37663

WHEREAS, the Rose Quarter is the premiere event complex in Oregon, encompassing the Moda Center and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, hosting over 260 events and attracting more than 1.7 million people to Portland’s Central City each year; and 

WHEREAS, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) have been a City treasure since 1970, providing civic pride, identity, joy, and meaningful economic activity to the City of Portland, metropolitan region, and state of Oregon; and 

WHEREAS, the City of Portland and Oregon Arena Corporation entered into multiple foundational agreements in the early 1990s leading to the development of the Rose Quarter as we now know it including privately-funded construction of the Rose Garden Arena (now Moda Center), an entertainment/office building and two parking structures, and publicly-funded development of two additional parking structures, a public plaza, several new streets and other necessary infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Rip City Management LLC is the successor entity to Oregon Arena Corporation and operates both the Moda Center and the Veterans Memorial Coliseum today; and

WHEREAS, the Arena Ground Lease is one agreement that became effective when the new arena opened on October 12, 1995 for a term of 30 years and expires, unless extended, on October 11, 2025; and 

WHEREAS, the combined economic impact of Rose Quarter events is over $600 million in annual economic output each year, supporting nearly 6,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, it is critically important to Portland, the metropolitan region, and the state of Oregon that the successful operation of the arenas at the Rose Quarter continue and the Moda Center remains the home court for the Portland Trail Blazers; and

WHEREAS, the Moda Center is nearing thirty years old, is the oldest NBA arena yet to undergo a comprehensive renovation, and will need significant reinvestment to remain competitive in the league; and 

WHEREAS, dynamic, state of the art signage, including video boards, is an important revenue stream for modern NBA arenas elsewhere in the country and can be a positive addition to entertainment and event complexes allowing the excitement of the event atmosphere to flow into the pedestrian areas surrounding the arena, support community events and connection to teams when playing away games; and

WHEREAS, the City and Rip City Management LLC have been working in good faith to develop the framework for a long-term agreement that would fund a major renovation of the Moda Center and keep the team in Portland long term; and 

WHEREAS, on February 28, 2024 the City and Rip City Management agreed in principle to enter into a five-year bridge agreement with a possible five-year extension that will transfer the Moda Center arena into public ownership, allow the City to reinvest certain revenues generated by Portland Trail Blazers home games into sustaining improvements to the arena, provide time for the parties to secure additional commitments necessary for a long-term agreement and major renovation, and ensure that Oregon’s favorite basketball team plays at Moda Center until at least 2030; and

WHEREAS, the non-binding term sheet for a five-year bridge agreement, approved by City Council Resolution No. 37654 on February 28, 2024 included a City commitment to initiate a City Code Title 32 text amendment review process to expand signage opportunities in the Rose Quarter; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Development Services generally maintains and amends Title 32, Signs and Related Regulations per a Memorandum of Understanding, while the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is the City agency responsible for updating and implementing Title 33, Planning and Zoning; and

WHEREAS the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has offered to lead a project involving potential amendments to the applicable land use regulations within Title 32. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Portland City Council affirms its support for the proposed five-year bridge agreement to keep the Portland Trail Blazers playing at the Moda Center until at least 2030, including the commitment to increase flexibility regarding signage at the Rose Quarter; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Portland City Council directs the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to work with the Bureau of Development Services and the Office of Management and Finance to prepare amendments to City Code Title 32 establishing appropriate regulatory pathways, and reducing or eliminating the need for an adjustment or modification, to allow signage of the size and type necessary to meet the needs of a 21^st Century multipurpose NBA arena at the Rose Quarter while also recognizing City goals and policies intended to ensure a safe, sustainable and pleasant urban environment; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that following a standard legislative process and appropriate opportunities for public input, the Portland City Council desires to receive a recommendation for consideration from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Portland Planning Commission as soon as reasonably possible and not later than November 20, 2024.