Amend Regulation of Lobbying Entities Code to align with the amended City Charter approved by voters in Portland Measure 26-228 (amend Code Chapter 2.12)
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Portland City Code Chapter 2.12 establishes the City’s lobbying regulations which require City officials and lobbying entities to report activities in order to improve City transparency, preserve integrity of decision-making, and inform the public of efforts to influence City officials.
- Portland Measure 26-228, alongside subsequent legislation, shifts the City to a Mayor/Council form of government and creates and organizes offices and officials with separate executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial functions.
- The new organizational structure required by Measure 26-228, adds positions, offices, and bureaus to carryout City business.
- This code amendment aligns with these changes, for example, by setting the same transparency expectations for the City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, Deputy City Administrators and the Equity and Sustainability Officers as those currently held by bureau directors.
- This code amendment also aligns post-employment prohibitions with the Mayor/Council form of government by maintaining parallel requirements along new legislative and administrative lines.
- This legislation will also provide clarity for regulated entities, City officials, and the Auditor’s duties in carrying out provisions of the chapter. Such amendments include adding clear legal language, adding specificity for lobbying thresholds and gift limits, adding definitions of business days, codifying the Office’s ability to issue warnings in lieu of monetary penalties, and providing descriptions of state law.
- This legislation will modernize language to reflect gender neutrality, formalize City procedures for safety exemptions, and streamline code provisions to reflect current practice.
- This legislation does not change the substance of required disclosures nor does it alter requirements for entities such as neighborhood associations, who are formally recognized by the City and comply with state public record and meeting laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- Portland City Code Chapter 2.12 is amended as shown in Exhibit A.
- This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2025.
Official Record (Efiles)
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
Portland City Code Title 2.12 establishes the City’s lobbying regulations which require City officials and lobbying entities to report activities in order to improve City transparency, preserve integrity of decision-making, and inform the public of efforts to influence City officials.
Portland Measure 26-228, alongside subsequent legislation, shifts the City to a Mayor/Council form of government and creates and organizes offices and officials with separate executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial functions. The new organizational structure required by Measure 26-228, also adds new positions, offices, and bureaus to carryout City business.
This code amendment aligns the lobbying code with these changes, for example, by setting the same transparency expectations for the City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, Deputy City Administrators and the Equity and Sustainability Officers as those currently held by bureau directors.
This code amendment does not change the substance of required disclosures for either lobbying entities or City Officials, but does update the list of City Officials who will have calendar reporting requirements. Lobbying entities will also be required to report communications or meetings with, or money spent lobbying, this updated list of City Officials.
This code amendment also:
- Aligns post-employment prohibitions with the Mayor/Council form of government by maintaining parallel requirements along new legislative and administrative lines;
- Adds clearer legal language and adds specificity for lobbying thresholds and gift limits;
- Codifies the Office’s ability to issue warnings in lieu of monetary penalties;
- Modernizes language to reflect gender neutrality;
- Formalizes City procedures for safety exemptions, and
- Maintains the status quo for neighborhood associations.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
No impacts.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
This legislation will promote transparency in the Mayor-Council form of government.
100% Renewable Goal
This action does not affect the City’s total energy use or the City’s renewable energy use.
Financial and Budget Analysis
No fiscal impact. This code amendment aligns the lobbying code with the changes from Measure 26-228 that shifts the City to a Mayor/Council form of government and add new positions, offices, and bureaus, for example, by setting the same transparency expectations for the City Administrator, Assistant City Administrator, Deputy City Administrators and the Equity and Sustainability Officers as those currently held by bureau directors. This code amendment does not change the substance of required disclosures for either lobbying entities or City Officials, but does update the list of City Officials who will have calendar reporting requirements. Lobbying entities will also be required to report communications or meetings with, or money spent lobbying, this updated list of City Officials.