated references. In some cases, these are innocuous, such as referring to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, which is now known as Civic Life. But in other cases, they refer to authorities that no longer exist, such as "Commissioner-in-charge."
• They don't reflect the City's core values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility.
• Their format is obsolete. Current City regulations take the form of administrative rules.

So what are you proposing, exactly?

After conferring with District Coalition Offices, Prosper Portland, and the City Attorney's Office, we're proposing several revisions, such as:

• Adding the City's core values.
• Aligning the language with the new form of government.
• Adjusting guidance for DCOs to reflect the City's current model, where the number of DCOs is reduced from seven to four, mirroring City Council districts, and the DCOs operate as community non-profits.
• Transitioning the standards into administrative rules.

Are you making any changes to City Code 3.96?

No. City Code 3.96 was updated in 2023 to align with the new form of government. It sets out the roles and responsibilities of Civic Life, District Coalition Offices, Neighborhood Associations, and Business District Associations. We see no need to propose any changes.

Is this a sneaky way to radically restructure Portland's neighborhood organizations?

No. The goal is to update the language and format to make the rules easier to understand, less burdensome to follow, line up better with the City's new form of governance, honor the City's core values, and uphold the spirit of the neighborhood program.

It is also an opportunity to clarify expectations and provide guidance for how neighborhood organizations can broaden participation to include more residents from historically underrepresented groups.

What's this I hear about a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the District Coalition Offices?

The City's new form of government, with four City Council districts, provides an opportunity for community partners to apply for contracts to serve as District Coalition Offices for the four new districts.

The RFP will ensure that the City maintains a transparent, equitable process for selecting DCOs. It will also provide guidance to help our partners amplify all the voices in their community, both the louder and the softer.

This transition was originally planned to coincide with the new charter but was delayed. We are planning to launch a Request for Proposals in 2027, so that the selected DCOs can begin work starting in July 2027.

It's too early for us to predict the funding for the RFP. But we anticipate that it will be similar to current allocations.

How can I weigh in?

Thanks for asking. We value your feedback. You'll have several opportunities to share your thoughts:

• Come to one of our roadshows. Details below.
• Contact your City Councilors to share your views. (Look up your district.)
• Submit a public comment on the proposed administrative rules when they are posted. The public comment period will be open for at least 30 days.
• Provide written testimony to City Council.
• Provide verbal testimony to City Council.
• Sign up for Rose City Connection to stay on top of City news. We'll share more opportunities there.

Timeline

Oct. – Dec. 2025: Pre-engagement analysis and framing

• Discussions with City Attorney, Prosper Portland, and some key community stakeholders for historical perspective.
• Shared with District Coalition Offices our intention to revise the ONI standards.

Jan. – April 2026: Awareness and information Sharing

• Made District Coalition Offices aware of the transition to administrative rules and received their high-level thoughts about process.
• Presented at District Specific Quarterly Business District/Association meetings.
• Launched information webpage, with timeline and engagement overview.
• Drafted ONI Standards into administrative rules format, tracking proposed changes so people can provide input over the summer.

May – June 2026: Engagement planning and communication

• Develop "roadshow" presentations so people can provide input as draft is developed.
• Work with DCOs, NAs, and other community groups to schedule roadshows and other opportunities for input.
• Hold roadshows with DCOs, NAs, and other community groups.

July – Sept. 2026: Listening and input-gathering

• Gather input and feedback in all engagement opportunities.
• Compile into final draft and prepare draft for public review period.

Oct. – Nov. 2026:

• Public comment period. This is an opportunity for people to provide comments on the final draft. It will last at least 30 days.

Dec. 2026:

• Finalization and adoption.