During Wednesday's evening session, Jan 16 2025, Portland City Council voted to establish committees as a key element of the city’s new government structure. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney introduced a resolution that outlines each committee's focus, membership, and leadership.
The new council committees will consider, develop and recommend legislation in their topic area. Committees will publicly and actively deliberate and will be the primary place to promote public engagement and input on proposals and policy under consideration.
Committees will provide oversight to City bureaus and programs, and will ensure that they are best serving the needs of community members and meeting their established goals, as directed by Council.
You can find more information about the committees below.
Matters related to transportation and utilities; ratepayer-funded programs; and other infrastructure needs, programs, policies, and Bureaus.
Members:
- Councilor Olivia Clark, Chair
- Councilor Angelita Morillo, Vice Chair
- Councilor Loretta Smith
- Councilor Mitch Green
- Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane
Housing investments, permitting, and the continuum of housing supports; sheltering and the City’s role in homeless services; and the needs, programs, policies, and Bureaus addressing housing, homelessness, and homeownership.
Members:
- Councilor Candace Avalos, Chair
- Councilor Jamie Dunphy, Vice Chair
- Councilor Angelita Morillo
- Councilor Dan Ryan
- Councilor Eric Zimmerman
Zoning and other land use decisions; parks, urban forestry, and open space; climate change prevention and mitigation; community resilience; superfund cleanup; and the needs, programs, policies, and Bureaus addressing zoning, environmental justice, and the use of land within the City.
Members:
- Councilor Steve Novick, Co-Chair
- Councilor Angelita Morillo, Co-Chair
- Councilor Candace Avalos
- Councilor Dan Ryan
- Councilor Sameer Kanal
Includes community safety and violence prevention programs; all law enforcement officers of the city; Fire, BOEC, Portland Street Response and other crisis response systems; and the programs, policies, and Bureaus addressing community and public safety needs.
Members:
- Councilor Steve Novick, Co-Chair
- Councilor Sameer Kanal, Co-Chair
- Councilor Angelita Morillo
- Councilor Eric Zimmerman
- Councilor Loretta Smith
Prosper Portland, TIFF districts, Venture Portland, and the Small Business Hub; economic development, tourism, and sports; the RACC, arts and culture, and music; recreational programing including programs within Portland Parks and Recreation; and the needs, programs, policies, and Bureaus addressing Portland’s arts, economy, and business sectors.
Members:
- Councilor Mitch Green, Co-Chair
- Councilor Dan Ryan, Co-Chair
- Councilor Jamie Dunphy
- Councilor Loretta Smith
- Councilor Olivia Clark
Internal and external investments in internships, apprenticeship, and job training programs; apprenticeship and workforce utilization goals; workforce and workplace policies and worker protections; labor policies.
Members:
- Councilor Loretta Smith, Chair
- Councilor Mitch Green, Vice Chair
- Councilor Jamie Dunphy
- Councilor Steve Novick
- Councilor Sameer Kanal
Serves as a subcommittee of the Council in its capacity as Budget Committee in order to make recommendations to the Council on budget amendments and adoption; reviews other financial and investment policies and structures of the City; and oversees the Bureaus addressing the City’s financial systems.
Members:
- Councilor Eric Zimmerman, Chair
- Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Vice Chair
- Councilor Candace Avalos
- Councilor Mitch Green
- Councilor Steve Novick
Internal operational support and recommendations; review executive appointments, auditor reports that are not related to policy committee areas, and periodically review Council rules and procedures; reviews other non-policy needs including overseeing the administrative functions of the City.
Members:
- Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane, Chair
- Councilor Dan Ryan, Vice Chair
- Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney
- Councilor Jamie Dunphy
- Councilor Olivia Clark