Independent District Commission February 2023 Update
Dear Community Members,
We are so excited to begin sharing updates with you all about the Independent District Commission. We will begin to regularly share news, progress, engagement opportunities and more as the District Commission embarks on this journey.
What’s the Independent District Commission?
The Independent District Commission (IDC) is charged with preparing and adopting a plan to divide Portland into four districts for the election of city councilors. As its name suggests, the IDC is an independent body authorized and responsible for preparing and adopting a district plan by September 1, 2023. The District Commission is required to prepare and adopt the district plan using the voter-approved district criteria, and any additional criteria the Commission establishes. The District Commission is also responsible for:
- Holding a citywide public hearing early in the process to engage Portlanders on district criteria
- Holding at least two public hearings in each proposed district before voting to adopt a district plan
- Ensuring district maps are consistent with state and federal laws and criteria
The Commission requires that 9 of its 13 members approve the district plan to be adopted, if fewer than 9 approve, the most recent plan is sent to City Council for consideration. If the District Commission approves the plan, no further action is needed.
What's happened & what's next?
In January 2023, members were appointed to the District Commission. 13 members, 3 alternates, and 3 reserve alternates were appointed by the mayor and approved by city council. Here you can meet and learn more about the Independent District Commission members.
The District Commission held its first meeting on February 15 and begun discussing district criteria. The Commission is working with technical consultants, Flo Analytics and Redistricting Partners, to prepare and adopt a plan to divide Portland into four districts. The Commission and has a scheduled a series of meetings through September. Below are a few key milestones coming up:
- March 2023 — release draft district criteria for community input & hold public hearing
- April 2023 — deliberate on input received & vote on draft district plan criteria
- May 2023 — deliberate & vote on district plan
- June 2023 — release district plan for community input & notice public hearings
- July 2023 — hold eight public hearings, two in each proposed district
- August 2023 — deliberations & vote district plan
- September 2023 — District Commissioners term end
How to engage with the Independent District Commission
There are many ways to engage with the Independent District Commission. We hope you stay engaged in this process and help us engage your fellow Portlanders.
Submit public comments
The District Commission wants to hear from you! All public comments are shared with the Commission in advance of public meetings. We ask that you please submit your public comments by 8:00am two-business days before the public meeting. Public comments can be submitted in any language. Here are all the different ways you can submit public comments:
- By using our online public comment form
- By calling 3-1-1 and sharing your comments verbally
- By emailing DistrictCommission@portlandoregon.gov
- By sending written mailed comments to Office of Management and Finance, Independent District Commission, 1120 S 5thAvenue, Room 901, Portland, OR 97204
Join a meeting
All the Commission meetings are open to the public and hosted via Zoom. Community members have the opportunity to follow along with the Commission's work and join the meetings virtually and engage using the Zoom Q&A feature. The Commission has the following meetings coming up:
- Monday, February 27 — Community Engagement Workgroup- TODAY
- Wednesday, March 1 —Independent District Commission work session
- Monday, March 13, Independent District Commission meeting w/ public comment
Sign-up for email updates
Share this email with family and friends so they can sign-up for email updates and stay up to date with the Commission's work!
Sign-up to give verbal testimony
The Independent District Commission will take verbal testimony at Commission meetings. You will have the opportunity to sign-up online ahead of time. If you don't sign up ahead of time and there is time left on the agenda item, testimony will be open to the public. Be on the lookout for future verbal testimony opportunities of the Commission's website!