For information on deadlines, signature requirements, and how to submit a petition for a referendum, initiative, or recall, visit "File Petitions to Place Measures on the Ballot."
Petitions
PDX23OL-03 – City of Portland Participatory Budgeting
Prospective Petition Filed: November 21, 2023
Intended Election Date: November 5, 2024
Chief Petitioners:
- Jim Labbe, 6025 N. Vancouver Ave. Unit B, Portland, OR 97217
- Danny Cage, 8531 NE Knott St. Unit B, Portland, OR 97220
- Elona Wilson, 1505 SW Pendleton St., Portland, OR 97239
History:
- November 21, 2023: Prospective initiative petition filed. Constitutional review period began (determination must be completed and chief petitioner notified of determination outcome within 5 business days, or November 30, 2023).
- November 30, 2023: Constitutional review completed; chief petitioners notified of determination on December 1, 2023. Prospective initiative petition determined to meet the requirements of Article IV, Section 1(2)(D) and (5) of the Oregon Constitution.
- December 1, 2023: Ballot Title request was sent to the City Attorney's Office (The Ballot Title must be filed with the Elections Officer within 5 business days, or December 8, 2023).
Current Status: Passed Constitutionality Review
Relevant Documents:
PDX23OL-02 – Participatory Budgeting for Portland (Withdrawn)
Prospective Petition Filed: November 16, 2023
Intended Election Date: November 5, 2024
Chief Petitioners:
- Jim Labbe, 6025 N. Vancouver Ave. Unit B, Portland, OR 97217
- Danny Cage, 8531 NE Knott St. Unit B, Portland, OR 97220
- Elona Wilson, 1505 SW Pendleton St., Portland, OR 97239
History:
- November 16, 2023: Prospective initiative petition filed. Constitutional review period began (determination must be completed and chief petitioner notified of determination outcome within 5 business days, or November 27, 2023).
- November 21, 2023: Prospective initiative petition withdrawn.
Current Status: Withdrawn.
Relevant Documents:
PDX23OL-01 – Portland Participatory Budgeting
Prospective Petition Filed: July 27, 2023
Intended Election Date: November 5, 2024
Chief Petitioners:
- Jim Labbe, 6025 N. Vancouver Ave. Unit B, Portland, OR 97217
- Danny Cage, 8531 NE Knott St. Unit B, Portland, OR 97220
- Elona Wilson, 1505 SW Pendleton St., Portland, OR 97239
History:
- July 27, 2023: Prospective initiative petition filed. Constitutional review period began (determination must be completed and chief petitioner notified of determination outcome within 5 business days, or August 3, 2023).
- August 3, 2023: Constitutional review completed and chief petitioner notified of determination. Prospective initiative petition determined to meet the requirements of Article IV, Section 1(2)(D) and (5) of the Oregon Constitution.
- August 3, 2023: Ballot Title request was sent to the City Attorney's Office (The Ballot Title must be filed with the Elections Officer within 5 business days, or August 10, 2023).
- August 10, 2023: City Attorney's Office filed the ballot title with the Elections Officer. Portland electors dissatisfied with the ballot title language may file a legal challenge in Multnomah County Circuit Court through August 21, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
- October 17, 2023: Prospective initiative petition cover sheet and signature sheets approved for circulation (signature gathering).
Current Status: Approved for Circulation.
Relevant Documents:
Measures
Charter Commission Referred Measures
- December 22, 2022: The Portland Charter Commission gave the Auditor’s Office official notice of five measures to be brought forward to Portland voters in the November 2024 election.
- January 19, 2023: As required by City Code 2.04.110, the Auditor brought the 5 measures to City Council.
- January 27 & January 30, 2023: The City Attorney’s Office gave the Elections Officer the final ballot title and explanatory statement for each measure.
- February 1, 2023: Measures 1-4 were posted in the Oregonian for public circulation.
- February 3, 2023: Measure 5 was posted in the Oregonian for public circulation.
If an elector (a Portland voter) is dissatisfied with the ballot title, they may file a petition for review of any of the measures with the Multnomah County Circuit Court. This review through the Circuit Court must be filled within 7 business days from the date of posting in the newspaper. This is known as the challenge period (OSR 250.296).
The five measures are as follows:
Measure 1 - Amends Charter: Removes citywide vote requirement for mandatory building weatherization.
Ballot Title
CAPTION
Amends Charter: Removes citywide vote requirement for mandatory building weatherization.
QUESTION
Shall Charter be amended to allow City to mandate weatherization of structures built before 1979 without a citywide vote?
SUMMARY
The Charter Commission proposed a measure to delete Charter Section 1-108 and allow the City to mandate weatherization of pre-1979 structures without a citywide vote.
Currently, the City cannot mandate weatherization for any structure built before September 1, 1979, unless Council refers the weatherization mandate to voters. This limit was added to the Charter in 1980 through a vote on an initiative petition.
If the measure is approved, the City would be able to mandate building weatherization without referring the mandate to voters.
The City Budget Office determined the measure has no direct financial impact.
Explanatory Statement
The volunteer Charter Commission recommended amending the City Charter to remove the citywide vote requirement for mandatory building weatherization.
Currently, the City cannot mandate weatherization for any structure built before September 1, 1979, unless the City Council refers the weatherization mandate to the voters. This limit was added to the Charter in 1980 through an initiative petition.
Under the Commission’s recommendation, Charter Section 1-108 would be deleted in its entirety. Deletion of the citywide vote requirement would allow the City to more efficiently require energy-efficient weatherization of buildings within the City.
Measure 2 - Amends Charter: Adds Independent Portland Elections Commission.
Ballot Title
CAPTION
Amends Charter: Adds Independent Portland Elections Commission.
QUESTION
Shall Charter be amended to add Independent Portland Elections Commission to oversee public financing of elections, other election-related programs?
SUMMARY
The Charter Commission proposed a measure to add the Independent Portland Elections Commission to Chapter 3 of the Charter.
Currently, an Elections Commission is established by code, which can be amended by City Council. If the measure passes, the Elections Commission would be added to the Charter, which means the Election Commission provisions can only be amended by an affirmative vote of a majority of voters.
The Elections Commission will continue to be responsible for implementing the City’s public financing of elections as provided by ordinance and, if the measure passes, any other election or campaign finance-related law or program delegated by the Council or Auditor.
The Elections Commission will continue to consist of nine City residents appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. Under the measure, the Elections Commission will notify the Mayor and Council of funds required for the public financing of elections program and other duties. The Council continues to determine the Elections Commission’s budget. Other provisions.
The City Budget Office determined the measure has no direct financial impact.
Explanatory Statement
The volunteer Charter Commission recommended amending the City Charter to add the Independent Portland Elections Commission.
Currently, the Independent Portland Elections Commission is established by code, which can be amended by City Council.
Under the Commission’s recommendation, the Independent Portland Elections Commission would be added to the Charter, which can only be amended by an affirmative vote of a majority of voters. Currently, the Elections Commission only implements the City’s public financing of elections program. Under the Commission’s recommendation, the Elections Commission would also be able to implement any other election or campaign finance-related law or program delegated to the Commission by the Council or Auditor. The Elections Commission will continue to consist of nine City residents appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. City Council will continue to determine and provide the Election Commission’s budget.
Measure 3 - Amends Charter: Deletes outdated, redundant requirements to approve utility franchises.
Ballot Title
CAPTION
Amends Charter: Deletes outdated, redundant requirements to approve utility franchises.
QUESTION
Shall Charter be amended to streamline Council approval of utility franchise agreements and remove outdated, burdensome and redundant requirements?
SUMMARY
The Charter Commission proposed a measure to streamline the approval of franchise agreements, which authorize a utility to use City streets to provide residents with utility services.
Currently, City Council must approve franchises using a lengthy and outdated process described in Chapter 10, Article 2 of the Charter.
If the measure is approved, the following requirements would be deleted:
- Redundant filing with Auditor
- Objection process
- Publication of lengthy franchise in newspaper
- Extended time between reading of ordinance to approve franchise
- Extended effective date
- Written acceptance by franchisee
Instead, Council would grant franchises by ordinance, in accordance with standard ordinance publication, public testimony, adoption and effective date provisions in Charter and code. Other provisions.
The City Budget Office determined the measure has no direct financial impact.
Explanatory Statement
The volunteer Charter Commission recommended amending the City Charter to streamline Council approval of utility franchise agreements by removing outdated, burdensome and redundant requirements. A utility franchise agreement authorizes a utility to use City streets to provide residents with utility services.
Currently, Chapter 10, Article 2 of the Charter requires City Council to use a lengthy and outdated process that can take over six months to complete. For example, the entire franchise – which can run 25 pages or longer – must be published in the newspaper.
Under the Commission’s recommendation, outdated and redundant requirements specific to franchise agreements would be deleted. Instead, Council would grant franchises using its standard ordinance process. The standard process includes ordinance publication, public testimony, and adoption and effective date provisions located in Charter and code.
Measure 4 - Amends Charter: Deletes vague, archaic and inconsistent language.
Ballot Title
CAPTION
Amends Charter: Deletes vague, archaic and inconsistent language.
QUESTION
Shall Charter be amended to delete vague, archaic language and use a consistent definition of “protected classes”?
SUMMARY
The Charter Commission proposed a measure to delete vague, archaic and inconsistent language in the Charter.
If the measure passes, the following language in the Charter would be amended:
- Delete Charter Section 2-105(a)(50) to remove vague, archaic language to “prohibit persons from roaming the streets at unseasonable hours”. Deleting this section of the City’s specific powers would not impair the City’s general powers and authority to protect and support public health and safety.
- Delete vague, archaic language to regulate “offensive” businesses in Charter Section 2-105(a)(36). City would retain authority to regulate businesses that create or constitute a nuisance.
- Use consistent language to define “protected classes” as those classes protected “under local ordinance, or state or federal law” in Charter Chapters 2, 4 and 12.
- Replace “disability” with “incapacity” in Charter Chapter 2 to reflect the fact that disabled residents may serve as City officials.
The City Budget Office determined the measure has no direct financial impact.
Explanatory Statement
The volunteer Charter Commission recommended amending the City Charter to delete vague, archaic and inconsistent language.
Currently, Charter Section 2-105(a)(50) lists as one of the City’s specific powers the right to “prohibit persons from roaming the streets at unseasonable hours”. Under the Commission’s recommendation, this vague and archaic language would be deleted. Deleting this section of the City‘s specific powers would not impair the City’s general powers and authority to protect and support public health and safety.
Currently, Charter Section 2-105(a)(36) authorizes the City to regulate “businesses which are offensive or may create or constitute a nuisance. . .” Under the Commission’s recommendation, the vague term “offensive” would be deleted and the City would retain authority to regulate businesses that create or constitute a nuisance.
Currently, Charter Chapters 2, 4 and 12 define “protected classes”, but the definitions have small inconsistencies. Under the Commission’s recommendation, a consistent definition of “protected classes” – those classes protected “under local ordinance, or state or federal law” – would be used throughout the Charter.
Currently, the term “disability” is used in Charter Chapter 2 to describe when a City official may be unable to perform official duties. Under the Commission’s recommendation, the term “disability” would be replaced with “incapacity” to reflect the fact that disabled residents may serve as City officials.
Measure 5 - Amends Charter: Updates authority to manage parks, sewers and stormwaters.
Ballot Title
CAPTION
Amends Charter: Updates authority to manage parks, sewers and stormwaters.
QUESTION
Shall Charter be amended to update City authority regarding recreational and natural areas (defined), sewers and stormwaters?
SUMMARY
Charter Commission proposed measure to update City authority, last amended in 1966, to manage recreational and natural areas, sewers and stormwaters.
If measure passes:
- Charter Section 12-101, describing parks management, would add “recreational and natural areas” as defined term to mean parks, playgrounds, forests, wetlands and human-built, natural facilities. Remaining language would be streamlined.
- A section would be added to City’s specific powers in Charter Section 2-105(a) clarifying that City may perform sewer, stormwater management – including protecting, restoring, remediating, altering, improving, expanding, filling, grading, or managing flow –in channels, riparian areas, floodplains, waterfronts, lakes, ponds, wetlands, other waters, natural systems, constructed equivalents.
- Charter Section 11-301 would be amended to clarify that storm drainage may use natural systems, constructed equivalents.
- Charter Section 11-302 would be amended to streamline language, last updated in 1970, related to service charges deposited into Sewage Disposal Fund. Charter will continue to require Council to spend Fund only on uses “reasonably related” to sewage, stormwater conveyance, disposal and purification.
Other provisions.
City Budget Office determined measure has no direct financial impact.
Explanatory Statement
The volunteer Charter Commission recommended amending the City Charter to update the City’s authority to protect and manage parks and to manage sewers and stormwaters. Descriptions of the City’s roles were last updated in 1966.
Currently, the City’s role to protect and manage parks is described in Charter Section 12-101.
Under the Commission’s recommendation, Charter Section 12-101 would be amended to define “recreational and natural areas” as parks, playgrounds, forests, wetlands and human-built or natural facilities. The remaining language would be streamlined to increase readability.
Currently, the City’s sewer and stormwater management role is described in Charter Section 11-301 and Section 11-302 describes the City’s process, last amended in 1970, to fix, collect and deposit service charges into the Sewage Disposal Fund.
Under the Commission’s recommendation, a new section would be added to the City’s specific powers in Charter Section 2-105(a) to clarify that the City may perform sewer and stormwater management – including protecting, restoring, remediating, altering, improving, expanding, filling, grading, or managing flow – in channels, riparian areas, floodplains, waterfronts, lakes, ponds, wetlands and other waters, natural systems or constructed equivalents. Existing Charter Section 11-301 would be amended to clarify that storm drainage may include the use of natural systems or constructed equivalents. Existing Charter Section 11-302 would be amended to streamline language related to service charges. The Charter will continue to require City Council to spend all charges deposited into the Sewage Disposal Fund on uses “reasonably related” to sewage and stormwater conveyance, disposal and purification.