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192064

Ordinance

Authorize the Bureau of Transportation to acquire certain permanent and temporary rights necessary for construction of the NE Columbia – Cully Boulevard and Alderwood Road Intersection Improvements Project through exercise of Eminent Domain Authority

Passed

The City of Portland ordains.

Section 1. The Council finds:

  1. The City of Portland may exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to Section 9-108 of the City Charter and in accordance with Eminent Domain procedures provided for in ORS Chapter 35 (Eminent Domain; Public Acquisition of Property), including those procedures that apply to notification, valuation, negotiation, relocation and early possession if necessary, when the exercise of such power is deemed necessary by the City Council to accomplish public purposes for which the City has responsibility.
     
  2. The City of Portland has the responsibility of providing safe transportation routes for commerce, convenience and to adequately serve the traveling public.
     
  3. The project known as the NE Columbia – Cully Boulevard and Alderwood Road Intersection Improvements Project (the “Project”) has been planned in accordance with appropriate engineering standards for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of said transportation infrastructure such that property damage is minimized, transportation promoted, and travel safeguarded.
     
  4. The Project will reconstruct the intersections of NE Columbia Blvd/Alderwood Road and NE Columbia Blvd/Cully Blvd, including the installation of new traffic signals at both locations. Additionally, it will add an exclusive right-turn lane on Alderwood Road for westbound traffic. A multiuse path will be constructed along the north side of Columbia Blvd, connecting Cully Blvd to Alderwood Rd, and will extend along the west side of Alderwood Rd to the project boundaries.
     
  5. All affected property owners have been contacted and informed as to the City’s need for certain private property rights related to completion of the Project. All affected property owners have been invited, by mailing, to attend the reading of this agenda item.
     
  6. Funds are available in the Transportation Systems Operating Fund.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

  1. That it is hereby declared that it is necessary to acquire the property interests described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 42 to this Ordinance for the Project, for which the City is authorized by law to acquire property, and that the Project has been planned, designed, located, and will be constructed in a manner which will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury.
  2. That the Director of the Bureau of Transportation or designee and/or City Attorney are authorized to acquire necessary permanent and temporary rights for the Project under the Eminent Domain Authority of the City, including filing an action to acquire the property interests described herein or negotiating just compensation with property owners within available project budget funds. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation or designee and/or the City Attorney are further authorized to enter into obligations agreements with property owners to address construction management concerns within available project budget funds.
  3. That the power of eminent domain is hereby exercised with respect to each of the interests in property described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 42. Each is acquired subject to payment of just compensation and subject to procedural requirements of Oregon law.
  4. That the Bureau of Transportation’s staff and the Office of the City Attorney are authorized to attempt to agree with the owner and other persons in interest as to the compensation to be paid for each acquisition, and, in the event that no satisfactory agreement can be reached, to commence and prosecute such condemnation proceedings as may be necessary to finally determine just compensation or any other issue appropriate to be determined by a court in connection with the acquisition.  This authorization is not intended to expand the jurisdiction of any court to decide matters determined above or determinable by the City Council.
  5. That the Bureau of Transportation is authorized to determine the continuing necessity or propriety of the acquisition authorized by this Ordinance, its quantity, quality, or locality, and to reduce or abandon any acquisition described in Exhibits 1 through 42.
  6. There is hereby authorized the creation of a sub-fund in the amount estimated to be the just compensation for each interest in the property which, if necessary, shall be deposited with the clerk of the court where an action is commenced.


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

The City of Portland may exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to Section 9-108 of the City Charter and in accordance with Eminent Domain procedures provided for in ORS Chapter 35 (Eminent Domain; Public Acquisition of Property), including those procedures that apply to notification, valuation, negotiation, relocation and early possession if necessary, when the exercise of such power is deemed necessary by the City Council to accomplish public purposes for which the City has responsibility.

The City of Portland has the responsibility of providing safe transportation routes for commerce, convenience and to adequately serve the traveling public.

The NE Columbia – Cully Boulevard and Alderwood Road Intersection Improvements Project (the “Project”) will reconstruct the intersections of NE Columbia Blvd/Alderwood Road and NE Columbia Blvd/Cully Blvd, including the installation of new traffic signals at both locations. Additionally, it will add an exclusive right-turn lane on Alderwood Road for westbound traffic. A multiuse path will be constructed along the north side of Columbia Blvd, connecting Cully Blvd to Alderwood Rd, and will extend along the west side of Alderwood Rd to the project boundaries.

To accomplish the Project set forth above, it is necessary to acquire the following property interests described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 42, attached to this Ordinance and, by this reference incorporated herein.

All affected property owners have been contacted and informed as to the City’s need for certain private property rights related to completion of the Project. All affected property owners have been invited, by mailing, to attend the reading of this agenda item.      

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

Property values associated with the property acquisitions have not yet been quantified since negotiations are not completed; however, an estimate for the right of way phase has been budgeted in the Transportation Operating Fund. The level of confidence for the estimate is moderate. Funds are available in the Transportation Operating Fund Budget, FY 2024-2025 Budget, SAP #T00451.L46

This legislation does not affect staffing levels or result in a new or modified financial obligation or benefit now or in the future.

If City Council does not approve the ordinance, construction of the Project will not be feasible as planned, due to lack of property rights needed to make the improvements.

Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts

Not applicable

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

The Port of Portland applied for a grant for design, right of way and construction of the NE Columbia Blvd: Cully Blvd & Alderwood Rd project. 

The Project has been awarded $4,538,856 in Multimodal Transportation Enhance Program (MTEP). 

The Port of Portland and the City of Portland entered into a separate agreement where the Port of Portland will authorize the City of Portland to administer the Project for the Port.

The Project has been presented to the freight committee. 

Mailers will be sent to the neighborhood association at 60% design. 

100% Renewable Goal

The 100 Percent Renewable Energy Goal is not applicable to this project. 

Financial and Budget Analysis

Analysis provided by City Budget Office

The ordinance authorizes the Bureau of Transportation to acquire permanent and temporary property rights necessary for construction of the NE Columbia – Cully Boulevard and Alderwood Road Intersection Improvements Project, including through eminent domain if needed. While final compensation amounts have not been determined, funding for right-of-way acquisition is already budgeted in the FY 2024–25 Transportation Operating Fund (SAP #T00451.L46). No new staffing, financial obligations, or revenue impacts are associated with this action.

Economic and Real Estate Development Analysis

Analysis provided by Prosper Portland

An Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis was not submitted for this proposed action. Pursuant to City Council Resolution 37664, Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the action and agree that it does not require an Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis. 

Document History

Document number: 2025-184

President's referral: Finance Committee

Agenda Council action
Regular Agenda
Finance Committee
Referred to City Council
Motion to send the Ordinance to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Green and seconded by Novick. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Novick, Green, Avalos, Zimmerman)
Regular Agenda
City Council
Passed to second reading
Passed to second reading June 4, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Regular Agenda
City Council
Passed

Votes
  • Aye (11):
    • Ryan
    • Koyama Lane
    • Morillo
    • Novick
    • Clark
    • Green
    • Zimmerman
    • Avalos
    • Dunphy
    • Smith
    • Pirtle-Guiney
  • Absent (1):
    • Kanal

Document number

2025-184

Introduced by

City department

Service area

Contact

Heather Byers

Right of Way Agent III

Agenda Type

Regular

Date and Time Information

Meeting Date
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