WEBVTT 1 00:06:29.887 --> 00:06:30.901 Good evening. 2 00:06:31.096 --> 00:06:37.737 I'm calling to order the Wednesday, February 18th evening meeting of the City Council. 3 00:06:39.723 --> 00:06:41.463 Can we please call attendance? 4 00:06:41.817 --> 00:06:42.187 Call the roll. 5 00:06:42.283 --> 00:06:42.911 Good evening. 6 00:06:43.331 --> 00:06:43.637 Avalos? 7 00:06:43.990 --> 00:06:44.297 Present. 8 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:44.860 Here. 9 00:06:46.976 --> 00:06:47.105 Here. 10 00:06:47.701 --> 00:06:48.394 Here. 11 00:06:48.524 --> 00:06:49.442 Here. 12 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:50.795 Here. 13 00:06:51.182 --> 00:06:56.403 Novick. 14 00:06:58.351 --> 00:06:58.610 Clark. 15 00:06:58.836 --> 00:06:59.014 Here. 16 00:06:59.869 --> 00:07:00.336 Oh, sorry. 17 00:07:00.612 --> 00:07:01.805 Thank you, Councilor Novick. 18 00:07:02.225 --> 00:07:02.483 Clark. 19 00:07:02.790 --> 00:07:02.968 Here. 20 00:07:04.146 --> 00:07:04.372 Green. 21 00:07:05.612 --> 00:07:05.725 Here. 22 00:07:06.512 --> 00:07:07.026 Zimmerman. 23 00:07:08.023 --> 00:07:10.192 Dunphy. 24 00:07:10.432 --> 00:07:10.771 Here. 25 00:07:12.505 --> 00:07:14.706 And would our city attorney please read the rules of decorum? 26 00:07:16.367 --> 00:07:17.257 Thank you, Council President. 27 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:18.810 Welcome to the Portland City Council. 28 00:07:19.119 --> 00:07:26.132 To testify before council in person or virtually, you must sign up in advance on the council agenda at www.portland.gov/council/agenda. 29 00:07:28.776 --> 00:07:31.992 Information on engaging with council can be found on the council clerk's webpage. 30 00:07:32.428 --> 00:07:36.357 Individuals may testify for 3 minutes unless the presiding officer states otherwise. 31 00:07:37.115 --> 00:07:39.221 Your microphone will be muted when your time is over. 32 00:07:40.017 --> 00:07:41.870 The presiding officer preserves order. 33 00:07:42.083 --> 00:07:49.697 Disruptive conduct such as shouting, refusing to conclude your testimony when your time is up, Or interrupting others' testimony or council deliberations will not be allowed. 34 00:07:50.468 --> 00:07:52.538 If you cause a disruption, a warning will be given. 35 00:07:53.050 --> 00:07:55.185 Further disruption will result in ejection from the meeting. 36 00:07:55.923 --> 00:07:58.956 Anyone who fails to leave once ejected is subject to arrest for trespass. 37 00:07:59.630 --> 00:08:02.615 Additionally, council may take a short recess and reconvene virtually. 38 00:08:03.466 --> 00:08:05.745 Your testimony should address the matter being considered. 39 00:08:06.209 --> 00:08:08.151 When testifying, state your name for the record. 40 00:08:08.216 --> 00:08:09.949 Your address is not necessary. 41 00:08:10.447 --> 00:08:13.095 If you are a lobbyist, identify the organization you represent. 42 00:08:13.142 --> 00:08:13.319 Thank you. 43 00:08:13.834 --> 00:08:17.028 Virtual testifiers should unmute themselves when the councilor calls your name. 44 00:08:17.528 --> 00:08:17.867 Thank you. 45 00:08:18.351 --> 00:08:18.899 Thank you. 46 00:08:20.110 --> 00:08:22.901 Colleagues, our first item is approval of the agenda. 47 00:08:22.949 --> 00:08:26.012 Are there any requests to amend the agenda for tonight? 48 00:08:28.220 --> 00:08:28.382 Seeing—. 49 00:08:29.372 --> 00:08:33.826 Looking at Zoom— seeing nobody— oh, Councilor Smith. 50 00:08:37.301 --> 00:08:46.552 I would like to move The Smith 1 amendment second under the resolution. 51 00:08:47.475 --> 00:08:49.984 Are you asking to move the resolution to the front of the agenda? 52 00:08:50.611 --> 00:09:00.897 No, I'm asking to move the ordinance under the resolution and put, um, put the Zimmerman ordinance behind it. 53 00:09:02.587 --> 00:09:04.702 My, uh, yeah, okay. 54 00:09:05.813 --> 00:09:14.033 My intention is to call items 5, 6, and 7 together as one item, and they are posted online as one item at this time. 55 00:09:14.933 --> 00:09:16.753 And we will move to the Smith Amendment at the top. 56 00:09:17.219 --> 00:09:20.229 Oh, I thought they were noted as 3 separate items. 57 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:26.376 They're, they're, they're listed as 3 separate items but are being called as one item forward so we can take testimony all at once. 58 00:09:34.988 --> 00:09:41.043 Sorry, any other, uh, concerns about the agenda this evening? 59 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:47.988 Okay, then, uh, without objection, the agenda is approved. 60 00:09:51.009 --> 00:09:52.426 Keelan, can we please move to public communications? 61 00:09:56.470 --> 00:09:58.312 First up, we have Isabella Shepherd. 62 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:02.270 Great. 63 00:10:02.336 --> 00:10:02.448 Welcome. 64 00:10:02.820 --> 00:10:03.029 Please—. 65 00:10:03.143 --> 00:10:04.969 Half of the public is still caught outside. 66 00:10:05.567 --> 00:10:11.027 Please say your name for the record and your pronouns, and you have 3 minutes or 5 minutes. 67 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:14.173 Yeah, this is Isabella Shepherd, she/her. 68 00:10:15.828 --> 00:10:18.961 Elijah is second on public comment. 69 00:10:19.764 --> 00:10:20.649 He was stuck out there. 70 00:10:20.874 --> 00:10:21.905 Okay, I guess we're starting. 71 00:10:22.408 --> 00:10:27.818 Whenever we come to City Council asking you to shut down the Portland Ice facility, you respond saying it's out of your hands. 72 00:10:28.256 --> 00:10:32.017 You already issued a land use violation and it's with Portland Permitting and Development. 73 00:10:32.370 --> 00:10:40.115 We went to Permitting and Development and they said they have no power over the situation either, that they just do inspections and that City Council are the ones with the power. 74 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:46.238 Each of you are passing the buck on to anyone else, trying to get the heat off yourselves and make excuses for inaction. 75 00:10:46.735 --> 00:10:53.227 You're both right though, they could start the reconsideration for ICE's conditional permit, but you could shut down the ICE facility yourselves. 76 00:10:53.292 --> 00:10:53.548 Councilor Smith. 77 00:10:53.966 --> 00:11:25.047 Per city charter, city has the— city council has the abilities to prevent the erection or cause the removal of buildings found to be unsafe to passersby or to other property, to restrain and exclude from the city businesses which may create a nuisance, and regulate the uses of land and structures within the city, to prevent and remove nuisances, to declare what shall constitute one, to punish persons committing nuisances, to provide the manner of removal of nuisances, and to make the cost of such removal a lien upon the property. 78 00:11:25.736 --> 00:11:35.822 A land use violation aside, you have the power to shut down the ICE facility, make its landlord Stuart Lindequist pay for it, and ban ever leasing to ICE again. 79 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:39.028 You can investigate any department of the city. 80 00:11:39.140 --> 00:11:45.778 You say it's in Permitting and Development's hands, so why don't you investigate them for allowing ICE to delay the violation for 5 months? 81 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:53.394 Obviously, you know what your own powers are, but I want the public to know that you are deliberately refusing to protect them from ICE. 82 00:11:53.523 --> 00:12:06.193 Councilmember At the end of January, DHS released a massive attack on thousands of protesters, including children, burying the neighborhood in chemicals and poisoning the air so the effects were felt for miles. 83 00:12:06.613 --> 00:12:09.931 The next day, they did the same attack on our protests of thousands. 84 00:12:10.317 --> 00:12:15.831 One of the tear gas canisters fell at my feet, spewing flames so hot it melted my pants. 85 00:12:16.384 --> 00:12:17.813 I set me on fire. 86 00:12:18.511 --> 00:12:19.582 They set me on fire. 87 00:12:19.631 --> 00:12:19.794 Order. 88 00:12:22.010 --> 00:12:22.427 Nothing. 89 00:12:22.475 --> 00:12:31.019 It was only after a federal judge's ruling, not your empty threats of a minuscule fine, that DHS has temporarily stopped using chemical weapons. 90 00:12:31.437 --> 00:12:34.145 You're not treating this like the emergency that it is. 91 00:12:34.562 --> 00:12:38.409 That's why we disrupt your meetings and started protesting at Mayor Wilson's house. 92 00:12:38.971 --> 00:12:39.820 It's why we're here now. 93 00:12:39.948 --> 00:12:41.438 You have to fucking do something. 94 00:12:41.855 --> 00:12:42.240 Thank you. 95 00:12:49.166 --> 00:12:50.336 No, I have 30 seconds. 96 00:12:51.794 --> 00:13:06.254 Elijah, Elijah was waiting out there for me because I stopped in the disabled parking spot for 2 minutes because no other spots were open and people were pepper sprayed by Tommy out there who's still out there. 97 00:13:06.624 --> 00:13:07.441 He wasn't pulled over. 98 00:13:07.505 --> 00:13:09.413 He wasn't harassed by the cops like I was. 99 00:13:13.212 --> 00:13:13.870 Okay, he's here. 100 00:13:14.654 --> 00:13:18.630 Trespass people from the building just for standing up against ICE. 101 00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:19.880 Shame on you. 102 00:13:20.105 --> 00:13:23.727 Next up, next up we have Elijah Tahir. 103 00:13:24.256 --> 00:13:25.027 Uh, Tahir. 104 00:13:26.260 --> 00:13:30.011 Uh, please go ahead and introduce yourself for the record, your pronouns, and go ahead. 105 00:13:30.365 --> 00:13:31.423 My name is Elijah Tahir. 106 00:13:31.503 --> 00:13:33.361 I'm here to speak about revoking the ICE permit. 107 00:13:34.436 --> 00:13:45.177 Uh, to clarify how much that you, the members of City Council, have clearly deprioritized the ongoing threat of ICE, it's important to highlight what actions hold greater precedence according to Portland City Council. 108 00:13:45.754 --> 00:14:18.408 In spite of the fact that now literally thousands of people have been exposed to and attacked with chemical weapons, Council President Jamie Dunphy and Councilman Mitch Green have made foie gras their key issue, choosing to spend more time on duck liver than the flagrant disregard and abuse of human rights, with fines up to $5,000 for serving it, that are somehow 6 times the $934 monthly bill that ICE landlord Stuart Lindquist could potentially pay for failing to supply detainment data by March 15th and showing whether ICE has rectified their continued failure to adhere to the continual use— conditional use permit. 109 00:14:19.051 --> 00:14:40.157 Speaking of ICE landlord Stuart Lindquist, when ICE carpet bombed the elementary school next to the facility with chemical weapons, thus making it completely unusable for this current school year, Councilman Mitch Green took it upon himself to have the school relocated to a Lindquist property, directly enabling the person responsible for housing ICE in Portland to further profit from their continued atrocities. 110 00:14:40.798 --> 00:15:01.365 Mind you, ICE's conditional use permit was granted in these very chambers, conditions which were violated from illegally holding people not just beyond the 12-hour limit, but as long as 47 days, and posing an undeniable threat to the surrounding community that was only mitigated with the intervention of a federal judge forcing a temporary hold on the use of chemical weapons. 111 00:15:02.438 --> 00:15:23.759 Recently, Councilman Murillo has stated that somehow, regardless of the violation, somehow Portland City Council lacks the power to hold not just the federal government, but the private landlord that they have been enabling liable to the very permit that they issued under the parameters of Councilwoman Rio's own ordinance to curb the use of tear gas by designating it a nuisance. 112 00:15:24.160 --> 00:15:34.356 The grounds for the outright removal as defined by this city's charter clearly state that this council has the ability and the authority to hold ICE and their benefactor Stuart Lindquist. 113 00:15:34.725 --> 00:15:38.352 Responsible and to have the nuisance that they clearly present to the public removed. 114 00:15:38.914 --> 00:15:50.438 The fact that some of you have the temerity to ride the wave of abolish ICE while you unironically have argued and defended keeping the McAdam ICE facility open for the sake of immigrants might be the worst of your offenses. 115 00:15:51.258 --> 00:16:02.397 I met with Councilwoman Tiffany Koyama Lane's head staffer standing and speaking on her behalf in August, 5 months ago, to discuss revoking the permit, and all I was met with was facile excuses. 116 00:16:02.461 --> 00:16:03.150 Councilwoman Tiffany Koyama Lane. 117 00:16:03.535 --> 00:16:19.078 For how it is somehow in the best interest of immigrants to keep the facility open, even though ICE has violated even federal law with regards to how it treats those detained, ranging from illegally moving people across state borders to denying them any and all access to their legal representation. 118 00:16:19.609 --> 00:16:25.206 I was told that any action taken against the ICE facility could be seen as trying to pick a fight with the federal government. 119 00:16:25.607 --> 00:16:26.361 Well, they're already here. 120 00:16:26.875 --> 00:16:30.788 How many more people are we going to tolerate to be gassed on the street or shot outside hospitals? 121 00:16:30.852 --> 00:16:30.965 Thank you. 122 00:16:31.206 --> 00:16:34.364 Are kidnapped from kindergartens and high schools while you feign impotence. 123 00:16:34.750 --> 00:16:35.878 Revoke the ICE permit. 124 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:39.470 Introduce emergency legislation to shut down the ICE facility now. 125 00:16:47.966 --> 00:16:49.912 Next up, we have Beatriz Ibarra. 126 00:16:59.097 --> 00:16:59.451 Good evening. 127 00:17:00.368 --> 00:17:04.192 Please go ahead and introduce yourself for the record and pronouns, and go ahead, 3 minutes is yours. 128 00:17:05.092 --> 00:17:06.875 Hello, my name is Beatriz Ibarra. 129 00:17:06.971 --> 00:17:08.209 She/her are my pronouns. 130 00:17:09.205 --> 00:17:15.199 My name is Beatriz, and I'm here today representing Portland Contra Deportaciones and Revoke the ICE Permit campaign. 131 00:17:16.211 --> 00:17:22.173 City Council, many of you claim to stand with immigrants, and yet you do nothing to protect them. 132 00:17:22.689 --> 00:17:26.607 You have the ability to shut down the ICE facility and you do nothing about it. 133 00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:35.786 Not only that, but councilors such as Angelita Morillo perpetuated the right-wing narrative that closing down the facility harms immigrants. 134 00:17:36.650 --> 00:17:40.959 This narrative, not only is it false, it's also evil to repeat. 135 00:17:42.801 --> 00:17:50.343 Removing the facility's permit not only revokes— only revokes the right to legally retain people inside the facility. 136 00:17:50.439 --> 00:17:51.229 Councilwoman, you have 2 minutes. 137 00:17:51.516 --> 00:17:56.041 If DHS wanted, they could still have the facility open to do their check-ins. 138 00:17:56.813 --> 00:17:59.042 We also know that there are other options. 139 00:17:59.477 --> 00:18:03.376 During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were doing their check-ins online. 140 00:18:03.730 --> 00:18:06.057 That facility is not necessary. 141 00:18:07.085 --> 00:18:16.906 Revoking the ICE permit would end DHS, ICE, and PBB's ability to use the McAdam Building as the central base for their operations. 142 00:18:17.538 --> 00:18:23.970 The only people who would get harmed by the facility closing are Trump and the regime of terror. 143 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:30.540 The permit allows ICE to operate a center, a detention center, in that facility. 144 00:18:31.282 --> 00:18:37.410 That same permit also requires for detainees to be placed in shackles during transportation. 145 00:18:37.766 --> 00:18:38.057 Shame. 146 00:18:39.144 --> 00:18:50.144 In 2011, when the permit for the ICE facility was under review, there were these racist arguments that having the facility would put the community at risk. 147 00:18:51.236 --> 00:18:57.321 The city agreed with these racist individuals, and they rejected the initial application. 148 00:18:58.478 --> 00:19:07.726 Due to that, ICE had to create a safety plan that requires detainees to be placed in shackles when they're being transported to and from the facility. 149 00:19:07.789 --> 00:19:08.015 Thank you. 150 00:19:09.919 --> 00:19:22.644 To my fellow organizers, if you have been detained near the facility by DHS, all for peaceful protesting, and you get booked and transported, this is why you got placed in shackles. 151 00:19:23.727 --> 00:19:25.877 This permit allows for this to happen. 152 00:19:27.536 --> 00:19:31.909 And this is what happens to every immigrant that gets processed through that facility. 153 00:19:32.493 --> 00:19:42.112 They get placed in shackles as if they were criminals, and they have to wear them the whole time while they get transported to the detention center in Tacoma. 154 00:19:43.236 --> 00:19:55.891 So to be clear, when you all speak out against revoking the permit, or when you advocate for the mayor to enforce the terms of the permit, you speak in favor of immigrants being placed in shackles. 155 00:19:57.047 --> 00:20:00.981 This is why we say the permit must be revoked and permanently removed. 156 00:20:01.303 --> 00:20:03.423 There is no other just solution. 157 00:20:03.953 --> 00:20:04.211 Thank you. 158 00:20:06.911 --> 00:20:10.094 Thank you. 159 00:20:10.625 --> 00:20:13.882 Next up, we have Kuda Baird online. 160 00:20:16.376 --> 00:20:20.923 Hi, is my audio working? 161 00:20:21.392 --> 00:20:21.971 Yeah, go ahead. 162 00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:22.198 There you go. 163 00:20:22.392 --> 00:20:23.826 Go ahead and introduce yourself for the record. 164 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.008 Yeah, I'm Kuda Baird. 165 00:20:26.184 --> 00:20:31.030 Um, I am a renter in, uh, Portland. 166 00:20:31.477 --> 00:20:34.117 And I'd like to thank councilors for holding this session. 167 00:20:34.858 --> 00:20:46.037 Um, the ICE issue is a, is a large issue to me, but today I'm to talk— I'm coming to talk about the, uh, Slow the Inflow, uh, resolution. 168 00:20:46.857 --> 00:20:48.984 Um, so I'm a renter in Portland. 169 00:20:49.113 --> 00:20:50.325 I'm a research chemist. 170 00:20:50.664 --> 00:20:52.298 My partner's going to medical school. 171 00:20:52.913 --> 00:20:58.299 And, uh, currently, I think for everybody in our area, it's incredibly hard to be able to afford rent. 172 00:20:58.413 --> 00:21:11.582 I'm I'm in, I think, one of the higher-paying jobs in the area, and it's, it's just impossible for a lot of people, especially if you're making minimum wage or anything near that. 173 00:21:13.826 --> 00:21:25.561 And I've seen that you guys have looked quite a bit into it, and some of the things that you wanted to put money towards from the found money was in rental assistance and that sort of thing. 174 00:21:25.772 --> 00:21:41.157 But then there was also a section of it that went towards helping build lower-cost housing, which is great depending on how you do it. 175 00:21:41.883 --> 00:21:49.413 But a lot of the solutions seem to be to give money to corporations that are going to be really inefficient in how they spend the money. 176 00:21:49.851 --> 00:21:57.680 And I understand that just helping out with rental assistance in the long run is not a A viable option. 177 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:02.960 You have to work towards— I mean, social housing at some point is kind of the only feasible way to do that. 178 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:14.079 I know that there's a lot of legislation that bars you from being able to do that, but obviously that's kind of the long-term goal and something that could actually help with these issues that a lot of people are having. 179 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:18.559 It's relatively unsustainable right now for everybody paying $2,000 a month. 180 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:20.039 Most people can't afford that. 181 00:22:20.109 --> 00:22:21.559 I, I can't afford that. 182 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:21.599 Thank you. 183 00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:38.070 And I just think that the priority should be towards helping the actual poor and those who are even middle class now who can't afford to rent and especially not buy a house because they can't save any up any money for it. 184 00:22:38.983 --> 00:22:46.324 I'm not sure why that much money went missing or was unaccounted for. 185 00:22:46.596 --> 00:22:51.036 I would hope that there would be a much deeper dive into it to make sure that there's not more that needs to be done. 186 00:22:51.132 --> 00:22:51.709 Councilor Smith. 187 00:22:51.789 --> 00:22:52.210 To be found. 188 00:22:53.849 --> 00:23:01.722 Um, but I want to thank you all for your time, and I, I want to thank everybody who— all the councilors who showed up to the ICE protest, uh, the other week. 189 00:23:02.192 --> 00:23:05.088 Um, I think it means a lot to the community when you do that and people notice it. 190 00:23:06.336 --> 00:23:07.194 But thank you. 191 00:23:08.459 --> 00:23:09.138 Thank you very much. 192 00:23:12.063 --> 00:23:14.580 Next up, we have Tristan Marquis online. 193 00:23:16.528 --> 00:23:17.109 Welcome, Tristan. 194 00:23:17.291 --> 00:23:19.049 Go ahead and introduce yourself for the record, please. 195 00:23:20.049 --> 00:23:21.567 Hello, my name is Tristan Marquise. 196 00:23:21.616 --> 00:23:26.949 I'm a renter here in District 2, um, and I'm speaking about the Slow the Inflow resolution today. 197 00:23:28.900 --> 00:23:38.338 According to Evicted in Oregon data, in the year 2025, Multnomah County saw 12,094 eviction cases filed, nearly doubling that of what we saw in 2022. 198 00:23:39.615 --> 00:23:45.184 Of those more than 12,000 evictions filed in 2025, 93% were due to non-payment. 199 00:23:46.222 --> 00:23:49.875 Dwarfing for-cause evictions, which made up only 6% of the filings. 200 00:23:51.253 --> 00:24:05.771 Also in 2025, according to the Joint Office of Homeless Services, people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County has increased from 14,361 to 17,490, an increase of over 20% in one year. 201 00:24:06.990 --> 00:24:18.108 Additionally, data from the Eviction Lab shows that, quote, simply being threatened with an eviction Even when that case did not result in eviction judgment, was associated with a 19% increase in mortality. 202 00:24:19.474 --> 00:24:27.489 This data clearly shows that homelessness and evictions are increasingly overwhelmingly because people cannot afford to stay in their own homes. 203 00:24:28.628 --> 00:24:37.880 People cannot afford to stay in their own homes because of continued austerity, greedflation, and the affordability crisis, and the consequences are literally lethal. 204 00:24:37.961 --> 00:24:38.105 Thank you. 205 00:24:38.938 --> 00:24:41.029 This is social murder, plain and simple. 206 00:24:43.246 --> 00:24:49.799 I do hope we see some accountability for this $20 million turned $106 million that was found in the couch cushions of the Portland Housing Bureau. 207 00:24:50.549 --> 00:24:58.413 But more importantly, however, I ask that this council moves as a unified body and directs these funds toward rental assistance and eviction defense. 208 00:24:59.410 --> 00:25:15.843 Preventing evictions saves lives, and it is the easiest and most cost-effective way to slow the inflow, and this council should use those funds to aid the people most harmed by these missing funds, which are rent-burdened— excuse me— which are rent-burdened Portlanders. 209 00:25:17.569 --> 00:25:44.925 I appreciate the progressive members of this council for continuing to fight for tenants' rights and protections in Portland, among other issues, and I urge the other members of this council to help save the lives of their constituents and reject the interests That completes communications. 210 00:25:45.424 --> 00:25:50.109 Okay, colleagues, our 3rd item is a committee referral report. 211 00:25:50.738 --> 00:25:56.714 Uh, for my colleagues and for folks watching at home, my office has referred several items to committees last week, some of which have already been heard. 212 00:25:57.233 --> 00:26:06.868 Those items are available in the committee referral report, which is available online, portland.gov/auditor/council-clerk/committee-referral-list. 213 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:16.182 We will now hear an update from our City Administrator Lee on the ongoing— the status of the ongoing response to federal interventions in the city. 214 00:26:16.441 --> 00:26:17.526 City Administrator Lee. 215 00:26:19.436 --> 00:26:21.769 Thank you, Council President and Vice President and City Council. 216 00:26:22.586 --> 00:26:23.403 Just an update. 217 00:26:23.548 --> 00:26:37.326 On February 13th, this past Friday, Portland Permitting and Development issued an administrative review decision upholding the land use violation at the ICE facility in South Portland. 218 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:37.855 As they should. 219 00:26:37.903 --> 00:26:50.446 The property owner now has until March 16th, 2026, to correct the violations and has 10 business days to appeal this decision to the city code hearing officer. 220 00:26:51.217 --> 00:26:56.490 It's important to remember that this is just one step, uh, in the notice of violation case. 221 00:26:56.747 --> 00:27:02.421 We remain committed to following the process to ensure that the outcome is meaningful and defensible. 222 00:27:03.191 --> 00:27:19.525 City staff also continues the administrative rulemaking process for the detention facility impact fee code ordinance, moving with the urgency and the moment demands while also ensuring our actions are well executed and legally defensible. 223 00:27:20.230 --> 00:27:28.232 Currently, a multi-bureau working group is pulling together the information needed to ensure this critical ordinance is implemented. 224 00:27:28.826 --> 00:27:37.134 There are a lot of elements of the ordinance that require new process development, and staff are taking this task very seriously. 225 00:27:37.823 --> 00:28:00.144 Our team is working with the ordinance sponsors, Councilors Morillo and Green, to align the ordinance intent with the city's implementation process, city staff continues to focus on establishing a temporary administrative rule first as we still work on implementing a permanent rule also. 226 00:28:00.241 --> 00:28:03.211 So those 2 things are working in conjunction. 227 00:28:05.916 --> 00:28:07.707 Ladies and gentlemen, this is a disruption. 228 00:28:12.430 --> 00:28:13.769 This is a disruption of the meeting. 229 00:28:13.979 --> 00:28:21.727 This is a warning that if there is continued or other disruption of the meeting, the persons engaging in the disruptive behavior will face ejection from the meeting. 230 00:28:23.006 --> 00:28:27.384 Anyone refusing to leave the meeting— if security could please remove these individuals. 231 00:28:30.122 --> 00:28:33.125 Security, please remove the individuals who are here. 232 00:28:33.385 --> 00:28:33.809 Absolutely not. 233 00:28:39.241 --> 00:28:43.045 I'm directing security to please remove the individual from the space. 234 00:28:46.529 --> 00:28:48.455 We are taking a 10-minute recess. 235 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.426 10-Minute recess. 236 00:39:27.945 --> 00:39:29.175 Overflow audio testing. 237 00:39:29.402 --> 00:39:30.067 1, 2, 3. 238 00:39:30.681 --> 00:39:33.840 Christina, could you please let me know if you can hear me okay? 239 00:39:34.326 --> 00:39:35.815 Hey Adam, you sound great. 240 00:39:36.976 --> 00:39:37.643 Okay, perfect. 241 00:39:37.728 --> 00:39:38.240 Thank you so much. 242 00:39:40.855 --> 00:50:13.047 Sorry, I thought somebody was I'm a little worried about you. 243 00:50:13.358 --> 00:50:15.728 That was like a beautiful mind moment. 244 01:04:36.681 --> 01:04:38.018 Are we on? 245 01:04:38.275 --> 01:04:48.565 We are beginning to reconvene. 246 01:04:49.226 --> 01:04:52.219 Wait until we have a critical mass of colleagues back on. 247 01:04:57.717 --> 01:05:01.327 Yep, they're still in full effect into the— in the, um, chambers. 248 01:05:04.291 --> 01:05:06.224 Councilor Smith, you're off mute right now. 249 01:05:07.548 --> 01:05:09.083 Oh, I know, I know. 250 01:05:09.164 --> 01:05:13.672 I was talking to Jamie, just letting him know they haven't gone anywhere. 251 01:05:14.920 --> 01:05:28.132 Now I am seeing, uh, a quorum of city council, and so I am ready to reconvene the meeting of the City Council, Keelan, whenever you're ready. 252 01:05:30.059 --> 01:05:36.010 Okay, colleagues, I am reconvening our evening session of the Portland City Council. 253 01:05:37.208 --> 01:05:38.940 Keelan, can we please call item number 4? 254 01:05:43.103 --> 01:05:52.235 Item number 4, authorize submission of a minor boundary change request to the State of Oregon to amend the Portland Enterprise Zone boundary. 255 01:05:53.637 --> 01:05:54.157 Thank you. 256 01:05:55.650 --> 01:06:00.438 And do we have, uh, Christopher Hare for a committee staff report on this? 257 01:06:02.628 --> 01:06:03.302 We have Ashley. 258 01:06:03.914 --> 01:06:04.460 Oh, hey, Ashley. 259 01:06:05.842 --> 01:06:10.942 Ashley Hernandez is here from Council Ops with a committee, uh, Council Ops presentation on the committee report. 260 01:06:12.445 --> 01:06:17.009 Yeah, um, Council President, councilors, for the record, my name is Ashley Hernandez. 261 01:06:17.153 --> 01:06:19.548 I serve as the staff for the Arts and Economy Committee. 262 01:06:19.994 --> 01:06:21.123 The resolution before you—. 263 01:06:21.510 --> 01:06:22.574 Actually, you're a little quiet. 264 01:06:22.670 --> 01:06:24.557 If you're able to get microphone a little louder. 265 01:06:25.800 --> 01:06:26.813 Um, all right. 266 01:06:27.043 --> 01:06:41.074 The resolution before you, document number 2026-016, was heard at the Arts and Economy Committee on January 13th, 2026, where it was moved to full council with the recommendation it be adopted. 267 01:06:41.773 --> 01:06:50.664 The resolution approves the approves the amendment of boundaries for the area illustrated in the map attached as Exhibit A. 268 01:06:51.628 --> 01:07:07.190 This area will be designated by the director of the Oregon Business Development Department as part of the Portland Enterprise Zone, E-Zone, in accordance with the ORS 285C.115. 269 01:07:07.929 --> 01:07:31.675 Additionally, the resolution authorizes Prosper Portland to submit an application to the full impact statement of this item includes financial and budgetary impacts, economic and real estate development impacts, community impact and community involvement. 270 01:07:32.849 --> 01:07:36.623 There was no verbal testimony at the committee meeting on January 13th. 271 01:07:37.501 --> 01:07:43.940 4 People submitted written testimony after the committee committee meeting and prior to the full council agenda posting. 272 01:07:44.550 --> 01:07:59.882 General themes included an overview of maintaining facilities ecosystem and job creation, concerns regarding tax breaks and living wages, outlines of economic benefits through partnerships and employment. 273 01:08:00.523 --> 01:08:01.952 That concludes the staff summary. 274 01:08:03.188 --> 01:08:03.847 Thank you, Ashley. 275 01:08:05.195 --> 01:08:09.675 Colleagues, are there any technical or clarifying questions before we move to public testimony on this item? 276 01:08:12.811 --> 01:08:15.503 Seeing no one in the queue— oh, Councilor Kanal. 277 01:08:16.054 --> 01:08:17.350 Sorry, got a little fast there. 278 01:08:17.497 --> 01:08:18.162 Councilor Kanal, go ahead. 279 01:08:19.020 --> 01:08:20.074 Thank you, Council President. 280 01:08:20.807 --> 01:08:32.590 Um, I wanted to ask if we have any information or if it was presented in committee as to whether or not this improvement project would be slated to be completed by Alaska Airlines regardless of the tax abatement. 281 01:08:33.320 --> 01:08:36.797 Um, this came up in written testimony and it seemed like a good question to ask. 282 01:08:38.779 --> 01:08:39.783 Oh, and I apologize also. 283 01:08:39.831 --> 01:08:45.588 I did not give the sponsors of the— or the chairs of the committee an opportunity to also give comment on that. 284 01:08:46.229 --> 01:08:52.375 But, Councilor, to your question, I don't know if we have anybody available to provide that answer. 285 01:08:57.868 --> 01:09:00.970 Scott, are you in queue to answer the question? 286 01:09:01.407 --> 01:09:01.681 I am. 287 01:09:01.795 --> 01:09:02.667 Hi, everyone. 288 01:09:02.926 --> 01:09:04.122 Councilor, thank you for your question. 289 01:09:04.542 --> 01:09:05.640 Just for the record, my name is Scott Kennedy. 290 01:09:05.689 --> 01:09:10.329 I'm the Senior Manager of State and Local Government Affairs for Alaska Airlines. 291 01:09:10.329 --> 01:09:15.130 And, you know, just to start off, want to thank you all for taking the time to consider the resolution before you tonight. 292 01:09:15.590 --> 01:09:30.270 Councilor Kanal, in response to your question, we're very early still in the planning process for this proposed project, which is why today's vote and ultimately our ability to apply to the Enterprise Zone program is such an important step in evaluating our path forward. 293 01:09:30.550 --> 01:09:37.829 You know, I'll try to keep this brief, but like any major capital project, right, cost is going to be a critical factor in determining the overall feasibility for the project. 294 01:09:38.069 --> 01:09:38.890 We operate in a very highly competitive industry. 295 01:09:38.890 --> 01:09:38.930 Thank you. 296 01:09:40.720 --> 01:09:48.863 And though we look very large in a place like Portland and where I'm at in Seattle, we're quite small compared to our other airline competitors. 297 01:09:48.975 --> 01:09:56.077 And so maintaining low costs is really critical to our ability to make significant investments in our people, our business, and our communities. 298 01:09:57.055 --> 01:10:05.487 And, you know, in addition to the many other investments we're making at PDX today, this proposed hangar project really is— it's a substantial and unique investment for Alaska. 299 01:10:06.273 --> 01:10:10.777 And the Enterprise Zone program offers an attractive and meaningful incentive that will enable us to move forward. 300 01:10:11.242 --> 01:10:13.935 And the benefits that will come from this project we're really proud of, right? 301 01:10:14.000 --> 01:10:26.055 There's, you know, many high-quality construction jobs that'll be associated with the construction phase, more than 100 permanent positions, largely union represented, that will be an outcome of this project and ongoing. 302 01:10:26.823 --> 01:10:37.965 So, and, you know, if we're afforded the opportunity to apply to the Enterprise Zone program, we would be looking forward to working with Prosper to develop a community benefits agreement as well as a part of that process. 303 01:10:38.092 --> 01:10:39.921 So appreciate the question. 304 01:10:40.337 --> 01:10:46.453 We're really very supportive of this and appreciate the opportunity to have Thank you. 305 01:10:50.582 --> 01:10:55.626 Um, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, I'll come to you in just a second, but I wanted to give Councilor Green an opportunity since he was, uh, chair. 306 01:10:55.770 --> 01:10:57.027 I believe he was overseeing this. 307 01:10:57.476 --> 01:10:57.912 Councilor Green. 308 01:10:59.055 --> 01:11:00.987 Honestly, I can't remember who did chair that. 309 01:11:01.261 --> 01:11:04.319 It could have been Councilor Ryan, and he, he can jump in if he, if he wants. 310 01:11:04.384 --> 01:11:24.564 But I just, I wanted to note a couple things about, um, that discussion for the rest of the body because we didn't really get a chance to talk about it last week because we you know, we voted to delay it a week, but we had a robust, I think, conversation around what the meaning of prevailing wage jobs were in the context of this. 311 01:11:24.934 --> 01:11:34.743 To Councilor Kanal's question, we didn't actually dig into whether or not the project would happen without the E-Zone expansion. 312 01:11:34.791 --> 01:11:38.092 I think that's a really important counterfactual to always pose in these things. 313 01:11:38.702 --> 01:11:47.248 I think that for me, the thing that I was kind of focused on there was whether or not the project happens on its own without the tax abatement. 314 01:11:48.068 --> 01:12:00.192 What the E-Zone does is it provides a framework to extend some pretty strong community benefits that are on the operations and ongoing side for those jobs in District 2. 315 01:12:00.305 --> 01:12:03.942 So that's something you always have to weigh there, but I appreciate the question. 316 01:12:05.568 --> 01:12:10.600 I don't know if— and I, you know, when it's appropriate, we can I can also add a little more flavor about why we did delay this a week. 317 01:12:10.600 --> 01:12:12.859 I think there's, there's important conversation there as well. 318 01:12:12.869 --> 01:12:16.220 But, um, yeah, it was a 5-0 vote. 319 01:12:16.220 --> 01:12:17.800 Uh, we had a robust conversation. 320 01:12:17.800 --> 01:12:24.800 I think, uh, Council President, you raised a lot of really technical questions around, um, what does it mean to say something's a prevailing wage? 321 01:12:24.979 --> 01:12:26.520 What are— what is Prosper standards? 322 01:12:26.520 --> 01:12:28.399 What's the— what's our standards? 323 01:12:28.399 --> 01:12:42.710 Um, I did note that I think my math for the jobs, uh, was a weighted average of $92,000, maybe $94,000 per year across all of the all of the jobs up there at the airport. 324 01:12:42.774 --> 01:12:46.233 And so I was doing a little economics work at the DIA too. 325 01:12:47.520 --> 01:12:53.090 But I'll kind of cede the table, the gavel at this point, the mic at this point. 326 01:12:53.137 --> 01:12:54.328 We can come back to the broader conversation. 327 01:12:56.268 --> 01:12:56.863 Thank you, Councilor. 328 01:12:57.313 --> 01:12:57.971 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 329 01:12:59.497 --> 01:13:00.525 Thank you, Council President. 330 01:13:00.606 --> 01:13:12.733 I just wanted to note before we go into testimony, my gratitude for you scheduling this again quickly this I had asked for a delay last week, and everybody was gracious enough to allow that. 331 01:13:13.679 --> 01:13:15.907 Some conversations were able to finish up. 332 01:13:15.970 --> 01:13:33.171 I think we'll hear good testimony today because of that delay, and just wanted to express my appreciation and note at the top of the conversation that we were able to, I think, get folks all in a little bit closer to the same page here and in a good place for us to be able to move forward today because of that. 333 01:13:33.220 --> 01:13:33.716 Thank you, Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane. 334 01:13:35.708 --> 01:13:36.029 Excellent. 335 01:13:36.109 --> 01:13:37.764 Thank you, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 336 01:13:39.000 --> 01:13:40.703 Councilor Ryan, I know you were having some audio issues. 337 01:13:40.751 --> 01:13:41.842 I didn't know if there was anything else you want—. 338 01:13:41.890 --> 01:13:42.212 Oh, there we go. 339 01:13:43.158 --> 01:13:43.689 Oh yeah, hi. 340 01:13:43.978 --> 01:13:45.792 It's great I can finally hear this meeting. 341 01:13:46.371 --> 01:13:48.185 Um, I'm just grateful we're moving this forward. 342 01:13:48.234 --> 01:13:57.016 I assume everyone said that that's what's happening right now, and I appreciate that Councilor Green called me earlier in the week, um, to explain further on what the delay was about. 343 01:13:57.627 --> 01:14:03.324 I just have to say that after receiving the latest economic data from On Portland last week. 344 01:14:03.789 --> 01:14:13.182 I was just so— I am excited for this opportunity to help boost investments and jobs at Portland, in Portland at this time, specifically at Portland International Airport. 345 01:14:13.728 --> 01:14:18.583 And it's exciting that we'll be adding 100 quality jobs, and we really need that right now. 346 01:14:18.809 --> 01:14:28.795 So this is exactly the type of simple change and update that we can make at the council level to allow, you know, investment in Portland is vital, and I hope we can find more ways to be economically nimble. 347 01:14:28.842 --> 01:14:29.002 Thank you. 348 01:14:29.917 --> 01:14:38.750 And let's hope we're not slowing down in adding new steps or barriers, because that's the type of behavior that stifles growth and pushes away investment. 349 01:14:38.845 --> 01:14:42.956 So I'm just excited that future revenue is coming with this project. 350 01:14:43.261 --> 01:14:48.801 Thank you so much with the partnerships with Prosper, with Alaska Airlines, and with the port. 351 01:14:49.185 --> 01:14:49.443 Thanks. 352 01:14:50.166 --> 01:14:50.855 Thank you, Councilor. 353 01:14:51.610 --> 01:14:53.472 Keelan, do we have public testimony for this item? 354 01:14:59.603 --> 01:15:02.886 Yes, Council President, we have 3 people signed up. 355 01:15:03.127 --> 01:15:05.396 First up, we have Callity Avery. 356 01:15:07.829 --> 01:15:10.551 Welcome, and folks, please introduce yourselves for the record. 357 01:15:10.615 --> 01:15:14.164 Please, uh, state your preferred pronouns, and you have 3 minutes. 358 01:15:16.948 --> 01:15:19.726 Let's see, do we have Callity online? 359 01:15:23.899 --> 01:15:28.493 All right, why don't we go to Molly Armentrout? 360 01:15:41.912 --> 01:15:44.320 No, I'm not seeing Molly online. 361 01:15:44.757 --> 01:15:49.108 Why don't we try Randall Friesen. 362 01:15:57.920 --> 01:15:59.256 Go ahead, Randall, you're unmuted. 363 01:16:00.301 --> 01:16:00.936 Can you hear us? 364 01:16:13.369 --> 01:16:14.409 Good evening. 365 01:16:14.409 --> 01:16:15.239 Can we hear me? 366 01:16:16.109 --> 01:16:17.010 Yes, sir. 367 01:16:17.010 --> 01:16:17.569 Hi, everybody. 368 01:16:17.569 --> 01:16:18.130 Good evening. 369 01:16:18.130 --> 01:16:20.970 This is Randall Friesen with the Columbia Pacific Building Trades. 370 01:16:21.430 --> 01:16:25.949 Thank you, President Dunphy, and the rest of the city councilors for giving me a few minutes to speak. 371 01:16:26.029 --> 01:16:36.810 I'm Randall Friesen with the Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council, representing approximately 16,000 construction professionals who live and work in the Portland metropolitan Southwest Washington regions. 372 01:16:36.810 --> 01:16:40.529 I'm here this evening to speak about the importance of good labor standards on all projects. 373 01:16:40.529 --> 01:16:40.569 Thank you. 374 01:16:40.752 --> 01:16:43.095 Projects covered by Enterprise Zones. 375 01:16:43.240 --> 01:16:51.960 We recognize there is a sequencing issue from the time a project begins as a private project, when then transitions through approval as an Enterprise Zone project. 376 01:16:52.474 --> 01:17:00.871 When this happens, typically only the largest scopes in the project are contracted out at prevailing rates and have the potential to employ apprentices. 377 01:17:01.465 --> 01:17:05.768 Public projects that receive public funding are required at minimum to use prevailing wage rates. 378 01:17:05.832 --> 01:17:05.976 Thank you. 379 01:17:06.587 --> 01:17:14.592 And should have apprenticeship utilization standards and ideally healthcare for the workers performing the construction of these projects and their families. 380 01:17:15.346 --> 01:17:20.720 This is left out when considering approval for special tax abatements or credits in Enterprise Zone projects. 381 01:17:21.283 --> 01:17:36.605 We appreciate the advocacy for working people by Councilors Green and Pirtle-Guiney over the past several weeks of connecting us with Alaska Airlines leadership to discuss the possibility of adding labor standards to the proposed Enterprise Zone project through the use of a community benefit agreement on the construction work. 382 01:17:37.231 --> 01:17:49.333 Although time was not permitting and we were not able to reach an agreement, we recognize that at a time when the overall economy of Portland is struggling, we appreciate the many family wage jobs with full family benefits that will go to many of our members. 383 01:17:49.927 --> 01:18:13.257 We are committed to continuing to find ways that projects like the Alaska Airlines project find value and success utilizing our membership, that we can help ensure there are good labor standards on these projects In closing, last week many members of the community attended this state of the economy presentation hosted by the Portland Metro Chamber with economist Dr. Mike Wilkerson. 384 01:18:13.851 --> 01:18:20.886 Dr. Wilkerson stated that we cannot make housing affordable through dropping interest rates alone, however, through better earning potential and opportunities. 385 01:18:21.480 --> 01:18:26.653 To quote the chamber, when wages and job opportunities do not keep pace with housing costs, inflation is inevitable. 386 01:18:26.701 --> 01:18:27.215 Thank you, Mayor. 387 01:18:27.405 --> 01:18:31.398 It becomes harder for people to move to or remain in the region. 388 01:18:32.070 --> 01:18:46.546 At a time when housing affordability is a major community concern, and while we are supportive of finding ways to improve Portland's competitive market, we feel it is important to ensure that it is done in a way that benefits all workers and communities, not just the majority. 389 01:18:47.139 --> 01:18:50.666 We are confident through partnership all these values can and will be achieved. 390 01:18:51.226 --> 01:19:03.036 We are committed to, committed to helping Find holistic solutions and ask the city councilors remain committed to working with us to benefit all workers on enterprise-owned projects through these challenging times. 391 01:19:03.619 --> 01:19:04.682 Thank you very much for your time. 392 01:19:04.734 --> 01:19:05.426 Appreciate you all. 393 01:19:09.628 --> 01:19:12.395 Okay, Lady Avery has joined us online. 394 01:19:19.422 --> 01:19:21.743 Okay, lady, go ahead and unmute. 395 01:19:38.079 --> 01:19:42.170 Okay, looks like they might be having some technical issues. 396 01:19:44.010 --> 01:19:45.426 Let's see, uh, Molly Armentrout. 397 01:19:46.175 --> 01:19:46.609 Last call. 398 01:19:51.733 --> 01:19:53.230 Okay, that completes testimony. 399 01:19:53.810 --> 01:19:54.568 Okay, thank you. 400 01:19:55.604 --> 01:19:58.291 Colleagues, we're now moving into, uh, council discussion. 401 01:19:58.355 --> 01:20:00.346