WEBVTT 1 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.391 Councilor Novick, can you hear us online? 2 00:04:23.107 --> 00:04:23.963 I can indeed. 3 00:04:24.754 --> 00:04:25.841 Thanks, we can hear you as well. 4 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:51.949 Good afternoon. 5 00:04:52.031 --> 00:04:56.583 I am going to call the meeting of the Housing and Permitting Committee to order. 6 00:04:57.293 --> 00:04:59.762 It is Tuesday, April 7th at 2 PM. 7 00:04:59.891 --> 00:05:00.889 Diego, please call the roll. 8 00:05:01.387 --> 00:05:01.935 Good afternoon. 9 00:05:02.529 --> 00:05:02.980 Pirtle-Guiney? 10 00:05:03.237 --> 00:05:03.591 Here. 11 00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:04.685 Koyama Lane? 12 00:05:05.088 --> 00:05:05.298 Here. 13 00:05:05.732 --> 00:05:06.069 Novick? 14 00:05:07.730 --> 00:05:08.004 Here. 15 00:05:08.375 --> 00:05:08.504 Here. 16 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:09.615 Here. 17 00:05:10.067 --> 00:05:10.197 Here. 18 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.726 Claire, can you please read the statement of conduct? 19 00:05:14.990 --> 00:05:17.353 Good afternoon and welcome to the meeting of the Housing and Permitting Committee. 20 00:05:17.755 --> 00:05:28.026 To testify before this committee in person or virtually, you must sign up in advance on the committee agenda at portland.gov/council/agenda/housingandpermittingcommittee or by calling 311. 21 00:05:28.089 --> 00:05:31.213 Registration for virtual testimony closes 1 hour prior to the meeting. 22 00:05:31.730 --> 00:05:34.415 In-person testifiers must sign up before the agenda item is heard. 23 00:05:34.987 --> 00:05:40.105 If public testimony will be taken on an item, individuals may testify for 3 minutes unless the chair states otherwise. 24 00:05:40.538 --> 00:05:42.430 Your microphone will be muted when your time is over. 25 00:05:43.024 --> 00:05:43.971 The chair preserves order. 26 00:05:44.211 --> 00:05:51.656 Disruptive conduct such as shouting, refusing to conclude your testimony when your time is up, or interrupting others' testimony or committee deliberations will not be allowed. 27 00:05:52.346 --> 00:05:54.206 If you cause a disruption, a warning will be given. 28 00:05:54.656 --> 00:05:56.694 Further disruption will result in ejection from the meeting. 29 00:05:57.223 --> 00:06:00.062 Anyone who fails to leave once ejected is subject to arrest for trespass. 30 00:06:00.672 --> 00:06:03.365 Additionally, the committee may take a short recess and reconvene virtually. 31 00:06:04.262 --> 00:06:06.107 Your testimony should address the matter being considered. 32 00:06:06.266 --> 00:06:08.077 When testifying, please state your name for the record. 33 00:06:08.526 --> 00:06:10.867 If you are a lobbyist, identify the organization you represent. 34 00:06:11.315 --> 00:06:14.634 And finally, virtual testifiers should unmute themselves when the clerk calls your name. 35 00:06:14.858 --> 00:06:15.163 Thank you. 36 00:06:16.526 --> 00:06:17.327 Thank you, Claire. 37 00:06:17.423 --> 00:06:22.521 All right, and again, welcome everybody to the first meeting of the Housing and Permitting Committee. 38 00:06:22.793 --> 00:06:24.862 So I have a couple of opening remarks. 39 00:06:25.502 --> 00:06:29.415 Uh, I am really looking forward to working with my colleagues on this committee. 40 00:06:29.927 --> 00:06:32.060 We all know that the work in front of us is both Councilmember Herbold. 41 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:32.060 Thank you, Mayor. 42 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:32.060 This is a very important committee. 43 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:32.060 Housing and homelessness is a crisis in our city. 44 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:34.079 The need for affordable housing is significant and urgent. 45 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:47.879 And across Portland, we're hearing clearly that people want us to make progress on housing, whether that's helping people keep— helping keep people housed, supporting those experiencing homelessness, or making it easier to build the housing that our city needs. 46 00:06:48.139 --> 00:06:50.949 This committee reflects a broader approach to that challenge. 47 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:56.819 In addressing housing and homelessness, we'll be taking on permitting, zoning, and land use decisions as well. 48 00:06:56.819 --> 00:07:01.269 Those systems play a major role in whether housing actually gets built and how quickly. 49 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:02.199 So bringing this work together in one place is an important step. 50 00:07:04.937 --> 00:07:16.505 As chair, my goal is to make this a productive and collaborative space, and I want to ensure that each councilor has the opportunity to bring forward ideas and priorities, and that we are using our time here to move work forward and not let it stall. 51 00:07:17.290 --> 00:07:19.918 I also want us to be thoughtful about how we pace our work. 52 00:07:20.334 --> 00:07:31.295 We have a responsibility to move important items, particularly land use and permitting decisions, without creating unnecessary delays, while still making space for discussion and good policy development. 53 00:07:32.112 --> 00:07:35.925 And importantly, I want to stay grounded in what we hear from Portlanders. 54 00:07:36.422 --> 00:07:37.911 This work doesn't just happen in this room. 55 00:07:38.281 --> 00:07:44.288 It is shaped by the experience of people that we represent across the city, and I intend to keep that connection front and center. 56 00:07:45.074 --> 00:07:54.029 Because this is a new committee with new members, we'll also be spending some time getting oriented to the work already underway and making sure we have a shared understanding of where we're headed. 57 00:07:54.317 --> 00:07:55.744 So more on that to come. 58 00:07:56.464 --> 00:08:00.903 Before we get started with the agenda today, I want to pass it to our Vice Chair, Councilor Mitch Green, to share some remarks. 59 00:08:00.951 --> 00:08:01.478 Thank you, Councilor Avalos. 60 00:08:02.793 --> 00:08:04.124 Thank you so much, Chair Avalos. 61 00:08:04.461 --> 00:08:08.516 I'll keep my remarks brief because I know there's a lot of you here today to testify. 62 00:08:09.206 --> 00:08:10.567 We've got a very packed agenda. 63 00:08:11.225 --> 00:08:15.377 I just want to say that I'm excited to join this committee and to support you as the vice chair. 64 00:08:16.163 --> 00:08:23.088 I've been really very interested in all things housing ever since I was elected to this position and long before. 65 00:08:23.632 --> 00:08:25.860 And now I get to be on a committee that moves that work forward. 66 00:08:26.598 --> 00:08:38.046 We know that our communities are struggling with affordability challenges broadly, whether that's fuel, food, or utility bills, and Housing is just the biggest chunk there, and we, we're in a position to maybe do something about that. 67 00:08:39.975 --> 00:08:49.551 Every day I read in the news about some city that took a bold step on clearing through bottlenecks and taking a very sort of pro-build approach. 68 00:08:50.777 --> 00:08:52.631 And I say I want that for my city too. 69 00:08:53.131 --> 00:08:58.716 So I'm really looking forward to seeing how we can also accelerate and play catch up. 70 00:08:58.764 --> 00:09:03.197 And every single member of this committee, I've had conversations with you through my tenure in this building, and you all have great ideas. 71 00:09:05.535 --> 00:09:11.114 That I agree— there's a lot of overlap with, I think, all of us on housing issues. 72 00:09:11.162 --> 00:09:14.624 So I'm just really excited to be part of your little leadership team here. 73 00:09:14.703 --> 00:09:15.201 So thanks. 74 00:09:16.451 --> 00:09:17.124 Thank you, Vice Chair. 75 00:09:17.876 --> 00:09:22.188 All right, so turning to today's agenda, we have 2 housing finance items before us. 76 00:09:22.846 --> 00:09:31.758 First, we will hear an ordinance related to the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program, and then we will consider an ordinance regarding unspent funds within the Portland Housing Bureau. 77 00:09:32.142 --> 00:09:33.729 So Diego, let's go ahead and call the first item. 78 00:09:34.482 --> 00:09:38.735 Item 1, adopt and implement the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program. 79 00:09:39.523 --> 00:09:43.486 All right, so as folks are walking up, let me give you some intro into this item. 80 00:09:43.969 --> 00:09:58.236 So the state legislature passed a bill in 2024 that established a Moderate Income Revolving Loan Fund, or MIRL, to help cities finance housing development for households earning between 60% and 120% of area median income. 81 00:09:58.863 --> 00:10:10.962 This ordinance establishes Portland's local implementation of the state's moderate State's Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program, a new financing tool created by the legislature to support housing for middle-income households. 82 00:10:11.541 --> 00:10:22.389 This proposal allows the city to access no-interest state funds and deploy them locally using Prosper Portland to provide gap financing to housing projects that would not otherwise be financially feasible. 83 00:10:22.951 --> 00:10:29.818 Importantly, this tool leverages future tax revenue to support housing production today without requiring direct general fund investment. 84 00:10:30.402 --> 00:10:39.124 It also aligns state resources with our local tools like tax increment financing to accelerate the development of much-needed housing near transit and in high-opportunity areas. 85 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:55.225 Adopting this ordinance is necessary— is a necessary step for Portland to access these limited first-come, first-served state resources and ensure that we can provide— that we can bring forward projects that expand housing options for our workforce and middle-income residents. 86 00:10:56.184 --> 00:11:01.373 Now the city needs to adopt this ordinance, which will allow us to access these MRL funds from the state housing agency. 87 00:11:01.903 --> 00:11:09.100 So I will go ahead and hand it off to Andrea Jacob from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Sarah Harpole from Prosper Portland to provide more information. 88 00:11:09.373 --> 00:11:09.678 Take it away. 89 00:11:10.144 --> 00:11:11.107 Thank you. 90 00:11:11.284 --> 00:11:14.546 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee. 91 00:11:15.140 --> 00:11:16.923 For the record, my name is Andrea Jacob. 92 00:11:16.971 --> 00:11:21.085 I'm actually here today representing the DCA's Office for Community and Economic Development. 93 00:11:21.341 --> 00:11:22.754 I'm here with my colleague Sarah. 94 00:11:23.082 --> 00:11:23.923 Good afternoon. 95 00:11:23.971 --> 00:11:24.908 My name is Sarah Harpole. 96 00:11:25.004 --> 00:11:30.562 I'm a development manager at Prosper Portland, and we are going to walk you through the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program. 97 00:11:31.700 --> 00:11:32.345 Next slide, please. 98 00:11:34.152 --> 00:11:36.087 So our agenda is to go over some background. 99 00:11:36.282 --> 00:11:39.993 I think the talking points are going to sound pretty similar to what you just heard from the chair. 100 00:11:40.509 --> 00:11:48.455 We'll talk through some eligible project examples, what the implementation pathway looks like to get this program stood up, and then a little bit about next steps. 101 00:11:49.312 --> 00:11:49.942 Next slide, please. 102 00:11:52.174 --> 00:12:03.515 So in 2024, the state legislature established the Moderate Income Revolving Loan Fund within Oregon Housing and Community Services and appropriated $75 million in seed funding, and that was for the whole state. 103 00:12:04.221 --> 00:12:16.385 In this last session, the legislature reduced that funding down to $50 million, and the purpose of the program is to support the development of moderate-income housing where the units will be priced for households earning 120% of AMI or less. 104 00:12:17.048 --> 00:12:21.413 Sarah's going to talk in some detail in a few minutes about how that process works. 105 00:12:21.866 --> 00:12:31.636 But at the highest level, it starts with a sponsoring jurisdiction, in this case us, the City of Portland, by passing an ordinance and then borrowing money from OHCS at no interest. 106 00:12:32.090 --> 00:12:41.818 This money is then made available to developers with eligible projects in the form of grants, and the state is paid back in one of two ways, which way depends on the project's geography. 107 00:12:42.355 --> 00:12:46.253 So outside of a TIF district, developer pays a property tax fee in lieu. 108 00:12:47.272 --> 00:12:53.711 Inside a TIF district, the city can pledge TIF as an alternative repayment source backed by the city's full faith and credit. 109 00:12:54.626 --> 00:12:57.969 The city does not make the decision as to which projects are chosen. 110 00:12:58.307 --> 00:13:01.025 That's the state's decision, and it is first come, first served. 111 00:13:02.591 --> 00:13:03.091 Next slide. 112 00:13:05.190 --> 00:13:09.403 So the program's intended to boost construction of higher-density multifamily housing. 113 00:13:09.993 --> 00:13:19.947 And due to a combination of factors with which folks are pretty familiar, low market rate rents, low confidence from investors, we're just not seeing these larger projects get built. 114 00:13:20.269 --> 00:13:21.616 They're not financially feasible. 115 00:13:22.195 --> 00:13:34.991 And at the same time, our housing needs analysis and our housing production strategy indicate a need for over 25,000 new units serving middle-income residents at that 60 to 120% AMI. 116 00:13:35.974 --> 00:13:38.197 So a MRL grant can do a couple of important things. 117 00:13:38.326 --> 00:13:50.798 It can help a developer fill a gap in the capital stack and at the same time lock in affordability for 10 years for middle-income Portlanders— teachers, truck drivers, cooks, retail employees— as the market improves. 118 00:13:53.725 --> 00:13:54.914 Next slide. 119 00:13:57.662 --> 00:14:03.044 I'm going to speak a little bit in a little greater detail about what it looks like to locally operationalize the MRL program. 120 00:14:03.985 --> 00:14:13.024 As you heard, per state statute, and then when coupled with Portland's Inclusionary Housing Program, there are 2 pathways for repayment of that initial loan between OHCS and the city. 121 00:14:14.001 --> 00:14:22.125 If the project that is applying is located in a TIF district, TIF resources must be used to repay the loan backed by the city's full faith and credit. 122 00:14:22.671 --> 00:14:31.647 The ordinance before you under consideration proposes that no more than $20 million in TIF be pledged at any one time given the backing by the city's full faith and credit. 123 00:14:32.832 --> 00:14:39.585 Outside of TIF districts, repayment sources are via a fee paid by the developer in lieu of their 10-year property tax payments. 124 00:14:39.745 --> 00:14:42.440 This fee is collected by the county and used to repay the loan. 125 00:14:43.514 --> 00:14:55.490 If the project is outside of a TIF district and subject to the city's inclusionary housing policy, the developer must comply with the IH requirements but would be required to forego any associated property tax exemptions Councilmember Herbold. 126 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:55.490 Thank you, Mayor. 127 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:55.490 I would like to thank the city staff for their work on this ordinance. 128 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:55.490 I would like to make a couple of comments. 129 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:55.490 First, I would like to thank the city staff for their work on this ordinance. 130 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:55.490 I think it's a great ordinance that will help Portland's housing market. 131 00:14:55.490 --> 00:14:58.799 It will help reduce the burden on developers in order to utilize the moral tax exemption repayment process. 132 00:14:59.870 --> 00:15:07.210 Locally, we are also proposing a requirement that projects must produce a minimum of 75 new units within close proximity of transit. 133 00:15:07.529 --> 00:15:12.950 We know that funding is limited to $50 million statewide and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. 134 00:15:12.950 --> 00:15:19.470 Therefore, we do not anticipate Portland will get more than a couple opportunities to submit applications on behalf of projects locally. 135 00:15:20.070 --> 00:15:31.166 Additionally, the level of staff effort to work with developers to review and complete required application materials and administer 10 years of compliance reporting is generally consistent regardless of the project size. 136 00:15:31.698 --> 00:15:40.114 So for these reasons, we are recommending the 75-unit requirement to ensure that this is the most efficient and effective use of the limited refund— limited funds we have available to us. 137 00:15:41.397 --> 00:15:42.104 Next slide, please. 138 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:59.981 MRL is essentially a form of a tax increment financing tool being used by the state, and therefore it enables the city and Prosper to leverage tax increment in locations where TIF districts are either coming to a close, are in their infancy, or do not exist for the purposes of creating moderate-income housing. 139 00:16:00.895 --> 00:16:07.650 We know that funds are limited and we are unlikely to see projects in every district, but I wanted to walk through a couple examples of what that could look like. 140 00:16:08.437 --> 00:16:19.432 In District 1, it could be as the Lentz District closes, we are able to continue to deploy resources for projects such as 92nd and Herald, and then use the fee-in-lieu repayment opportunity to support that project. 141 00:16:20.169 --> 00:16:36.611 In District 2, it could look like as the interstate TIF district sunsets, we're able to continue to invest in that district and using the fee-in-lieu repayment source, or able to advance TIF resources in the new Lloyd District to invest now to be repaid over time as resources accrue in that district. 142 00:16:37.671 --> 00:16:42.783 Similarly, in District 3, we could advance Next slide, please. 143 00:16:43.044 --> 00:16:50.039 As TIF resources are accruing, or in the Central Eastside Corridor, to be repaid by TIF as those resources grow. 144 00:16:50.442 --> 00:16:57.678 And then lastly, in District 4, investment in the new Westside TIF district, again placing resources today that can be repaid by future TIF income. 145 00:16:58.789 --> 00:16:59.366 Next slide, please. 146 00:17:01.830 --> 00:17:10.107 As you heard, state statute requires that local sponsoring jurisdictions pass an originating ordinance to be provided before OHCS will consider any applications. 147 00:17:10.188 --> 00:17:12.083 So that's the process we're starting with you today. 148 00:17:12.772 --> 00:17:16.547 If the originating ordinance is approved, this will kick off a series of agreements. 149 00:17:16.626 --> 00:17:26.871 This includes a master agreement between OHCS and the city, as well as an agreement between OHCS and the county to provide their services for collecting the repayment fee and lieu resources. 150 00:17:27.561 --> 00:17:37.259 It would also require amending an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Prosper Portland for the administration of this program, as well as the city and the county, to ensure that there's partnership in the repayment approach. 151 00:17:38.528 --> 00:17:48.337 Once those are set up and materials and intake processes are in place to, to take in applications, Prosper would work with the developer to complete application materials and provide it to the state. 152 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:59.337 If the state awards a program or awards a project, then Prosper would enter into a grant agreement with that developer, and the loan repayment mechanism would depend on which path and location that they're located. 153 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:12.118 Prosper then would work with the developer to complete the 10-year compliance reporting process, working with OHCS to make sure all required materials are submitted and the project affordability remains in compliance during this 10-year period. 154 00:18:13.487 --> 00:18:14.018 Next slide, please. 155 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:19.315 So this is just what happens if an ordinance is passed. 156 00:18:19.798 --> 00:18:23.721 There, as Sarah just said, there's a number of agreements that have to get executed. 157 00:18:24.303 --> 00:18:27.771 The first being a master agreement with OHCS between the city and OHCS. 158 00:18:29.022 --> 00:18:30.650 Also the county and OHCS. 159 00:18:31.772 --> 00:18:34.278 The city and county would also need to enter into an agreement. 160 00:18:35.329 --> 00:18:38.185 Prosper and the city would need to amend an existing IGA. 161 00:18:38.830 --> 00:18:48.580 There is rulemaking that is starting or has started, and we would go into some program development for the next few months and hoping to be open for business by fall of this year. 162 00:18:50.190 --> 00:18:52.249 And that concludes our brief presentation. 163 00:18:55.490 --> 00:18:55.780 Wonderful. 164 00:18:55.845 --> 00:18:56.411 Thank you. 165 00:18:57.397 --> 00:18:59.903 So we will go ahead and enter some discussion. 166 00:18:59.969 --> 00:19:09.394 And I know there is an amendment on the table, but why don't you just give a quick summary of your amendment and then we'll go to public testimony and then we'll come back. 167 00:19:09.667 --> 00:19:09.973 Sound good? 168 00:19:10.296 --> 00:19:10.907 That sounds great. 169 00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.211 Pull that up. 170 00:19:17.153 --> 00:19:25.056 Colleagues, I've filed a pre-filed Green 1, which amends the ordinance under consideration, which does a number of things. 171 00:19:26.138 --> 00:19:43.221 First, it removes the specification that these funds are for projects with 75 units or more, largely responsive to some testimony I received that suggested that that would cut out a lot of really high, high opportunity investments in our community. 172 00:19:44.708 --> 00:19:46.423 And it just seemed like an arbitrary number. 173 00:19:48.212 --> 00:19:59.384 Then the amendment also strikes the areas that delegate this responsibility to Prosper Portland and say instead that this is declared to be primarily administered by the Portland Housing Bureau. 174 00:20:00.935 --> 00:20:13.565 It expands the eligibility for what we're calling— it expands it to low and moderate income because the state statute actually contemplates this going as low as 50% AMI. 175 00:20:15.001 --> 00:20:19.523 So the ordinance that we're seeing here is more restrictive than what the state law contemplates. 176 00:20:19.571 --> 00:20:23.565 So it says let's bring it from 50% on up. 177 00:20:24.125 --> 00:20:32.126 And I think for me, that gets us closer to aligning with social housing concepts that we might want to adopt in our community, irrespective of jurisdiction. 178 00:20:33.201 --> 00:20:51.877 And then finally, it adds explicit reporting requirements so that way we can actualize the parts of the state statute that require That project pro formas are submitted and are inspected and that they are evaluated, that if not for these funds, that this project would not pencil out. 179 00:20:52.295 --> 00:20:59.856 As it's written now, City Council doesn't have a very strong— there's very weak oversight capability in that regard. 180 00:20:59.904 --> 00:21:03.678 So we just sort of delegated this away and we just, we depend on Prosper Portland doing this for us. 181 00:21:03.758 --> 00:21:05.027 So that's what it does. 182 00:21:06.326 --> 00:21:08.397 You know, we'll hear from testimony, I guess, and then I can—. 183 00:21:08.397 --> 00:21:08.606 Thank you. 184 00:21:09.926 --> 00:21:18.242 Answer any questions you guys have, and we'll— I probably want to ask questions of the, the Bureau staff, and, and if there's a city attorney in the room, that would be helpful as well. 185 00:21:18.307 --> 00:21:21.723 So I'll leave it at that for now, and then we can hear from our testimony. 186 00:21:23.588 --> 00:21:24.719 Okay, thank you, Vice Chair. 187 00:21:25.365 --> 00:21:27.449 So let's go ahead and call up our testimony. 188 00:21:27.529 --> 00:21:32.439 Diego, we have one individual signed up, Robert Pyle. 189 00:21:33.101 --> 00:21:34.020 Robert is online. 190 00:21:34.295 --> 00:21:36.538 Feel free to unmute and begin your testimony when you're ready. 191 00:21:37.163 --> 00:21:39.231 Thank you. 192 00:21:39.712 --> 00:21:44.861 Good afternoon, councilors, Chair Avalos, and to the new members, welcome to the Housing and Permitting Committee. 193 00:21:45.502 --> 00:21:46.641 My name is Robert Pyle. 194 00:21:46.689 --> 00:21:48.453 I'm the principal of Oakleaf Redevelopment. 195 00:21:49.047 --> 00:21:52.446 I want to say thank you to Chair Avalos and Mayor Wilson for sponsoring this ordinance. 196 00:21:52.784 --> 00:21:56.344 I've advocated for this with most of you personally, and I'm grateful to see it coming forward. 197 00:21:57.130 --> 00:22:00.385 We need all the tools we can get, especially ones funded with state dollars. 198 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:05.999 Thank you also to Councilor Green for the proposed amendment, which addresses my primary concern with the draft ordinance. 199 00:22:06.416 --> 00:22:09.596 Eligibility should not be restricted to only projects of 75 units or more. 200 00:22:10.384 --> 00:22:15.395 Statute nor the example of the other jurisdictions in the state that have adopted the program to date support this restriction. 201 00:22:16.455 --> 00:22:24.984 I would also ask that you further amend Section 5 of Exhibit A to delete the reference to prioritizing mixed-use developments. 202 00:22:25.707 --> 00:22:31.875 This is a further unnecessary restriction that excludes many missing middle housing projects that are transit-oriented but 100% affordable. 203 00:22:32.068 --> 00:22:32.553 Thank you. 204 00:22:33.343 --> 00:22:37.166 This program is meant to support housing unit production, not retail and office. 205 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:43.756 The staff presentation suggests that Portland's proportional investment will only support 1 to 2 projects. 206 00:22:44.306 --> 00:22:46.230 However, this is not a statutory allocation. 207 00:22:46.503 --> 00:22:48.088 The program is first come, first serve. 208 00:22:48.652 --> 00:23:06.584 I estimate this could support 300 to 800 units in Portland, and given only about 650 units were permitted for— submitted for permit in 2025, this program alone So please adopt Councilor Green's amendment, further amend Exhibit A to remove the mixed-use reference, and approve this ordinance for passage to the full council. 209 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:07.084 Thank you. 210 00:23:09.351 --> 00:23:10.884 That concludes testimony. 211 00:23:11.797 --> 00:23:12.465 All right, thank you. 212 00:23:13.369 --> 00:23:17.088 Um, so Councilor— or Vice Chair Green, you're still in the queue. 213 00:23:17.749 --> 00:23:20.325 Do you want to go ahead and continue expanding on your amendment? 214 00:23:21.193 --> 00:23:39.036 Yeah, colleagues, um, first of all, You know, we looked at the underlying state statutes that changed House Bill 4037 enrolled, changed Section 302.213 through 307.237. 215 00:23:39.773 --> 00:23:48.509 And I don't see anywhere in there, and maybe I missed it, that requires this to be in a TIF district and that requires our repayment source to be through TIF proceeds. 216 00:23:50.452 --> 00:23:55.961 It sort of, you know, it specifies that the city should be the one to administer this program. 217 00:23:56.009 --> 00:23:57.423 Of course, we can always delegate things. 218 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:14.048 But I think that as we enter into another instance where we're going to use public money to support private objectives or, you know, nonprofit objectives, we have to ensure that we have very strong accountability measures. 219 00:24:14.386 --> 00:24:20.361 And we've all been experiencing issues related to accountability with our public dollars in the housing sector. 220 00:24:20.925 --> 00:24:39.305 And so I'm very concerned of continuing this practice of delegating away from the City of Portland the work of doing this due diligence on evaluating whether or not these projects, these developers actually do need the money and whether or not it's consistent with our broader policy strategy. 221 00:24:40.412 --> 00:24:48.682 As we're doing this unified strategy, housing strategy approach over the summer, I want us to be set up so the city's in the driver's seat for it and we've not outsourced this work. 222 00:24:49.084 --> 00:24:50.685 That's part of it. 223 00:24:50.734 --> 00:25:04.903 The other part is just the financing structure in the law sets the city up to take on a liability to the state of Oregon that then depends upon us being made whole through repayment to the grantees. 224 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:22.321 And so if there's that degree of separation between the city and for Portland, what guarantees do we have that Prosper is choosing the right projects that have the ability to repay the obligation that we've now exposed our state to the city— I'm sorry, exposed the city to the state of Oregon? 225 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:27.557 And if the Portland Housing Bureau is in the driver's seat, this committee can do oversight on that work. 226 00:25:27.959 --> 00:25:44.743 It can ask the question of whether or not the projects that are under consideration have submitted all the necessary documentation And that the Bureau has had an opportunity to actually look at the pro forma and know how much this project is taking in developer fees vis-à-vis the rest of the public money stack. 227 00:25:45.096 --> 00:25:47.565 And so I just want to make sure we're using our taxpayer dollars wisely. 228 00:25:48.922 --> 00:25:59.578 And so if there's anyone from the City Attorney's Office who can speak to whether or not this is really required in statute to be in a TIF district to be repaid in this sort of way, I'd like to see it. 229 00:26:06.736 --> 00:26:07.329 Good afternoon. 230 00:26:07.474 --> 00:26:08.470 Thank you for the question. 231 00:26:08.535 --> 00:26:10.574 Adrienne Delgado, City Attorney's Office. 232 00:26:10.990 --> 00:26:18.039 Um, so I think to your first question, another way of looking at this is what are the repayment sources. 233 00:26:18.617 --> 00:26:24.768 Um, so one is by fee, and that is only available outside of a UAR. 234 00:26:25.232 --> 00:26:40.755 So if the city wants to charge, or whoever is operating the program wants to charge a fee as repayment that's automatically collected by the tax assessor, and then that property project gets a tax exemption, then that's one path, and that's the outside of a UAR path. 235 00:26:41.365 --> 00:26:48.022 Then there's the repayment with an alternative source of revenue path, and that will work in a UAR. 236 00:26:50.571 --> 00:26:55.307 Alternative source of revenue, as I read the statute, Does not necessarily have to be TIF. 237 00:26:56.574 --> 00:27:01.563 It could be a loan that's issued to the developer, and then the loan proceeds go back for repayment. 238 00:27:02.589 --> 00:27:06.712 But I think TIF, when this was— is a natural source of repayment that's also allowed. 239 00:27:07.915 --> 00:27:14.365 So would you— would it be fair to say that this, as proposed, is an allowable approach? 240 00:27:14.894 --> 00:27:19.739 It's an allowable thing under the statute, but it's not a prescribed method of administering this program? 241 00:27:20.710 --> 00:27:20.807 Correct. 242 00:27:20.987 --> 00:27:21.298 Thank you. 243 00:27:22.701 --> 00:27:25.038 I think that's the only question I have on the legal front. 244 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:29.676 I think the bigger parts of it are philosophical. 245 00:27:29.838 --> 00:27:31.980 It's sort of like, is the threshold number correct? 246 00:27:32.046 --> 00:27:33.067 You've heard from Robert Pyle. 247 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:38.519 There's, you know, we can get into a debate about that, but for now I think I'll just—. 248 00:27:38.646 --> 00:27:39.097 Move it though. 249 00:27:39.178 --> 00:27:39.596 Move it for now. 250 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:42.088 Oh yeah, and I guess I would move the amendment. 251 00:27:42.410 --> 00:27:44.387 I move that we consider Green 1. 252 00:27:47.565 --> 00:27:53.377 Okay, moved by Councilor Green and seconded by, uh, Councilor Koyama Lane. 253 00:27:53.907 --> 00:27:55.817 Sorry, Vice Chair Green, got to get used to that. 254 00:27:56.364 --> 00:27:57.503 Um, great. 255 00:27:57.681 --> 00:28:02.659 So we will go ahead and move into discussion on the amendment, and I put myself in the queue so I can kick us off. 256 00:28:02.787 --> 00:28:09.771 Um, I appreciate the intent and, uh, also appreciate the city attorney's, uh, guidance that they shared. 257 00:28:10.269 --> 00:28:21.663 I think Part of my concern with the amendment is just the feasibility of who's prepared to administer that kind of work. 258 00:28:21.728 --> 00:28:30.621 And in talking with the service area, it seems like it just is more naturally situated with Prosper in addition to all the TIF stuff we're talking about. 259 00:28:30.701 --> 00:28:37.905 Of course, as you— as we heard from the attorney, that doesn't have to come out of TIF, but that's how they've set it up right now. 260 00:28:38.536 --> 00:28:48.863 I agree that the 75 amount is high, and it was part of the reason for, from my understanding, of why they placed it at that number. 261 00:28:49.296 --> 00:29:00.538 It is arbitrary in the sense that they just picked a number, but they wanted a higher number to encourage more units because those dollars are limited and we wanted to spur more development. 262 00:29:00.699 --> 00:29:03.461 I am comfortable with moving it down to 20. 263 00:29:03.540 --> 00:29:07.631 I'm not comfortable with removing the the floor, if you will. 264 00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:14.506 So I think by keeping it at 20 units, then that triggers inclusionary housing, and that's a priority to me. 265 00:29:14.586 --> 00:29:17.518 So I'm not going to support the amendment as is. 266 00:29:17.614 --> 00:29:23.672 I would support a change from 75 to 20, but just based on how the amendment is structured, it's kind of buried in there. 267 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:29.327 So as currently written, I will not support, but I am interested in looking at lowering that. 268 00:29:30.354 --> 00:29:30.931 Let's move to Councilor Novick. 269 00:29:30.979 --> 00:29:31.394 Thank you, Madam Chair. 270 00:29:34.403 --> 00:29:35.148 Thank you, Madam Chair. 271 00:29:35.375 --> 00:29:50.840 I just wanted to hear from city staff any thoughts they might want to add on this 75 number, the other aspects of Councilor Green's amendment, Councilor Green's amendment, and Mr. Pyle's suggestion that the mixed-use reference be removed. 272 00:29:55.384 --> 00:30:09.907 Oh, and also, um, I, I think Chair Avalos already mentioned this, but I wanted to know about if there's— who— and I think this might be— answer might be you, Chair Avalos— has discussed with the Portland Housing Bureau the prospect of their taking this over? 273 00:30:10.148 --> 00:30:13.568 We've got Donny here to answer your questions. 274 00:30:13.617 --> 00:30:13.858 Go ahead. 275 00:30:14.307 --> 00:30:14.806 Thank you, Councilor. 276 00:30:14.869 --> 00:30:15.400 Thank you, Chair. 277 00:30:15.528 --> 00:30:16.797 Donny Oliveira, for the record. 278 00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:19.977 Regarding the 75 number, I think it's been shared a couple times. 279 00:30:20.025 --> 00:30:20.827 I'll just reiterate it. 280 00:30:21.550 --> 00:30:24.249 The 75 was arbitrary, but the intent was sound. 281 00:30:25.164 --> 00:30:30.079 I believe staff already articulated there's a $50 million state pot that's statewide. 282 00:30:30.127 --> 00:30:31.478 So those dollars are gonna be competitive. 283 00:30:31.911 --> 00:30:33.163 It is first come, first serve. 284 00:30:33.597 --> 00:30:40.152 So while we agreed with Mr. Powell that we wanna see as many units built, the likelihood that we'll have many projects is uncertain. 285 00:30:40.730 --> 00:30:43.733 And so the goal of 75 was just to set a bar that we thought we could get. 286 00:30:43.782 --> 00:30:46.096 If we were gonna get a couple of projects, let's make them large. 287 00:30:46.690 --> 00:30:47.622 But that was arbitrary. 288 00:30:48.843 --> 00:30:57.123 And so if there was gonna be an amendment to that number, We would recommend 20 units so that we were consistent with the IH policy of the city. 289 00:30:57.638 --> 00:31:06.736 Just a reminder for everybody, 20 units is the threshold for which IH kicks in for development, and we'd like to ensure that we had those policies intact for that to take advantage of this programming. 290 00:31:07.317 --> 00:31:18.009 As far as the PHB staff capacity, Councilor, the question really is the Housing Bureau has a lot of programming that's been placed on them this year. 291 00:31:18.298 --> 00:31:28.582 So it's not a matter of is this alone new work, is this On top of UHS, excuse me, the Unified Housing Strategy, on top of social housing, on top of the existing work we expect to hear later today. 292 00:31:29.569 --> 00:31:31.672 It just becomes a question of what is the staff capacity. 293 00:31:32.092 --> 00:31:34.549 And having said that, Prosper does do this work. 294 00:31:34.777 --> 00:31:36.684 They do middle-income housing already. 295 00:31:37.185 --> 00:31:37.979 They do this sort of underwriting. 296 00:31:38.762 --> 00:31:40.846 It is a logical pathway for them to continue this work. 297 00:31:41.250 --> 00:31:42.493 Can PHB do this work? 298 00:31:43.351 --> 00:31:44.304 Generally speaking, yes. 299 00:31:44.416 --> 00:31:45.272 Do we have capacity? 300 00:31:45.871 --> 00:31:46.791 We'd have to talk about that. 301 00:31:49.137 --> 00:31:49.683 Given everything else. 302 00:31:50.984 --> 00:31:51.644 Thank you. 303 00:31:53.476 --> 00:31:56.593 Oh, and what about the, the Mr. Powell's mixed-use point? 304 00:31:57.428 --> 00:32:00.099 I think that's, that's another example where we put that in. 305 00:32:00.163 --> 00:32:07.849 We think there's a logical— when you're talking about development in high-density areas, you know, commercial corridors, etc., those typically are mixed-use. 306 00:32:08.689 --> 00:32:14.303 If you were going to reduce the 75-unit, you know, threshold, that becomes less of a mandate, if you will. 307 00:32:15.707 --> 00:32:16.441 So to take—. 308 00:32:16.441 --> 00:32:20.821 Okay, so there's a link between those 2 things, the mixed use and the 75? 309 00:32:21.416 --> 00:32:22.492 Generally, yes. 310 00:32:25.113 --> 00:32:25.595 Thank you. 311 00:32:25.674 --> 00:32:27.121 All right, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 312 00:32:28.406 --> 00:32:29.338 Thank you, Chair Avalos. 313 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:36.799 I'm trying to separate my questions about the underlying from my questions about the amendment, but there's a little bit of overlap here. 314 00:32:40.965 --> 00:33:04.954 I want to ask a bit more about staff capacity, and I'm not sure if this is a PROSPER question or a question for the DCA, but we heard that 75 was— in the comment about 75 units, we heard that in part that was to increase the efficacy of each application and the time staff were putting into it. 315 00:33:05.586 --> 00:33:30.894 And I'm wondering about the We heard about PHB, but the capacity at PROSPER to take this on and whether we foresee needing to bring on additional staff if this stays at PROSPER, and whether we would need to bring on additional staff to do this at PHB, or whether because we don't think we'll get a lot of applications through, staff can manage this. 316 00:33:30.976 --> 00:33:32.326 And I guess related question. 317 00:33:32.407 --> 00:33:32.798 Thank you. 318 00:33:34.054 --> 00:33:36.904 Do we think that there will be a lot of applications? 319 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:43.232 Do we need to be worrying about the difference in capacity between PHB and PROSPER in a significant way? 320 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.707 Thank you for the question, Councilor Donny Oliveira. 321 00:33:47.834 --> 00:33:49.105 PROSPER has staff capacity. 322 00:33:49.605 --> 00:33:57.301 I think the note was just to articulate that whether it's a 5-unit project or a 75-unit project, the process is still going to be the same. 323 00:33:57.529 --> 00:34:06.599 The underwriting will be a little more complex, of course, for 75 units, but Generally speaking, taking a developer in process is roughly the same amount of time. 324 00:34:07.289 --> 00:34:13.311 Prosper, given their workload in the real estate investment portfolio, has this staff already doing this type of work. 325 00:34:13.503 --> 00:34:16.715 So to answer your question, there's not a need for new staff at Prosper to do this work. 326 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:19.235 It's within their existing capacity. 327 00:34:20.135 --> 00:34:22.608 There are staff at PHB that could also do this work. 328 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:29.282 The difference there is many of them that you work with on a regular basis are also the policy leads doing some of the bigger policy work out of the bureau right now. 329 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.358 So while they—. 330 00:34:30.422 --> 00:34:32.170 Do we have people in the bureau that can do this work? 331 00:34:32.409 --> 00:34:32.650 Yes. 332 00:34:33.307 --> 00:34:36.081 Are they completely encumbered with other policies and priorities? 333 00:34:36.418 --> 00:34:36.547 Yes. 334 00:34:37.157 --> 00:34:39.818 And so there probably would be a conversation about staff capacity. 335 00:34:40.204 --> 00:34:44.710 And the last thing I'll just speak to on this one, generally speaking, we'd like to get this out in the fall. 336 00:34:45.094 --> 00:34:48.077 This— there's staff in PROSPER who have been working on this for a while now. 337 00:34:48.686 --> 00:34:52.197 They have been prepared to get this going as fast as possible, rulemaking, et cetera. 338 00:34:52.262 --> 00:34:52.534 Thank you. 339 00:34:53.449 --> 00:35:03.393 So I would prefer— my recommendation would be for the council to contemplate not slowing us down because we already have staff in a bureau, in an agency that is doing the work and ready to go. 340 00:35:04.114 --> 00:35:04.275 Okay. 341 00:35:05.143 --> 00:35:13.367 And with removing the language, the amendment removes language around TIF repayment. 342 00:35:14.458 --> 00:35:31.818 Under the amendment, Councilor, is your intention— I'm going to turn this question to you in a minute— But is your intention that we would not be able to repay the loan with TIF and that this would remove that path forward, or just that it would not prioritize that path forward? 343 00:35:33.262 --> 00:35:52.974 Yeah, my intention is that the city retains its discretion to design its repayment methods allowable by state law, but it doesn't hardcode it right now that if it's in a TIF district That we are going to take off the top of our expected TIF proceeds from something, from a new loan obligation that we've just now put onto it by Merle. 344 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:54.563 Okay. 345 00:35:56.344 --> 00:36:11.027 I have to be honest, I'm a little bit torn about this because I had a question on the underlying about whether using TIF repayment for something like this that moves forward outside of the TIF plan process Yes. 346 00:36:11.492 --> 00:36:20.257 Could inadvertently allow us to end-run a TIF plan and have projects that were not part of what the community prioritized, and I'm concerned about that. 347 00:36:21.170 --> 00:36:37.130 On the other hand, if we repay through diverted property taxes, that's additional money not coming into our city coffers, whereas if we repay through a TIF plan, that's money we already weren't planning to see. 348 00:36:37.677 --> 00:36:40.077 To fund housing, which is a priority within TIF. 349 00:36:40.608 --> 00:36:46.679 So I'd like to make sure that TIF is still an option, even though I want to return to that question when we're at the underlying. 350 00:36:49.737 --> 00:37:06.666 If we were to move this DC Alavera to PHB and under the language that's proposed here, removing TIF, do you foresee us still being able to use TIF as a repayment option, or would that become much more challenging? 351 00:37:08.373 --> 00:37:19.063 My understanding is if it moved over to PHB and we were going to activate TIF dollars, the PROSPER board, as the overseer of TIF funding, would still have an action to take to approve that allocation. 352 00:37:19.833 --> 00:37:19.882 Okay. 353 00:37:19.947 --> 00:37:35.505 So even if it's run through PHB, regardless of TIF though, and City Attorney can confirm that if they're— if Adrian's still in the room, The other part of your question though, can we use TIF, or excuse me, can we have other funding mechanisms? 354 00:37:36.050 --> 00:37:41.847 Yes, there's, as the staff outlined, outside of TIF districts, there was another pathway to fund back projects. 355 00:37:42.152 --> 00:37:42.617 Thanks, Adrienne. 356 00:37:43.293 --> 00:37:44.963 Okay, I see our attorney coming up also. 357 00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:47.820 I apologize, Chair, I have one other question after this. 358 00:37:48.896 --> 00:37:50.036 Yes, I agree with Donny. 359 00:37:50.903 --> 00:38:02.478 If we were using TIF as repayment, it would I mean, if it was at a rate that is contemplated by the set-aside, then PHB has access to those funds. 360 00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:09.860 But for 120% or anything above 80%, it would still need to be approved by Prosper's board. 361 00:38:11.387 --> 00:38:11.789 Thank you. 362 00:38:11.869 --> 00:38:12.963 I appreciate that answer. 363 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.795 Final question. 364 00:38:15.925 --> 00:38:30.190 By lowering— or by adding the word low and, or the words low and Councilor, I heard that your intent there was to allow housing at between the 50% and 60% AMI level to be included. 365 00:38:30.190 --> 00:38:31.750 I think I added low and middle. 366 00:38:31.750 --> 00:38:45.909 Do we need to add the words low and, or do we need to just change the percentages in the section above that that say 60 to 120 to say 50 to 120, and middle-income housing would actually capture that? 367 00:38:45.909 --> 00:38:46.110 I think we need to add the words low and. 368 00:38:47.041 --> 00:38:54.382 I'm not sure I'm the right—. 369 00:38:54.382 --> 00:38:57.496 I mean, I can give you my opinion, but I suspect you want a city attorney's opinion. 370 00:38:57.916 --> 00:39:01.664 We have our attorney up here, so I'll look to her. 371 00:39:01.891 --> 00:39:03.958 Sorry, I'm opening the amendment. 372 00:39:04.619 --> 00:39:11.739 Okay, so under the amendment, what was 5 and is now 4 says 60 to 120, and that's not changed, but the words low-income housing are now removed. 373 00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:25.612 And if our intent is to capture 50 to 100%, 120%, I'm wondering if we actually need the words low and, or if our definition of middle-income housing is broad enough to capture that. 374 00:39:26.014 --> 00:39:31.882 And I'm also wondering if we need to change the percent in the bullet above or the section above. 375 00:39:33.762 --> 00:39:34.150 Where are we? 376 00:39:40.005 --> 00:39:41.320 Sorry, just give us a moment. 377 00:39:41.369 --> 00:39:42.257 We're, we're looking. 378 00:39:48.365 --> 00:39:59.389 While they're looking, I'll just share that I tend to agree with the chair that lowering the 75 could have benefit. 379 00:39:59.873 --> 00:40:09.452 I also am interested in capturing the 50 to 60% AMI units so that we can have broader mixed income buildings and neighborhoods. 380 00:40:10.286 --> 00:40:16.130 I am not inclined to support all of the portions of the current amendment though. 381 00:40:16.869 --> 00:40:31.364 I do think from what I heard from the DCA that if we move from 75 to 20 units, we may need to remove the restriction around Around having mixed-use buildings as well. 382 00:40:32.606 --> 00:40:37.219 But if we wanted to move forward a package with those 3 pieces, I would be a yes vote on that. 383 00:40:39.657 --> 00:40:43.416 Okay, so thank you for that minute to unpack this. 384 00:40:43.547 --> 00:40:53.001 So low and middle income, at least under Title 30, um, it's affordable housing is the way we define like the 80% limit. 385 00:40:53.067 --> 00:40:57.614 So I think low and middle are just general terms here that don't actually change the definition. 386 00:40:57.679 --> 00:41:07.204 I think we'd look to above for like what the 60% to 20% or use the actual, I think would be best to define the actual percentages for low to middle. 387 00:41:08.802 --> 00:41:09.898 That would be my suggestion. 388 00:41:10.351 --> 00:41:11.239 Okay, thank you. 389 00:41:11.302 --> 00:41:11.947 I appreciate it. 390 00:41:12.739 --> 00:41:13.157 Thank you, Chair. 391 00:41:14.550 --> 00:41:14.956 Councilor Green. 392 00:41:15.704 --> 00:41:24.181 Last thing I'll say, and I know that we'll move to a vote 'cause I know that we need to move forward in the agenda, is just that Yeah, I don't expect this amendment to pass today. 393 00:41:24.726 --> 00:41:34.778 We did have a discussion today, and we can consider these ideas at the full council ahead of that with some opportunity to break these things apart. 394 00:41:34.844 --> 00:41:52.628 But what I'll just note is that the low-income, low and moderate income that I chose for this ordinance is tied to the law, the HB 4037, which points to definitions in ORS 458.610, which Which is what I'm sort of keying my definitions to. 395 00:41:52.692 --> 00:41:57.237 So, um, I'll leave it at that, and, uh, we will let the chips fall where they may. 396 00:41:59.427 --> 00:42:00.623 All right, Councilor Koyama Lane. 397 00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:04.594 Thank you, Chair. 398 00:42:05.079 --> 00:42:30.726 Vice Chair, I just wanted to, um, say that what it sounds like I'm hearing is that there are folks open to different parts of this, and so I'm wondering if it makes sense to divide the question and vote on some of the different parts, the adding the low and language with the percentage, the piece around changing the threshold or the minimum of 75, lowering that. 399 00:42:31.016 --> 00:42:33.523 Are you open to dividing the question so we can vote? 400 00:42:34.005 --> 00:42:37.041 I am, but I just— there's a lot in that one piece. 401 00:42:37.217 --> 00:42:41.440 And so do you have a specific idea on how to divide the question? 402 00:42:41.507 --> 00:42:43.677 Because I I don't want to overly complicate it. 403 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:56.576 Like, for instance, if people are interested in just the threshold number and taking that up, then we can say I want to divide the question, want to first vote on that change, and then, and everything else is the next vote. 404 00:42:57.869 --> 00:43:05.190 I guess I'm wondering if we can vote on what Councilor Pirtle-Guiney just said, the 3 areas that she was interested in. 405 00:43:06.833 --> 00:43:07.753 That's something we can do now. 406 00:43:08.027 --> 00:43:09.235 Helpful if I repeat that? 407 00:43:09.836 --> 00:43:10.516 It is helpful, yes. 408 00:43:10.952 --> 00:43:18.858 So I had expressed an interest in— you don't have this included, but in changing the threshold. 409 00:43:18.954 --> 00:43:21.034 I'm going to try to find where it is in your amendment again. 410 00:43:21.710 --> 00:43:27.365 I believe it was Section— oh no, Section 3? 411 00:43:28.851 --> 00:43:32.525 No, Section— you're talking about the 75-unit one? 412 00:43:32.621 --> 00:43:33.523 No, the low end. 413 00:43:33.588 --> 00:43:34.538 Sorry, Section 1. 414 00:43:36.688 --> 00:43:49.137 In Section 1, new sub 4— it was 5— where it says 60%, changing that to the 50% to capture the Vice Chair's intent and adding in the words low and. 415 00:43:50.324 --> 00:44:02.597 I was interested in all of the portions later in the amendment that would lower 75%, and I would defer to the Chair and lower that to 20%. 416 00:44:03.447 --> 00:44:21.661 And then it sounded from what I heard from the DCA that if we do that, we should probably remove the language around mixed income, or I apologize, mixed use, because a mixed-use building with 20 units isn't always as effective as a 75-unit mixed-use building. 417 00:44:22.512 --> 00:44:28.744 So that would be the third piece, is if folks are interested in the suggestion from the testifier to remove the language around mixed use. 418 00:44:28.793 --> 00:44:28.905 Thank you. 419 00:44:30.670 --> 00:44:33.380 I'm very interested in that. 420 00:44:33.974 --> 00:44:37.534 If you can hold that all in your head and make that motion, I'd vote on it right now. 421 00:44:37.663 --> 00:44:42.539 Otherwise, I would offer to work with you after this to bring forward a distinct amendment at the full council. 422 00:44:42.715 --> 00:44:43.614 Chair, what would you prefer? 423 00:44:43.983 --> 00:44:46.293 Why don't we vote on the current as-is? 424 00:44:46.710 --> 00:44:52.099 That way we can just get that off the, you know, the table, and then maybe we can hear a proposed new amendment. 425 00:44:52.195 --> 00:44:52.644 Does that work? 426 00:44:53.222 --> 00:44:53.447 Yes. 427 00:44:53.704 --> 00:44:56.447 Okay, so let's go ahead and move to a vote. 428 00:44:57.385 --> 00:44:57.889 Uh, Diego. 429 00:44:59.257 --> 00:45:03.384 We have a motion on Green 1, moved by Green, seconded by Koyama Lane. 430 00:45:04.286 --> 00:45:04.755 Pirtle-Guiney? 431 00:45:05.659 --> 00:45:05.900 No. 432 00:45:07.030 --> 00:45:07.498 Koyama Lane? 433 00:45:08.724 --> 00:45:08.822 Aye. 434 00:45:09.920 --> 00:45:10.177 Novick? 435 00:45:11.148 --> 00:45:11.327 No. 436 00:45:12.621 --> 00:45:12.913 Green? 437 00:45:13.251 --> 00:45:13.300 Aye. 438 00:45:14.708 --> 00:45:14.934 Avalos? 439 00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:16.317 No. 440 00:45:17.226 --> 00:45:21.597 With 2 ayes and 3 no votes, the amendment fails. 441 00:45:24.010 --> 00:45:27.108 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, would you like to introduce the new amendment? 442 00:45:27.981 --> 00:45:34.601 So I don't have this in writing yet, so I'm going to look to the clerk and council ops when I say this to see if it works. 443 00:45:35.652 --> 00:45:48.505 I would move that in Section 1.5, because we're not looking at the amendment anymore, so in Section 1.5, we change the number 60% To 50%. 444 00:45:49.911 --> 00:45:57.132 In Section 1.6, we add the words low and between the words development of and middle income. 445 00:45:58.699 --> 00:46:13.443 And then let's look down in Section 4 where it says 75 units, that'd be changed to 20 units. 446 00:46:13.507 --> 00:46:13.668 Thank you. 447 00:46:16.208 --> 00:46:24.652 In Section 5, where it says provide a minimum of 75 new housing units, that be changed to 20 new housing units. 448 00:46:26.751 --> 00:46:29.851 I believe those are the only 2 references to the number 75. 449 00:46:32.563 --> 00:46:33.806 And then isn't there one more thing? 450 00:46:35.809 --> 00:46:49.269 Now, I would look to committee members, and I don't know how casually you want to run this, about whether we prefer I was responding to the comment from the DCA. 451 00:46:49.543 --> 00:46:51.036 I have no problem keeping it. 452 00:46:51.230 --> 00:47:00.018 I think in, in my district there are many smaller mixed-use buildings, and I would be happy to have 20-unit mixed-use buildings. 453 00:47:00.146 --> 00:47:09.079 But if that's not an effective use of this program, I'm happy to include removing it in this amendment for the sake of moving quickly. 454 00:47:09.159 --> 00:47:13.606 Councilmember Smith, I would say I would prefer to keep it just because 20 is the floor. 455 00:47:14.215 --> 00:47:20.909 And so that way it's not limiting it for if there is a 75-unit building, then we can encourage that that be mixed use. 456 00:47:20.956 --> 00:47:21.181 So I—. 457 00:47:21.181 --> 00:47:21.277 Okay. 458 00:47:21.373 --> 00:47:22.289 For that reason, I keep it in. 459 00:47:22.400 --> 00:47:25.353 Keep it in and just make those changes that I enumerated. 460 00:47:26.092 --> 00:47:27.713 All right, so that is an amendment. 461 00:47:27.842 --> 00:47:30.346 We'll call it Pirtle-Guiney 1, is moved. 462 00:47:30.650 --> 00:47:31.436 Do I have a second? 463 00:47:32.175 --> 00:47:32.512 Second. 464 00:47:32.914 --> 00:47:34.246 Seconded by Councilor Green. 465 00:47:35.889 --> 00:47:37.893 Is everyone clear on the committee on the amendment? 466 00:47:39.409 --> 00:47:41.956 Are there any— is there any other discussion? 467 00:47:44.021 --> 00:47:46.603 All right, then let's go ahead and move, uh, to a vote. 468 00:47:52.110 --> 00:47:52.510 Pirtle-Guiney? 469 00:47:52.929 --> 00:47:52.976 Aye. 470 00:47:54.150 --> 00:47:54.681 Koyama Lane? 471 00:47:55.097 --> 00:47:55.146 Aye. 472 00:47:56.304 --> 00:47:56.721 Novick? 473 00:47:57.670 --> 00:47:57.702 Aye. 474 00:47:58.875 --> 00:47:59.099 Green? 475 00:47:59.518 --> 00:47:59.597 Aye. 476 00:48:00.481 --> 00:48:00.786 Avalos? 477 00:48:01.043 --> 00:48:01.125 Aye. 478 00:48:02.027 --> 00:48:04.550 With 5 ayes, the amendment is approved. 479 00:48:05.242 --> 00:48:09.210 All right, any further discussion on the underlying ordinance? 480 00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:14.641 Then let's go ahead and— hold on, let me get the right language for you, Diego. 481 00:48:15.219 --> 00:48:18.884 And I apologize, Chair, did we have a motion and a second for that one? 482 00:48:19.092 --> 00:48:21.262 Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Green. 483 00:48:21.630 --> 00:48:22.210 Thank you so much. 484 00:48:22.434 --> 00:48:22.788 Yeah. 485 00:48:24.202 --> 00:48:32.097 All right, so I would go ahead and Hold on, got to get to the right spot on my list. 486 00:48:32.824 --> 00:48:38.581 All right, I would like to entertain a motion to approve, uh, as amended document number 2026-124. 487 00:48:41.347 --> 00:48:41.978 So moved. 488 00:48:42.286 --> 00:48:42.722 Second. 489 00:48:43.094 --> 00:48:45.664 Moved by Koyama Lane, seconded by Pirtle-Guiney. 490 00:48:46.646 --> 00:48:47.628 Uh, any discussion? 491 00:48:48.432 --> 00:48:49.173 Let's move to a vote. 492 00:48:49.641 --> 00:48:50.365 Oh, do you have the discussion? 493 00:48:50.527 --> 00:48:51.315 Yeah, just real quick. 494 00:48:51.476 --> 00:48:55.208 Um, I think we've improved what's underlying based upon the discussion today. 495 00:48:55.436 --> 00:49:07.539 Uh, I'm going to be a no today out of committee because of the the Prosper Portland and governance controls that I was concerned about, and I look forward to, uh, working on that with anyone who wants to work on me— that with me before we get to the full council. 496 00:49:07.927 --> 00:49:08.219 Thanks. 497 00:49:10.521 --> 00:49:12.322 Thank you, Vice Chair, and let's talk about it more. 498 00:49:12.402 --> 00:49:15.255 I'd be interested in exploring that conversation ahead of full council. 499 00:49:15.980 --> 00:49:16.764 Diego, please call the roll. 500 00:49:18.539 --> 00:49:18.865 Pirtle-Guiney. 501 00:49:19.371 --> 00:49:19.420 Aye. 502 00:49:20.431 --> 00:49:20.954 Koyama Lane. 503 00:49:21.248 --> 00:49:21.427 Aye. 504 00:49:22.472 --> 00:49:22.896 Novick. 505 00:49:23.320 --> 00:49:23.369 Aye. 506 00:49:25.797 --> 00:49:26.072 Green? 507 00:49:26.217 --> 00:49:26.297 No. 508 00:49:27.086 --> 00:49:27.313 Avalos? 509 00:49:27.909 --> 00:49:27.989 Aye. 510 00:49:29.038 --> 00:49:32.181 With 4 ayes and 1 nay vote, the motion carries. 511 00:49:32.940 --> 00:49:41.574 It's the motion to refer the ordinance as amended, document number 2026-124, to full council with the recommendation that it be passed. 512 00:49:42.771 --> 00:49:43.472 All right, thank you. 513 00:49:44.402 --> 00:49:45.884 Let's go ahead and move on to our next item. 514 00:49:45.949 --> 00:49:47.416 Diego, could you please call item 2? 515 00:49:48.996 --> 00:49:57.295 Item 2, adopt a supplemental budget for the Portland Housing Bureau for fiscal year 2025 All right, thank you. 516 00:49:58.161 --> 00:50:05.510 So, um, before we get into the details of today's item, I just have a couple of quick thoughts to step back and ground us in why this work matters. 517 00:50:06.409 --> 00:50:17.864 Across Portland, we are hearing from people who are struggling to stay in their homes— families falling behind on rent, seniors on fixed incomes, and neighbors who are one unexpected expense away from losing their housing. 518 00:50:18.458 --> 00:50:22.918 At the same time, we continue to see more people entering homelessness than we are able to house them. 519 00:50:23.255 --> 00:50:24.762 So that is the reality in front of us. 520 00:50:25.500 --> 00:50:31.896 We learned that tens of millions of dollars, resources that were intended to support housing, were sitting unallocated or planned for uses down the road. 521 00:50:32.393 --> 00:50:34.443 That raised a fundamental question for all of us. 522 00:50:34.797 --> 00:50:38.226 How do we use these resources in a way that actually meets the urgency of this moment? 523 00:50:38.980 --> 00:50:41.688 Over the past several months, we've had that conversation as a council. 524 00:50:41.865 --> 00:50:50.440 We held a work session to surface priorities, heard from community partners, and worked collaboratively across offices and with PHB staff to shape a path forward. 525 00:50:51.226 --> 00:50:53.248 So what's before us today reflects that shared effort. 526 00:50:53.971 --> 00:51:00.150 For me, this is about being clear-eyed about the scale of the challenge and making sure we are using our limited resources where they have the greatest impact. 527 00:51:00.550 --> 00:51:04.128 And it also means recognizing that there is no single solution to our housing crisis. 528 00:51:04.643 --> 00:51:12.681 We have to take a comprehensive approach, one that helps people stay housed today, stabilizes the housing we already have, and continues to build toward the future our city needs. 529 00:51:13.387 --> 00:51:14.800 This is also about accountability. 530 00:51:15.072 --> 00:51:23.208 When we identify resources intended for housing, we have a responsibility to make sure they are deployed in a way that is transparent, effective, and aligned with the needs we're hearing from Portlanders. 531 00:51:23.905 --> 00:51:30.471 I want to thank my colleagues who have partnered on this effort, as well as staff and community members who helped to shape this proposal. 532 00:51:31.083 --> 00:51:36.405 And with that, I'm going to invite my co-sponsors to share a few remarks, and then we'll come back and walk through the ordinance in more detail. 533 00:51:36.969 --> 00:51:39.047 So we'll start off with Vice Chair Councilor Green. 534 00:51:40.461 --> 00:51:41.802 Thank you so much, Chair Avalos. 535 00:51:41.931 --> 00:51:45.289 I'll keep it brief because I don't want to take time from everyone who's signed up to Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 536 00:51:45.289 --> 00:51:45.289 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 537 00:51:45.289 --> 00:51:46.630 Thank you to all of our staff to testify. 538 00:51:46.630 --> 00:51:52.449 This is probably one of the most important decisions we will make to shape our approach to housing over the next few years. 539 00:51:53.130 --> 00:52:00.360 We are responding to both a crisis of transparency into the nature of how these funds came to be and who gets to talk about that. 540 00:52:00.510 --> 00:52:07.110 But then we're also saying we're stepping up to the plate and we're going to invest one-time dollars in things that we think are going to have lasting solutions. 541 00:52:07.389 --> 00:52:12.876 And so I think the priorities in the ordinance are aligned with the priorities of our city. 542 00:52:13.615 --> 00:52:25.684 And I think we have an opportunity to shape a good fiscal stewardship approach to addressing the upstream problems in our housing homelessness continuum. 543 00:52:27.561 --> 00:52:28.175 Thank you, Vice Chair. 544 00:52:29.422 --> 00:52:31.775 We've got Councilor Murillo, I think, in the room. 545 00:52:31.873 --> 00:52:32.068 Yes? 546 00:52:32.603 --> 00:52:33.106 Are you in the corner? 547 00:52:33.253 --> 00:52:34.065 Yeah, come on up. 548 00:52:34.780 --> 00:52:35.103 Oh, there you are. 549 00:52:35.672 --> 00:52:36.175 Come on up. 550 00:52:41.150 --> 00:52:43.172 Oh, it feels weird being on this side of it. 551 00:52:44.079 --> 00:52:44.791 Hello everyone. 552 00:52:45.940 --> 00:52:53.083 Um, thank you so much for, uh, inviting me to come speak about this ordinance and why I think it is absolutely critical and important. 553 00:52:53.693 --> 00:53:04.384 Um, I was running downstairs, so I believe you covered what is already in the ordinance, but I really want to focus on the why and why this matters to our city right now. 554 00:53:05.630 --> 00:53:11.925 Every month, Multnomah County is really in dire straits when it comes to our homelessness crisis. 555 00:53:12.445 --> 00:53:18.800 We are losing about 300 people a month who are becoming unhoused, and that is not letting up. 556 00:53:20.476 --> 00:53:29.465 We have 25% of an increase in people who are becoming unhoused between January 2025 and January 2026. 557 00:53:30.494 --> 00:53:34.010 And that is not a trend that is being followed across the country. 558 00:53:34.202 --> 00:53:44.639 That is actually something that is unique to Portland, and that is partly because the mechanisms that we are using to address our homelessness crisis are not working, which means that we have to try something different. 559 00:53:44.719 --> 00:53:46.567 We have a duty to try something different. 560 00:53:47.514 --> 00:53:53.293 Congress expanded LIHTC last year, but studies have shown that more tax credits does not necessarily mean more housing. 561 00:53:53.936 --> 00:54:02.579 Developers can sometimes use the new credits to finance projects that they would have built anyways, and LIHTC units are rarely affordable enough for the lowest income households on their own. 562 00:54:03.556 --> 00:54:07.710 And the same bill cut over $1 trillion from social safety nets. 563 00:54:09.088 --> 00:54:11.190 HUD rental assistance is being restructured. 564 00:54:11.670 --> 00:54:17.059 A minimum of 2,000 Portland area households on federal rental subsidies are at imminent risk. 565 00:54:17.619 --> 00:54:20.938 SNAP benefits are disappearing for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians. 566 00:54:21.693 --> 00:54:28.534 And the bottom line is that the federal government is funding construction tools while gutting the affordability tools to make those units reachable. 567 00:54:29.063 --> 00:54:31.969 That is the context in which we have brought forward this ordinance. 568 00:54:32.836 --> 00:54:41.909 The Portland Housing Bureau has identified $56 million in funds that can be appropriated now, and they have been working with our offices to put together a package that responds to this moment. 569 00:54:42.567 --> 00:54:45.954 I want to talk about why these particular investments matter. 570 00:54:48.103 --> 00:54:54.545 There is a difference between a check and a fix, and I know that some are skeptical of rental assistance. 571 00:54:54.737 --> 00:54:56.469 I find myself skeptical of it as well. 572 00:54:57.061 --> 00:54:59.833 The critique is that rent assistance is just a check to a landlord. 573 00:55:00.266 --> 00:55:01.324 It doesn't change the rent. 574 00:55:01.403 --> 00:55:06.067 It doesn't change the power dynamic, and when it runs out, tenants are right back where they started. 575 00:55:06.692 --> 00:55:10.458 That's a fair critique about rental assistance and how it has historically worked. 576 00:55:11.259 --> 00:55:12.525 It is not a critique of what's in this. 577 00:55:14.123 --> 00:55:14.384 Package. 578 00:55:14.496 --> 00:55:22.565 Prevention is still the top priority in this package, and keeping someone housed costs a fraction of what it costs to rehouse them after they fall into homelessness. 579 00:55:23.230 --> 00:55:31.737 Every tenant who keeps their apartment is one fewer person in the shelter system, one fewer person in the emergency room, one fewer eviction clogging up the courts. 580 00:55:32.400 --> 00:55:36.469 As Council President Dunphy has put it, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 581 00:55:37.389 --> 00:55:44.210 The question is not whether prevention works It's whether prevention dollars are structured to produce lasting results or just delay the crisis. 582 00:55:44.740 --> 00:55:46.474 And this package balances both. 583 00:55:47.936 --> 00:55:57.875 Rent assistance in the short term— it has a flexible aid for people who are about to lose their housing right now, including 2,000 households about to lose federal subsidies. 584 00:55:58.452 --> 00:56:00.684 We are not pretending that that is a long-term solution. 585 00:56:01.681 --> 00:56:04.458 The structural pieces are in other parts of the package. 586 00:56:05.454 --> 00:56:19.251 The debt buydowns permanently restructure the financing on affordable buildings so that rents can come down and stay down, which is critical because the problem in a lot of those buildings isn't operating costs, it's overleveraged debt passed down to tenants. 587 00:56:20.900 --> 00:56:28.981 We also have the Right to Eviction Council, which changes the power dynamic in eviction court where tenants lose their housing more often and more and most preventably. 588 00:56:29.998 --> 00:56:34.672 Social housing acquisition acquisition also removes properties from the speculative market entirely. 589 00:56:35.635 --> 00:56:42.157 The rent assistance buys time for the structural interventions to take hold, and that is what's, uh, part of the design of this package. 590 00:56:43.630 --> 00:56:53.005 What we are doing with this ordinance is we are putting our faith and our trust and our infrastructure behind public ownership. 591 00:56:53.806 --> 00:56:56.659 $10 Million for direct acquisition of social housing. 592 00:56:57.653 --> 00:56:59.547 Property the public owns permanently. 593 00:56:59.980 --> 00:57:07.327 No investor exit, no LIHTC affordability restrictions that expire when a compliance period ends, no conversion to market rate. 594 00:57:08.065 --> 00:57:12.302 One-time dollars should buy permanent assets, and that's exactly what this does. 595 00:57:13.376 --> 00:57:15.269 The market cannot fix this alone. 596 00:57:15.782 --> 00:57:18.126 The market is exactly what got us here. 597 00:57:18.751 --> 00:57:26.260 The gap between what low-income Portlanders earn and what housing costs is too much and too large for the private market to close down on its own. 598 00:57:26.918 --> 00:57:28.507 That's not a criticism of developers. 599 00:57:29.101 --> 00:57:31.686 It is a fact about the economics of housing in this country. 600 00:57:32.536 --> 00:57:38.940 Construction of affordable housing has never produced a sufficient return on investment to attract private capital without public subsidy. 601 00:57:39.436 --> 00:57:43.514 That has been true for 90 years of federal housing policy, and it is true today. 602 00:57:44.268 --> 00:57:53.039 We can waive fees, we can streamline permits, and we should, but the cost of materials and labor and financing will always exceed what anyone who is poor can pay. 603 00:57:54.250 --> 00:57:56.150 LIHTC is necessary, but it's not sufficient. 604 00:57:56.536 --> 00:58:01.338 And Congress expanded LIHTC last year, but deal flow has actually slowed since the expansion. 605 00:58:02.306 --> 00:58:04.666 And more credits does not necessarily mean more housing. 606 00:58:06.922 --> 00:58:16.385 We can keep cycling through subsidies that expire, or we can start converting some of those dollars into permanent public assets that never expire and never convert. 607 00:58:17.110 --> 00:58:29.632 Debt buydowns are part of that process, making sure that we are permanently restructuring finances, that we target overleveraged mortgage debt, and that we are changing operating costs. 608 00:58:30.539 --> 00:58:37.288 By using acquisition as a tool, we can buy property that the public will own outright, and both are structural fixes. 609 00:58:37.400 --> 00:58:39.938 These are not Band-Aid solutions to these long-term problems. 610 00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:51.829 What this policy doesn't do is, I think we have to acknowledge that 56 million is not going to single-handedly resolve our housing crisis or our homelessness crisis. 611 00:58:52.519 --> 00:58:58.992 It does not close the 300-person monthly gap between inflows and outflows of who is leaving homelessness and who is becoming homeless. 612 00:58:59.731 --> 00:59:03.731 It does not replace the federal funding that is being pulled away from local municipalities. 613 00:59:04.471 --> 00:59:05.594 The rent assistance package. 614 00:59:05.755 --> 00:59:06.940 Will run out eventually. 615 00:59:07.775 --> 00:59:15.657 But what it does do, and what is absolutely critical for this body to understand, is that it keeps people in their homes while we build something that lasts. 616 00:59:16.347 --> 00:59:18.349 The debt buydown permanently lowers rents. 617 00:59:18.735 --> 00:59:22.916 The social housing acquisition permanently removes property from the speculative market. 618 00:59:23.398 --> 00:59:28.492 And those assets the public will own in 10 years, in 20 years, in 50 years. 619 00:59:29.550 --> 00:59:32.818 Everything in this package is a triage to address our problems. 620 00:59:33.251 --> 00:59:36.266 And that includes both long-term and short-term solutions. 621 00:59:36.778 --> 00:59:51.094 But to me, the real importance of this package is that it is investing in our permanent infrastructure, and that is what councils before us have failed to do, and that is what we have an opportunity to do with these one-time dollars. 622 00:59:51.623 --> 00:59:58.469 So I really hope that we will be able to pass this package today for the long-term health and well-being of Portlanders. 623 00:59:58.822 --> 01:00:05.295 Not just in the coming years, not just those who are going to remember this for our reelections, but for generations to come. 624 01:00:05.666 --> 01:00:07.373 So thank you so much for having me speak today. 625 01:00:07.422 --> 01:00:08.447 I really appreciate your time. 626 01:00:13.871 --> 01:00:14.545 Oh, is this working? 627 01:00:14.786 --> 01:00:14.931 Okay. 628 01:00:15.396 --> 01:00:16.907 Thank you, Councilor Morillo. 629 01:00:17.326 --> 01:00:19.960 Our other co-sponsor is Council President Dunphy. 630 01:00:20.329 --> 01:00:23.516 He is not going to speak, but he shares— there he is. 631 01:00:24.509 --> 01:00:26.592 He shares all of our sentiments. 632 01:00:26.994 --> 01:00:33.605 All right, um, so I'm going to go ahead and walk through the ordinance very quickly, and then we're going to get right into testimony. 633 01:00:34.659 --> 01:00:40.548 Um, so that should be on the screen, and then I also have copies here for my committee members in person. 634 01:00:44.505 --> 01:00:46.833 And Councilor Novick, you're online, but you've got it online. 635 01:00:47.123 --> 01:00:58.195 So, all right, so at its core, this ordinance allocates a set of housing resources that were identified over the past several months and now require council direction. 636 01:00:58.291 --> 01:01:13.690 So those include $20.7 million in rental service office funds, $19.7 million in short-term rental and transient lodging tax funds, $10.7 million in construction excise tax funds, and $4.8 million in River District tax increment financing. 637 01:01:14.460 --> 01:01:22.199 Together, these resources represent a significant opportunity and responsibility for council to invest in a way that responds to the urgency of Portland's housing needs. 638 01:01:22.777 --> 01:01:30.713 And what this ordinance does is take a balanced system-wide approach, making investments across prevention, stabilization, housing access, and long-term supply. 639 01:01:31.034 --> 01:01:33.293 So first, rent assistance. 640 01:01:34.079 --> 01:01:52.456 A total of $9 million will be allocated, including $5 million for flexible short-term rent assistance for households at risk of losing housing before facing eviction, $2 million in expanded funding for rent assistance and rapid rehousing for tenants facing eviction, and $2 million in new funding for rent assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness. 641 01:01:53.436 --> 01:01:55.733 Next, eviction defense and right to counsel. 642 01:01:56.231 --> 01:02:05.309 $1.9 Million in new funding for eviction defense services administered by the Portland Housing Bureau, including eviction defense contractors and the right to counsel pilot. 643 01:02:06.498 --> 01:02:09.213 Next is the debt buydown and housing stabilization. 644 01:02:09.646 --> 01:02:21.286 $8.8 Million in funding to the Portland Housing Bureau to administer operating supports including debt buydown to preserve affordability, improve living conditions, and stabilize housing providers in the city's affordable housing portfolio. 645 01:02:22.648 --> 01:02:35.552 Next, we have landlord-tenant education at $200,000 in expanded funding to support landlords implementing tenant protections, expand landlord-tenant education, and provide an informational campaign so tenants better understand their rights. 646 01:02:36.336 --> 01:02:42.202 Next is down payment assistance, $800,000 in new funding to provide down payment assistance for tenants who are ready to purchase a home. 647 01:02:43.085 --> 01:02:48.039 Next, we have a general fund allocation, $4 million is going back To the general fund. 648 01:02:48.617 --> 01:02:53.610 Then we have Broadway Corridor, $5.6 million in new funding for Broadway Corridor Parcel 6. 649 01:02:54.476 --> 01:03:01.943 Next we have Affordable Housing Development, $3 million in gap financing for Williams and Russell, Self Enhancement Inc., and Urban Plaza to support projects moving forward. 650 01:03:02.905 --> 01:03:10.436 Next we have Social Housing Acquisition, $10 million in new funding for direct acquisition of one or more properties for social housing under permanent public ownership. 651 01:03:11.094 --> 01:03:13.148 And finally, Notice of Funding Availability. 652 01:03:13.887 --> 01:03:21.802 $12.6 Million will remain unallocated at this time and is intended to support a future Notice of Funding Availability, or NOFA, for housing development. 653 01:03:22.476 --> 01:03:31.371 Taken together, this ordinance reflects a comprehensive approach investing in keeping people housed today, stabilizing the housing we already have, and building toward the housing system Portland needs moving forward. 654 01:03:32.429 --> 01:03:35.047 So with that, here let me talk about process. 655 01:03:35.335 --> 01:03:39.719 So we've got a bunch of different amendments that are proposed, and here's what I would suggest. 656 01:03:40.313 --> 01:03:47.297 I'm going to have everybody introduce very briefly their amendment, very, very briefly, so that we can get right into testimony. 657 01:03:47.362 --> 01:03:52.724 But I want folks testifying to understand your intent behind your amendments before we get into discussion. 658 01:03:53.719 --> 01:03:55.373 After that, we'll move into testimony. 659 01:03:55.806 --> 01:04:00.672 Please note, we noted that online, but the time has been reduced to 90 seconds. 660 01:04:01.186 --> 01:04:03.465 You know, we're at 3 o'clock right now. 661 01:04:03.610 --> 01:04:04.686 We've got 2 more hours. 662 01:04:04.782 --> 01:04:30.478 I just want to Urge the public, I'm grateful for you being here, wherever possible to minimize your comments or just say, you know, ditto to what was heard so that we can get straight into committee discussion because we do have a lot of amendments to review and I want to make sure we have time to pass this because tomorrow what comes out of this committee is going to be placed as an amendment during the tax— or I'm sorry, during the technical adjustment ordinance or TAO. 663 01:04:31.007 --> 01:04:36.027 And so it is urgent that we get this out of Committee today, so I want us to get back to the, the discussion. 664 01:04:36.766 --> 01:04:39.559 Um, and then we have several people in the room here to answer questions. 665 01:04:39.670 --> 01:04:44.003 So with that, let's go ahead and open it up, um, to councilors who have amendments. 666 01:04:44.630 --> 01:04:46.893 Um, any preference on who would like to go first? 667 01:04:46.956 --> 01:04:49.797 Oh, here you go, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, go ahead. 668 01:04:50.085 --> 01:04:51.514 Great, thank you, colleagues. 669 01:04:51.771 --> 01:04:54.001 I submitted 3 amendments. 670 01:04:54.739 --> 01:05:25.170 Um, I'll save the overarching how they go together for our discussion after The first, Pirtle-Guiney 1, replaces the current debt buydown language with more specific language tying debt buydowns to tangible reductions in rent and one-time— a one-time infusion of dollars that can lead to ongoing benefits for the community, including turnover of units, keeping those units occupied, and other benefits. 671 01:05:25.219 --> 01:05:25.414 Thank you. 672 01:05:25.666 --> 01:05:34.576 Full and security enhancements, as well as, again, those tangible targeted rent reductions that we've talked so much about. 673 01:05:34.672 --> 01:05:38.429 I'm trying to capture the conversations we've had in specific language. 674 01:05:39.407 --> 01:06:00.139 Pirtle-Guiney 2 creates a new category of funding, and we've talked about the importance of the deeply affordable housing units in our community, and we know that deeply affordable supportive housing units are some of the hardest to bring and keep online, but the package as it currently stands doesn't target those units in any way. 675 01:06:00.668 --> 01:06:09.405 We have a couple of providers who I believe we'll hear from in public testimony who will talk about the importance of targeting some of our funds toward these particular units. 676 01:06:09.965 --> 01:06:16.811 This amendment ensures that we can keep those units online, many of which we're at risk of losing in our community right now. 677 01:06:17.869 --> 01:06:21.557 The third, Pirtle-Guiney 3, adds an additional project. 678 01:06:21.670 --> 01:06:31.164 And I know there has been some heartburn amongst many of our colleagues over enumerating specific projects, and I hesitate to bring forward another because of that. 679 01:06:31.275 --> 01:06:34.291 But I think that this is a really critical project for us to hear about. 680 01:06:34.963 --> 01:06:45.581 Hacienda recently purchased a building that was developed or began development as an affordable housing building, but the developer abandoned the project midway through. 681 01:06:46.190 --> 01:06:48.420 There is a shell that is finished. 682 01:06:48.916 --> 01:06:51.322 The inside is not yet fully built out. 683 01:06:51.724 --> 01:07:00.514 Hacienda is interested in changing the footprint of the units within the building so that they are all family-sized units, 2 and 3-bedroom units. 684 01:07:01.108 --> 01:07:11.614 And because the permitting is done, the foundation is in the ground, and the shell is created, I believe these are over 50 units that could actually be online by the end of the year. 685 01:07:12.112 --> 01:07:13.851 If we can help them with gap funding. 686 01:07:14.367 --> 01:07:23.987 This is in line with the gap funding idea that we have for other projects, but adds a project to that list, which again could get us over 50 family-sized units within the year. 687 01:07:24.664 --> 01:07:28.262 And I'm hopeful that they're here today to give us more details about that. 688 01:07:28.715 --> 01:07:33.045 But I think it's an important piece for us to consider as we try to move quickly with our work. 689 01:07:35.431 --> 01:07:38.186 Okay, thank you, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 690 01:07:38.775 --> 01:07:42.117 Uh, Councilor Novick, can you please briefly introduce your amendments? 691 01:07:43.289 --> 01:08:06.947 Yes, um, Novick 3, um, would— the, the first thing it would do, and to me probably the most important, is clarify something which I think Chair Avalos said was already your intent, that the $8.6 million from the 2% transient lodging tax, which could all be directed to the general fund legally, will all be directed to the general fund. 692 01:08:07.061 --> 01:08:12.101 $4.3 Million for this fiscal year, $4.3 million for next fiscal year. 693 01:08:13.018 --> 01:08:17.256 I think of that as my found money layoff avoidance proposal, or FEMLA. 694 01:08:17.962 --> 01:08:44.194 Um, I would also propose that instead of having some money allocated for specific projects, some money for social housing, some money for NOFAs, I'm proposing A comprehensive $21 million pot for the creation of a new fund dedicated to loans for long-term housing construction, affordable housing preservation, and the direct acquisition of properties for social housing and permanent public ownership. 695 01:08:46.240 --> 01:08:50.800 And it clarifies that we actually would expect those loans to be repaid. 696 01:08:51.220 --> 01:08:54.277 There's a history in the Housing Bureau of making loans that are not repaid. 697 01:08:54.956 --> 01:08:55.344 Thank you. 698 01:08:55.615 --> 01:08:59.006 Novick 2 is the simplest of my amendments. 699 01:08:59.471 --> 01:09:06.131 That relates to eviction defense, and it simply lists the elements of comprehensive eviction defense. 700 01:09:06.180 --> 01:09:08.314 It is language that we got from service providers. 701 01:09:09.217 --> 01:09:12.903 Then we have Novick 1A and 1B relating to rent assistance. 702 01:09:14.604 --> 01:09:20.922 It is my view that rent assistance should be targeted to people who either are homeless or are at severe risk of homelessness. 703 01:09:21.097 --> 01:09:48.059 So whereas the current proposal would dedicate $5 million in rent assistance to people who are at risk but not facing eviction, I propose either spending $6 million on people for rent assistance and people facing eviction, and $3 million in people transitioning from shelter to homelessness, or the reverse, $6 million to people transitioning from shelter to homelessness Thank you. 704 01:09:48.171 --> 01:09:50.627 And $3 million to people facing eviction. 705 01:09:51.286 --> 01:10:00.980 And I note that the mayor says that the money he's asking for, for people transitioning from shelter to homelessness, costs about $19,000 per family. 706 01:10:02.297 --> 01:10:10.307 Becky Strauss at the Oregon Law Center tells me that the average amount at issue in an eviction proceeding is $3,000. 707 01:10:10.789 --> 01:10:20.702 And I've read that 16% of people against whom evictions are filed Um, actually are evicted, and there's evidence showing a large percentage of those become homeless. 708 01:10:21.310 --> 01:10:34.884 So actually, I think that if you compare the 2, either we spend $3,000 on 6 people, and that should result in avoiding 1 case of homelessness, or $19,000 on 1 person to move them out of homelessness. 709 01:10:35.396 --> 01:10:37.175 I think that the impact is kind of equivalent. 710 01:10:38.121 --> 01:10:43.122 Uh, so I propose those as 2 alternate, uh, 2 alternate proposals, 1A and 1B. 711 01:10:45.466 --> 01:10:46.938 All right, thank you, Councilor Novick. 712 01:10:47.002 --> 01:10:52.876 So, um, again, uh, please try your best to be brief, but we are looking forward to hearing from you. 713 01:10:53.475 --> 01:10:55.548 Let's go ahead and get into public testimony. 714 01:10:57.770 --> 01:10:58.367 Thank you, Chair. 715 01:10:58.448 --> 01:11:00.900 I'll call folks up in groups of 5. 716 01:11:01.319 --> 01:11:07.965 And just quick housekeeping for those who are testifying in person, uh, well, for everyone testifying, you each receive 90 seconds. 717 01:11:08.112 --> 01:11:13.286 For folks that are in In person, you'll see the timer countdown on the monitor in front of you at the testimony table. 718 01:11:13.786 --> 01:11:17.141 And for virtual testifiers, you'll see your timer countdown in Zoom. 719 01:11:18.550 --> 01:11:29.712 So first we have Blake Baker, Kevin Cronin, Zach White, Andy Miller, Kathleen Swift. 720 01:11:30.521 --> 01:11:32.234 Kevin will join us online shortly. 721 01:11:43.984 --> 01:11:47.114 Go ahead. 722 01:11:48.502 --> 01:11:49.551 My name is Zach White. 723 01:11:49.873 --> 01:11:59.255 I knocked on doors for some of you, um, with my work with Next Up Action Fund, but today I'm speaking as someone who was born at Portland Adventist Hospital. 724 01:11:59.532 --> 01:12:11.631 I'm 29 years old, I would love to own a home in the city I was born in, but most of you probably know Fortune Magazine reported that the average home buyer in the United States is 59 years old. 725 01:12:12.770 --> 01:12:17.667 The city is my home, but that is out of reach for many people, many young people. 726 01:12:18.405 --> 01:12:21.875 Today I pay too much of my income for a small apartment in Sellwood. 727 01:12:22.180 --> 01:12:25.101 I love the bald eagles outside my window and the parks. 728 01:12:25.792 --> 01:12:30.059 The algorithmic price-fixing ban you passed feels like pointing in the right direction, so thank you. 729 01:12:31.487 --> 01:12:36.652 I was proud to stand outside while Councilor Avalos introduced Slow the Inflow in December. 730 01:12:37.261 --> 01:12:45.282 You told the story of being 12 years old, helping your family live paycheck to paycheck with grace and humor, but the pain and injustice of that hit me really hard. 731 01:12:46.421 --> 01:12:54.724 I posted a clip of that online and someone commented that they cried opening their paycheck and seeing they have just enough to pay for rent. 732 01:12:56.434 --> 01:13:03.340 In the last social housing report, you saw a double line graph of average rent in Portland rising faster than average income. 733 01:13:04.194 --> 01:13:06.176 For working Portlanders, the math isn't mathing. 734 01:13:07.255 --> 01:13:11.713 I support the Keep Portland Housed proposal, gap financing for humans. 735 01:13:12.662 --> 01:13:13.481 You ate with that. 736 01:13:14.806 --> 01:13:19.268 Most young people in the city may not own properties or stock shares, but this city is ours. 737 01:13:19.898 --> 01:13:20.734 Thank you for hearing us. 738 01:13:25.002 --> 01:13:25.908 Thank you. 739 01:13:26.926 --> 01:13:37.167 Vice Chair Green, members of the Housing and Permitting Committee, for the record, my name is Kevin Cronin, and I'm registered as a lobbyist in my role as the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Housing Oregon. 740 01:13:37.890 --> 01:13:43.912 We're a statewide association of mission-driven organizations that build, finance, operate, and support affordable housing. 741 01:13:45.171 --> 01:13:51.643 I am here today in support of the ordinance, especially the proposed investment in operating support, including debt buydown for nonmarket housing. 742 01:13:52.398 --> 01:13:58.498 We need to treat affordable housing like the public service it has become instead of forcing it to operate like a business. 743 01:13:59.045 --> 01:14:02.192 Affordable housing has propped up far more than just our housing system. 744 01:14:02.273 --> 01:14:10.028 We became the place where gaps in the health system, the addiction recovery system, the court system, and the safety net all went into once. 745 01:14:10.846 --> 01:14:12.243 The financial math changed. 746 01:14:12.693 --> 01:14:15.086 Higher earners saw their incomes rise. 747 01:14:15.279 --> 01:14:16.819 People at the bottom did not. 748 01:14:17.365 --> 01:14:26.599 Affordable housing operates under rent restrictions and formulas based on area median income that do not always match what extremely low-income tenants can actually afford to pay. 749 01:14:27.240 --> 01:14:28.091 The result is plain. 750 01:14:28.926 --> 01:14:35.654 Buildings serving the 0 to 30% AMI Portlanders are often unable to cover basic operating costs. 751 01:14:36.055 --> 01:14:44.710 This ordinance has practical tools that can help align rents with tenant incomes, stabilize operations, fill vacant units, and preserve affordable homes. 752 01:14:45.465 --> 01:14:53.541 My last point, when the city invests project funds in affordable housing development, those dollars should move through a Portland Housing Bureau NOFA process. 753 01:14:54.199 --> 01:15:01.280 As the professional association, we think that is a best practice, um, and creates clear expectations and increases transparency. 754 01:15:01.604 --> 01:15:02.068 Thanks so much. 755 01:15:04.909 --> 01:15:05.150 Thank you. 756 01:15:05.667 --> 01:15:06.327 Go ahead, Kathy. 757 01:15:07.824 --> 01:15:08.260 Thank you. 758 01:15:08.792 --> 01:15:23.515 I'm Kathy Swift, Senior Vice President at Heritage Bank, lending to affordable housing, homeless shelters, and social safety net nonprofit providers in Oregon, many of them here in Portland. 759 01:15:24.194 --> 01:15:38.894 I do believe that with the federal, state, and county funding cuts Our safety net holes are widening quickly, and over the next 12 months, there is an accelerating number of citizens who will fall into homelessness. 760 01:15:39.872 --> 01:15:52.594 The spending allocation is very well thought out, and while not enough money to solve this crisis we are facing, it is what we have available to triage the worst outcomes. 761 01:15:53.346 --> 01:16:18.627 This, this plan will be effective, in my opinion, And rather than seek perfection in our solution, we can and should use these funds as soon as possible for rent assistance, gap financing on projects really close to closing and bringing on units, and debt buydowns to keep projects from falling into foreclosure. 762 01:16:19.412 --> 01:16:28.890 I disagree with Councilor Novak's proposed amendments As I don't believe they are as well thought out as several of what's been proposed. 763 01:16:29.596 --> 01:16:34.875 And as a lender to this sector, action is absolutely necessary now. 764 01:16:35.792 --> 01:16:36.148 Thank you. 765 01:16:38.145 --> 01:16:38.484 Thank you. 766 01:16:39.015 --> 01:16:40.127 We've got Andy online. 767 01:16:41.989 --> 01:16:42.103 Yeah. 768 01:16:42.184 --> 01:16:45.838 Hi, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee. 769 01:16:46.001 --> 01:16:47.471 For the record, I'm Andy Miller. 770 01:16:48.055 --> 01:16:54.694 I'm here as executive director of Our Just Future, an affordable housing and shelter provider located in District 1. 771 01:16:55.431 --> 01:17:03.836 While our organization supports a lot of the proposed package, I want to use my 90 seconds today to emphasize and lift up 2 critical funding priorities. 772 01:17:04.364 --> 01:17:14.291 First, we urge the council to fast-track and increase your proposed investments in rental assistance for people experiencing homelessness outlined in 1C. 773 01:17:14.692 --> 01:17:22.190 And specifically to prioritize these investments for people currently living in shelters at risk of closure due to budget contraction. 774 01:17:23.247 --> 01:17:36.451 Multnomah County's Homeless Services Department has proposed a budget for FY27 that would close over 600 currently occupied shelter beds in less than 100 days, with no budget to fund a transition plan. 775 01:17:37.203 --> 01:17:42.458 Without immediate investment, we risk having to discharge 600 Portlanders staying at our shelters. 776 01:17:42.891 --> 01:17:44.801 Back to unsheltered homelessness. 777 01:17:45.362 --> 01:17:47.109 This is a preventable catastrophe. 778 01:17:47.766 --> 01:18:00.436 Targeted rapid deployment of rent assistance to impacted shelter providers can successfully move people from shelter to housing and avoid the disastrous consequence of returning people currently sheltered to the streets. 779 01:18:01.335 --> 01:18:08.487 Second, with respect to portfolio stabilization, we support these investments and we believe they are urgent. 780 01:18:08.936 --> 01:18:11.199 And will work best if they remain flexible. 781 01:18:11.600 --> 01:18:23.189 Across our own portfolio of 600 apartments and affordable housing, we're seeing increased financial strain, rising operating costs, and real risks to the stability of existing units. 782 01:18:24.184 --> 01:18:26.735 We appreciate your leadership and urge you to act with urgency. 783 01:18:27.009 --> 01:18:27.345 Thank you. 784 01:18:28.292 --> 01:18:28.854 Thank you. 785 01:18:30.122 --> 01:18:31.840 Once more for Blake Baker. 786 01:18:35.176 --> 01:18:47.065 Next is Molly Hogan, Mandy Campos, Giovanna Bustamante, Becky Strauss, Squire Squire. 787 01:18:51.126 --> 01:18:52.079 Hello, committee members. 788 01:18:52.127 --> 01:19:00.481 My name is Molly Hogan, and I'm the director of Welcome Home Coalition, a multicultural housing justice alliance that believes we can have a system that ensures everyone access to a home. 789 01:19:01.002 --> 01:19:02.046 No matter their income. 790 01:19:02.753 --> 01:19:16.122 For the sake of so many households on the verge of losing their housing this month and on the verge of becoming housed again, I beg you all to move forward together to pass the Keep Portland Housed ordinance and stop sitting on millions of dollars that could help real people now. 791 01:19:17.069 --> 01:19:22.243 We know that eviction prevention legal services and rent assistance dramatically slow the number of people falling into homelessness. 792 01:19:22.951 --> 01:19:28.123 Data shows 4 out of 5 people stayed in their housing from receiving ERA after eviction filings. 793 01:19:28.734 --> 01:19:34.434 I also want to set the record straight on comments made that Multnomah County has spent tons of money on eviction prevention and it hasn't helped. 794 01:19:34.884 --> 01:19:42.398 In actuality, last fiscal year, Multnomah County spent just 3% of its supportive housing services funds on eviction prevention. 795 01:19:43.168 --> 01:19:48.693 While we want to see this proposed ordinance move forward, I must call out 2 areas of allocation we find problematic. 796 01:19:49.350 --> 01:19:56.948 One, sending $4 million back to the city general fund while Mayor Wilson is going to neighboring counties and begging for money is nonsensical. 797 01:19:57.447 --> 01:20:00.018 Keep your own housing money to pay to address homelessness. 798 01:20:00.451 --> 01:20:06.268 And 2, giving $5.6 million of public money to a for-profit developer is so disappointing. 799 01:20:06.782 --> 01:20:13.449 Can you as leaders prioritize people's right to sleep and survive with safety and privacy over someone's right to make a profit? 800 01:20:13.948 --> 01:20:18.479 The city is not in dire need of more $2,500 a month apartments opening in 5 years. 801 01:20:18.930 --> 01:20:28.152 But we are desperately in need of public dollars being spent to make more $500-a-month apartments for our neighbors who will never reenter the workforce and deserve dignity in housing. 802 01:20:28.670 --> 01:20:31.212 And quickly, I want to say I do not support Novick's amendments. 803 01:20:31.260 --> 01:20:32.054 They don't make sense. 804 01:20:32.576 --> 01:20:35.153 Elena Pirtle-Guiney, your amendments, first time I heard them, made sense. 805 01:20:35.346 --> 01:20:35.735 Thank you. 806 01:20:36.627 --> 01:20:37.048 Go ahead. 807 01:20:44.426 --> 01:20:45.855 Hello, my name is Mandy Campos. 808 01:20:46.210 --> 01:21:00.472 I'm with the Welcome Home Coalition, but I'm testifying from my own experience as someone who has worked in housing for the last 6 years, from housing subsidies for young parents coming out of homelessness, emergency rental assistance for eviction prevention, and renters' rights education. 809 01:21:01.146 --> 01:21:12.519 I have seen countless firsthand accounts from our ongoing tenant crisis and real-life people, families, and stories impacted, the constituents you owe a responsibility towards. 810 01:21:13.256 --> 01:21:17.091 Not to be seen as numbers and data, but as your fellow neighbors. 811 01:21:17.845 --> 01:21:27.328 My experience has shown me that eviction prevention through emergency rental assistance is a bandage to a bleeding wound to a larger systemic failure that needs to be addressed. 812 01:21:27.456 --> 01:21:31.692 However, it is a wound that is urgent and must be tended nonetheless. 813 01:21:32.525 --> 01:21:36.697 We can look ahead while also meeting people and their needs where they're at. 814 01:21:37.082 --> 01:21:47.181 The cost of living Goes up, affordable housing is not affordable, wages stay stagnant, and the conditions of properties do not improve with each rent increase. 815 01:21:47.680 --> 01:21:52.432 This only perpetuates the cycle of homelessness where we can prevent it before it starts. 816 01:21:52.835 --> 01:22:00.591 We need emergency rental assistance to keep households afloat while we figure out how to do more than the bare minimum for our communities. 817 01:22:01.088 --> 01:22:13.984 To quote the 101 Notes of the LA Tenant Union, Note 5, when we call this a housing crisis, It benefits the people who design housing, who build housing, who profit from housing, not the people who live in it. 818 01:22:14.047 --> 01:22:16.270 Instead of putting part of these funds in the house—. 819 01:22:16.770 --> 01:22:24.046 In the hands of for-profit developers, it needs to go to eviction prevention, debt buydown, or public acquisition categories. 820 01:22:24.432 --> 01:22:27.137 Do right by the people in your communities you serve. 821 01:22:27.412 --> 01:22:27.800 Thank you. 822 01:22:33.057 --> 01:22:39.141 Hi, my name is Giovanna Bustamante, and I work as a director of economic sustainability for Program Hispano Católico. 823 01:22:39.365 --> 01:22:46.820 Today I want to start by sharing a participant story which I hope demonstrates how critical rent assistance is before an eviction notice. 824 01:22:47.381 --> 01:22:55.524 This participant showed up in extreme distress, unsure of how they would be able to pay rent due to their advanced age. 825 01:22:56.101 --> 01:22:59.645 This participant didn't work and relies on fixed SSI income. 826 01:23:00.189 --> 01:23:05.568 They shared an apartment with their adult son who had been covering most of the household expenses. 827 01:23:06.069 --> 01:23:14.210 Unfortunately, this participant's son was suddenly deported, leaving them alone without the financial support they need to— they needed to maintain their housing. 828 01:23:14.644 --> 01:23:20.926 By providing rental assistance, the program was able to prevent their eviction and secure an additional 2 months of housing stability. 829 01:23:21.359 --> 01:23:29.402 This extension allowed the participant time to work with their caseworker to apply for, for, and for transition low-income housing. 830 01:23:29.872 --> 01:23:38.423 This is just an example of how providing rental assistance can support a community, a member, and someone before the eviction is present. 831 01:23:38.746 --> 01:23:46.166 Our program helps maintain housing stability, reduce entry into shelter, and supports families during crisis situations. 832 01:23:46.680 --> 01:23:54.418 I urge you— I urge this committee to approve the budget reallocation support to support programs like us and the communities we serve. 833 01:23:54.548 --> 01:23:54.823 Thank you. 834 01:23:54.889 --> 01:23:55.019 Second. 835 01:23:58.939 --> 01:24:01.161 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, members of the Housing Committee. 836 01:24:01.208 --> 01:24:02.270 My name is Becky Strauss. 837 01:24:02.336 --> 01:24:05.636 I'm here on behalf of the Oregon Law Center in support of this ordinance. 838 01:24:05.699 --> 01:24:06.505 Thank you for the opportunity. 839 01:24:07.430 --> 01:24:18.793 Our client community includes the 16,000 people in Multnomah County struggling with homelessness and the thousands more who are living on extremely low or fixed incomes and are rent burdened in their housing. 840 01:24:19.328 --> 01:24:23.587 We are a contractor, current contractor with the city for eviction prevention legal services. 841 01:24:23.899 --> 01:24:24.028 Thank you. 842 01:24:24.092 --> 01:24:25.283 We're ready to scale up. 843 01:24:25.381 --> 01:24:26.828 We appreciate the investment. 844 01:24:27.296 --> 01:24:28.841 I'm in support of Novick 2. 845 01:24:28.987 --> 01:24:30.177 I think that makes sense. 846 01:24:32.015 --> 01:24:40.309 Lawyers are critical to help people know their rights, help them navigate a very fast and complicated process, and avoid an eviction judgment. 847 01:24:40.630 --> 01:24:44.038 But rent assistance is what keeps people stable and housed. 848 01:24:44.492 --> 01:24:48.338 It's the smartest and most important investment in this proposal. 849 01:24:49.180 --> 01:24:56.162 As you all know, there was a big We did see a spike in eviction filings in January, and 12%— in Multnomah County, that was 13%. 850 01:24:56.851 --> 01:25:00.426 Over 90% of those cases are nonpayment of rent cases. 851 01:25:00.859 --> 01:25:07.238 Those are safety net failure evictions, and rent assistance can keep tenants housed in those situations. 852 01:25:07.815 --> 01:25:13.136 The average, as Councilor Novick noted, is about less than $13,000. 853 01:25:13.201 --> 01:25:18.570 But I saw a filing in the docket just looking today from a February filing that was $47. 854 01:25:20.716 --> 01:25:23.337 That's less than the filing fee to take the case to court. 855 01:25:24.840 --> 01:25:26.974 Another case I was looking at was for $220. 856 01:25:29.533 --> 01:25:32.110 That was at issue in the eviction. 857 01:25:32.551 --> 01:25:33.627 The tenant went to court. 858 01:25:33.708 --> 01:25:34.637 She didn't have a lawyer. 859 01:25:35.140 --> 01:25:42.488 She negotiated with the landlord's lawyer, and she signed a payment plan for over $7,000 on a $220 eviction. 860 01:25:42.916 --> 01:25:46.238 Of course, she didn't make those terms that also included the landlord's fees. 861 01:25:47.100 --> 01:25:49.302 She got a judgment against her and she got evicted. 862 01:25:49.595 --> 01:25:52.899 We could have prevented that eviction with rent assistance availability. 863 01:25:53.077 --> 01:25:54.033 $220. 864 01:25:54.600 --> 01:25:54.809 Thank you. 865 01:25:54.905 --> 01:25:56.050 Thousands of households are—. 866 01:25:56.065 --> 01:25:56.743 Your time is up. 867 01:25:56.952 --> 01:25:58.145 Thank you for listening. 868 01:25:58.500 --> 01:25:59.112 I appreciate you. 869 01:25:59.208 --> 01:25:59.966 Thank you very much. 870 01:26:02.020 --> 01:26:04.025 Looks like we have Squire Squire online. 871 01:26:05.699 --> 01:26:06.407 Good afternoon. 872 01:26:06.856 --> 01:26:13.819 My name is Squire and I'm a street librarian for Street Books, a mobile library serving people living outside and on the margins. 873 01:26:20.161 --> 01:26:37.770 It's hard to believe that in the last 6 months, the City of Portland has uncovered millions in unspent housing funds— unspent, unused— while people fell into homelessness waiting for help, while we are desperate for permanently affordable housing, while we see more and more people lose their homes every day. 874 01:26:38.369 --> 01:26:40.073 Our patrons are more than percentages. 875 01:26:40.188 --> 01:26:40.724 They are more than numbers. 876 01:26:40.771 --> 01:26:41.047 They are our neighbors. 877 01:26:41.989 --> 01:26:44.832 They have stories. 878 01:26:44.962 --> 01:26:46.400 Their resilience is humbling. 879 01:26:47.630 --> 01:26:52.177 All Portland Housing Bureau dollars should be directed toward the people who need it the most. 880 01:26:52.724 --> 01:26:56.952 Our city government should spend our tax dollars to bring down the cost of housing. 881 01:26:57.467 --> 01:26:59.127 Housing is expensive. 882 01:26:59.385 --> 01:27:01.994 Housing dollars should not be going to the general fund. 883 01:27:02.527 --> 01:27:08.610 Mayor Wilson has already wasted over $325 million in his failing overnight shelter project. 884 01:27:08.708 --> 01:27:08.904 Thank you. 885 01:27:14.029 --> 01:27:19.050 Housing dollars should not be going to the for-profit Broadway Corridor project. 886 01:27:19.050 --> 01:27:24.649 It is unconscionable to give housing dollars to developer companies to create more unaffordable housing. 887 01:27:25.010 --> 01:27:27.909 Portland, let's be honest, fair market housing is not fair. 888 01:27:27.930 --> 01:27:31.050 We need to invest in social housing acquisition and development. 889 01:27:31.050 --> 01:27:35.449 We need to support public acquisition of underutilized private market property. 890 01:27:35.449 --> 01:27:39.090 We need to apply continuous pressure on our local governments to invest in making housing affordable for all. 891 01:27:39.090 --> 01:27:39.130 Thank you. 892 01:27:39.130 --> 01:27:39.170 Councilmember Smith. 893 01:27:41.567 --> 01:27:43.922 It is vital that we create forever affordable housing. 894 01:27:44.051 --> 01:27:44.439 Thank you. 895 01:27:45.827 --> 01:27:46.262 Thank you. 896 01:27:49.836 --> 01:28:01.521 Next up we have Councilor Loretta Smith, Benjamin Gilbert, Anna Kernitzky, Sarah Fisher, Crystal Delahanty. 897 01:28:02.261 --> 01:28:04.305 Sarah will join us online virtually. 898 01:28:08.578 --> 01:28:09.297 Go ahead, Councilor. 899 01:28:13.057 --> 01:28:13.899 Thank you so much. 900 01:28:14.256 --> 01:28:17.136 It, it does feel different when we're on this side of the dais. 901 01:28:17.817 --> 01:28:23.858 And I just want to say, Councilor Avalos, to your first 5 points, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto. 902 01:28:24.597 --> 01:28:28.141 And to you, Alana Pirtle-Guiney, your amendments, ditto, ditto, ditto. 903 01:28:29.028 --> 01:28:42.689 I'm supporting your supplemental budget, budget that directs unallocated funds into, to what matters most: emergency rental assistance, affordable housing options, and pathways to homeownership. 904 01:28:43.411 --> 01:28:48.432 This is such a time-sensitive time in this housing crisis. 905 01:28:49.171 --> 01:28:54.850 These are dollars we can use right now to stabilize families and invest in long-term solutions. 906 01:28:56.167 --> 01:29:01.509 We have here in Portland an opportunity to put real action into our housing crisis. 907 01:29:01.590 --> 01:29:01.685 Yes. 908 01:29:02.327 --> 01:29:09.925 Too many of our families are struggling to stay housed, and behind every number there is a real person. 909 01:29:11.095 --> 01:29:28.454 Specifically, I support what you're trying to do with the Broadway corridor, with Williams and Russell, and building home ownership, and also making sure that our most vulnerable folks who are facing eviction, that they get those dollars first. 910 01:29:29.576 --> 01:29:33.292 I also want to say specifically, let's support Hacienda. 911 01:29:33.389 --> 01:29:40.014 We can put about 50 units on, on, um, live at— by the end of this year. 912 01:29:40.625 --> 01:29:43.568 And secondly, Oasis of Praise, which is in District 3. 913 01:29:44.344 --> 01:29:51.828 Those folks need an opportunity to serve our houseless and our vulnerable individuals with mental health, uh, warming and cooling centers. 914 01:29:52.345 --> 01:29:54.342 Thank you so much for allowing me this time. 915 01:29:55.319 --> 01:29:56.033 Thank you, Councilor. 916 01:30:00.100 --> 01:30:01.368 Um, whoever wants to go next, go ahead. 917 01:30:01.417 --> 01:30:01.626 Ben. 918 01:30:02.702 --> 01:30:05.064 My name is Ben Gilbert and I'm a tenant in District 4. 919 01:30:05.497 --> 01:30:21.234 I'm also a volunteer lobbyist for the Portland Democratic Socialists of America, a mass democratic organization with over 3,000 dues-paying members in the Portland metro area, many of whom are struggling renters being crushed by the rapidly increasing costs of housing, services, and consumer goods. 920 01:30:22.414 --> 01:30:26.189 The working class desperately needs the government to step up and work for us. 921 01:30:27.313 --> 01:30:32.162 With that said, we generally support the supplemental budget for the Portland Housing Bureau for this fiscal year. 922 01:30:33.413 --> 01:30:38.439 We support the debt buydowns because they lower rents, stabilize affordable housing, and fill vacancies. 923 01:30:39.194 --> 01:30:46.228 We are very supportive of funding for the acquisition of social housing because it is essential to a truly affordable future Portland. 924 01:30:47.287 --> 01:30:49.230 The market has failed to deliver affordable housing. 925 01:30:49.279 --> 01:30:49.375 Thank you. 926 01:30:49.872 --> 01:30:51.444 And social housing is a proven solution. 927 01:30:52.182 --> 01:31:03.347 In fact, projects like Parcel 6, funded almost exclusively with millions of public dollars, should be the types of developments that we include in our social housing portfolio. 928 01:31:04.551 --> 01:31:08.208 We support eviction defense because it works and stops the inflow into homelessness. 929 01:31:08.641 --> 01:31:13.823 We saw how effective prevention worked during the pandemic to dramatically reduce the inflow into homelessness. 930 01:31:14.738 --> 01:31:22.095 One change we would like to see is the general fund monies reallocated towards rent assistance, rent buydowns, and social housing. 931 01:31:22.609 --> 01:31:27.542 Every dollar towards the general fund is a dollar taken away from mitigating the housing crisis in our city right now. 932 01:31:28.073 --> 01:31:33.134 And to conclude, we strongly advocate that City Hall adopt and operationalize the Renters' Bill of Rights. 933 01:31:33.536 --> 01:31:36.636 Again, renters are being crushed under the weight of this economy. 934 01:31:37.070 --> 01:31:45.440 And while the bosses and the lobbyists at the Metro Chamber cry about tax cuts, we desperately need direct Thank you. 935 01:31:50.753 --> 01:31:50.996 Anna? 936 01:31:51.804 --> 01:31:52.353 Good afternoon. 937 01:31:53.015 --> 01:31:57.807 I'm Anna Kornitzky, Executive Director of Community Warehouse, the Portland area's only furniture bank. 938 01:31:58.579 --> 01:32:06.554 I support— generally support this supplemental budget's investments in eviction prevention, acquisition of existing housing, rent assistance, and rehousing. 939 01:32:07.069 --> 01:32:10.787 These are critical, especially after federal, state, and county cuts. 940 01:32:11.587 --> 01:32:18.141 From our vantage point furnishing homes for thousands of families each year, full-spectrum housing investments are what make the system work. 941 01:32:18.478 --> 01:32:22.612 When someone gets a housing voucher but has no furniture, their housing isn't functional or stable. 942 01:32:23.269 --> 01:32:28.541 The data shows when people transitioning out of homelessness receive coordinated support, they're most likely to succeed. 943 01:32:29.439 --> 01:32:32.595 Also, prevention is exponentially more effective than crisis response. 944 01:32:32.979 --> 01:32:36.810 The biggest indicator of someone will experience homelessness is if they've experienced it before. 945 01:32:37.306 --> 01:32:39.164 Eviction prevention must remain a priority. 946 01:32:40.095 --> 01:32:46.408 While this budget fills some gaps, we know it doesn't resolve everything, and we cannot keep making reactive decisions in crisis mode. 947 01:32:46.841 --> 01:32:56.743 Community Warehouse joins the Welcome Home Coalition and Housing Oregon in calling for the city and county to collectively and immediately map FY27 resources and gaps across all funding streams. 948 01:32:57.497 --> 01:33:02.448 Please engage service providers in service planning, Thank you. 949 01:33:03.488 --> 01:33:07.108 As you map resources, include the full spectrum of housing stability services. 950 01:33:07.510 --> 01:33:09.527 How are essential supports like furniture funded? 951 01:33:10.270 --> 01:33:21.515 I urge you to support these investments that address housing inequity, not additions to the general fund, and to commit to comprehensive resource mapping with service providers at the not proverbial table. 952 01:33:22.146 --> 01:33:22.485 Thank you. 953 01:33:24.331 --> 01:33:25.529 Thank you. 954 01:33:25.845 --> 01:33:27.976 Next is Sarah Fisher. 955 01:33:28.137 --> 01:33:28.606 You're online. 956 01:33:31.480 --> 01:33:33.144 I think you're still muted, Sarah. 957 01:33:39.296 --> 01:33:39.810 There I am. 958 01:33:39.956 --> 01:33:41.289 Good afternoon, councilors. 959 01:33:42.140 --> 01:33:43.570 My name is Sarah Fisher. 960 01:33:43.650 --> 01:33:50.341 I'm a street chaplain in the Montevilla neighborhood, and I'm here today alongside other providers and advocates from East Portland. 961 01:33:50.976 --> 01:33:55.453 I am here for people with whom I worship every Sunday evening in Montevilla Park. 962 01:33:55.957 --> 01:34:03.288 Some of whom are desperately trying to hold on to their housing and others who are waiting to get into housing. 963 01:34:03.865 --> 01:34:12.672 They are tired of being on the street and they are even more tired of hearing about millions of hidden and unallocated housing dollars. 964 01:34:13.346 --> 01:34:22.555 I am here to ask you to ensure that the $9 million in rent assistance and rapid rehousing be equitably distributed with intentional investment. 965 01:34:22.650 --> 01:34:22.747 Thank you. 966 01:34:22.859 --> 01:34:23.359 Thank you. 967 01:34:23.359 --> 01:34:23.359 Thank you, Mayor. 968 01:34:23.359 --> 01:34:23.359 I'm Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, and I'm here to speak on the proposed ordinance. 969 01:34:23.359 --> 01:34:25.140 This ordinance is a major step in the right direction, but it is not a complete solution to the crisis of homelessness in East Portland. 970 01:34:25.140 --> 01:34:38.680 There's a poster in the City Hall building, which I know many of you are familiar with, suggesting that 1,500 shelter beds are equivalent to a bed for every homeless Portlander. 971 01:34:38.680 --> 01:34:41.520 This is simply not true. 972 01:34:41.579 --> 01:34:53.342 Congregate shelters with extremely limited services are not for everyone, and that does not mean that the thousands of people still homeless don't deserve to be helped through these funds. 973 01:34:54.097 --> 01:35:05.228 I would love to see $6 million to help people who are currently homeless, but shelter providers should not be prioritized in the allocation of those funds. 974 01:35:06.046 --> 01:35:20.417 On the ground in East Portland, sweeps have increased dramatically, but unlike the sweeps touted by the city's social media, there are no outreach workers Visiting people living there unsheltered and offering them resources. 975 01:35:20.563 --> 01:35:27.246 Please pass this crucial ordinance and please prioritize geographic equity. 976 01:35:27.927 --> 01:35:28.350 Thank you. 977 01:35:28.981 --> 01:35:29.453 Thank you. 978 01:35:34.823 --> 01:35:36.560 Normally, normally we don't let people clap. 979 01:35:36.672 --> 01:35:37.548 I'm letting you clap. 980 01:35:37.630 --> 01:35:40.435 I really don't care that much, but let's just try to keep it quick. 981 01:35:40.484 --> 01:35:43.109 And if you can do this, that would just help us keep it moving. 982 01:35:43.158 --> 01:35:45.247 But okay, next. 983 01:35:47.658 --> 01:35:49.039 Diego, can you call the next person? 984 01:35:49.167 --> 01:35:50.854 Yeah, thanks. 985 01:35:50.920 --> 01:36:02.570 Next is, um, Crystal Delahanty, Desiree Eden Ocampo, Michelle Hornbeck, Sahan McKelvey, Amon Rutherford Green. 986 01:36:05.886 --> 01:36:06.809 Go ahead, Crystal. 987 01:36:06.953 --> 01:36:09.328 Good afternoon, Council and committee members. 988 01:36:09.395 --> 01:36:15.984 My name is Crystal Delahanty, and I'm the executive director of PDX Saints Love and a steering committee member for Welcome Home. 989 01:36:16.466 --> 01:36:24.145 I'm here alongside our collective of providers, advocates, and community members in strong support of the Keep Portland Housed resolution. 990 01:36:25.126 --> 01:36:27.938 We support this because it reflects what we are seeing every day. 991 01:36:28.179 --> 01:36:30.957 Homelessness is being driven by economic displacement. 992 01:36:31.569 --> 01:36:36.596 In 2025, thousands of people became homeless for the very first time in their lives. 993 01:36:37.753 --> 01:36:49.569 This was also followed by Approximately 12,000 evictions filed, and I found out this morning, just year to date, 3,058 evictions filed this quarter. 994 01:36:50.820 --> 01:36:53.661 Families are not falling into homelessness because of a single crisis. 995 01:36:53.725 --> 01:36:56.326 They are being priced out and left without stabilization. 996 01:36:57.480 --> 01:37:08.957 It costs double or sometimes triple to rehouse an individual once they're in the court system, which shows us that it's not only less traumatizing for the people but also cost-effective, efficient for all of us. 997 01:37:09.490 --> 01:37:15.056 People should not have to face the devastation of eviction before they deserve a life raft from us. 998 01:37:16.890 --> 01:37:25.686 We strongly support the $9 million in rent assistance and rapid rehousing, and we ask that it be equitably distributed with intentional investment in East Portland. 999 01:37:25.783 --> 01:37:36.305 Over the past, over the past year, funding shifted towards downtown and Old Town, and we saw hundreds of families in East Portland lose their housing while shelters became bottlenecked without placement out of them. 1000 01:37:37.157 --> 01:37:46.529 We support without changes the rest of the amendment, and we want to thank Councilor Avalos for your leadership, for listening to community, to thoughtfully put this package together. 1001 01:37:47.015 --> 01:37:49.231 I look forward to the rest of the committee's support here. 1002 01:37:50.497 --> 01:37:50.835 Thank you. 1003 01:37:53.231 --> 01:37:54.261 Good afternoon, councilors. 1004 01:37:55.177 --> 01:37:55.917 Thank you for having me. 1005 01:37:55.981 --> 01:37:57.445 My name is Desiree Ida Ocampo. 1006 01:37:57.573 --> 01:37:59.649 I'm the executive director of Rahab Sisters. 1007 01:38:00.126 --> 01:38:09.163 We are a day center in East Portland along 82nd Avenue serving women, trans, and genderqueer individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and housing insecurity. 1008 01:38:09.773 --> 01:38:21.823 I'm here to support the package as written and also echo the sentiments of Councilor Murillo and many of the— many, um, before me have already testified, um, especially about social housing. 1009 01:38:22.479 --> 01:38:35.670 Um, but I'm here to also speak directly with the line item Number 1, as written without amendments, because it prioritizes allocating $5 million to support households at risk of losing housing before facing eviction. 1010 01:38:36.118 --> 01:38:39.131 And the key thing here to underscore is before facing eviction. 1011 01:38:40.046 --> 01:38:49.502 I want to underscore also that it is exponentially more cost-effective to intervene with eviction prevention, housing stability efforts before an eviction is filed. 1012 01:38:50.047 --> 01:38:54.021 At Arab Sisters, we can help prevent eviction for up to 10 households, if not more. 1013 01:38:54.712 --> 01:39:01.269 Who are at risk of losing their housing, as opposed to only one household who has had an eviction notice for the same amount of money. 1014 01:39:01.783 --> 01:39:06.420 But hearing Councilor Novick's numbers earlier today, I'm going to change that to 15. 1015 01:39:08.144 --> 01:39:17.390 If the council wants to be prudent with these funds, it needs to keep the $5 million in line item 1A, and that is the fiscal response— uh, fiscally responsible thing to do. 1016 01:39:17.780 --> 01:39:18.105 Thank you. 1017 01:39:20.547 --> 01:39:20.951 Thank you. 1018 01:39:22.658 --> 01:39:25.845 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee. 1019 01:39:26.184 --> 01:39:37.828 My name is Saheim McKelvey, and I am the Director of Advocacy and Engagement at Self-Enhancement, Inc. SEI is here today in support of this proposed ordinance, and we would also support Councilor Pirtle-Guiney's amendments. 1020 01:39:38.636 --> 01:39:43.166 However, the primary thing we want to say is we urge you to move this forward as quickly as possible. 1021 01:39:44.055 --> 01:39:53.250 These dollars represent a critical opportunity to make meaningful progress on housing Thank you, Councilor Smith. 1022 01:39:54.163 --> 01:40:01.059 At SCI, we consistently see 3 areas that remain deeply underfunded and disproportionately impact the families we serve. 1023 01:40:01.524 --> 01:40:06.381 These are rent affordability, eviction prevention, and real pathways to affordable homeownership. 1024 01:40:06.975 --> 01:40:11.000 We appreciate that each of these priorities is reflected in this ordinance today. 1025 01:40:11.865 --> 01:40:16.868 For families living month to month, facing rising rents or the constant fear of eviction, Thank you. 1026 01:40:17.012 --> 01:40:17.863 In emergency planning, timing matters. 1027 01:40:18.056 --> 01:40:21.108 Delays don't just slow outcomes, they deepen harm. 1028 01:40:21.588 --> 01:40:27.449 For those experiencing homelessness or displacement, we can't wait weeks or months to provide desperately needed help. 1029 01:40:27.835 --> 01:40:29.746 Tomorrow is often too late. 1030 01:40:30.484 --> 01:40:32.171 This is why expediency is essential. 1031 01:40:32.427 --> 01:40:36.730 We strongly encourage the committee and council to align and approve this ordinance. 1032 01:40:37.229 --> 01:40:41.707 There have been many ideas brought forward over the past 3 to 4 months by multiple councilors. 1033 01:40:46.189 --> 01:40:47.095 Thank you. 1034 01:40:47.984 --> 01:40:51.721 You have an opportunity, but only if action matches urgency. 1035 01:40:52.012 --> 01:40:56.880 Our communities are counting on you to lead decisively and move with the speed that this moment demands. 1036 01:40:57.314 --> 01:40:57.715 Thank you. 1037 01:40:59.466 --> 01:41:00.737 I hate going after Hassan. 1038 01:41:01.412 --> 01:41:03.292 Hi, thank you for letting me be here. 1039 01:41:03.341 --> 01:41:05.935 My name is Iman Rutherford, also with Welcome Home. 1040 01:41:06.627 --> 01:41:07.600 I'm a person that lived I'm a father of 2. 1041 01:41:07.600 --> 01:41:13.310 I have lived experience, and I testified many times, but this is the first time I'm testifying saying that I'm not homeless. 1042 01:41:13.819 --> 01:41:21.819 But because of how the system is working, I'm putting my— I might be back in a homeless situation because I can't afford to pay rent. 1043 01:41:22.000 --> 01:41:22.899 I got 3 jobs. 1044 01:41:24.029 --> 01:41:29.449 I do the best I can, but the system is not working with fathers to be a father to his child. 1045 01:41:29.720 --> 01:41:33.390 And the system told me to come here to be a father to my kid, but they didn't care Councilmember? 1046 01:41:33.390 --> 01:41:34.649 I don't think my kids would care about my about if I was homeless or not. 1047 01:41:35.409 --> 01:41:40.569 So I'm hoping that you guys, you know, care about fathers and allow fathers to be there for their kids. 1048 01:41:40.569 --> 01:41:41.640 That's what I was here for. 1049 01:41:42.109 --> 01:41:46.710 And as my baby's mom celebrates her birthday, I'm here talking to you guys. 1050 01:41:46.710 --> 01:41:47.989 And hopefully I don't be evicted. 1051 01:41:49.550 --> 01:41:50.689 But I need help. 1052 01:41:50.710 --> 01:41:54.279 So I need that rent assistance because I don't want to go back to a shelter. 1053 01:41:54.909 --> 01:42:04.158 But after I leave here, I will be one of the people to do the wraparound services because my job is part of as Hygiene for All is to help give blankets and different things to people that's homeless. 1054 01:42:04.731 --> 01:42:08.831 And, um, I talk to people that's homeless every day, and we need rent assistance. 1055 01:42:09.105 --> 01:42:10.046 So that's mine. 1056 01:42:14.520 --> 01:42:17.126 Once more for Michelle Ann Hornbick. 1057 01:42:20.831 --> 01:42:25.024 Okay, we'll move on to Amanda Bowman Mejia. 1058 01:42:26.106 --> 01:42:35.225 Ryan Salas, Gus Kroll, Lisa Jackson Spotted Elk, and Ms. Cheryl Carter. 1059 01:42:36.465 --> 01:42:37.640 Amanda's joining us virtually. 1060 01:42:37.913 --> 01:42:40.152 Feel free to unmute and begin when you're ready, Amanda. 1061 01:42:42.261 --> 01:42:48.282 Dear City Council, I am here today to testify in support of the Keep Portland Housed ordinance. 1062 01:42:48.765 --> 01:42:55.234 I'm a school social worker at Centennial School District, and I support many families who are unable to afford rent and are at risk of becoming homeless. 1063 01:42:56.832 --> 01:43:04.167 My heart breaks when I hear of a family who needs rental assistance to stay housed because there are little to no resources to support our families. 1064 01:43:04.761 --> 01:43:11.889 In particular, my immigrant and non-English speaking families have the highest barriers to getting rental assistance. 1065 01:43:12.305 --> 01:43:20.957 When families experience homelessness, it greatly impacts their child's ability to attend school and thus impacts their learning negatively. 1066 01:43:21.375 --> 01:43:36.448 Furthermore, chronic homelessness can greatly impact a child's chance of graduating due to the instability and trauma they Families in East Portland have the highest barriers to accessing resources due to historical and current institutional neglect. 1067 01:43:37.010 --> 01:43:46.849 I urge you to prioritize our families in East Portland, as well as to ask that funds are distributed in a way that is accessible and transparent for our students and families. 1068 01:43:47.282 --> 01:43:53.114 We do not need to waste time or money in creating new programs or systems that gatekeep funds from those who need it the most. 1069 01:43:53.162 --> 01:43:53.274 Thank you. 1070 01:43:53.520 --> 01:43:53.913 Thank you. 1071 01:43:56.307 --> 01:43:57.358 Ryan, you're up next. 1072 01:44:01.041 --> 01:44:02.426 Once more for Ryan Salas. 1073 01:44:03.859 --> 01:44:04.751 Not seeing them online. 1074 01:44:05.431 --> 01:44:05.902 Gus Kroll. 1075 01:44:06.971 --> 01:44:07.328 Yeah. 1076 01:44:09.646 --> 01:44:10.344 Oh, sorry. 1077 01:44:10.538 --> 01:44:11.430 Where's the notes? 1078 01:44:20.238 --> 01:44:21.712 Sorry, I had it up. 1079 01:44:27.710 --> 01:44:29.181 Councilors, my name is Gus Kroll. 1080 01:44:29.603 --> 01:44:32.662 I'm here speaking only for myself. 1081 01:44:33.228 --> 01:44:39.405 I'm a proud member and union steward at AFSCME Local 88, Sublocal 3. 1082 01:44:40.055 --> 01:44:46.947 I work for Transition Projects as a veterans Income development specialist. 1083 01:44:47.268 --> 01:44:52.015 My job is to help vets who are receiving rental assistance to also look for employment. 1084 01:44:53.104 --> 01:45:00.721 I have 15 years in the field of homeless services as well as personal lived experience of homelessness. 1085 01:45:01.220 --> 01:45:10.680 Today I'm here to ask you to do your best to retain the highly skilled and culturally competent staff that serve unhoused community every day. 1086 01:45:11.386 --> 01:45:13.841 This work is hard and it is not for everyone. 1087 01:45:14.530 --> 01:45:28.373 We want to ask that the members of this council to do what they can to make sure that the services that are paying for— the services that you are paying for are the ones our poorest neighbors deserve. 1088 01:45:29.110 --> 01:45:38.479 That means drawing on the service providers with a depth of knowledge and experience instead of shopping around for the cheapest contractors. 1089 01:45:39.297 --> 01:46:02.418 I'm here today to support Commissioner Avalos's proposal, but also to ask you to retain the skilled workers who know how to do this work and the people with the— with the people with the most barriers to getting stayed into housing long-term, because investing in skilled staff means better outcomes for our most vulnerable community members in the long-term. 1090 01:46:02.739 --> 01:46:02.997 Thank you. 1091 01:46:03.061 --> 01:46:03.253 Thank you. 1092 01:46:05.975 --> 01:46:06.931 Lisa, you can go ahead. 1093 01:46:09.529 --> 01:46:10.894 Or if there's no Lisa, Miss Cheryl. 1094 01:46:13.789 --> 01:46:15.275 Good afternoon, councilors. 1095 01:46:16.873 --> 01:46:25.586 My name is Cheryl, Miss Cheryl, and I'm a part of this community, have been for more than 16, 20 years maybe. 1096 01:46:26.939 --> 01:46:31.636 But what I came to say today is we We have to help this crisis. 1097 01:46:32.534 --> 01:46:33.868 I've been a part of TPI. 1098 01:46:34.573 --> 01:46:37.384 I'm now a part of OHEI. 1099 01:46:37.704 --> 01:46:39.422 I'm also a part of Multnomah County. 1100 01:46:40.177 --> 01:46:48.094 Those are boards that I sit on, and those are boards that I believe in that will help curb some of this. 1101 01:46:49.234 --> 01:46:54.628 I live downtown at Jefferson and 11th Southwest. 1102 01:46:55.739 --> 01:46:58.587 And I see this every day. 1103 01:46:59.640 --> 01:47:01.872 When shelters are closed, what happens? 1104 01:47:03.033 --> 01:47:10.367 When agencies for addictions, mental health curve, I see what happens. 1105 01:47:11.030 --> 01:47:36.528 A lot of them live in front of my building, and I would like to see a lot of this cleaned up because I experienced homelessness for more than 8 years, and I'll tell you, if we don't do something, if we don't curb this, the crime rate will skyrocket, and it will be overnight. 1106 01:47:37.710 --> 01:47:49.246 So I thank you guys for allowing all of us who have spoken to come and let you guys know That in the streets, it's real. 1107 01:47:50.195 --> 01:47:53.095 In these boardrooms, it's real also. 1108 01:47:53.400 --> 01:47:58.860 But we have to do something because we have this power. 1109 01:48:00.247 --> 01:48:00.585 Thank you. 1110 01:48:00.649 --> 01:48:05.439 And in the voice of Dr. Maya Angelou, still I rise. 1111 01:48:07.110 --> 01:48:07.613 Thank you. 1112 01:48:09.381 --> 01:48:11.797 Next we have Raina Casey. 1113 01:48:12.707 --> 01:48:14.293 Madison Moskowitz. 1114 01:48:15.233 --> 01:48:16.738 Pastor Mark Jackson. 1115 01:48:17.823 --> 01:48:18.925 Lauren Armony. 1116 01:48:20.010 --> 01:48:21.296 Pastor David Greenidge. 1117 01:48:21.399 --> 01:48:23.353 Devin Ruiz. 1118 01:48:37.369 --> 01:48:38.926 And Ryan, now feel free to begin when you're ready. 1119 01:48:45.489 --> 01:48:46.476 Perhaps no, Raina. 1120 01:48:47.511 --> 01:48:47.884 Once more. 1121 01:48:50.341 --> 01:48:52.104 You can go ahead, Madison. 1122 01:48:57.725 --> 01:48:58.416 No, Madison. 1123 01:49:01.002 --> 01:49:01.436 Once more. 1124 01:49:02.850 --> 01:49:03.912 Okay, Pastor Mark. 1125 01:49:05.020 --> 01:49:05.582 Yeah, thank you. 1126 01:49:05.662 --> 01:49:07.693 Uh, Pastor Mark Jackson, board member for Oasis of Praise. 1127 01:49:07.742 --> 01:49:11.130 I want to one, to just appreciate the investment allocation Thank you, Councilor Smith. 1128 01:49:11.130 --> 01:49:11.130 Thank you, Councilor Smith. 1129 01:49:11.130 --> 01:49:13.609 I appreciate your presentation toward SCI, Williams and Russell, and also Hacienda. 1130 01:49:14.789 --> 01:49:25.750 I'm here today just to again to call to your attention the important work that Oasis of Praise has been doing in District 3 around housing services, behavioral mental health supports, and whatnot. 1131 01:49:25.750 --> 01:49:32.810 Southeast Portland, inner Southeast Portland, is a real service desert, and we've been doing special work for nearly 3 decades now. 1132 01:49:32.810 --> 01:49:56.479 And I guess I wish you all would consider again our capital project request to really kind of acquire, to renovate space to include a community resource center to continue all the great work we've been doing to address the drugs around our community, the homelessness, where we provide not just rental assistance but also temporary housing, as well as warming centers and also access to showers. 1133 01:49:56.527 --> 01:50:04.876 So as you all continue to explore these funds being allocated, consider the great work being done in District 3 with Oceans of Praise. 1134 01:50:04.939 --> 01:50:05.645 Thank you so very much. 1135 01:50:07.503 --> 01:50:13.032 I'm also Pastor David Greenidge, and I've known Pastor Mark Jackson for many years and support his work. 1136 01:50:13.497 --> 01:50:22.341 I also used to be the executive director of Constructing Hope, an organization that helps prior offenders with jobs in the construction industry, and we did affordable housing. 1137 01:50:23.030 --> 01:50:26.220 Really, really excited about what Oasis of Praise is doing. 1138 01:50:26.572 --> 01:50:30.786 They've been in Portland metro areas, Pastor Jackson has stated, for many years. 1139 01:50:31.283 --> 01:50:52.073 They are serving people with crisis response, emergency management, mental health services for the poor, family counseling, social life skills, youth and family outreach programs, business consulting, resource information sharing, hot meals, community clothes closet, warming center, shower facilities, hygiene products, rental assistance. 1140 01:50:52.489 --> 01:51:01.099 The last thing is rental assistance that they, as well as the Coalition of African and African American Pastors, Distributed over $1 million to help people. 1141 01:51:01.341 --> 01:51:02.533 The money went fast. 1142 01:51:02.613 --> 01:51:03.515 The need is great. 1143 01:51:03.757 --> 01:51:08.578 So we fully support Oasis of Praise and the other organizations that need help at this time. 1144 01:51:08.658 --> 01:51:09.095 Thank you. 1145 01:51:11.326 --> 01:51:12.652 Lauren, I believe you're up next. 1146 01:51:13.024 --> 01:51:13.395 Thank you. 1147 01:51:15.043 --> 01:51:19.314 Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and the rest of the City of Portland Housing and Permitting Committee. 1148 01:51:19.833 --> 01:51:28.125 My name is Lauren Armony, and although I work with the Welcome Home Coalition, I am speaking on behalf On behalf of myself in support of the Keep Portland Housed proposal. 1149 01:51:28.878 --> 01:51:33.309 I was born and raised in Southeast Portland, and I graduated from Cleveland High School. 1150 01:51:33.389 --> 01:51:33.822 Go Warriors! 1151 01:51:34.577 --> 01:51:43.547 I have watched the city that raised me, that I love, grow increasingly unaffordable and continue to witness the impacts of that unaffordability. 1152 01:51:44.061 --> 01:51:53.403 Myself and the people I went to school with and grew up with are not only unable to afford the neighborhoods that we grew up in, We are ending up homeless like myself. 1153 01:51:54.077 --> 01:52:00.724 Portland can no longer be said to be the place where young people go to retire, which was the appeal for so many people who moved here the past 20 years. 1154 01:52:01.478 --> 01:52:08.430 We have the incredible opportunity to use these supplemental funds to target upstream measures that will stabilize and protect Portlanders. 1155 01:52:08.926 --> 01:52:15.171 My colleagues uplifted my other concerns, so I want to speak to the one I am most excited about, and that is social housing. 1156 01:52:15.444 --> 01:52:16.858 And call it what it is, social housing. 1157 01:52:17.435 --> 01:52:24.342 I was one of the lucky individuals to join the delegation to Vienna this past September, and it was the first time in my life I left the United States. 1158 01:52:24.439 --> 01:52:31.346 And it was also the first time in my life that I felt the visceral effects of a city and government that truly supported its residents. 1159 01:52:31.974 --> 01:52:33.403 Housing was beautiful and affordable. 1160 01:52:33.515 --> 01:52:35.813 Transit arrived every 3 to 5 minutes. 1161 01:52:36.005 --> 01:52:38.382 And yes, there were sausage and döner kebab stands every 10 blocks. 1162 01:52:39.297 --> 01:52:42.382 They may have started 100 years ago, but they had to start somewhere. 1163 01:52:43.073 --> 01:52:44.807 We have the chance to start today. 1164 01:52:44.855 --> 01:52:45.064 Thank you. 1165 01:52:46.149 --> 01:52:55.742 With these like record low market rate housing opportunities for acquisition, please look ahead to a more diverse, dignified, and beautiful future and fully invest in the allocations for social housing. 1166 01:52:55.921 --> 01:52:59.845 Thank you, Devin. 1167 01:52:59.926 --> 01:53:00.253 I believe yep. 1168 01:53:01.930 --> 01:53:05.231 Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee, my name is Devin Ruiz. 1169 01:53:05.650 --> 01:53:08.438 I'm a D2 Culley resident and a lobbyist for Next Step. 1170 01:53:08.970 --> 01:53:10.564 We're a local nonprofit that works to amplify. 1171 01:53:10.771 --> 01:53:15.051 The voice and leadership of diverse young people to make a more just and equitable Oregon. 1172 01:53:15.484 --> 01:53:28.390 Since 2022, Next Step has paid all program participants this year starting $23 an hour because we know that despite housing being a human right, our young people are being crushed by this manufactured affordability crisis. 1173 01:53:29.030 --> 01:53:36.229 All Portlanders deserve to have access to stable and secure housing, and as such, we urge you to pass the Keep Portland— Keep Portland Housed resolution. 1174 01:53:36.310 --> 01:53:38.872 Resolution with amendments suggested by the Welcome Home Coalition. 1175 01:53:39.707 --> 01:53:49.064 As someone who was raised in a studio apartment by a single mother in a city that luckily had rent control, I want to see all Portland Housing Bureau dollars directed towards the people that need this most. 1176 01:53:49.546 --> 01:54:00.908 The city and its residents feel every day how expensive housing is, and we know that preventing evictions before they occur is the most cost-efficient way to address homelessness and protect low-income renters. 1177 01:54:01.484 --> 01:54:09.158 Focusing on programs like debt buydowns, homeownership, social housing, and acquisition create pathways for sustainable housing going forward. 1178 01:54:09.993 --> 01:54:19.690 I do not believe in housing dollars going back to the general fund or giving limited public tax funds to developers who will create more unaffordable housing opening in 5+ years. 1179 01:54:20.109 --> 01:54:21.698 We know that that's not where the need is. 1180 01:54:22.115 --> 01:54:25.520 We need public funds to create more affordable housing today. 1181 01:54:26.050 --> 01:54:48.405 These dollars have been held from the community for Next up we have Annie Berry, Andy Mendenhall, Justice Reggie, Beth Cook, Colleen Carroll. 1182 01:54:49.854 --> 01:55:00.902 Thank you, Councilor Annie, feel free to begin when you're ready. 1183 01:55:02.088 --> 01:55:02.875 Hello, committee members. 1184 01:55:03.051 --> 01:55:03.822 Thank you so much. 1185 01:55:04.175 --> 01:55:10.895 And, um, I'd like to speak on the $100+ million that was discovered in unspent housing funds. 1186 01:55:11.153 --> 01:55:19.881 I'd also like to point out that we had a homelessness and housing committee which was originally credited with finding these funds but was disbanded only 2 Thank you. 1187 01:55:20.059 --> 01:55:21.269 Only in the last 2 weeks. 1188 01:55:22.238 --> 01:55:24.886 And now we just have the Housing Committee. 1189 01:55:25.997 --> 01:55:33.484 And these funds now appear to only be applicable potentially to housing and housing options. 1190 01:55:34.520 --> 01:55:39.362 And I think that we as a public lack clarity on why that is. 1191 01:55:40.039 --> 01:55:45.219 Homelessness services and PDX, especially in Old Town, have been facing severe financial challenges. 1192 01:55:46.265 --> 01:55:47.653 Grants are underfunded. 1193 01:55:47.975 --> 01:55:52.592 Services which have existed for years are not receiving the funds that they need to be sustainable. 1194 01:55:57.729 --> 01:56:12.613 I think if we could see the funds be used to sustain houselessness services, including housing, that already exists and are currently underfunded, I think I agree with most people here that this money should not be going to developers. 1195 01:56:12.725 --> 01:56:14.548 It should not be going to long-term projects. 1196 01:56:14.710 --> 01:56:14.908 Councilor Smith. 1197 01:56:15.734 --> 01:56:17.356 It should be going to things that exist already. 1198 01:56:18.670 --> 01:56:29.672 And I strongly also recommend some oversight and public accountability around these funds so that we can see where they're going and that they're going to places that are needed the most. 1199 01:56:34.528 --> 01:56:48.313 And I think the public deserves clarity on why the homelessness committee has been disbanded and rebranded as Andy, you're up next. 1200 01:56:49.444 --> 01:56:52.988 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, members of the committee. 1201 01:56:53.248 --> 01:56:56.514 Andy Medlenhall, for the record, President and CEO of Central City Concern. 1202 01:56:57.489 --> 01:57:06.378 In my brief time allotted, I want to address why there is such a significant demand for preservation dollars and offer some suggestions for consideration. 1203 01:57:06.983 --> 01:57:23.423 As Mr. Cronin from Housing Oregon noted earlier, affordable housing providers, especially deeply affordable housing providers like Central City Concern, are frequently serving residents with untreated substance use disorder, severe mental illness, and increasing levels of aging and cognitive decline. 1204 01:57:24.404 --> 01:57:32.238 These realities have changed over the past 6 years in particular and have fundamentally changed what it takes to operate housing safely and successfully. 1205 01:57:32.896 --> 01:57:34.582 This is not theoretical, it's measurable. 1206 01:57:34.677 --> 01:57:53.180 Very briefly, at Central City Concern, our partners at Health Share of Oregon cross-walked homelessness information with an analysis of high-acuity behavioral health folks, and in 2025, roughly half of the residents that we serve, more than 1,100 individuals, fell into one of those high-acuity behavioral health needs. 1207 01:57:54.496 --> 01:57:58.796 So in recognition of the increasing cost, we'd like to ask council to do 3 things. 1208 01:57:58.893 --> 01:58:14.640 First, prioritize the Second, allow flexible use of these funds for operating support, debt restructuring, capital repair, safety improvements, and supportive service stabilization. 1209 01:58:14.699 --> 01:58:15.750 I'll hold the third. 1210 01:58:15.760 --> 01:58:21.340 I do want to be very clear and just say that preservation funding is in no way, shape, or form a bailout. 1211 01:58:22.159 --> 01:58:27.279 It is repayment for years of unfunded, underfunded, and neglected public housing. 1212 01:58:27.279 --> 01:58:27.319 Thank you. 1213 01:58:29.600 --> 01:58:36.625 Justice, feel free to go ahead. 1214 01:58:36.850 --> 01:58:37.050 Peace. 1215 01:58:37.050 --> 01:58:38.199 My name is Justice Rajeev. 1216 01:58:38.289 --> 01:58:41.470 I'm the Director of Advocacy and Civic Engagement for the Urban League of Portland. 1217 01:58:41.470 --> 01:58:43.239 I am a registered lobbyist with the City of Portland. 1218 01:58:43.989 --> 01:58:49.689 The Keep Portland Housed package demonstrates the City Council taking action to move resources into action. 1219 01:58:49.689 --> 01:58:53.510 It is the responsibility of government to meet the will and the needs of the people. 1220 01:58:53.801 --> 01:59:01.143 As our representatives, that you assign our precious public dollars to actually do the work that the folks need. 1221 01:59:02.442 --> 01:59:21.243 Housing is a complex issue, and all of the things addressed in the current package try to meet some of the mixed needs that are necessary to not only keep people housed, meaning rent assistance— that is one of the most effective ways to keep people in their housing— rent buydowns that make sure housing that is already affordable remains just that. 1222 01:59:21.404 --> 01:59:21.659 Thank you. 1223 01:59:21.707 --> 01:59:50.512 Affordable, and also creating space to create— to fix and fill the gaps in affordable housing projects so that we continue to allow our community-based organizations that are some of the leaders in the cutting edge of actually trying to connect development to the people and make it be centered on the people in the service of public dollars to do the will of the people and take care of folks, as opposed to primarily looking for profit or other folks' benefit or to make this city somehow more attractive to people who weren't going to come here anyway in the first place. 1224 01:59:51.875 --> 01:59:57.396 With that, I will be, uh, very brief and, and try to model wrapping up as soon as possible. 1225 01:59:57.445 --> 02:00:05.775 That I appreciate the, uh, the Pirtle-Guiney amendments and, um, look to and thank you for taking action to get these funds in action now. 1226 02:00:09.908 --> 02:00:10.895 Next is Beth Cook. 1227 02:00:12.091 --> 02:00:15.051 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee. 1228 02:00:15.487 --> 02:00:18.689 For the record, my name is Beth Cook, Chief Advocacy Officer with New Narrative. 1229 02:00:19.143 --> 02:00:23.122 We are a nonprofit community mental health provider serving adults across the greater Portland region. 1230 02:00:24.118 --> 02:00:31.871 New Narrative is in strong support of Councilor Pirtle-Guiney's amendment allocating $3 million for general operating support for deeply affordable non-market housing. 1231 02:00:32.609 --> 02:00:35.802 I want to briefly share an example that illustrates a strong gap in our system. 1232 02:00:36.461 --> 02:00:41.067 The Bridgeview Community is a 47-unit single-room occupancy housing program in downtown Portland. 1233 02:00:41.613 --> 02:00:47.648 It serves people with severe and persistent mental health conditions who are transitioning out of homelessness, the state hospital, and other institutions. 1234 02:00:49.052 --> 02:00:55.720 Bridgeview provides 24/7 support, onsite case management, and daily structure so people can remain stable and housed. 1235 02:00:56.427 --> 02:01:00.347 Each resident holds their own lease, and the building is supported through mission-based property management. 1236 02:01:01.247 --> 02:01:09.358 Most people have never heard of Bridgeview, but programs like it are essential for people whose needs are not met by traditional housing and who do not qualify for institutional care. 1237 02:01:11.340 --> 02:01:17.208 These PSH Plus programs fall in between funding systems that were not designed to support people with this level of need. 1238 02:01:17.256 --> 02:01:17.354 Thank you. 1239 02:01:18.279 --> 02:01:24.636 Most resources are designed either for independent housing with minimal services or licensed treatment settings that can bill Medicaid. 1240 02:01:25.420 --> 02:01:29.662 This type of deeply affordable, service-rich housing does not fit cleanly into either category. 1241 02:01:30.356 --> 02:01:35.921 As a result, it is often sustained through short-term funding, underfunding, as you heard, or left unsupported altogether. 1242 02:01:37.466 --> 02:01:39.801 At the same time, there is growing interest in this model. 1243 02:01:40.188 --> 02:01:53.300 The governor's recent Executive Order 2601 calls for the development of intensive, service-rich We already have programs doing this work today, and without ongoing operating support, we risk losing them. 1244 02:01:53.520 --> 02:01:55.350 That is the gap that this amendment addresses. 1245 02:01:56.100 --> 02:01:57.069 I urge your support. 1246 02:01:57.159 --> 02:01:59.859 Thank you. 1247 02:01:59.859 --> 02:02:01.930 Colleen, you're up next. 1248 02:02:02.159 --> 02:02:03.239 Uh, hello to the committee. 1249 02:02:03.239 --> 02:02:09.220 My name is Colleen Carroll, and I'm a member of the research team with the Evicted in Oregon Project at Portland State University. 1250 02:02:09.220 --> 02:02:22.844 I'm not here to testify, but I by would like to say that I'm a proud member of the in support of or against any particular ordinance or package, but to summarize some of our research project's findings that are related to eviction prevention and diversion. 1251 02:02:23.421 --> 02:02:30.149 Evicted in Oregon, for the past 6 years, has been researching evictions in Oregon. 1252 02:02:30.502 --> 02:02:50.140 As you've heard, eviction is a complex, multi-step legal process, and our project project publishes data statewide and at the county level, as well as evaluates eviction prevention and eviction diversion policies and programs, and has conducted research assessing tenant experiences of eviction in Oregon. 1253 02:02:52.567 --> 02:03:07.595 Our research concludes that legal services for tenants facing eviction, emergency rent assistance, and other eviction prevention measures should be understood as understood as a tourniquet, a life-saving measure to forestall the worst outcomes, not just a Band-Aid. 1254 02:03:09.270 --> 02:03:13.591 Emergency rent assistance and legal support for tenants work well together. 1255 02:03:14.465 --> 02:03:23.966 When tenants who received emergency rent assistance in addition to legal services, they had markedly better outcomes than tenants who received legal services alone. 1256 02:03:25.287 --> 02:03:32.010 As you heard a little bit earlier from Becky Thank you. 1257 02:03:48.676 --> 02:04:09.108 Next up, we have Councilor Dan Ryan, Sandra Comstock, Councilor Ryan. 1258 02:04:09.851 --> 02:04:14.118 Hi, good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and committee members. 1259 02:04:14.640 --> 02:04:16.082 For the record, I'm Councilor Dan Ryan. 1260 02:04:16.844 --> 02:04:22.354 I wanted to bring into focus something that we have thus far neglected to thoroughly publicly discuss. 1261 02:04:23.270 --> 02:04:30.096 Our affordable housing partners are too often failing to provide stable, safe places for Portlanders to call home. 1262 02:04:31.301 --> 02:04:35.639 As we all know, the ongoing challenges with Home Forward are well documented in the media. 1263 02:04:36.506 --> 02:04:39.622 What I've learned from many Portlanders underscores these findings. 1264 02:04:40.377 --> 02:04:44.167 People are concerned for their safety within their own homes. 1265 02:04:45.114 --> 02:04:46.609 We know there are vacancy problems. 1266 02:04:46.689 --> 02:04:46.789 Councilor Smith. 1267 02:04:46.789 --> 02:04:46.789 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 1268 02:04:46.789 --> 02:04:46.789 I'm here to speak on behalf of Councilor Dan Ryan. 1269 02:04:46.789 --> 02:04:53.739 We have a number of issues that we have raised over the last several years, maintenance issues, capital project backlogs, often involving behavioral wellness and substance abuse. 1270 02:04:53.989 --> 02:04:56.079 I have 2 requests for my council colleagues. 1271 02:04:56.810 --> 02:05:12.180 One, let's have a transparent discussion about accountability and identity and identify what success will look like as it relates to safety, living conditions, and vacancy rates for projects and organizations that are funded through tax dollars. 1272 02:05:12.899 --> 02:05:13.141 Second. 1273 02:05:13.287 --> 02:05:13.545 Second. 1274 02:05:13.738 --> 02:05:16.046 City-funded housing awards should be include—. 1275 02:05:16.304 --> 02:05:22.533 Should include achievable outcomes for partner organizations, providing data-driven performance metrics. 1276 02:05:23.275 --> 02:05:30.094 I'm sharing today to advocate for residents who are afraid of going into the hallway of their own building. 1277 02:05:31.904 --> 02:05:34.182 I trust you are receiving these emails and calls too. 1278 02:05:35.217 --> 02:05:36.122 Please believe them. 1279 02:05:37.319 --> 02:05:38.435 Please hold them in your heart. 1280 02:05:44.686 --> 02:05:45.960 Sandra, you're up next. 1281 02:05:46.202 --> 02:05:46.507 Thanks. 1282 02:05:46.750 --> 02:05:55.659 I'm Sandra Comstock, the executive director of Hygiene for All, and, um, I'm here today to ask you to please vote for the ordinance before you as is. 1283 02:05:56.350 --> 02:06:04.569 It is the first step towards a unified, swift, regionally shelter and streets to housing strategy and away from the city's Thank you. 1284 02:06:04.569 --> 02:06:04.569 I would like to thank Mayor Wheeler and Mayor Wilson for their leadership on this issue. 1285 02:06:04.569 --> 02:06:14.670 I have been working with them for the past 2 years to reverse the decades-long siloed shelter-only gambits of Mayors Wheeler and Wilson, which have sadly spiked homelessness and driven up economic and community costs. 1286 02:06:14.829 --> 02:06:22.329 With the spending and outcome data in, it is clear what the— that the time for such evidence-free gambles is over. 1287 02:06:22.329 --> 02:06:30.170 All our local data shows that investing in housing stability and paths to housing is the most effective way to reverse our terrible track record. 1288 02:06:30.972 --> 02:06:33.929 Comparing 2025 costs and outcomes explains why. 1289 02:06:34.398 --> 02:06:44.434 Specifically, in 2025, eviction prevention with rent assistance cost approximately $11,000 per person, where 92% of participants stayed housed. 1290 02:06:45.146 --> 02:06:51.807 Permanent supportive housing cost $16,000 per person, where 92% of recipients stayed housed. 1291 02:06:51.921 --> 02:06:57.961 By comparison, congregate shelter cost $37,000 Uh, per bed. 1292 02:06:58.490 --> 02:07:09.762 However, because only 1 person got housed for every 2 beds operated, the real cost of that 1 person getting into, into housing was actually $82,179. 1293 02:07:10.469 --> 02:07:16.104 Meanwhile, the Safe Rest Task Villages cost $51,000, average of $51,000 per pod. 1294 02:07:16.489 --> 02:07:26.106 However, because only 1 person, uh, got housing for every 4 pods operated, the real cost To housing, uh, one person in the village was $244,530. 1295 02:07:29.613 --> 02:07:30.162 Thank you. 1296 02:07:30.420 --> 02:07:30.743 Thanks. 1297 02:07:31.048 --> 02:07:33.018 Thank you. 1298 02:07:35.729 --> 02:07:36.810 Next is Kai. 1299 02:07:37.036 --> 02:07:37.649 Kai's online. 1300 02:07:37.939 --> 02:07:39.411 You're welcome to unmute and begin when you're ready. 1301 02:07:41.613 --> 02:07:42.113 Thank you. 1302 02:07:42.484 --> 02:07:43.277 Hello, councilors. 1303 02:07:43.551 --> 02:07:47.396 My name is Kai Jensen, and I've lived in Portland for 13 years. 1304 02:07:48.426 --> 02:08:01.045 I've experienced housing instability for much of that time, and I've lived at 11 different addresses while being a teacher, a nonprofit worker, and a civil servant. 1305 02:08:01.350 --> 02:08:03.275 Obviously, I'm a renter. 1306 02:08:04.479 --> 02:08:10.966 I have myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, which has many common traits with long COVID. 1307 02:08:11.543 --> 02:08:21.081 I've been able to work full-time with accommodations over the past 8 years since, um, this chronic illness started, but my condition continues to worsen. 1308 02:08:21.354 --> 02:08:30.442 I worry that soon I'll be unable to work and unable to afford to remain housed in my studio apartment while waiting through the disability benefits process. 1309 02:08:31.292 --> 02:08:34.408 I have no wealth and no family to fall back on. 1310 02:08:35.386 --> 02:08:43.595 Trying to navigate the overnight shelter system and day systems that currently exist would kill me. 1311 02:08:45.283 --> 02:08:49.756 As a 17-year-old, I was homeless, and I don't want to repeat that experience. 1312 02:08:50.823 --> 02:08:54.448 I should be able to stay in my community even though I'm disabled. 1313 02:08:55.181 --> 02:09:05.041 There are plenty of other people who have a variety of reasons why they might be one unexpected bill away from eviction. 1314 02:09:05.220 --> 02:09:26.600 My neighbors and I deserve dignity and permanent housing, I think that it is vital that we explore things like community land trusts and other, uh, innovative solutions so that everyone who calls Portland home has a safe place to live that's different than a cot to sleep on. 1315 02:09:27.113 --> 02:09:28.286 Thank you. 1316 02:09:29.104 --> 02:09:29.730 Thank you for your time. 1317 02:09:30.630 --> 02:09:31.432 Thank you. 1318 02:09:33.456 --> 02:09:34.226 Next is Erin. 1319 02:09:35.622 --> 02:09:37.197 Hello, my name is Erin Fairchild. 1320 02:09:37.372 --> 02:09:44.966 I'm speaking in my capacity today as a human, as a business owner, and as a member of a collective of local business owners called Portland Businesses for All. 1321 02:09:45.095 --> 02:09:46.139 Thank you all for your work. 1322 02:09:47.006 --> 02:09:51.002 As business owners, we know that when all Portlanders thrive, our businesses thrive. 1323 02:09:51.742 --> 02:09:58.788 As business owners, we want eviction prevention, we want debt buydowns, and we want public acquisition of underutilized private market property. 1324 02:09:59.302 --> 02:10:07.782 We are business owners who want our city to prioritize policies that create real pathways to low-barrier, stable, social permanent housing. 1325 02:10:08.295 --> 02:10:17.176 We are not interested in prioritizing profits over human lives, and we know that our success as businesses is bound to the success of all of our community members. 1326 02:10:17.833 --> 02:10:29.219 Many of us as small business owners are actually just a few bad revenue months away from homelessness, and many small business owners are gig workers being exploited by the same systems and corporations that fuel this housing crisis. 1327 02:10:30.390 --> 02:10:43.101 Additionally, connected and cohesive neighborhoods with investments in affordable housing, not congregate night-only shelter, prevent multiple forms of violence and crime, including those types of violence that most impact children and youth. 1328 02:10:43.600 --> 02:10:45.269 These are all better for our businesses. 1329 02:10:46.247 --> 02:10:54.930 As humans with hearts and with businesses, we know that not a single person in this city should be made to feel like they are disposable or trash to be swept away. 1330 02:10:55.835 --> 02:11:01.823 It's deeply disappointing that this money was lost, but now it's found, and our City Council must do the right thing now. 1331 02:11:02.855 --> 02:11:07.949 Local business owners are in support of the Keep Portland Housed ordinance minus the Novak amendments. 1332 02:11:08.095 --> 02:11:08.435 Thank you. 1333 02:11:11.252 --> 02:11:12.530 Mabi, you're up next. 1334 02:11:13.920 --> 02:11:14.489 Good afternoon. 1335 02:11:14.750 --> 02:11:15.956 My name is Mabi Munoz. 1336 02:11:16.297 --> 02:11:20.597 I am a housing real estate consultant and a member of the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors. 1337 02:11:21.306 --> 02:11:25.828 I've spent over 25 years helping Portland families build stability through homeownership. 1338 02:11:26.393 --> 02:11:29.993 We cannot solve the housing crisis if we only focus on survival. 1339 02:11:30.671 --> 02:11:37.577 Rental support matters, but we also need to invest in homeownership because ownership is how families stay and communities stabilize. 1340 02:11:37.835 --> 02:11:38.189 Thank you. 1341 02:11:38.965 --> 02:11:42.413 Right now, median home prices are around $500,000 to $550,000. 1342 02:11:43.945 --> 02:11:46.144 Buyers need $20,000 to $40,000 upfront. 1343 02:11:46.577 --> 02:11:54.122 At the same time, many families, especially Black and Latino households, earn far below what's needed to compete in today's market. 1344 02:11:54.782 --> 02:11:58.394 In my business, about 75% of my clients need down payment assistance. 1345 02:11:58.796 --> 02:12:04.094 They can afford the mortgage; they cannot afford to overcome the upfront cost after years of rising rent. 1346 02:12:04.671 --> 02:12:09.761 Displacement doesn't end with another lease; it ends when a family can finally buy a home. 1347 02:12:10.260 --> 02:12:11.704 That's why reducing down. 1348 02:12:16.708 --> 02:12:38.909 Next group, we have Connor Lennon, Jordan Lewis, Dwight Minnie-Weather, Mario DeLeon, Garland Woodsong. 1349 02:12:45.787 --> 02:12:49.500 And feel free to begin when you're ready, Jordan— or I'm sorry, Connor. 1350 02:12:51.354 --> 02:12:51.710 Thank you. 1351 02:12:52.564 --> 02:12:54.323 For the record, my name is Connor Lennon. 1352 02:12:54.823 --> 02:12:59.188 I'm here today in support of most of the underlying budget ordinance for the Housing Bureau. 1353 02:13:00.094 --> 02:13:06.444 We are living in a time where the cost of living is high, and for many of us We're paying most of our income straight into rent. 1354 02:13:07.157 --> 02:13:11.408 We need rental assistance, but we also need to look towards a long-term solution. 1355 02:13:12.250 --> 02:13:14.524 I believe the answer we need is social housing. 1356 02:13:15.288 --> 02:13:17.222 We need to begin to land bank now. 1357 02:13:19.480 --> 02:13:23.791 We are paying more for less, so why not start paying less for more? 1358 02:13:24.162 --> 02:13:26.309 Social housing will get us more. 1359 02:13:27.068 --> 02:13:29.684 In other countries, renting is cheaper than owning. 1360 02:13:29.734 --> 02:13:29.966 Thank you. 1361 02:13:30.246 --> 02:13:31.692 And residents can count on that. 1362 02:13:32.333 --> 02:13:43.256 Here in Portland, Oregon, the only thing we can count on is a mayor that tries to make backdoor deals with code names before begging for money for a shelter system that is not working, that we cannot keep up with. 1363 02:13:43.979 --> 02:13:47.640 This is a system that we can outpace, but we need to start now. 1364 02:13:48.395 --> 02:13:55.895 I do not want to see any of this money go back into the general fund, and I definitely don't want to use it to see it used for the Broadway Corridor Project. 1365 02:13:55.944 --> 02:13:56.104 Thank you. 1366 02:13:58.148 --> 02:14:04.476 The current reality Portlanders face cannot be our long-term reality. 1367 02:14:05.234 --> 02:14:09.496 Rental assistance now and long-term social housing is how we take care of us. 1368 02:14:09.755 --> 02:14:10.095 Thank you. 1369 02:14:13.311 --> 02:14:14.168 Jordan, you're up next. 1370 02:14:14.890 --> 02:14:15.618 Hello, Housing Committee. 1371 02:14:15.960 --> 02:14:16.721 My name is Jordan Lewis. 1372 02:14:16.787 --> 02:14:20.095 I'm a volunteer lobbyist with the Portland Democratic Socialists of America. 1373 02:14:20.501 --> 02:14:22.268 I'm testifying in support of the underlying budget recommendation. 1374 02:14:22.359 --> 02:14:26.135 Budget ordinance for Portland Housing Bureau with some changes I will get into shortly. 1375 02:14:26.713 --> 02:14:36.787 But first, some context: If you have a budget, if you have a college degree or over the age of 50, you may not be aware of how bad it is out here for younger people who mostly rent. 1376 02:14:37.333 --> 02:14:38.667 But it's really, really bad. 1377 02:14:39.020 --> 02:14:44.885 My generation spends most of their time hanging out in basements because they can't afford to go out to eat. 1378 02:14:45.543 --> 02:14:48.725 It's detrimental for society, actually, when no one can afford to go. 1379 02:14:48.789 --> 02:14:50.074 Support their local businesses. 1380 02:14:50.653 --> 02:14:55.442 I'm reminded of a testimony from last year's TAL where someone used the term gentrablite. 1381 02:14:56.293 --> 02:15:04.216 And when you suggest to most electeds the main issue is rent, the $1,500 check they have to cash every month, they look at you like you're nuts. 1382 02:15:04.970 --> 02:15:05.662 But that is the truth. 1383 02:15:06.658 --> 02:15:07.605 Back onto the amendments. 1384 02:15:07.702 --> 02:15:15.702 I'm opposed to money going into the general fund when we know our mayor is probably going to blow it all on cruel congregate shelters that he has no Councilor Dan Ryan. 1385 02:15:16.359 --> 02:15:21.395 I'm also generally opposed to market project gap funding, except some special cases. 1386 02:15:21.908 --> 02:15:28.449 I say as someone who personally likes new market development in the urban core, but they're just nice-to-haves. 1387 02:15:28.802 --> 02:15:36.579 And last year we decided as a region that reliable bus service was a nice-to-have, so I'm just being consistent here. 1388 02:15:37.639 --> 02:15:54.123 Market development is nice to have while social housing, rent assistance, and Hello, I'm Pastor Dwight Minnewether. 1389 02:15:54.528 --> 02:16:03.381 I'm the executive director of Straightway Services and also the site operator of Oak Street Village, where there are 29 tiny houses. 1390 02:16:03.494 --> 02:16:08.654 And I'm here representing those people today that are seeking to move from the shelter into their own homes. 1391 02:16:08.703 --> 02:16:08.865 Thank you. 1392 02:16:09.122 --> 02:16:10.051 Permanent housing. 1393 02:16:10.708 --> 02:16:19.909 And the issue that we're having is not the motivation of the people wanting, it's just that we have nowhere or no funding or ways to put them in the places they're desiring. 1394 02:16:20.567 --> 02:16:30.649 As we have entered into our contract here, our first year we met our metric at 5 move-outs, and this year already in the beginning of our year we have 5. 1395 02:16:31.082 --> 02:16:33.935 So we're meeting the metric even without the support. 1396 02:16:33.984 --> 02:16:35.826 So we're imagining how much more could happen. 1397 02:16:35.875 --> 02:16:36.034 Thank you. 1398 02:16:37.007 --> 02:16:45.728 And if the things that we're talking about— I, I would say pretty much arguing about and, and not coming to a, a solution— that needs to be happening now. 1399 02:16:45.956 --> 02:16:47.667 So I just suggest that we do it now. 1400 02:16:48.361 --> 02:16:50.316 Whatever we're going to do, let's do it now. 1401 02:16:53.783 --> 02:16:54.862 Mario, you're up next. 1402 02:16:55.941 --> 02:16:56.344 How we doing? 1403 02:16:56.699 --> 02:16:58.453 It's my first time up here, so I'm kind of nervous. 1404 02:17:00.522 --> 02:17:00.945 Um, thank you. 1405 02:17:01.400 --> 02:17:02.360 Uh, my name is Mario DeLeon. 1406 02:17:02.555 --> 02:17:05.480 Uh, I've been I've been in Portland since 1989. 1407 02:17:06.141 --> 02:17:07.931 I'm a local artist, local muralist here. 1408 02:17:08.012 --> 02:17:16.191 So it's safe to say, you know, I've seen the rising cost of what it is to live in Portland and in East County. 1409 02:17:17.106 --> 02:17:19.887 I grew up on the other side of the 205. 1410 02:17:20.963 --> 02:17:29.715 You know, now is, is even living in the barrios, rent is as much as it would have used to be in the Pearl District when I was in high school, and it's getting ridiculous. 1411 02:17:30.295 --> 02:17:39.413 And if it wasn't for Um, rental assistance, even, even my small business wouldn't be able to function, you know. 1412 02:17:39.493 --> 02:17:41.094 And it's something that people, we need. 1413 02:17:41.239 --> 02:17:52.152 As a father, as a father of 2 daughters, right, who, uh, supports his family off one income, um, if it wasn't for rental assistance, sometimes I wouldn't be able to make it. 1414 02:17:52.231 --> 02:17:53.930 My daughters wouldn't have a place to live. 1415 02:17:54.379 --> 02:18:00.695 So, um, any— anything that we can do to make this happen, to make rental assistance happen immediately for people. 1416 02:18:01.112 --> 02:18:02.751 Um, we need it, we need it now. 1417 02:18:02.976 --> 02:18:03.649 People need it now. 1418 02:18:04.662 --> 02:18:06.202 So, and that's, that's it. 1419 02:18:07.375 --> 02:18:07.600 Thank you. 1420 02:18:08.434 --> 02:18:10.040 Thank you, and great job for your first time. 1421 02:18:10.666 --> 02:18:10.987 Thank you. 1422 02:18:12.031 --> 02:18:25.903 The final group is going to be Garland Wutsong, Rachel Hemmingson, Michelle Sheehan, Waylett Thomas, Diana Nunez. 1423 02:18:27.283 --> 02:18:29.563 And I believe Garland is joining us online. 1424 02:18:29.772 --> 02:18:31.361 You're welcome to unmute and begin when you're ready. 1425 02:18:32.677 --> 02:18:35.262 Good afternoon, councilors. 1426 02:18:35.952 --> 02:18:39.099 My name is Garland Woodsong with the Oregon Cooperative Housing Network. 1427 02:18:40.046 --> 02:18:51.459 I'm here to urge you to prioritize using available funds to acquire existing housing and convert it into community ownership, including limited equity co-ops supported by a meaningfully capitalized revolving loan fund. 1428 02:18:52.171 --> 02:19:02.099 This approach will create permanent affordability without ongoing subsidies, stabilize residents right now by preventing displacement, and deliver housing faster using buildings we already have. 1429 02:19:02.711 --> 02:19:04.600 There's also a bigger issue here. 1430 02:19:05.309 --> 02:19:15.337 If all new multifamily housing is rental, then as we grow up rather than out, we are locking in a future where most people cannot access ownership. 1431 02:19:16.129 --> 02:19:19.609 Co-ops provide a pathway to ownership within multifamily housing. 1432 02:19:20.152 --> 02:19:22.238 Which is essential for an equitable future. 1433 02:19:23.025 --> 02:19:28.662 This is a chance to turn one-time public dollars into permanently affordable community-owned housing. 1434 02:19:29.529 --> 02:19:33.174 I would also urge caution in how these funds are deployed. 1435 02:19:33.783 --> 02:19:45.167 Rather than transferring them out of housing and into the general fund, or assigning them to a small number of projects without a clear process, this is an opportunity to establish a revolving. 1436 02:19:48.329 --> 02:19:57.429 Thank you. 1437 02:20:06.141 --> 02:20:07.368 Rachel is up next. 1438 02:20:09.129 --> 02:20:10.793 Good afternoon, I'm Rachel Hemmingson. 1439 02:20:10.843 --> 02:20:11.409 I'm an East County resident. 1440 02:20:11.852 --> 02:20:13.424 Thank you, Mayor Gallego. 1441 02:20:13.682 --> 02:20:15.673 And ditto to Garland Woodsong. 1442 02:20:16.748 --> 02:20:22.496 Yeah, I'm here pretty much to support the same thing he's speaking about, which is creating community housing. 1443 02:20:22.995 --> 02:20:26.993 I have been one of Oregon's very first seniors real estate specialists for over 20 years. 1444 02:20:27.185 --> 02:20:37.013 I'm also part of the age-friendly movement for about 15 years, part of the— yes, the village movement since its inception, Oregon Gerontological Association. 1445 02:20:37.125 --> 02:20:39.677 I've been Thank you very much. 1446 02:20:41.155 --> 02:20:47.947 So I've been working up close and personally with people, and there is a lot of underutilized housing in this city. 1447 02:20:48.139 --> 02:20:54.129 And I have been looking for how do we create pathways to create affordable housing through existing housing. 1448 02:20:54.240 --> 02:20:58.897 And so this idea of purchasing and creating community housing is near and dear to my heart. 1449 02:20:59.362 --> 02:21:13.950 And also I've been learning, and it's a somewhat complicated issue, but I've been learning about the use of co-ops, and I think it is a key element to creating ownership opportunities for people in these existing properties rather than creating more rentals. 1450 02:21:14.865 --> 02:21:16.204 So that's what I'm here to support. 1451 02:21:16.254 --> 02:21:17.724 Let's see if there's anything else I want to say. 1452 02:21:19.212 --> 02:21:19.845 Let's do it. 1453 02:21:23.513 --> 02:21:24.727 Michelle, you're up next. 1454 02:21:25.699 --> 02:21:27.123 Yes, good afternoon, councilors. 1455 02:21:27.317 --> 02:21:28.290 Thank you for your time today. 1456 02:21:29.002 --> 02:21:30.013 My name is Michelle Sheehan. 1457 02:21:30.300 --> 02:21:39.313 I'm a realtor here in Portland, and I'm a member of the Portland Metro Area of Realtors, and I work every day with families trying to find stability in this market. 1458 02:21:40.147 --> 02:21:44.684 I want to speak to why homeownership needs to be a bigger part of this funding conversation. 1459 02:21:45.583 --> 02:21:57.192 Over the past several years, the city has made important investments in homelessness response and rental stabilization, and that work matters, but homeownership changes the trajectory entirely. 1460 02:21:58.507 --> 02:22:05.436 When a family owns their home, their housing payment becomes predictable, not just for a lease cycle but for the long term. 1461 02:22:06.527 --> 02:22:16.630 There's no surprise rent increase, no uncertainty year to year, and while they're making that payment, they're building equity, they're building a future. 1462 02:22:17.593 --> 02:22:19.485 In my work, I meet people who are ready. 1463 02:22:20.158 --> 02:22:25.430 They have stable jobs, They qualify for a mortgage, but they can't get past the down payment. 1464 02:22:26.325 --> 02:22:27.138 That's the barrier. 1465 02:22:28.977 --> 02:22:34.414 And when we help them cross it, everything changes, not just for them, but for the broader housing system. 1466 02:22:35.207 --> 02:22:40.936 A renter becomes a homeowner, a rental opens up, pressure eases across the market. 1467 02:22:41.854 --> 02:22:45.755 That's the triple effect we don't often talk about. 1468 02:22:46.922 --> 02:22:50.565 Right now, we are helping too few buyers to make a meaningful impact. 1469 02:22:52.424 --> 02:23:05.050 If we want different outcomes, more stability, less displacement, real pathways to equity, then homeownership needs to be part of the strategy, not as an afterthought but as a priority. 1470 02:23:05.244 --> 02:23:05.582 Thank you. 1471 02:23:08.621 --> 02:23:10.101 Next is Waylett. 1472 02:23:12.398 --> 02:23:14.456 Good afternoon, City Council members of Portland. 1473 02:23:15.114 --> 02:23:21.764 I want to speak plainly because this Because what we are experiencing in the city demands honesty and simplifies language. 1474 02:23:22.487 --> 02:23:36.289 I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I am tired of walking through our city and being forced into a degrading daily reality, looking down at the sidewalk and wondering whether what I am seeing came from a human being or an animal. 1475 02:23:37.494 --> 02:23:40.722 That should never be normal, and yet here we are. 1476 02:23:41.333 --> 02:23:44.161 Let's be clear, this is not simply a sanitation issue. 1477 02:23:44.561 --> 02:23:46.167 This is not about inconvenience. 1478 02:23:46.231 --> 02:23:52.605 This is about the visible, unavoidable evidence of a system that is failing its people at the most basic level. 1479 02:23:53.634 --> 02:23:59.204 When human beings are forced to live without access to housing, restrooms, or stability, this is the outcome. 1480 02:24:00.056 --> 02:24:10.459 No person, no man, no woman or child should be sleeping in the streets surrounded by insects, rodents, and exposures in the city with resources and capacity that Portland has. 1481 02:24:11.390 --> 02:24:16.384 So I ask you all, why are we still responding with temporary fixes to a permanent problem? 1482 02:24:17.218 --> 02:24:22.421 Why are we tolerating conditions that degrade both those experiencing homelessness and the broader community? 1483 02:24:23.320 --> 02:24:27.608 If we are serious about addressing the crisis, then a response must match the scale of the problem. 1484 02:24:28.154 --> 02:24:33.388 We need to invest in the housing that is truly accessible, not just theoretically available. 1485 02:24:33.676 --> 02:24:40.726 We need strong, proactive Eviction prevention so families do not fall into homelessness. 1486 02:24:41.319 --> 02:24:48.369 We need coordinated long-term strategies designed to reduce and ultimately end homelessness, not just to move it from one block to another. 1487 02:24:48.529 --> 02:24:53.090 Because cleaner streets are not achieved through displacement, they're achieved through stability. 1488 02:24:54.021 --> 02:24:55.336 Stability. 1489 02:24:55.691 --> 02:24:56.108 Thank you. 1490 02:24:56.253 --> 02:24:56.846 We're out of time. 1491 02:24:57.039 --> 02:24:59.238 Appreciate you. 1492 02:24:59.704 --> 02:25:00.587 Next is Diana. 1493 02:25:02.176 --> 02:25:05.209 Good afternoon, Chair Avalos, Vice Chair Green, and members of the committee. 1494 02:25:05.481 --> 02:25:09.814 For the record, my name is Diana Nunez-Caceres, and I'm the Chief Operating Officer of Hacienda CDC. 1495 02:25:10.069 --> 02:25:17.433 I'm here to advocate for the direct allocation for the existing project in North Portland that Councilor Pirtle-Guiney has put forth in the amendment. 1496 02:25:18.075 --> 02:25:25.263 As my CEO has briefed you over the past several weeks, this project is half-built and was abandoned over a year ago by former developers. 1497 02:25:26.018 --> 02:25:31.039 The metro regional government approached us to seek advice on us and asked whether we could do anything to save this project. 1498 02:25:31.311 --> 02:25:34.487 Including preserving millions of taxpayer dollars already invested. 1499 02:25:35.322 --> 02:25:43.872 Monarcha is ready to deliver 57 new 2 and 3-bedroom affordable rental home units at 60% AMI or below to the Overlook neighborhood. 1500 02:25:44.627 --> 02:25:51.573 Formerly known as Minnesota Places, this project was abandoned before it could deliver on its problem— promise of publicly funded affordable housing. 1501 02:25:52.486 --> 02:26:00.556 In December, OHCS committed the maximum allowed LIHTC allocation plus additional funding For almost $14 million to Hacienda to save this building. 1502 02:26:01.325 --> 02:26:10.818 Due to the cost of reconstruction and upgraded livability and sustainability features, we still need $3.5 million to complete our financing and bring these units to the people of Portland. 1503 02:26:11.493 --> 02:26:20.313 Once funded, our team is ready to deliver these units on an 8 to 10 month construction schedule, providing rapid relief to the city's families struggling with unaffordable rents. 1504 02:26:20.793 --> 02:26:22.831 This is homes for families in the next—. 1505 02:26:22.942 --> 02:26:23.617 By the end of this year. 1506 02:26:23.681 --> 02:26:23.808 Thank you. 1507 02:26:24.306 --> 02:26:28.780 We respect— we respectfully request $3.5 million from the City Council's allocation. 1508 02:26:29.533 --> 02:26:37.680 What is at stake is if this project does not receive local support, it will be foreclosed, compounding the city's challenges in attracting investment to Portland. 1509 02:26:38.192 --> 02:26:45.297 Additionally, the city will lose 57 new housing units for— for prop— to a for-profit developer who will acquire this building for pennies on the dollar. 1510 02:26:45.889 --> 02:26:46.307 Thank you. 1511 02:26:46.531 --> 02:26:46.852 Thank you. 1512 02:26:46.949 --> 02:26:47.831 Appreciate that. 1513 02:26:49.177 --> 02:26:50.604 Okay, that is the end of our list. 1514 02:26:50.684 --> 02:26:50.748 Yes. 1515 02:26:52.001 --> 02:26:54.453 Thank you, everybody, for being here, for your testimony. 1516 02:26:54.599 --> 02:26:57.084 We are going to take a very quick 10-minute break. 1517 02:26:57.165 --> 02:26:58.279 We'll be back at 4:32. 1518 02:37:17.802 --> 02:37:22.166 Here we go. 1519 02:37:23.422 --> 02:37:26.273 All right, we're going to call this meeting back at 4:32. 1520 02:37:27.146 --> 02:37:42.587 So, um, folks, we've got, uh, quite a few amendments to discuss, and, um, we've been given the okay to go until 5:30 if needed, but that is a hard So let's do our best to get through this within the next hour. 1521 02:37:44.370 --> 02:37:48.688 As far as who would like to go first in proposing their amendments, I don't really have a preference. 1522 02:37:48.752 --> 02:37:53.586 Is there any— Councilor Novick, are you— do you want to put your things forward? 1523 02:37:54.054 --> 02:37:57.152 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, you two can duke it out. 1524 02:37:57.217 --> 02:37:57.959 Who wants to go first? 1525 02:37:58.087 --> 02:38:02.266 Councilor, I'm happy to go ahead, but if you'd like to go first with some of yours, that's fine. 1526 02:38:04.528 --> 02:38:05.713 I'll go ahead if that's okay. 1527 02:38:06.097 --> 02:38:17.938 Um, so, um, Novick 3 again would— uh, one significant part of it is that it would allocate the entire $8.6 million from the transient lodging tax to the general fund. 1528 02:38:18.594 --> 02:38:22.665 And I heard people say they don't want this money going to the general fund. 1529 02:38:23.161 --> 02:38:25.709 I was trying to use— economizing my words at the beginning. 1530 02:38:26.221 --> 02:38:27.791 I did not explain what the general fund does. 1531 02:38:27.904 --> 02:38:37.972 The general fund goes to public safety, including police, fire, and other public safety entities like Portland Street Response and Community Violence Prevention funds, and it goes to parks. 1532 02:38:38.231 --> 02:38:39.297 That's where the bulk of it goes. 1533 02:38:39.959 --> 02:38:44.012 We are going to be in this tough budget system season. 1534 02:38:44.206 --> 02:38:52.853 We are going to be making cuts to those things, and I want— and we are going to be laying people off, and I want to avoid those cuts as much as possible. 1535 02:38:54.574 --> 02:38:59.042 Now, I should say that in fire, it's likely that the cuts are going to come in District 4. 1536 02:38:59.717 --> 02:39:04.563 Because that's where the tops— the bottom 6 stations in terms of call volume are. 1537 02:39:05.189 --> 02:39:10.325 But I used to live in District 4, and I care about whether people in Hillsdale or Burlingame have fire protection too. 1538 02:39:11.111 --> 02:39:18.430 So I strongly recommend that since we legally can direct $8.6 million to the general fund, that we do that. 1539 02:39:18.895 --> 02:39:42.367 The rest of Novick 3, as I said before, instead of breaking out money for social housing and NOFAs, And for specific projects, would establish a $21 million revolving loan fund to address social housing and affordable housing preservation and a variety of other things, relying to the extent we're not buying things for city ownership largely on loans. 1540 02:39:43.570 --> 02:39:46.364 So I would move that amendment. 1541 02:39:46.911 --> 02:39:54.707 I would also move my amendment 2 that simply clarifies The kind of services that are involved in eviction defense. 1542 02:39:55.492 --> 02:40:09.657 And alternatively, depending on which has the most support, amendments 1A and 1B, which would— one of which, 1A, would dedicate $6 million to rent assistance to people exiting sheltered housing. 1543 02:40:09.995 --> 02:40:11.852 Andy Miller talked about the importance of that. 1544 02:40:12.895 --> 02:40:16.949 And $3 million to rent assistance for people facing eviction. 1545 02:40:17.527 --> 02:40:25.772 The alternate proposal would dedicate $6 million to people facing eviction and $3 million to people transitioning from shelter to housing. 1546 02:40:26.431 --> 02:40:29.061 And again, I think it's important that that money be targeted. 1547 02:40:29.495 --> 02:40:34.629 There's 30,000 families in this city that are severely rent burdened. 1548 02:40:35.511 --> 02:40:37.661 They're paying more than half of their income on rent. 1549 02:40:37.997 --> 02:40:39.250 We cannot help all of them. 1550 02:40:39.746 --> 02:40:52.963 So I think that the judicious thing to do is to spend our money either on the people who are directly facing eviction, 16% of which will actually be evicted, and the majority of those will wind up homeless, or the people who already are homeless. 1551 02:40:53.832 --> 02:40:58.395 So I move all 3 and a half of those amendments. 1552 02:40:58.780 --> 02:41:05.431 Councilor Novick, if I could recommend that we try to do them one at a time just to make it a little simpler process-wise. 1553 02:41:05.528 --> 02:41:07.551 So do you want to move Novick 3? 1554 02:41:07.631 --> 02:41:09.704 It sounded like that one was most urgent to you. 1555 02:41:10.281 --> 02:41:12.672 Can we just do that and then open that discussion and go from there? 1556 02:41:13.569 --> 02:41:13.745 Sure. 1557 02:41:14.354 --> 02:41:17.530 Okay, so Councilor Novick moves Novick 3. 1558 02:41:17.802 --> 02:41:18.972 Do I have a second for that? 1559 02:41:20.319 --> 02:41:21.154 I'll second it. 1560 02:41:21.506 --> 02:41:23.768 Okay, seconded by Councilor Green. 1561 02:41:23.816 --> 02:41:26.477 So now we will enter discussion on that amendment. 1562 02:41:26.942 --> 02:41:27.985 Uh, Councilor Green, you're in the queue. 1563 02:41:28.546 --> 02:41:28.947 Yeah. 1564 02:41:29.684 --> 02:41:31.095 Thank you, Chair Avalos. 1565 02:41:31.433 --> 02:41:36.130 Uh, Councilor Novick, um, I support Novick 3. 1566 02:41:36.724 --> 02:41:38.691 Um, And I want to explain why. 1567 02:41:40.569 --> 02:41:43.604 We're facing a $160 million budget deficit. 1568 02:41:44.057 --> 02:41:55.314 And so even if the mayor found money for every part of his existing shelter program, every dollar that's in Portland Housing Bureau, we'd still have a significant deficit to close. 1569 02:41:56.182 --> 02:42:00.023 And I am worried about closing fire stations. 1570 02:42:00.073 --> 02:42:13.011 I am worried about making cuts into the parks And these are areas that come from the general fund, by the way, right after we passed the levy and we told voters that we were going to maintain the current service level. 1571 02:42:13.122 --> 02:42:22.019 And so it's not my favorite thing to do in the world to move housing money into the general fund to fill a gap, but we were in a situation where we've lost control of our revenue structure a little bit. 1572 02:42:22.115 --> 02:42:26.689 We're dealing with a critical juncture in our city. 1573 02:42:26.800 --> 02:42:31.316 And so I'm going to support that piece of it, even though it wasn't something that I advanced in the first place. 1574 02:42:31.416 --> 02:42:31.515 Thank you. 1575 02:42:32.654 --> 02:42:34.467 Because the color of money makes it work too. 1576 02:42:35.942 --> 02:42:46.032 I also support the added language that you have on Broadway Corridor that suggests— let's see here, make sure I orient myself. 1577 02:42:46.225 --> 02:42:54.422 I'll tell you what, so if Novick 3 passes, I'm going to introduce another amendment, but it doesn't make sense unless Novick 3 passes. 1578 02:42:54.470 --> 02:43:07.761 But my amendment will be to cut $800,000 from the fungible piece, that's the revolving loan thing, and put that into the bigger social housing revolving loan bucket for all the reasons we heard in testimony. 1579 02:43:08.579 --> 02:43:21.104 The only reason I'm supporting any money going to Broadway Corridor is that there is $4.8 million of restricted money in the River District TIF, which can only be used for this type of purpose in that— in the Westside TIF District. 1580 02:43:21.441 --> 02:43:24.155 And that's the only project that's on offer at this point. 1581 02:43:24.797 --> 02:43:27.154 And we couldn't use that money for rent assistance. 1582 02:43:27.201 --> 02:43:29.222 We couldn't use that money for any other purpose. 1583 02:43:30.007 --> 02:43:31.659 So my support comes from that place. 1584 02:43:31.949 --> 02:43:36.968 But I'm thinking after the testimony we heard, I think it should be $4.8 and not $5.6 million. 1585 02:43:37.721 --> 02:44:02.055 And then finally, I think that collapsing the NOFA buckets and the social housing line item into one big kind of revolving loan fund social housing acquisition piece is an elegant solution to Something that I've grappled with, which is like sort of getting ahead of policy development, doing line item and by-name allocations to specific gap financing needs. 1586 02:44:02.424 --> 02:44:22.123 If we just put a flag in the ground and say we're going to capitalize the revolving loan funding with this one-time money and explicitly name that it can be for social housing, it can also be for things that Garland mentioned about limited equity co-op conversions, then we can engage in a sort of competitive and directed process To make sure our projects don't stall out. 1587 02:44:23.007 --> 02:44:36.435 Importantly, when Montgomery County did this in Maryland, they just capitalized the revolving loan fund and they were able to finish projects that were entitled, that were partially built, and they just needed that gap financing to get across the road. 1588 02:44:36.966 --> 02:44:40.900 So I think about things like Hacienda being able to sort of apply competitively for this as well. 1589 02:44:41.334 --> 02:44:43.213 So I'm supporting it for all these reasons. 1590 02:44:43.310 --> 02:44:52.407 I don't think it moves me off of of my initial conception when we talked about the— in the housing work, the March 3rd work session anyway. 1591 02:44:52.488 --> 02:44:54.895 So I appreciate the intervention, Councilor Novick. 1592 02:44:55.022 --> 02:44:59.018 So I'm prepared to support Novick 3, and if that passes, I will introduce Green 1. 1593 02:44:59.627 --> 02:44:59.948 Okay. 1594 02:45:01.376 --> 02:45:01.632 Thank you. 1595 02:45:01.777 --> 02:45:03.590 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, did you want to speak to the amendment? 1596 02:45:04.022 --> 02:45:04.280 I do. 1597 02:45:04.407 --> 02:45:04.856 Thank you, Chair. 1598 02:45:05.852 --> 02:45:10.968 Councilor Novick, I appreciate you bringing forward something that allows us to have the conversation about general fund. 1599 02:45:12.527 --> 02:45:20.378 General fund, as you stated, supports public safety broadly and our parks system, both of which are facing critical cuts in this budget. 1600 02:45:21.037 --> 02:45:30.912 We also can come back in our budget discussion to these funds and talk about any number of uses, including housing needs, if we determine that we didn't do enough today. 1601 02:45:31.713 --> 02:45:33.255 We don't limit our flexibility. 1602 02:45:33.384 --> 02:45:35.359 We increase our flexibility by doing this. 1603 02:45:35.567 --> 02:45:42.893 And for that reason, I came in today prepared to be supportive of maximizing dollars going back to the general fund. 1604 02:45:43.182 --> 02:45:47.316 I am still prepared to be supportive of maximizing dollars going back to the general fund. 1605 02:45:48.092 --> 02:46:02.817 I am also supportive of creating a revolving loan fund to address our ability to acquire properties and bring them into public ownership to provide affordable housing in our community. 1606 02:46:03.693 --> 02:46:16.477 But I can't support the deletion of what is currently item 8 or sub-item 8, which is ensuring that gap funding is available for some specific projects that are ready to go now. 1607 02:46:17.087 --> 02:46:42.792 If, Councilor, you and your seconder on this are interested in an amendment that would restore what is currently subsection 8 in the original proposed, I would be interested in supporting, or if this fails in its current form and you are interested in bringing it back in that more narrow form, I would also be interested in supporting, but I can't support it with the deletion of Section 8. 1608 02:46:43.037 --> 02:46:43.362 Thank you. 1609 02:46:46.679 --> 02:46:47.130 Thank you. 1610 02:46:47.308 --> 02:46:48.474 I put myself in the queue. 1611 02:46:49.250 --> 02:46:55.298 I think Councilor or Vice Chair Green made all of the points that I would have made, and so I do plan on supporting. 1612 02:46:56.472 --> 02:46:57.406 Councilor Koyama Lane. 1613 02:46:59.674 --> 02:47:00.204 Thank you, Chair. 1614 02:47:01.218 --> 02:47:07.609 I appreciate that Novick 3 proposes an increase to the amount available in the general fund. 1615 02:47:07.983 --> 02:47:11.099 Expanding our flexibility is really important. 1616 02:47:12.110 --> 02:47:17.602 There is a huge range of needs that we will need to address in our next budget. 1617 02:47:19.004 --> 02:47:20.808 So thank you, Councilor Novick, for working on this. 1618 02:47:21.031 --> 02:47:24.614 I want to acknowledge what we heard from community members who came to testify. 1619 02:47:25.066 --> 02:47:37.734 Several folks expressed concern that shifting more resources into the general fund could ultimately result in those dollars being directly sent to the mayor's shelters, overnight shelters. 1620 02:47:37.781 --> 02:47:42.175 And I want to be clear for the record, that's not how I'm interested in using those general fund dollars. 1621 02:47:43.417 --> 02:47:47.658 I would also welcome hearing from my colleagues on the committee about their intentions. 1622 02:47:49.407 --> 02:47:54.318 So we can make sure that those concerns are addressed and reassure the public. 1623 02:47:56.399 --> 02:48:07.656 I also want to share that when I first saw the amendment, I did have— I was concerned that specific projects weren't named except Broadway Corridor. 1624 02:48:07.865 --> 02:48:18.288 But now I understand from what folks have shared that this is specific to those TIF dollars for the River District, and they're restricted and have to be used in specific ways. 1625 02:48:18.385 --> 02:48:22.788 So that's why Broadway Corridor is still named there, and that clarification was helpful for me. 1626 02:48:23.031 --> 02:48:24.665 So I wanted to explain that. 1627 02:48:25.507 --> 02:48:35.225 So overall, I appreciate the direction this amendment is taking, and particularly the creation of the revolving loan and social housing fund. 1628 02:48:35.337 --> 02:48:36.768 I plan to support the amendment. 1629 02:48:38.791 --> 02:48:39.578 Councilor Green? 1630 02:48:39.670 --> 02:48:44.425 I'm just backing the staff. 1631 02:48:45.004 --> 02:48:46.145 Oh, okay. 1632 02:48:47.254 --> 02:48:50.531 Okay, so then is there any further discussion on Novick 3? 1633 02:48:54.103 --> 02:48:55.036 Seeing none—. 1634 02:48:55.453 --> 02:48:57.414 Oh, sorry, go ahead, Councilor Novick. 1635 02:48:58.522 --> 02:49:08.477 I just wanted to say that, um, I think and I agree with what several of our colleagues have said over the past month and a half that Or so that we shouldn't become a grant-making organization. 1636 02:49:08.621 --> 02:49:12.913 So I'm generally resistant to the idea of naming specific projects. 1637 02:49:13.570 --> 02:49:18.537 And I think it would be a strong signal from this committee if we sent something out that does not name specific projects. 1638 02:49:19.194 --> 02:49:23.920 I'm willing to backtrack sometimes in specific circumstances. 1639 02:49:24.176 --> 02:49:34.221 And I hear Councilor Pirtle-Guiney about the Hacienda project, and I won't rule out the possibility that after she and Councilor Smith have had their chance to make their, their case for that at full council. 1640 02:49:34.721 --> 02:49:45.744 I might go along with them, but for right now, I would like to have this clean package, which just, with the exception of Broadway Corridor for the reasons that Councilor Koyama Lane mentioned, just strips out all references to specific projects. 1641 02:49:48.231 --> 02:49:48.976 Thank you, Councilor. 1642 02:49:49.363 --> 02:49:53.277 With no further discussion, let's call the vote on Amendment Novick 3. 1643 02:49:54.538 --> 02:49:56.845 We had a motion from Novick, seconded by Aye. 1644 02:49:56.942 --> 02:49:57.315 Green. 1645 02:49:58.318 --> 02:49:58.789 Pirtle-Guiney? 1646 02:49:59.129 --> 02:49:59.274 No. 1647 02:50:00.182 --> 02:50:00.797 Koyama Lane? 1648 02:50:01.072 --> 02:50:01.185 Yes. 1649 02:50:02.368 --> 02:50:02.772 Novick? 1650 02:50:04.051 --> 02:50:04.295 Yes. 1651 02:50:05.345 --> 02:50:05.572 Green? 1652 02:50:06.712 --> 02:50:06.842 Yes. 1653 02:50:07.838 --> 02:50:08.064 Avalos? 1654 02:50:08.481 --> 02:50:08.531 Aye. 1655 02:50:09.608 --> 02:50:12.647 With 4 ayes and 1 nay, the amendment is approved. 1656 02:50:14.610 --> 02:50:15.417 All right, Councilor Green. 1657 02:50:16.745 --> 02:50:18.329 Thank you, Chair Avalos. 1658 02:50:18.459 --> 02:50:21.468 I'd like to move Green 1, which does just one thing. 1659 02:50:22.495 --> 02:50:30.539 It amends the allocation to Broadway Corridor down to $4.8 million instead of $5.6. 1660 02:50:30.602 --> 02:50:31.852 This should be in your inboxes. 1661 02:50:33.246 --> 02:50:39.111 It strikes the reference to $800,000 loan from Portland Housing Bureau to complete capital stack. 1662 02:50:39.833 --> 02:50:49.895 It strikes that same language from the funding source, and it adds $800,000 to the newly established revolving loans and social housing acquisition bucket. 1663 02:50:51.587 --> 02:51:13.257 I think this is important for not just the reasons that we heard in testimony that we should not be taking the fungible sources of money that we have to actually allocate to a broad array of things and developing and plowing it into a for-profit developer's balance sheet, of which we don't even know the nature of their pro forma and whether or not they even need it. 1664 02:51:15.183 --> 02:51:23.147 And we can put it in this bucket of— I think it's important for the Sort of a kitty for people to apply to competitively. 1665 02:51:23.227 --> 02:51:39.327 And I think it actually offers a parity condition for folks who might be really worried that we just took out a number of by-name grant entities that were previously thinking, hey, we can get a grant of money to close my capital stack. 1666 02:51:40.011 --> 02:51:49.043 If you take those out, why are you leaving in what is essentially a grant of money Even though it's a loan to another thing in my district, which is a for-profit developer. 1667 02:51:49.092 --> 02:51:52.884 And so if we take that one piece out, they're pretty close to completing their capital stack. 1668 02:51:53.012 --> 02:51:58.861 I'm sure the developers can find $800,000 in their deferred developer fees to get this thing over line. 1669 02:51:59.215 --> 02:52:00.902 It's a $140 million project. 1670 02:52:01.287 --> 02:52:05.208 So $800,000 on $140 million is not the reason why this thing won't get done. 1671 02:52:06.028 --> 02:52:09.386 We're allocating $4.8 million from the TIF district to get it done. 1672 02:52:09.884 --> 02:52:18.393 So I think this a pretty straightforward way to get some parity in play, especially since we've now amended out 2 projects in District 2. 1673 02:52:19.513 --> 02:52:20.778 So that's my motivation. 1674 02:52:21.768 --> 02:52:22.968 And I move Green 1. 1675 02:52:24.137 --> 02:52:24.639 Do I have a second? 1676 02:52:26.684 --> 02:52:27.208 I'll second it. 1677 02:52:29.129 --> 02:52:29.775 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 1678 02:52:31.262 --> 02:52:31.843 Thank you, Chair. 1679 02:52:32.958 --> 02:52:40.591 Councilor Green, I know sometimes up here it's easy to think, okay, well, if we just do this Remove this piece, they'll be able to fill the gap. 1680 02:52:42.030 --> 02:53:01.627 Have we had any conversations with folks at the Housing Bureau, with folks within this project, this specific development or the Broadway Corridor project more broadly, to understand if the removal of the $800,000 would essentially make the $4.8 million we're putting in useless because they need the $800,000 also? 1681 02:53:03.255 --> 02:53:04.659 Can I direct respond to this? 1682 02:53:05.433 --> 02:53:25.254 Um, that specific— I don't have an answer to that specific question on this specific intervention, but what I can tell you is I have met with Melvin Mark and I have met, um, uh, with, with agents associated with this development, and I have asked to see the pro forma, and they said, sorry, can't show you. 1683 02:53:25.736 --> 02:53:32.088 What I do know is there's $4 million from their side that's Part of this capital stack of deferred developer fees. 1684 02:53:32.683 --> 02:53:35.308 What I don't know is what's the rest of the developer fees? 1685 02:53:36.149 --> 02:53:51.250 I understand that they're in the business of making money, but if they can't answer the question on whether or not they can find $800,000 after completing a very large public money stack, then I'm not really inclined to trust at that point. 1686 02:53:51.331 --> 02:54:06.674 And so I think that part of what I'm up to today, and this is related to my interventions on the first item that we heard, is I'm really kind of tired of being told, sorry, you can't see my pro forma, you'll just have to trust me, and I need this. 1687 02:54:06.722 --> 02:54:08.520 So you need to show your work. 1688 02:54:08.601 --> 02:54:12.981 You need to demonstrate that if not for these monies, it won't happen. 1689 02:54:13.030 --> 02:54:15.486 And I just have not received a satisfactory answer on that. 1690 02:54:16.304 --> 02:54:17.091 Thank you, colleagues. 1691 02:54:17.828 --> 02:54:30.595 I'm not opposed to moving in this direction after having the time to make sure that we are not Making the rest of our investment meaningless because the $800,000 is critical potentially. 1692 02:54:31.700 --> 02:54:36.510 If this were something coming after we had time to ask about it, I might be able to support it. 1693 02:54:36.638 --> 02:54:42.769 I can't support it today, but I am happy to consider it as we continue moving forward. 1694 02:54:46.566 --> 02:54:49.066 Is there any other discussion on Green 1? 1695 02:54:52.850 --> 02:54:54.369 Seeing none, let's move to a vote. 1696 02:54:56.531 --> 02:55:00.034 On Green 1, we have a motion from Green, second by Avalos. 1697 02:55:01.111 --> 02:55:01.560 Pirtle-Guiney? 1698 02:55:02.460 --> 02:55:02.621 Aye. 1699 02:55:03.521 --> 02:55:04.131 Koyama Lane? 1700 02:55:05.111 --> 02:55:08.250 I'm sorry, you can change your— can I change that to a no? 1701 02:55:08.345 --> 02:55:10.970 I was looking ahead to the next thing already. 1702 02:55:11.711 --> 02:55:12.404 I've done it before too. 1703 02:55:13.000 --> 02:55:13.145 No. 1704 02:55:14.465 --> 02:55:15.398 One nay for Pirtle-Guiney. 1705 02:55:18.265 --> 02:55:18.281 Aye. 1706 02:55:19.445 --> 02:55:19.623 Aye. 1707 02:55:21.709 --> 02:55:21.887 Aye. 1708 02:55:22.613 --> 02:55:22.663 Aye. 1709 02:55:23.325 --> 02:55:23.373 Aye. 1710 02:55:24.215 --> 02:55:27.108 With 4 ayes and 1 nay, Green 1 is approved. 1711 02:55:28.649 --> 02:55:31.254 All right, which next amendment are we moving into? 1712 02:55:33.930 --> 02:55:35.998 Uh, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, do you want to trade off? 1713 02:55:36.549 --> 02:55:39.022 Uh, why don't you keep going and then I'll run through mine? 1714 02:55:39.313 --> 02:55:39.475 Okay. 1715 02:55:42.225 --> 02:55:58.088 Novick Amendment 1A would take the existing allocation of $9 million in rent assistance and shift it to $6 million in rent assistance to people exiting shelter to homelessness and $3 million to people facing— actually facing eviction. 1716 02:55:59.486 --> 02:56:02.777 And I think I've already sort of explained my rationale for, for that. 1717 02:56:04.126 --> 02:56:04.672 You are moving it? 1718 02:56:04.719 --> 02:56:04.897 Yes. 1719 02:56:05.586 --> 02:56:05.908 Yes. 1720 02:56:06.945 --> 02:56:08.013 Moved by Councilor Novick. 1721 02:56:08.082 --> 02:56:08.625 Is there a second? 1722 02:56:11.579 --> 02:56:15.263 Councilor, this is 1B that you're moving or 1A? 1723 02:56:16.420 --> 02:56:17.049 Uh, let's see. 1724 02:56:17.179 --> 02:56:18.277 I hope I'm not getting it wrong. 1725 02:56:18.373 --> 02:56:22.799 I thought it was 1— I thought 1A was, uh, um, hang on. 1726 02:56:23.235 --> 02:56:26.796 Um, oh good Lord. 1727 02:56:27.165 --> 02:56:29.560 Uh, am I not able to open my phone? 1728 02:56:29.851 --> 02:56:30.236 I got you. 1729 02:56:30.397 --> 02:56:36.051 1A is the $3 million on B and Exactly. 1730 02:56:36.309 --> 02:56:37.164 Yeah. 1731 02:56:38.500 --> 02:56:39.997 Okay, I'll second. 1732 02:56:41.318 --> 02:56:41.399 What? 1733 02:56:41.560 --> 02:56:45.876 Okay, so it has been moved by Councilor Novick and seconded by Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 1734 02:56:48.626 --> 02:56:49.959 Um, any discussion? 1735 02:56:50.007 --> 02:56:51.406 I'll put myself in the queue here. 1736 02:56:51.710 --> 02:56:58.898 I'll just say, um, it is really critical that we support dollars before people face eviction. 1737 02:56:59.325 --> 02:57:06.168 I think one key thing, um, a, a statistic that keeps being brought up is 16% of people facing eviction. 1738 02:57:06.233 --> 02:57:16.488 But what's really important that's being missed there, there are a lot more people that prior, often before, instead of getting evicted, they make a deal with the landlord to just leave. 1739 02:57:16.808 --> 02:57:18.700 And so that is still displacement. 1740 02:57:19.052 --> 02:57:24.325 So I don't think we can rely on 16% being the number of who actually gets evicted. 1741 02:57:24.501 --> 02:57:29.587 There are far more people that are not recorded in our numbers that are just simply getting pushed out. 1742 02:57:30.343 --> 02:57:36.103 We heard one of our testifiers say that they had to move 11 times over the last couple of years that they've been in Portland. 1743 02:57:36.458 --> 02:57:40.292 So, um, I think that is a critical, uh, amount of money that we need to protect. 1744 02:57:40.710 --> 02:58:06.854 And importantly too, um, we, uh, there's news that came out that essentially now, um, more dollars are lost for families that are mixed status So there are a lot of children right now at risk of homelessness, children who are citizens, who were born in the States, and who have parents who were not born here and now have no access to any dollars because the federal government continues their campaign against our immigrant community. 1745 02:58:07.352 --> 02:58:10.743 That is particularly impactful for East Portland. 1746 02:58:11.530 --> 02:58:13.248 And so I do not plan on supporting this. 1747 02:58:13.313 --> 02:58:16.943 We need to keep those dollars for people before they face eviction. 1748 02:58:17.007 --> 02:58:30.430 That is a very Thank you, Chair. 1749 02:58:31.529 --> 02:58:44.198 Colleagues, I have wanted us to spend funds on one-time things as much as possible in this package, but I know that there's a real interest in spending funding on rent assistance as well. 1750 02:58:44.402 --> 02:58:47.260 And we heard today from many Portlanders about the need. 1751 02:58:47.854 --> 02:58:54.229 And I've heard 2 things that really stand out to me in terms of why we have a one-time need right now. 1752 02:58:54.920 --> 02:59:03.720 And as I'm looking at where we put dollars that we don't have continuously, that's what I'm looking for, are those arguments for a one-time need. 1753 02:59:04.957 --> 02:59:20.584 I heard an argument that we need more money to support individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness because we know that the county is going to be closing a significant number of shelters, and we need to get those individuals into housing before they end up back on the streets. 1754 02:59:21.725 --> 02:59:37.530 And I've heard, as our chair just said, that we have individuals who are facing eviction because their circumstances changed, because people in their family who are helping to support paying the rent have been evicted or are no longer able to work because of fear eviction. 1755 02:59:38.603 --> 02:59:46.614 Those to me feel like one-time needs that we're facing that create an argument for spending these one-time dollars on rent assistance. 1756 02:59:47.095 --> 03:00:10.900 And I'm very interested in thinking about how we can use this $9 million to support those needs as much as possible, because this amendment prioritizes one of those 2 needs— the assistance to people who will otherwise potentially be facing going back out onto I am interested in the conversation and in supporting. 1757 03:00:13.229 --> 03:00:13.691 Thank you. 1758 03:00:13.861 --> 03:00:14.477 Vice Chair Green. 1759 03:00:17.350 --> 03:00:30.568 Yeah, I think that I'm going to be pretty firmly attached to making sure that we're investing in the upstream sources of homelessness, and I think making sure folks have access to affordable housing. 1760 03:00:30.941 --> 03:00:35.371 Rental assistance before they're facing eviction proceedings is really important to me. 1761 03:00:36.141 --> 03:00:39.335 I'm not opposed to adding more money to the other categories. 1762 03:00:40.650 --> 03:00:42.706 I just don't want to take it away from that category. 1763 03:00:43.363 --> 03:00:50.617 And as we get into the FY26-27 budget year, we're going to have some tough choices to make. 1764 03:00:50.745 --> 03:00:54.131 And I'm prepared to take money away from sweeps. 1765 03:00:54.773 --> 03:01:04.430 I'm prepared to take money away from some other things that I think are that cause harm to the unhoused community and put them in the bucket to say we're going to help you find a path home. 1766 03:01:05.102 --> 03:01:07.604 That's what I'm prepared to fight for as we get into the bigger budget. 1767 03:01:08.069 --> 03:01:14.340 But I can't take it away from this pre-eviction bucket as it's currently written. 1768 03:01:14.435 --> 03:01:16.953 So I don't support 1A or 1B for that reason. 1769 03:01:18.188 --> 03:01:18.604 Thank you. 1770 03:01:18.894 --> 03:01:19.791 Councilor Koyama Lane. 1771 03:01:20.336 --> 03:01:20.817 Thanks, Chair. 1772 03:01:20.898 --> 03:01:21.620 I'll be quick. 1773 03:01:22.262 --> 03:01:28.023 I agree all of those Those buckets in the rent assistance category are all very important. 1774 03:01:28.361 --> 03:01:39.953 I can't support any amendment that is going to eliminate or reduce the funding for flexible short-term aid for households at risk of losing housing before facing eviction. 1775 03:01:41.206 --> 03:01:41.639 Thanks. 1776 03:01:43.052 --> 03:01:43.373 Thank you. 1777 03:01:43.469 --> 03:01:46.216 That is the end of our stack. 1778 03:01:47.003 --> 03:01:48.367 So let's go ahead and call the roll. 1779 03:01:50.778 --> 03:01:51.166 Pirtle-Guiney? 1780 03:01:51.572 --> 03:01:51.782 Yes. 1781 03:01:52.641 --> 03:01:53.192 Koyama Lane? 1782 03:01:53.468 --> 03:01:53.549 No. 1783 03:01:55.009 --> 03:01:55.333 Novick? 1784 03:01:59.378 --> 03:01:59.636 Yes. 1785 03:02:00.585 --> 03:02:00.876 Green? 1786 03:02:02.181 --> 03:02:02.342 No. 1787 03:02:03.468 --> 03:02:03.743 Avalos? 1788 03:02:04.129 --> 03:02:04.273 No. 1789 03:02:05.095 --> 03:02:08.331 With 2 ayes and 3 nays, the amendment fails. 1790 03:02:10.180 --> 03:02:11.914 Councilor Novick, which amendment would you like to do next? 1791 03:02:13.316 --> 03:02:13.832 Uh, 1B. 1792 03:02:13.997 --> 03:02:14.713 Yes. 1793 03:02:15.832 --> 03:02:18.350 1B again is sort of the reverse of 1A. 1794 03:02:18.895 --> 03:02:30.617 It would allocate $6 million to rent assistance for people actually facing eviction and $3 million to people who are experiencing homelessness, trying to exit shelter for housing. 1795 03:02:31.450 --> 03:02:39.676 And my rationale here is that it's very hard for us to know who is actually going to become homeless. 1796 03:02:40.286 --> 03:02:44.233 If you look at the 30,000 people that are severely rent burdened. 1797 03:02:44.441 --> 03:02:46.385 Some of them are going to wind up being homeless. 1798 03:02:46.530 --> 03:02:47.654 A lot of them are not. 1799 03:02:48.311 --> 03:02:53.531 But if people are actually facing eviction, the odds of becoming homeless go way up. 1800 03:02:54.718 --> 03:02:59.809 16% Of people facing eviction actually being evicted is a high number. 1801 03:03:00.338 --> 03:03:05.862 And as Chair Avalos pointed out, there's some people that leave even before they're evicted. 1802 03:03:06.522 --> 03:03:14.033 And people who are evicted— there's a couple of studies, including one in Seattle, shows that a very high percentage of them wind up homeless. 1803 03:03:14.759 --> 03:03:23.709 So I propose that we put the bulk of the $9 million into this category of people who are actually facing eviction. 1804 03:03:25.004 --> 03:03:25.781 All right, so moved. 1805 03:03:25.894 --> 03:03:26.444 Do I have a second? 1806 03:03:31.207 --> 03:03:32.915 There is not a second. 1807 03:03:33.059 --> 03:03:33.865 Are you about to second? 1808 03:03:34.350 --> 03:03:34.431 No. 1809 03:03:35.316 --> 03:03:37.155 I can second if we want to have the debate. 1810 03:03:39.838 --> 03:03:40.224 No need. 1811 03:03:40.416 --> 03:03:40.817 It's up to you. 1812 03:03:40.881 --> 03:03:42.951 I mean, I'm going to vote no, but up to you. 1813 03:03:43.513 --> 03:03:44.941 I heard the councilor say no need. 1814 03:03:45.215 --> 03:03:48.825 So, all right, uh, 1B has failed. 1815 03:03:48.922 --> 03:03:50.254 So what is your next one? 1816 03:03:50.430 --> 03:03:51.153 You want to do it at 2? 1817 03:03:51.393 --> 03:03:55.726 Oh, um, no, no, if it doesn't— sorry, go ahead. 1818 03:03:55.983 --> 03:04:02.754 Uh, yes, and 2, um, simply lists, um, some of the elements of eviction defense. 1819 03:04:02.802 --> 03:04:11.183 It was based on a conversation with Um, with, um, the Oregon Law Center, and I think they also workshopped it with other providers. 1820 03:04:11.617 --> 03:04:29.648 And it just says $1.9 million in new funding for eviction defense services, including but not limited to full-scope legal representation, citywide intake services, legal case screening, eviction docket data collection analysis, courthouse clinic hours, legal education resources, case management relationships with rent assistance providers. 1821 03:04:30.467 --> 03:04:32.583 Uh, to be administered by the Portland Housing Bureau. 1822 03:04:33.128 --> 03:04:42.665 Funding may also be utilized for a right-to-counsel pilot to be launched in a limited geography that offers every household facing eviction in that geography access to legal assistance. 1823 03:04:43.226 --> 03:05:03.518 And the idea here is to kind of— actually, kind of like Councilor Koyama Lane's amendment on discrimination against people in different family groups, to clarify that All of this is covered so that there's not a debate as to whether any of it is covered. 1824 03:05:04.788 --> 03:05:05.109 Thank you. 1825 03:05:05.189 --> 03:05:06.057 Are you formally moving? 1826 03:05:06.811 --> 03:05:07.004 Yes. 1827 03:05:07.228 --> 03:05:07.630 All right. 1828 03:05:07.727 --> 03:05:08.065 Second. 1829 03:05:08.402 --> 03:05:10.233 And a second by Councilor Koyama Lane. 1830 03:05:10.907 --> 03:05:11.518 Councilor Koyama Lane? 1831 03:05:12.738 --> 03:05:24.209 I had put my hand in, in the queue just to confirm that you had talked to the Oregon Law Center, um, and you answered that, and I just wanted to thank you for actually having those conversations. 1832 03:05:24.708 --> 03:05:27.621 With folks in the community that have been doing this work. 1833 03:05:27.766 --> 03:05:42.790 They've been working on the Oregon Eviction Defense Project for a long time, and I think it's something that we need to see more of, actually listening to the folks that are on the ground doing this work, the experts that have been supporting folks who are dealing with eviction. 1834 03:05:42.855 --> 03:05:46.759 So thank you for that, and I'm, um, I will be voting yes. 1835 03:05:49.843 --> 03:05:50.019 All right. 1836 03:05:50.239 --> 03:05:52.559 Seeing no one else in the queue, let's call the roll. 1837 03:05:55.090 --> 03:05:55.809 Pirtle-Guiney? 1838 03:05:55.809 --> 03:05:56.750 Aye. 1839 03:05:56.750 --> 03:05:57.329 Koyama Lane? 1840 03:05:57.329 --> 03:05:58.290 Aye. 1841 03:05:58.290 --> 03:05:59.110 Novick? 1842 03:05:59.110 --> 03:06:00.389 Aye. 1843 03:06:00.389 --> 03:06:01.090 Green? 1844 03:06:01.090 --> 03:06:02.250 Aye. 1845 03:06:02.250 --> 03:06:02.649 Avalos? 1846 03:06:02.649 --> 03:06:03.549 Aye. 1847 03:06:03.549 --> 03:06:07.829 With 5 ayes, the motion carries and Novick 2 Amendment is accepted. 1848 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 All right, and that's all of your amendments, right, Councilor Novick? 1849 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 That is correct. 1850 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 All right, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney? 1851 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Aye. 1852 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Koyama Lane? 1853 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Aye. 1854 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Novick? 1855 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Aye. 1856 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Green? 1857 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Aye. 1858 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Avalos? 1859 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:07.829 Aye. 1860 03:06:07.829 --> 03:06:09.090 With 5 ayes, the motion carries and Novick 2 Amendment is accepted. 1861 03:06:09.090 --> 03:06:12.670 All right, and that's all of your amendments, right, Councilor Novick? 1862 03:06:12.670 --> 03:06:14.969 That is correct. 1863 03:06:14.969 --> 03:06:16.020 All right, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney? 1864 03:06:17.204 --> 03:06:18.056 Thank you, Councilor. 1865 03:06:18.554 --> 03:06:20.945 I will start by moving Pirtle-Guiney 1. 1866 03:06:21.620 --> 03:06:27.368 This creates, uh, more specific language in the debt buydown section. 1867 03:06:27.415 --> 03:06:31.045 That is Section 3 of the ordinance before us. 1868 03:06:31.799 --> 03:06:40.356 Um, it replaces what is there with language that says that, um, there are essentially 2 categories of use here. 1869 03:06:40.646 --> 03:06:59.605 One is debt buydowns that enable targeted rent reductions, support for preservation and financial stability that could include returning units to market after they've been vacated, and for enabling ongoing security enhancements that we've heard many of these buildings are in desperate need of. 1870 03:07:00.408 --> 03:07:10.112 Secondarily, the funds could be used for one-time security enhancements that provide ongoing security support to existing affordable housing facilities. 1871 03:07:10.792 --> 03:07:13.429 We have this bucket of money one time. 1872 03:07:13.947 --> 03:07:22.906 We should be using it for investments that create an ongoing benefit to the residents of these buildings. 1873 03:07:22.986 --> 03:07:27.708 That's what we've talked about in all of our debates, and this would just clarify those types of uses. 1874 03:07:28.867 --> 03:07:36.012 Councilor Green flagged for me that in rewriting the language, we lost the term non-market. 1875 03:07:36.656 --> 03:07:38.405 Which could be important to have. 1876 03:07:38.502 --> 03:07:49.747 And I would be happy in the title to say non-market affordable housing portfolio stabilization if that helps to bring confidence to all of you. 1877 03:07:49.876 --> 03:07:58.215 I think that's something that I can just do as an on-the-fly amendment without needing to retype this up, but I'd look to the clerk and council ops staff to confirm. 1878 03:08:00.159 --> 03:08:07.888 So, So Pirtle-Guiney 1 is as is with the addition of non-market at the beginning of the title. 1879 03:08:08.209 --> 03:08:11.206 So it will say non-market affordable housing portfolio stabilization. 1880 03:08:11.959 --> 03:08:13.016 Are we good with that, Clerk? 1881 03:08:13.226 --> 03:08:15.277 Okay, um, great. 1882 03:08:15.388 --> 03:08:16.094 Do I have a second? 1883 03:08:17.264 --> 03:08:17.488 Second. 1884 03:08:18.209 --> 03:08:19.813 All right, seconded by Councilor Novick. 1885 03:08:20.518 --> 03:08:22.057 Uh, I put myself in the queue. 1886 03:08:22.361 --> 03:08:25.630 Uh, that does help me a lot because that was one of my concerns. 1887 03:08:26.208 --> 03:08:35.570 Um, I think that the way that it was originally written, you know, thank you for rewriting that the intent of the original is what you've essentially written out. 1888 03:08:35.895 --> 03:08:53.500 My only concern, it's not enough to get me to vote no on it, but I think we tried to keep it broad to make sure that it could really, you know, capture a lot of what would qualify under operating support, which was always intended to have for things like security enhancements. 1889 03:08:54.368 --> 03:09:09.582 But the reason I I'm like iffy about removing that language just because I just want— I don't want it to be— to feel so limited to just debt buydowns and security enhancements because there's lots of other aspects of the stabilization portfolio. 1890 03:09:10.000 --> 03:09:23.584 I had a meeting with a bunch of affordable housing providers and they urged the flexibility, and that's why I wrote it in that way, especially because they're facing things like they're going— some buildings are going to have have to go without insurance, for example. 1891 03:09:23.727 --> 03:09:27.292 And so being able to help cover some gaps on insurance would be critical. 1892 03:09:27.742 --> 03:09:29.316 There's lots of other different things. 1893 03:09:29.427 --> 03:09:42.290 So I guess I want to hear your intention here and, um, just make sure that we feel like that's going to be able to cover all of that, because you kind of narrowed it in a way, and I wanted it to be more broad. 1894 03:09:42.370 --> 03:09:43.269 So can you speak to that? 1895 03:09:43.621 --> 03:09:44.281 Yeah, thank you, Chair. 1896 03:09:44.361 --> 03:10:08.494 I've also had a number of conversations with various housing And I think what I am looking at is if we have this one-time pot of funds, how do we make sure that our affordable housing providers are prioritizing uses that create an ongoing benefit for the Portlanders who live within their buildings? 1897 03:10:09.104 --> 03:10:13.925 Not just, okay, we'll lower the rent over the next 6 months or 12 months. 1898 03:10:13.974 --> 03:10:14.086 Thank you. 1899 03:10:14.342 --> 03:10:16.281 But then we're going to run out of the money that we have. 1900 03:10:16.745 --> 03:10:28.576 But we're going to take an action that will increase our cash flow over the long term so that that cash flow can be used for ongoing needs of residents and ongoing needs of the building. 1901 03:10:29.890 --> 03:10:33.466 That's why I've focused on that debt buydown piece to increase cash flow. 1902 03:10:34.042 --> 03:10:39.414 I also understand that there are buildings that have some one-time security needs, which again would create ongoing benefits. 1903 03:10:39.574 --> 03:10:40.295 I think that's a good point. 1904 03:10:40.808 --> 03:10:47.037 For the residents of those buildings, which is why we added that second section after a number of conversations. 1905 03:10:48.948 --> 03:10:49.545 Okay, I appreciate that. 1906 03:10:49.641 --> 03:10:52.547 Again, it's not enough for me to not vote for it. 1907 03:10:53.031 --> 03:10:54.484 I totally agree with your intent. 1908 03:10:54.565 --> 03:10:55.420 Just wanted to flag that. 1909 03:10:55.532 --> 03:11:03.157 But I do think it still can meet that, especially with adding the non-market, because that was going to be my— that was going to be the thing that tipped me to not vote for it. 1910 03:11:03.319 --> 03:11:05.986 So, and non-market was the intent there. 1911 03:11:06.862 --> 03:11:10.762 We just, in keeping the heading, lost that word. 1912 03:11:11.275 --> 03:11:11.549 I get it. 1913 03:11:12.398 --> 03:11:14.692 Okay, Councilor, or Vice Chair Green. 1914 03:11:15.929 --> 03:11:16.940 Thank you, Chair Avalos. 1915 03:11:17.277 --> 03:11:20.693 I'm prepared to support Pirtle-Guiney 1 today. 1916 03:11:21.560 --> 03:11:25.395 Thank you for clarifying that it's non-market. 1917 03:11:26.679 --> 03:11:34.989 I think when I entered into this discussion, and I think when we first got the presentation in the Finance Committee, I was compelled by, I think, Councilor Smith. 1918 03:11:34.989 --> 03:11:39.930 I was really inspired by many of my colleagues to chase down this rabbit, which almost felt like a, oh, by the way, we're doing this. 1919 03:11:39.930 --> 03:11:41.340 But it's like, no, this is a big deal. 1920 03:11:41.750 --> 03:11:42.709 Let's keep doing this. 1921 03:11:42.709 --> 03:11:45.149 So the Portland Housing Bureau has been really pioneering on this. 1922 03:11:45.149 --> 03:11:46.489 I wanted to do more of that. 1923 03:11:46.489 --> 03:11:48.809 That expanded into conversations with Housing Oregon. 1924 03:11:48.809 --> 03:11:51.379 That expanded into conversations with a number of providers. 1925 03:11:51.889 --> 03:12:06.111 And my takeaway was we're facing a system threat to the holistic CDC and affordable housing Portfolio as a whole, and they have complicated interactions and different needs. 1926 03:12:06.175 --> 03:12:16.777 And for me, clarifying that there's 2 classifications of one-time expenses is helpful, especially when we had been talking informally about this kind of like security need. 1927 03:12:17.257 --> 03:12:23.087 I had a conversation with someone who's in a deeply afford— who's in an affordable housing unit, also shares those same. 1928 03:12:23.137 --> 03:12:24.968 So I'm hearing that from people with lived experience. 1929 03:12:26.316 --> 03:12:44.859 The number one, item number one, I read it as like it's really about the debt buydowns buying the space and the purchase on the balance sheet to do a range of things, to include rent, targeted rent reductions, support financial stability, preserve the thing, and enable like that headroom in cash flow. 1930 03:12:44.939 --> 03:12:47.103 Is that how you're suggesting it? 1931 03:12:47.344 --> 03:12:48.628 That's exactly the intent. 1932 03:12:48.772 --> 03:13:02.512 And to the point that Councilor Avalos raised, that Chair Avalos raised, we tried to create significant flexibility with what could be done after those debt buydowns occurred with that increased headroom. 1933 03:13:02.609 --> 03:13:08.905 The idea is how do we create that increased headroom, that cash flow, so that these things can be ongoing? 1934 03:13:09.724 --> 03:13:10.784 Yeah, and that's great. 1935 03:13:10.864 --> 03:13:13.113 I think that's why I'm able to support it. 1936 03:13:13.498 --> 03:13:20.148 I appreciate that you need to carve off a second bucket to be explicit that there might be some one-time expenses that don't necessarily fall into debt buydown. 1937 03:13:20.823 --> 03:13:35.299 I think my intention here is by doing this, I don't want to hear an excuse down the road that, well, we can't lower the rent or we can't do these upgrades that we need to do and we can't fix this unit because we can't afford to because of the debt overhang. 1938 03:13:35.731 --> 03:13:39.199 We're stepping in, we're helping solve and heal that balance. 1939 03:13:39.263 --> 03:13:41.140 And so let's work together on that. 1940 03:13:41.269 --> 03:13:44.912 And I think our, our tenants will, um, will thank us for that. 1941 03:13:44.959 --> 03:13:46.565 So thanks for bringing forward this amendment. 1942 03:13:49.479 --> 03:13:50.020 Councilor Novick. 1943 03:13:52.049 --> 03:13:52.719 Thank you, Madam Chair. 1944 03:13:52.784 --> 03:14:05.299 Just wanted to ask the carrier, um, when you talk about, uh, support the financial stability and preservation of existing deeply affordable housing units, uh, does that— could that include some of the money goes to maintenance of those units? 1945 03:14:07.757 --> 03:14:14.168 Because, uh, um, I think that part of the reason that some of those units are empty is that they're falling apart. 1946 03:14:15.638 --> 03:14:20.993 We specifically talked to providers about whether this language would allow that increased headroom. 1947 03:14:21.120 --> 03:14:39.637 So again, we're talking about increased headroom created by the debt buydown, making sure that that language would allow the increased headroom to go to things like turning over units that are currently not rentable because of damage or contamination from previous renters and making sure that those could be brought back into rental. 1948 03:14:39.684 --> 03:14:44.219 So you're saying that the language Thank you. 1949 03:14:47.947 --> 03:14:51.375 All right, seeing no further discussion, let's call the roll. 1950 03:14:54.237 --> 03:14:56.781 Motion for EPG-1 as amended. 1951 03:14:57.201 --> 03:14:59.486 Um, who did we have the movement seconded by? 1952 03:14:59.647 --> 03:15:00.183 Apologies. 1953 03:15:01.121 --> 03:15:03.873 It was moved by Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 1954 03:15:04.262 --> 03:15:05.573 Oh, Novick did. 1955 03:15:05.637 --> 03:15:05.944 Yes, sorry. 1956 03:15:11.914 --> 03:15:12.185 Thank you. 1957 03:15:13.198 --> 03:15:15.620 Pirtle-Guiney? 1958 03:15:16.005 --> 03:15:16.054 Aye. 1959 03:15:17.322 --> 03:15:17.337 Aye. 1960 03:15:18.333 --> 03:15:18.381 Aye. 1961 03:15:19.873 --> 03:15:20.163 Green? 1962 03:15:21.382 --> 03:15:21.431 Aye. 1963 03:15:22.425 --> 03:15:22.730 Avalos? 1964 03:15:23.067 --> 03:15:23.084 Aye. 1965 03:15:23.967 --> 03:15:25.893 With 5 ayes, the amendment is approved. 1966 03:15:27.176 --> 03:15:27.737 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney? 1967 03:15:28.684 --> 03:15:29.135 Thank you, Chair. 1968 03:15:29.487 --> 03:15:38.022 I would move Pirtle-Guiney 2 Pirtle-Guiney 2, and you should have in your email a new version of Pirtle-Guiney 2. 1969 03:15:38.085 --> 03:15:43.602 I don't know if we need to rename this or not, but we've added one sentence to the end for clarification's sake. 1970 03:15:44.180 --> 03:15:51.236 This creates a new bucket of funding for deeply affordable non-market housing support. 1971 03:15:51.861 --> 03:16:14.653 And what I heard in the conversations that I had with providers, including 2 that we heard from today, was that there are units on the market that are very hard to support, very hard to replace, that, um, are generally very affordable, less than 30% AMI units. 1972 03:16:14.734 --> 03:16:27.268 Some go up to 40 or 45%, but generally the most affordable units on the market that are there to support individuals who need permanent supports in their housing. 1973 03:16:27.379 --> 03:16:42.182 We heard from Beth Cook with New Narrative that one of their units in this category provides this in-between level where you have constant supports on site, but in a non-medical or institutional setting. 1974 03:16:43.159 --> 03:16:53.314 And none of the work that we had done elsewhere in this ordinance specifically supported the needs for preservation for these units. 1975 03:16:54.004 --> 03:17:12.509 I wanted to call out the very real needs for preservation for these units who are facing significant budget shortfalls and have faced years of underinvestment, but where we know that we need these types of supports in order to fully address the housing crisis that we have before us. 1976 03:17:13.246 --> 03:17:22.029 These aren't the units that support our families who have There's a huge need there, and we're doing other things in this ordinance to support that need. 1977 03:17:22.655 --> 03:17:31.566 This is to support the individuals who are struggling to, to remain stable in housing that doesn't have supports on site. 1978 03:17:32.353 --> 03:17:40.863 We know that that is another piece of the housing puzzle in our city, and I wanted to make sure that we were addressing some of those needs within this proposal as well. 1979 03:17:41.023 --> 03:17:41.168 Thank you. 1980 03:17:44.850 --> 03:17:46.922 Okay, uh, so that is moved. 1981 03:17:47.084 --> 03:17:48.308 Yes, do I have a second? 1982 03:17:55.158 --> 03:17:58.845 Okay, well, Councilor Novick, you're in the queue, but there's no second. 1983 03:17:59.103 --> 03:17:59.683 Are you trying to—. 1984 03:17:59.747 --> 03:18:00.407 I wanted to discuss. 1985 03:18:00.471 --> 03:18:00.954 You got a second? 1986 03:18:01.181 --> 03:18:03.974 Um, I had a question which is probably irrelevant if there's no second. 1987 03:18:05.290 --> 03:18:05.409 Okay. 1988 03:18:09.299 --> 03:18:11.690 Well, there's no second, so I guess we move— keep moving. 1989 03:18:12.030 --> 03:18:16.425 Hey colleagues, I would move Pirtle-Guiney 3. 1990 03:18:17.202 --> 03:18:35.006 I flagged a project at the beginning of our meeting within, um, a project that I think everybody has heard about but that we hadn't previously talked about that is being brought to fruition by Hacienda. 1991 03:18:35.102 --> 03:18:44.578 It's called the Monarca Project, and this is our opportunity to have new units come online as a part of the work that we are doing today by the end of this year. 1992 03:18:45.108 --> 03:18:49.020 This would be over 50 family-sized units that are already half-built. 1993 03:18:49.501 --> 03:19:01.237 The original developer was not able to complete the project, and if this project goes to, um, into foreclosure, we not only lose the public investment, but it will become Councilor Smith. 1994 03:19:01.301 --> 03:19:01.718 Thank you, Mayor. 1995 03:19:01.766 --> 03:19:07.201 I'm concerned that this project is going to become market-rate housing that was subsidized through public investment in the initial construction phase. 1996 03:19:07.795 --> 03:19:18.503 That is unacceptable to me, especially at a time when we know that what we need are more 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, and I would say even larger apartments, though here we have the opportunity for 2- and 3-bedrooms. 1997 03:19:19.159 --> 03:19:32.828 And I think that a small investment here could pay big dividends and give us that early win within this I'll note that there were— well, yeah, I'll leave it there. 1998 03:19:33.118 --> 03:19:33.534 Thank you. 1999 03:19:34.016 --> 03:19:47.556 And then for clarity, because we have EPG 4 in our inbox, which is an adjustment of Novick 3, but I emailed back because it seems like the math might be off on that. 2000 03:19:47.603 --> 03:19:51.796 So is it like, do you want to move EPG 3 or is it 4? 2001 03:19:52.245 --> 03:19:59.969 I apologize, the math is off on EPG 3 because we were having some discussions as a staff about whether to include Hacienda in that or not. 2002 03:20:00.434 --> 03:20:06.070 I wanted to bring the Hacienda project forward separately since that's not something that we had talked about through the process. 2003 03:20:06.552 --> 03:20:08.592 4 Should say $3 million. 2004 03:20:09.572 --> 03:20:09.957 Oh, I see what you're saying. 2005 03:20:10.004 --> 03:20:10.871 We'll get that fixed. 2006 03:20:11.979 --> 03:20:13.569 EPG 4 should say $3 million. 2007 03:20:14.629 --> 03:20:17.792 The Hacienda project is not spelled out in EPG 4. 2008 03:20:18.033 --> 03:20:19.301 The number is just incorrect. 2009 03:20:19.397 --> 03:20:19.606 Got it. 2010 03:20:19.847 --> 03:20:20.024 Okay. 2011 03:20:20.184 --> 03:20:21.934 So you want them to be 2 separate votes? 2012 03:20:22.402 --> 03:20:22.547 Essentially. 2013 03:20:22.806 --> 03:20:28.754 So this one is for Hacienda EPG 3, which is $3.5 million. 2014 03:20:28.931 --> 03:20:29.174 Got it. 2015 03:20:29.496 --> 03:20:31.601 Okay, uh, that has been moved. 2016 03:20:31.845 --> 03:20:32.138 Yes. 2017 03:20:33.021 --> 03:20:33.625 Is there a second? 2018 03:20:39.100 --> 03:20:39.693 What's your hand for? 2019 03:20:40.882 --> 03:20:43.983 I was going to ask questions about this, but I'm, but I'm also not seconding it. 2020 03:20:44.513 --> 03:20:48.416 Okay, maybe, maybe I'll second it just so I can have the conversation. 2021 03:20:48.771 --> 03:20:48.867 Okay. 2022 03:20:49.680 --> 03:20:50.581 I'll second it. 2023 03:20:54.691 --> 03:21:07.378 I think that's a great project in terms of— that's a great example of, for a very low dollar per unit cost, we can convert a stalled project into housing. 2024 03:21:08.134 --> 03:21:13.237 I think that that is something that we should fund out of this revolving loan fund to close their capital gap. 2025 03:21:14.876 --> 03:21:16.977 There's more ways than just a grant to do it. 2026 03:21:17.554 --> 03:21:26.727 I think a $3.5 million loan from a revolving loan fund would solve their problem and get this thing entitled or get it moving out of entitlement and moving. 2027 03:21:26.984 --> 03:21:39.574 And so for that reason, I'm not going to support it as written, but I just want to call out that I think that this revolving loan fund should be supporting high opportunity projects like this, even though we're not naming them as such. 2028 03:21:40.537 --> 03:21:51.233 And I expect that if this passes and becomes law, the Portland Housing Bureau will move expeditiously to seek out these sorts of— these very opportunities. 2029 03:21:51.281 --> 03:21:55.058 So I'm not going to support it, but I wanted to talk about that. 2030 03:21:56.609 --> 03:21:57.078 Okay. 2031 03:21:57.225 --> 03:21:57.954 Thank you, Vice Chair. 2032 03:21:58.296 --> 03:21:58.879 Councilor Novick. 2033 03:22:00.485 --> 03:22:03.031 My views are very similar to those of Councilor Green. 2034 03:22:03.549 --> 03:22:10.289 I did want to say that I'm I would like to know, uh, before we— I assume this will come back at full council. 2035 03:22:10.818 --> 03:22:19.859 I would like to know whether it seems possible that this project, which is somewhat urgent, could move through a competitive process to get some of those loan funds. 2036 03:22:20.195 --> 03:22:25.156 Um, so, again, I'm not prepared to support this today, but I'm interested in that question. 2037 03:22:25.527 --> 03:22:40.495 I also just wanted to note that in terms of the financing, um, For this project was listed as coming from, among other things, transient lodging tax, which we have already allocated to the— in its entirety to the general fund. 2038 03:22:44.278 --> 03:22:45.192 Thank you, Councilor. 2039 03:22:46.140 --> 03:23:17.595 PG3 was written before Novick 3 passed, and if there is support for the concept, we would need to update where those funds are coming from to be the large bucket that Colleagues, I understand that there's not an appetite on this committee to name projects, and I'll note that you have a new version now of PG4 in your inbox, which would restore funding for Self Enhancement Inc., Williams and Russell, and Urban Plaza projects. 2040 03:23:18.809 --> 03:23:24.334 When we started this work many months ago, there was a conversation about whether or not to name projects. 2041 03:23:24.399 --> 03:23:24.967 I think that's a good point. 2042 03:23:25.422 --> 03:23:31.679 And there seemed to be an appetite from this council to name specific projects. 2043 03:23:31.840 --> 03:23:43.150 We have many members of our community who have been working on getting us information about gap funding needs over the last 4 months because of that. 2044 03:23:44.337 --> 03:24:01.871 And, you know, I'll say this now instead of saying it when I move PG We have less money in this proposal for homeownership than we did in some previous proposals. 2045 03:24:02.777 --> 03:24:13.870 I think homeownership should have been a bigger piece of what we did here, but I was willing to accept that because we had an entire homeownership portion of one of the projects that we removed funding for. 2046 03:24:14.981 --> 03:24:15.578 That's now gone. 2047 03:24:15.643 --> 03:24:15.788 Thank you. 2048 03:24:18.131 --> 03:24:24.987 There were things that could have moved quickly that we talked about at various points, and we decided not to move forward. 2049 03:24:25.533 --> 03:24:33.481 I said at one point, if we were going to do rent assistance at all, we should do it as quickly as possible, not spread it over years, but get it out the door now. 2050 03:24:34.846 --> 03:24:37.047 Folks said no, spread it out, let it wait. 2051 03:24:37.656 --> 03:24:49.297 So I brought forward in PG3 a proposal to at least get us housing units as quickly as possible so that we can address the crisis now, not over years. 2052 03:24:51.010 --> 03:24:54.047 And it looks as though that's not going to pass. 2053 03:24:55.816 --> 03:25:21.745 I bring those 2 pieces up because while I understand that we don't want to be choosing winners and losers here, in making that decision now months into the process in reversing a decision that we had as a body seemed to make previously, what we're doing is changing the flavor of what this package is pretty significantly. 2054 03:25:23.316 --> 03:25:25.417 And I've got some major concerns with that. 2055 03:25:26.242 --> 03:25:48.364 So I would ask that you consider this as an opportunity for us to ensure, not hope that in a process down the road, we're not sure when the Housing Bureau will have everything together to do the work, but now we can capitalize on public investments that have already been made. 2056 03:25:49.043 --> 03:26:04.690 We can ensure that a project doesn't revert to market rate, and we can get over 50 additional family-sized units just a few blocks from the MAX and a few blocks from the freeway, online by the end of this year. 2057 03:26:05.929 --> 03:26:07.298 I hope that you'll support PG3. 2058 03:26:07.636 --> 03:26:07.958 Thank you. 2059 03:26:10.250 --> 03:26:10.972 Councilor Koyama Lane. 2060 03:26:12.853 --> 03:26:24.065 I just— I wanted to thank Councilor Pirtle-Guiney because I do think what you're bringing forth is a genuine response to community coming to you and asking for support. 2061 03:26:24.533 --> 03:26:27.400 Um, I know this Hacienda project, Monarca. 2062 03:26:27.449 --> 03:26:32.609 I remember seeing this in my inbox when the money was found, and they were like, well, don't forget about us. 2063 03:26:33.378 --> 03:26:42.352 Um, I— on my, my gut reaction is I feel, I feel a little uncomfortable anytime we're naming specific projects. 2064 03:26:43.154 --> 03:26:51.647 Um, and I also hear, hear what you're saying, and this has evolved, and I think we all are, are dedicated to trying to get this done today. 2065 03:26:51.905 --> 03:27:01.086 But I think just in general, this is my first day on the Housing and Permitting Committee, but I I do kind of wonder, is this part of our role to be deciding who gets funds? 2066 03:27:01.440 --> 03:27:05.654 I genuinely don't know the answer to that, but I think I'd like some clarity on roles and responsibilities. 2067 03:27:05.831 --> 03:27:08.506 Or is that something that the Housing Bureau should have a process for? 2068 03:27:08.570 --> 03:27:10.060 Is that something we do sometimes? 2069 03:27:10.638 --> 03:27:17.272 Um, I, I want to thank you because I do think you're bringing this from a genuine place of hearing community. 2070 03:27:17.609 --> 03:27:22.843 And, and I look at these projects and I'm like, I love what SEI does, and I love Urban Plaza. 2071 03:27:22.988 --> 03:27:28.393 And, um, and I don't, I don't know, William and Russell, but maybe I love you too. 2072 03:27:28.748 --> 03:27:34.523 But like, I, um, I feel a little bit like I don't even know how to choose. 2073 03:27:34.620 --> 03:27:38.130 And so that's why I'm not, um, I can't support this right now. 2074 03:27:38.421 --> 03:27:42.120 But I, I want to have this, I want to have more of a conversation around this. 2075 03:27:44.495 --> 03:27:45.031 Vice Chair Green. 2076 03:27:46.610 --> 03:27:46.934 Thank you. 2077 03:27:47.097 --> 03:27:48.921 I'll keep it brief because I know we're running out of time. 2078 03:27:50.819 --> 03:27:56.810 On March 3rd, we had a work session, and that was the first time that I really articulated my position in all this. 2079 03:27:56.940 --> 03:28:08.086 We'd had committee meetings in a committee that I wasn't part of, and then we had multiple competing ordinances and resolutions, and that's where I showed up with an organized set of thoughts. 2080 03:28:08.183 --> 03:28:14.254 And if you look at the transcript, I said, I don't think we should be by name allocating these. 2081 03:28:14.463 --> 03:28:14.945 And so the—. 2082 03:28:15.185 --> 03:28:19.801 So I, I've been pretty consistent there, I think, over the last month and since my thinking on this. 2083 03:28:19.850 --> 03:28:22.551 So I appreciate the intervention from Councilor Novick. 2084 03:28:23.340 --> 03:28:38.340 Um, the money exists right now, and if we appropriate this money, the Portland Housing Bureau has every tool, every legal tool to go out and start issuing loans to, to entities that have a really urgent need. 2085 03:28:38.388 --> 03:28:47.507 And so if there's a property that's facing imminent foreclosure risk, Um, then I have every confidence in our staff to be able to say, let's write, let's write a loan for you. 2086 03:28:47.587 --> 03:28:49.817 Let's help you close this, uh, capital stack. 2087 03:28:50.459 --> 03:28:56.395 Um, so I don't think that we're, we're missing opportunities to fund these projects. 2088 03:28:57.117 --> 03:29:07.753 Uh, I just don't think that we should continue this practice of issuing grants, no strings attached, because that— we've got to stop doing that, especially when we have, uh, one-time money. 2089 03:29:07.800 --> 03:29:14.379 We have to have a competitive process, and we have to say that we're capitalizing this fund and we're not going to eat our seed corn anymore. 2090 03:29:14.683 --> 03:29:16.576 So that's, that's very much why I'm supporting this. 2091 03:29:16.704 --> 03:29:20.411 And I, I, I echo everything that Councilor Koyama Lane said. 2092 03:29:20.459 --> 03:29:23.522 I, I get it, and I know, I know why you're fighting for your district. 2093 03:29:23.924 --> 03:29:26.138 I know why you're fighting for your, uh, community members. 2094 03:29:26.876 --> 03:29:37.117 Um, and I, I have every intention that the revolving loan fund that we've capitalized today should be used precisely to help close these sorts capital gaps, um, capital stack gaps. 2095 03:29:37.470 --> 03:29:37.905 Thank you. 2096 03:29:41.987 --> 03:29:43.033 Put myself in the stack. 2097 03:29:43.341 --> 03:29:49.280 Yeah, I have the same feelings that I've heard, um, from my colleagues on either side of me here. 2098 03:29:49.635 --> 03:30:04.121 I feel, um, you know, I— original Slow Lane Flow did not have those projects named, um, and iterations of it in the future or after that did, but those were not my choice. 2099 03:30:05.150 --> 03:30:19.483 Those were, you know, it's complicated, but I'll just say I feel like I have always felt that it's important that we have a process for allocating dollars for projects, which is why I supported Novick 3. 2100 03:30:20.656 --> 03:30:30.715 You know, I— we included that in this original ordinance because we're just trying to get to the package that is going to, you know, Uh, be most supported by council. 2101 03:30:31.393 --> 03:30:43.207 Um, but I, yeah, I have a lot of difficulty with, um, us naming projects without a process because I just don't think that's a good precedent for us to set. 2102 03:30:43.272 --> 03:30:47.014 I know that— I'll just leave it at that. 2103 03:30:47.858 --> 03:30:51.647 Um, so anyone else in the queue for this amendment? 2104 03:30:53.861 --> 03:30:55.023 Then let's go ahead and call the roll. 2105 03:30:57.319 --> 03:30:57.690 Pirtle-Guiney? 2106 03:30:57.899 --> 03:30:58.045 Aye. 2107 03:30:58.786 --> 03:30:59.414 Koyama Lane? 2108 03:30:59.994 --> 03:31:00.252 No. 2109 03:31:01.074 --> 03:31:01.476 Novick? 2110 03:31:02.184 --> 03:31:02.345 No. 2111 03:31:03.394 --> 03:31:03.683 Green? 2112 03:31:04.538 --> 03:31:04.746 No. 2113 03:31:05.940 --> 03:31:06.101 Avalos? 2114 03:31:06.456 --> 03:31:06.618 No. 2115 03:31:07.489 --> 03:31:10.703 With 4 nays and 1 aye vote, the amendment fails. 2116 03:31:11.752 --> 03:31:12.218 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 2117 03:31:13.590 --> 03:31:14.040 Thank you, Chair. 2118 03:31:14.331 --> 03:31:52.175 I am not going to move Pirtle-Guiney 4 because I can read the writing on the wall, but I will make sure that it is I do want to flag something though, because we've talked about some projects and there is a never-ending list of good things we could support, but I need to flag one because if this is moving forward and we're going to have council intent all over the types of things that we might want the bureau to look at when they look at the revolving loan fund and the other funds that have been put together, There's a really important project in our community that I want to make sure is captured in the intent that the Housing Bureau looks at as well. 2119 03:31:52.657 --> 03:31:54.119 And that's the Albina Vision Trust. 2120 03:31:54.665 --> 03:32:04.346 When we first started doing this work back in December, I was under the impression that they were not yet ready for support from the city. 2121 03:32:05.118 --> 03:32:09.180 So I didn't bring forward any proposals to include their work in this process. 2122 03:32:10.078 --> 03:32:10.593 But they are now. 2123 03:32:11.346 --> 03:32:26.950 And so I want to mention that here today because if the Housing Bureau goes back and says, well, we know council's intent was to look at these things, they were pulled out, they want us to look at them, I want to make sure that there's intent on the record that I hope that they also look at the needs of Albina Vision Trust. 2124 03:32:27.496 --> 03:32:36.316 This is the biggest community-led redevelopment project in the nation, not just in our city or in the state, but in the nation right now. 2125 03:32:36.941 --> 03:32:38.689 It is happening in my district. 2126 03:32:38.784 --> 03:32:48.559 It is happening in our city, and it is going to be incredible for Portlanders, especially for Portlanders who were previously displaced from Lower Albina. 2127 03:32:49.345 --> 03:32:56.781 And so I want to make sure that that's on the record and part of the intent that moves forward when the Housing Bureau looks at this proposal. 2128 03:32:57.373 --> 03:33:01.156 They are ready to have some support from the city, and I hope that we can do that for them. 2129 03:33:01.219 --> 03:33:01.459 Thank you. 2130 03:33:01.781 --> 03:33:02.117 Thank you. 2131 03:33:04.219 --> 03:33:04.560 Thank you. 2132 03:33:05.827 --> 03:33:20.513 Seeing— let me just make sure— seeing no one else in the queue, uh, I would like to entertain a motion to adopt, um, Ordinance Document Number 2026-125 as amended, uh, and send it to council. 2133 03:33:21.029 --> 03:33:21.448 So moved. 2134 03:33:21.512 --> 03:33:21.962 So moved. 2135 03:33:24.231 --> 03:33:25.052 One of you needs to be a second. 2136 03:33:26.019 --> 03:33:26.341 Second. 2137 03:33:26.807 --> 03:33:27.001 Okay. 2138 03:33:27.772 --> 03:33:32.082 Um, Councilor, uh, Vice Chair Green moves, um, Novick seconds. 2139 03:33:32.274 --> 03:33:33.528 Let's call the roll. 2140 03:33:36.114 --> 03:33:37.304 Oh wait, any discussion? 2141 03:33:38.316 --> 03:33:39.070 Okay, now let's call the roll. 2142 03:33:40.930 --> 03:33:41.252 Pirtle-Guiney. 2143 03:33:41.752 --> 03:33:42.058 Oh sorry. 2144 03:33:42.236 --> 03:33:42.800 No, that's okay. 2145 03:33:42.897 --> 03:33:44.058 I'll say one sentence now. 2146 03:33:44.816 --> 03:33:52.166 Um, I'm not sure if I'll be supportive as this moves through committee, but I'd like— or through council, but I'd like to make sure that we get to have that full discussion. 2147 03:33:52.299 --> 03:33:54.387 I'll vote yes today so that we can continue the work. 2148 03:33:58.733 --> 03:33:58.750 Aye. 2149 03:34:01.154 --> 03:34:01.171 Aye. 2150 03:34:02.768 --> 03:34:02.816 Aye. 2151 03:34:04.704 --> 03:34:04.737 Aye. 2152 03:34:06.254 --> 03:34:06.399 Aye. 2153 03:34:07.030 --> 03:34:16.894 With 5 ayes, the motion carries, and the ordinance document number 2026-125 will move to the full council as amended with a recommendation to pass. 2154 03:34:18.442 --> 03:34:20.943 Okay, colleagues, thank you for the very fruitful discussion. 2155 03:34:21.827 --> 03:34:28.152 As I have stated, this will come tomorrow to the TAO as an amendment, so we will see you there. 2156 03:34:28.603 --> 03:34:41.245 Our next meeting is Tuesday, May 5th, where we will be anticipating some discussion around social housing, unified housing strategy, as well as bringing affordable housing providers to talk about exactly what we were discussing earlier. 2157 03:34:41.308 --> 03:34:44.130 So the goal is to get that onto the May 5th agenda. 2158 03:34:44.388 --> 03:34:45.018 Stay tuned. 2159 03:34:45.502 --> 03:34:47.985 But for now, I will adjourn this meeting at 5:30 PM.