*Centralize the City's planning of the 2023 Rose Festival for improved and efficient coordination and public safety
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- The Portland Rose Festival was designated the Official Festival of the City of Portland by Council Resolution 36759, adopted on January 13, 2010.
- The Rose Festival is a multi-week event involving mass gatherings throughout the City, such as CityFair, the Starlight Parade, the Junior Parade, the Grand Floral Parade, and Fleet Week.
- Disruption of any Rose Festival events could impact safety, security, and civic life.
- Planning for the safety and success of the Rose Festival requires close coordination among multiple Bureaus, Multnomah County, the State of Oregon, and Federal agencies.
- Centralized planning, support, and coordination before the Rose Festival that continues seamlessly as the event unfolds could both decrease the likelihood of contingencies materializing and facilitate quick and prepared response should any incident occur.
- The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a consistent, nationwide approach to managing domestic incidents and is designed to assist Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity.
- NIMS was adopted by Council Resolution 36395 on April 5, 2006.
- NIMS underlies the Incident Command Structure (ICS), which is flexibly designed to support both event and incident planning and response.
- It is a national best practice to utilize emergency management agencies for leading coordination of, planning for, and response to large special events.
- The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) has experience in coordinating City Bureaus in events and emergencies and coordinating with County, State, and Federal agencies.
- In the event of a significant incident during the Rose Festival, PBEM can utilize its experience in managing, coordinating, and supporting multi-Bureau, County, State, and Federal responses.
- Chapter 3.124.030 of the City Code establishes the purpose of PBEM to centralize leadership and coordination of emergency management.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- That the City’s planning and coordination of 2023 Rose Festival activities shall be managed using ICS and NIMS.
- That the Director of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management is hereby designated to lead a Multi-Agency Coordination Group for policy direction for the Rose Festival. At a minimum, the Directors/Chiefs of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Portland Police Bureau, and Portland Fire and Rescue are members of this group. The Director of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management may designate additional ad hoc or permanent members of this group.
- The Directors/Chiefs of this group may delegate the full authority to represent their Bureaus and to commit resources or to act on behalf of their Bureaus to their designees without further consultation.
- Any delegate sent to this MAC Group on behalf of their Director/Chief shall come with full authority to commit resources on behalf of their Bureaus.
- That the Director of the Bureau of Emergency Management shall designate one or more Incident Commanders to lead this effort according to these NIMS principles.
- That the Incident Commander is provided with all authorities necessary to perform these duties. That this authority includes, but is not limited to:
- The ability to access and direct the resources of other supporting Bureaus.
- The ability to suspend or cancel any operations, activities, or events due to conditions that may result in imminent threat to life safety.
- Emergency procurement powers under Chapter 5.33.130 of the Portland City Code as may be necessary in the event emergency conditions arise.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because delay in the enactment of this ordinance would result in a delay in coordinated safety planning for the Rose Festival; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
This Ordinance supports the celebratory and community-building goals of the Rose Festival as is traditional and as set out in the 2023 annual Rose Festival Ordinance 191233, which granted permits from the City of Portland and was passed by this Council on April 12, 2023.
This ordinance is designed to implement a coordinated and efficient support and management system with and for the city bureaus and organizations that plan and conduct the Rose Festival. The Bureau of Emergency Management’s mission, training, and purpose includes supporting cross-bureau coordination not only in response but in preparedness, and not only for unexpected emergencies and disasters, but for events as well. PBEM is familiar with the Rose Festival and has historically utilized the Emergency Coordination Center and deployed resources in support of the Rose Festival. The unified coordination of safety measures and centralization of communications between the collaborating bureaus, using the familiar Incident Command System, will allow focused and more efficient support of the event and a seamless, instant transition into any emergency response that may be required.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
PBEM anticipates personnel time and effort costs associated with this Ordinance but given the importance and time constraints at this time, the Bureau will absorb the costs for this year.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
We anticipate this Ordinance will have a positive impact on the community, providing support and coordination to all parties whose assistance is required to conduct a safe and successful celebration. This impact should only be the continued success of the events that the Rose Festival Foundation and many others have worked hard to plan. There are no proposed changes to the event itself. The goal of this Ordinance is that the Rose Festival transpire as seamlessly and as safely as possible.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable
Document History
Item 343 Consent Agenda in May 3, 2023 Council Agenda
City Council
Referred to Commissioner of Public Affairs