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Label:
Ordinance
Create a Sister City relationship between the City of Portland and the City of Lviv, Ukraine
Passed
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- That the Sister City program created by President Eisenhower has increased international understanding between cities of the world and that the citizens of Portland greatly benefit from the relationships created through this program.
- That the strong Ukrainian-American community and friends and supporters of Ukraine desire to create a formal relationship to strengthen the ties between Portland and Ukraine.
- That the Portland-Lviv Sister City Association, an Oregon nonprofit established in 2022 (the Association), was formed to support and maintain a sister city relationship with Lviv, Ukraine.
- That Lviv is an appropriate and compelling match for Portland because the two cities share cultural, educational, economic, and civic characteristics, including vibrant arts and literary life, strong culinary and coffee traditions, world-class universities, and active and diverse civic societies.
- That the Portland-Lviv relationship has been strengthened through visits, meetings, and exchanges involving Portlanders, representatives of the City of Lviv, and members of the Association, including meetings in Lviv in 2023 and 2024 with city officials and community partners, and ongoing cultural and humanitarian partnerships.
- That the Association has satisfied the requirements outlined in Ordinance No. 176047, Section II, as demonstrated in the Portland-Lviv Sister City Formal Request dated February 2, 2026, and the supporting materials submitted with that request. The Association has shown broad-based community support, nonprofit organization and governance, demonstrated programmatic capacity, annual reporting, and financial capability sufficient to fund its operations, programs and events, and the various visits, receptions, delegations, and other similar functions such a relationship entails, without financial support from the City of Portland.
- That on September 28, 2022, the Portland City Council adopted Resolution No. 37588 declaring the City of Lviv, Ukraine, an official Friendship City, with Friendship City status serving as the step preceding potential formalization of a sister city relationship after satisfaction of the City's criteria pursuant to the procedures set out in Ordinance 176047.
- That since the 2022 Friendship City designation, the Portland-Lviv relationship has remained active for more than three years, and the Association has operated continuously and self-sufficiently while organizing public programs, cultural exchanges, community events, and annual reporting in support of the relationship.
- That attached to this ordinance as Exhibit A is the Portland-Lviv Sister City Formal Request, which describes the Association's events and projects and documents its financial capability to adequately fund its operations without financial support from the City of Portland, including compliance with the financial capability requirement of Ordinance No. 176047.
- That the City of Portland and the City of Lviv, Ukraine, have successfully completed and substantially exceeded the one-year Friendship City trial period contemplated by Ordinance No. 176047 and Resolution No. 37588, and both cities wish to establish a formal sister city relationship.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The creation of a sister city relationship between the City of Lviv, Ukraine, and the City of Portland, Oregon.
- Approval, in form substantially in conformance hereto, of the Portland-Lviv Sister City Formal Request for the Portland-Lviv Sister City Association, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Exhibits and attachments
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 purpose of this legislation is to formally establish a sister city relationship between the City of Portland, Oregon and the City of Lviv, Ukraine, following the successful completion of the Friendship City designation and fulfillment of all requirements set forth in City policy governing sister city relationships.
The City of Portland designated Lviv as a Friendship City through Resolution No. 37588, adopted on September 28, 2022, as an initial step toward a potential formal sister city relationship. Friendship City status serves as a trial period under Portland's Sister City Criteria (BCP-ART-1.01), allowing community-based organizations to demonstrate sustained engagement, organizational capacity, and broad-based public support prior to formal adoption by ordinance.
Since the 2022 designation, the Portland–Lviv relationship has developed into an active and sustained partnership. The Portland–Lviv Sister City Association, established in 2022 as an Oregon nonprofit organization, has led this effort by organizing cultural programming, educational exchanges, public events, and international engagement activities that advance people-to-people diplomacy. These activities include participation in Portland's Rose Festival, Ukrainian cultural events, academic and artistic exchanges, and direct engagement with partners in Lviv.
The Association has demonstrated compliance with all requirements outlined in Ordinance No. 176047 and related City policy, including establishment of a nonprofit governance structure, ongoing programmatic activity, annual reporting, and financial capability sufficient to sustain operations without financial support from the City of Portland. Supporting documentation, including annual reports, governance materials, and financial records, has been submitted as part of the formal request to establish the sister city relationship.
The proposed legislation advances Portland's longstanding commitment to international engagement and people-to-people diplomacy, a program originally established to foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and peaceful relations between communities around the world. The relationship between Portland and Lviv reflects shared cultural, educational, and civic characteristics, including strong arts communities, academic institutions, and traditions of civic participation.
In addition, the relationship has taken on increased significance in the context of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Lviv has served as a major humanitarian, cultural, and civic hub during the conflict, and the Portland–Lviv partnership has facilitated community-led humanitarian support, cultural solidarity, and international awareness within Portland. Formalizing the sister city relationship reinforces Portland's values of global solidarity, democratic partnership, and community-based international engagement.
This legislation does not change existing City policy but implements the established process for elevating a Friendship City to Sister City status after successful completion of the required trial period and demonstration of compliance with all criteria.
Overall, this ordinance formalizes an already active and community-supported international partnership, strengthens Portland's global relationships, and ensures the continued growth and sustainability of cultural, educational, and civic exchanges between Portland and Lviv.
Financial and budgetary impacts
No impacts.
Economic and real estate development impacts
No impacts.
Community impacts and community involvement
The proposed legislation impacts a broad cross-section of Portland residents, community organizations, and institutions by formalizing and expanding an already active, community-driven international relationship. The primary communities impacted include Portland's Ukrainian and Ukrainian-American population, cultural and educational institutions, nonprofit and volunteer organizations, and the broader public engaged in international, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives.
Portland is home to a significant Ukrainian-American community that has played a central role in initiating, sustaining, and advocating for the Portland–Lviv relationship. This community, alongside allied residents and organizations, has contributed to cultural programming, humanitarian support efforts, and public engagement activities, particularly in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The ordinance formalizes and recognizes these ongoing contributions, strengthening community identity, representation, and civic participation.
The geographic impact is citywide, with activities and engagement occurring across multiple neighborhoods, including public venues such as Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland State University, and community gathering spaces. Programming has included public festivals, lectures, cultural events, and international exchanges that are accessible to a wide range of Portland residents.
Local institutions, including universities, cultural organizations, and nonprofits, benefit from expanded opportunities for international collaboration, educational exchange, and cultural programming. Events such as international festivals, poetry readings, and academic partnerships demonstrate strong institutional involvement and contribute to Portland's reputation as a globally engaged city.
The legislation advances city livability goals by promoting a more globally connected, culturally enriched, and civically engaged Portland. Sister city relationships are rooted in "people-to-people diplomacy," fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and long-term relationship-building that benefits residents socially and culturally. The relationship also aligns with Portland's values related to inclusion, global solidarity, and support for democratic institutions.
Community involvement in shaping this proposal has been extensive and sustained over multiple years. Since the 2022 designation of Lviv as a Friendship City, the Portland–Lviv Sister City Association has organized public events, maintained ongoing programming, conducted international exchanges, and submitted annual reports demonstrating continued engagement and capacity. Public participation has included attendance at cultural events, festivals, educational programs, and community dialogues, reflecting broad-based and long-term interest as required by City policy.
Feedback and support have been overwhelmingly positive, with strong participation from community members, cultural organizations, and the Ukrainian diaspora. Public-facing events and outreach efforts have been used to gather input, increase awareness, and build support for formalizing the relationship. No significant opposition has been documented; rather, the record reflects sustained enthusiasm and alignment with Portland's international engagement goals.
Any potential concerns, such as financial or operational impacts to the City, have been addressed through the Association's demonstrated ability to independently fund its operations, programs, and exchanges without reliance on City resources. This ensures that benefits to the community are achieved without imposing financial burdens on the City.
Community members and representatives of the Portland–Lviv Sister City Association, along with supporters from the Ukrainian-American community and partner organizations, are expected to testify in support of the ordinance.
Overall, the benefits of this legislation, enhanced cultural exchange, strengthened community ties, expanded global engagement, and support for an active and engaged diaspora community, are broadly distributed across Portland's population, with particular positive impact for historically underrepresented and immigrant communities.
100% renewable goal
Not applicable.
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: 2026-177
President's referral: City Council