The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- On November 8, 2022, voters approved Portland Measure 26-228 (the “Measure”).
- The Measure significantly amended the City Charter. The Measure generally established a mayor-council form of government with a City Administrator, created four new geographic districts with three councilors represented in each district, and called for a new system of electing City officials using Ranked Choice Voting.
- The Measure specifically increases the number of city council members to twelve and removes bureau administration from the role of the new legislative policy-focused council.
- City Code Title 5 describes the City’s financial funds, policies, and procedures, Title 6 describes the City’s policies and procedures of its special taxes and the procedures related to their collection, and Title 7 describes the City’s business licensing policies and procedures. These titles reflect the current form of government and must be updated to conform to the changes adopted by the voters in the Measure.
- The City’s Charter Transition Team and the City Attorney’s Office partnered with the Budget and Finance Service Area and the City Operations Service Area on this project to review and update Titles 5, 6, and 7 and reflect them in the replacement code chapters shown as Exhibits A, B, and C.
- The City Administrator will work with relevant bureaus and teams to ensure that administrative procedures, policies, and programs removed from these Titles are timely adopted into administrative rules and regulations by January 1, 2025.
- The revenue service and program of the City Administrator will propose Charter Reform-required and substantive Code changes to Chapter 6.06, District Property Management License, through a separate ordinance for an effective date of January 1, 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Repeal and replace City Code Title 5 as shown in Exhibit A.
- Amend City Code Title 6 as shown in Exhibit B.
- Repeal and replace City Code Title 7 as shown in Exhibit C.
- This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2025.
Exhibits and Attachments
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
In November 2022, voters approved amendments to Portland’s City Charter that included establishment of a mayor-council government, creation of four new geographic districts with three councilors representing each district, and election of City officials using Ranked Choice Voting.
This ordinance amends Portland City Code Title 5 Revenue and Finance Code, Title 6 Special Tax Code, and Title 7 Business License Code to ensure that these code sections reflect the amended City Charter. Charter focused changes include recognizing that the City Administrator has the authority to adopt administrative rules, direct the work of city bureaus and offices, and approve contracts or agreements.
Chapters which are either administrative in nature or severely outdated have been removed from the proposed code. Any chapter recommended for removal which is administrative in nature will be adopted into a Portland Policy Document by January 1, 2025. Removal of these chapters from City Code ensures that the separation of legislative and administrative authorities granted in the amended City Charter are maintained.
Additionally, some chapters have been reordered, renumbered, or moved to a more appropriate title to ensure the code is clearer and more user friendly. Grammatical corrections and removal of gendered language were additionally made.
Lastly, staff from the Finance and Budget Service Area provided recommended edits to clarify language. The Revenue Division will be proposing additionally substantive code changes to Chapter 6.06 District Property Management License through a separate ordinance. This ordinance will include any changes necessary to align that chapter with the amended City Charter,
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
This legislation aligns City Code with the amended City Charter and has no direct fiscal impact.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
Not applicable.
100% Renewable Goal
This legislation aligns City Code with the amended City Charter and has no impact on the City’s energy use. This legislation neither contributes to, nor detracts from, the City’s goal of meeting 100% of community-wide energy needs with renewable energy by 2050.
Financial and Budget Analysis
No fiscal impact.
Document History
Item 941 Regular Agenda in October 30-31, 2024 Council Agenda
City Council
Rescheduled
Item 949-3 Regular Agenda in October 30-31, 2024 Council Agenda
City Council
Passed to second reading