Amend Council Organization and Procedures Code to align with the amended City Charter approved by voters in Portland Measure 26-228 (replace Code Chapter 3.02)
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 Portland’s 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 Chapter 3.02 describes Council organization and procedures. The code reflects the current form of government and must be updated to conform to the changes adopted by the voters in Measure 26-228.
- The City’s Charter Transition Team and the City Attorney’s Office partnered on this project to clarify the roles, organization, and procedures of the council in Code Chapter 3.02. The City’s Charter Transition Team sought specific public input on several policy choices and general feedback to inform the drafting of this ordinance. Input was received through a variety of means including by email, meetings with and presentations to the Government Transition Advisory Committee, and a community listening session.
- For community members interested in running for office in November of 2024 to better understand the roles of a legislative council and executive mayor, it is important that this ordinance be adopted, and the code revisions be available to the public before most candidates begin to file for office.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Replace Portland City Code Chapter 3.02 as shown in Exhibit A.
- This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2025.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
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, creations of four new geographic districts with three councilors representing each district, and election of City officials using Ranked Choice Voting.
The ordinance amends Portland City Code Chapter 3.02 to ensure the new legislative city council has organizational rules and procedures in place to begin its work successfully in January of 2025. This chapter is also important to provide community members interested in running for office in the November 2024 election a better understanding of the roles of the executive mayor and legislative city council.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
There is no direct fiscal impact to this ordinance. Changes in council operations to match the City Charter amendments may require additional staff support which is being planned for through separate but related transition projects.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
The amended Chapter 3.02 amends the meeting schedule, process for policy items submittal, and how votes are taken for all city council meetings. Because these amendments affect how Portlanders engage with the city council decision making process, the City’s Charter Transition Team sought specific public input on several policy choices and general feedback to inform the drafting of this ordinance. Input was received through a variety of means including by email, meetings with and presentations to the Government Transition Advisory Committee, and a community listening session.
100% Renewable Goal
This legislation updated City Code related to city council organization and procedures 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
This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2025. The ordinance amends Portland City Code Chapter 3.02 to ensure the new legislative city council has organizational rules and procedures in place to begin its work successfully in January of 2025. There is no direct fiscal impact to this ordinance. Changes in Council operations to match the City Charter amendments may require additional staff support which is being planned for through separate but related transition projects.