6:41 Good morning. 6:42 I am now calling to order this meeting of the Portland City Council. 6:45 It's 9:32 on Wednesday, July 22nd. 6:51 Hi, can we please call the roll?
7:17 Here. 7:18 And can we please have the, uh, attorney read the rules of decorum of the chamber?
7:24 Welcome to the Portland City Council. 7:25 To testify before council in person or virtually, you must sign up in advance on the council agenda at www.portland.gov/council/agenda. 7:36 Information on engaging with council can be found on the council clerk's webpage. 7:40 Individuals may testify for 3 minutes unless the presiding officer states otherwise. 7:45 Your microphone will be muted when your time is over. 7:48 The presiding officer preserves order. 7:50 Disruptive conduct such as shouting, refusing to conclude your testimony when your time is up, or interrupting others' testimony or council deliberations will not be allowed. 8:01 If there is a disruption, a warning will be given. 8:03 Further disruption will result in ejection from the meeting. 8:06 Anyone who fails to leave once ejected is subject to arrest for trespass. 8:11 Additionally, council may take a short recess. 8:14 And reconvene virtually. 8:16 Your testimony should address the matter being considered. 8:19 When testifying, first, state your name for the record. 8:22 Your address is not necessary. 8:24 Second, if you are a lobbyist, identify the organization you represent. 8:28 Third, a virtual testifier should unmute themselves when the council clerk calls your name.
8:34 Thank you very much. 8:35 Colleagues, our first item on our agenda, as always, is approval of our agenda. 8:40 Are there any requests to amend the agenda, to reorder items, Or reschedule an item to a future meeting date. 8:47 Seeing no one looking all excited or in the queue, are there any objections to approval? 8:55 All right. 8:56 I'm sorry, I'm reading my own thing. 8:58 Do I have unanimous consent? 8:59 There we go. 9:00 To approve the agenda? 9:02 Aye.
9:02 The agenda is approved. 9:04 And please call public communications.
9:10 Item 2, public comment. 9:12 First, we have Eric Schnorr, followed by Eric Shoemaker. 9:16 You can approach the table. 9:20 Megan Lee and Jacob Hoopes. 9:26 Craig Rogers is unable to join us this morning. 9:28 Eric Schnorr, Eric Shoemaker, Megan Lee. 9:36 Jacob Hoops. 9:40 Jacob Schnorr is online. 9:41 You can go ahead.
9:43 Hello. 9:43 I think someone called me Eric Schnorr.
9:48 Uh, yes, apologies. 9:49 That's the name we have, uh, signed up.
9:52 Oh, sorry. 9:53 That may have been on my end. 9:55 Um, I'm here to discuss, um, public safety, if I may.
9:59 Yes, you can go. 10:00 You can go ahead.
10:03 So this is going to sound rude and impulsive, but I'm going to say it right now, that in my opinion, councilors, you have failed our— you, Keith Wilson and Tina Kotek, have failed Portland, Oregon, um, especially the area formerly known as East County. 10:23 We have a mass drug issue in this area. 10:26 I was told yesterday by transit cops That we have a drug house. 10:31 In my opinion, and in the opinion of many people on my block, this should not be a case where a cop has to tell me that we have a drug house in our area, because it is the job of our leaders to make the funding and make the resources available to our law enforcement to make this possible to be dealt with prior before it becomes an issue. 10:55 Thank you. 10:56 We also have an issue with en masse homeless and en masse, um, drugs, like I said. 11:02 And the drugs and homeless are tied the same. 11:04 There's a difference, a big, big difference between a homeless who is down on their luck, like a veteran or an elderly or someone who has lost their home. 11:12 And there is a major difference between that and a person who is simply choosing a lifestyle based on their addiction to drugs and refusing help. 11:20 Councilor Sameer Kanal. 11:21 Which has been provided by the city. 11:23 There is en masse shelters, places people can go. 11:26 It is never addressed. 11:28 Keith Wilson has allowed needles to be handed out. 11:32 There is a lack of Portland Police response to a lot of crimes in this area. 11:41 We feel ignored. 11:42 My fellow, my fellow neighbors feel ignored. 11:46 It took us 8 months to We had a tiny house a couple years ago that was dropped, um, on the south side of my property. 11:53 It took us 8 months to get rid of him, um, because 311 is such a slow response. 11:57 The 10-day, uh, response to these is ridiculous. 12:01 And I believe that is under House— uh, the reason for that is under House Bill, uh, 3115. 12:09 Um, I suggest we— I would suggest that we, the people of the city, Thank you. 12:13 I hope that the mayor and our city leaders seriously look at trying to get the House Bill flipped over so we can actually respond to this thing correctly and take care of some of this problem. 12:25 I know I only have a few seconds left, so I'm going to leave it at that. 12:31 We've had— but on my last note, this is so bad, we've had a neighbor, a couple of neighbors find trash buried in their gardens. 12:39 I don't know how many of you walk out into your gardens and find beer cans, broken glass, and old ice cream cones buried in your yard. 12:48 It's ridiculous. 12:49 I hear the 30-second timer, so I will leave it at that, but I guarantee you I will be back.
12:55 Thank you very much.
12:58 Eric Shoemaker, Megan Lee.
13:07 Thanks everybody, appreciate the time. 13:09 I'll try and make this quick. 13:10 My name is Eric Shoemaker. 13:11 I've had the privilege of being in Portland real estate and civic stuff for about 20 years. 13:17 I'm here to talk about Keller, and I want to just make sure I'm framing this. 13:22 It's not about PSU versus the Keller Auditorium. 13:25 I think both are systemically vital to our city. 13:29 It's about how we use our time and energy. 13:31 And planning around, uh, projects like this. 13:34 So we've got rampant budget shortfalls, public safety stuff, housing and affordability crises, rampant vacancy, all of those things that I know this body is working on very hard, hopefully together every day. 13:46 Um, but it does feel like we're spending precious resources on a conversation that is maybe not ripe as yet. 13:53 It feels a little bit like we're planning next year's flower bed, uh, when the There's a hay fire in the barn. 14:00 So I don't want to get too deep in the math, but I've been around a lot of real estate projects in my life, and I would say that current guidance on this $640 million or so for the combined master plan is probably light by 40%. 14:15 This could very easily be a billion-dollar boondoggle for which we do not have the money. 14:21 And I completely respect that this may be about political expediency on behalf of this body and wanting to make sure that we're exploring things collaboratively with you know all stakeholders, and if that's the answer, that's completely fine. 14:34 I just hope that as we move forward, we can be judicious in our use of resources and having this conversation and be very evidence-based. 14:41 We don't have modeling; we don't have market studies. 14:44 Portland can't support another hotel right now. 14:46 I don't know if we can support another Broadway-capable theater. 14:51 So I hope that you'll just think about this as we're moving along. 14:53 I know you guys are busy with the. 14:56 And I would say lastly that as we're all choking on wildfire smoke and 100-degree temperatures, I think it's important to note that the most green thing that anybody can do is reuse an old building. 15:09 I say that as an environmentalist and also as a builder. 15:13 I think it's really important that no matter what happens, we try and figure out a way to save Keller. 15:18 And I've always respected that Portland has a sense of history. 15:21 I think this is a historically important building.
15:24 And I hope we think about that as we're moving forward. 15:29 So thank you very much for your time.
15:30 Thank you very much.
15:33 Megan Lee. 15:34 I'd like to talk on the finances and the drug problem that we have in our community, the lack of jobs available to the people that are going through what they're going through behind state employees and state-funded—.
15:51 Can you move your mic a little closer? 15:52 I'm having a tough time hearing you. 15:53 Thank you.
15:54 Um, um, our community is impacted by, um, uh, the homeless situation is due to a lot of state employees and, uh, where the funding is going. 16:07 And I have, um, knowledge on historical cases and maiden names as well as myself fraudulent activity with Department of Justice employees. 16:17 I have several, several years worth of evidence. 16:20 Um, I wasn't even in the state of Oregon when— and I have proof behind that as well. 16:26 But anyway, the, the financial situ— situation that the state is up under is due to our state funding going to the wrong hands, you know. 16:34 And how can we help and open up buildings or get the homeless people into more tiny homes when our finances are being intercepted, interrupted, or misused by the people who are hired to help? 16:48 You know, and fraudulent activities, cyberbullying and voice apps impersonating people and stuff. 16:57 And Portland Police Department involvement with Department of Justice employees who are corrupt, who do historical cases and embezzle money that are impacting nonprofit organizations. 17:10 Care Oregon has an employee that is doing it as well.
17:14 Urban League, you know, they take— Impact Northwest. 17:18 The money that the state is giving people to pay utility bills are getting put into the hands, transferred into the hands of people who are putting fentanyl on the streets and overdosing bodies. 17:30 And, you know, and, and, and, and so I just want to, um, just open up with that. 17:36 And I have a lot more to say, and you'll see me more often.
17:40 Thank you very much for being here.
17:49 And we had Jacob Hoopes online.
18:03 Thank you. 18:07 Hi, friends. 18:09 My name is Jacob Hopps. 18:11 I use he and they pronouns, and I live in the Arbor Lodge neighborhood of District 2. 18:17 I've had the great pleasure to join you all in this space many dozens of times over this last year. 18:22 City Council Chambers have become for me a space where I go to relax and let other folks be stressed about the state of our city and our collective future. 18:30 My first visits to these halls were not made from passion. 18:32 They were made from something like desperation. 18:35 I was looking for a place to find meaning and survive. 18:38 I've been doing community work for a long time, but this last year kicked that into high gear. 18:43 I have been so grateful to become aware of these hidden systems that structure so much of the fabric of our lives. 18:49 I did the first part of a graduate program in urban and regional planning at Portland State University, volunteered for dozens of events and community organizations, and have been immensely plugged in into the ongoing work of council. 19:02 Tonight is my last night in Portland for a while. 19:05 The limited freedom that has sustained me will end tomorrow. 19:09 I will self-surrender to the federal prison system where I will serve my community in a different way for 2 and a half years. 19:16 You have changed my life. 19:17 I'm so grateful. 19:19 You will see me again. 19:20 Thank you for everything.
19:29 John Rosa Pepe. 19:38 That concludes public comment.
19:40 Okay, colleagues, our next item on our agenda is, uh, our regular update on, uh, the federal ongoing federal interventions or responses to ongoing federal interventions in our city. 19:53 City Administrator Lee, any updates?
19:55 No updates this week, Council. 19:57 Uh, we'll keep you up to date as we get new information. 20:00 If nothing happens new before our next update, we'll give an update at our next council meeting.
20:06 Thank you very much. 20:08 Rebecca, can we please call, uh, the consent agenda item 4?
20:13 Item 4, appoint voting members to the Portland Utility Board.
20:18 Thank you. 20:19 Uh, colleagues, are there any objections To the consent agenda. 20:24 Oh great. 20:26 Please call the roll.
20:51 Consent agenda is approved with 12 aye votes.
20:54 Thank you. 20:54 Can we please call item number 5?
20:57 Item 5, authorize a 5-year lease with the American Property Management for Community Safety Division Eastside Office, document number 2026-236.
21:07 Colleagues, this is an emergency ordinance. 21:09 With us is Christopher Hare from Council Operations for a committee staff summary report.
21:15 Good morning, Council President, Vice President, councilors. 21:18 For the record, Christopher Hare, Council Operations Policy Analyst, and I serve as staff to the City Life Committee. 21:23 The emergency ordinance before you, document number 2026-236, was considered in the City Life Committee on July 14th, where it was referred to council with a recommendation that it be passed. 21:32 The emergency ordinance authorizes the execution of a 5-year lease with Multnomah Plaza Landlord, along with all associated costs for occupancy and use by the Community Safety Division, CSD. 21:43 Fiscal and performance responsibilities under the lease are assigned to the Bureau of Fleet and Facilities, BFF, while CSD programs will occupy and operate the space in accordance with the lease terms and condition. 21:54 The ordinance also authorizes the city administrator or their designee to prepare future budget documents necessary to fulfill all legal, contractual, and fiscal obligations associated with the lease. 22:03 And an emergency is declared due to the Office of Violence Prevention, OVP's, current lease expiring in August of this year. 22:11 The emergency clause allows the ordinance to take effect immediately upon passage.
22:15 Enabling the city to execute the new lease in time for OVP to relocate to the new facility by September 1st, 2026. 22:22 The full impact statements on this item includes budgetary and fiscal impacts and analysis. 22:30 There was no verbal or written testimony submitted prior to committee action. 22:34 And that concludes the committee staff summary. 22:35 Thank you.
22:36 Thank you, Christopher. 22:37 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, this came out of the City Life Committee.
22:40 That it did. 22:41 Thank you, Council President. 22:43 I will flag that we moved through this item relatively quickly and did not give it the level of scrutiny that we normally would. 22:52 But despite that, I think folks were comfortable moving forward. 22:57 The administration had told us that as we often see with leases and contracts, we needed to move quickly and we had another item that had a significant amount of public testimony. 23:06 Thank you. 23:07 The debate centered around 2 things. 23:11 There was some concern about leasing a private sector space when we might have spaces available that we own. 23:17 There was also excitement about the opportunity to have a space where we could bring these programs all together in a location that can better serve particularly East Portland. 23:28 And I think the majority of the committee, I'll note that it was a 4-3 vote, 4-1 vote, but the majority of the committee felt comfortable with the information that we had, that this was a straightforward lease, that the terms of the lease were responsible for the city, and that the trade-offs— that private sector space versus an opportunity to bring the programs together in East Portland— was a clear set of trade-offs, and folks were comfortable moving forward.
23:54 Thank you, Councilor. 23:56 Colleagues, there's no one signed up to testify on this item, so we can get both into technical or clarifying questions and also Councilor Thank you, Council President.
24:06 I'm looking at the committee staff summary, and it notes that the, um, the gross rental rate is $27 per rentable square foot, uh, which includes operating expenses and janitorial services. 24:17 And then it notes that utility costs may increase by up to $3,500 annually. 24:24 So I'm just curious, is the base gross rental rate, uh, $27 per rentable square foot, or is it Um, inclusive of, of utilities, and then this sort of adder is then called out, or was there a separate— um, is there separate costs for the utilities? 24:39 Is that— can anyone speak to that?
24:41 Let's see, do we have Stephanie Howard or Rick Dyer in the room? 24:43 Come on up.
24:46 And then the other reason I got in the queue is to ask why Zimmerman voted no, but I see you're in right after me and you're going to explain.
24:51 Okay, great. 24:51 Thanks. 24:53 Good morning, Council President and fellow councilors. 24:55 My name is Rick Dyer. 24:56 I'm the real estate planning and Portfolio Manager for the Bureau of Fleet and Facilities. 25:01 Good question. 25:02 The reason the numbers don't quite add up is because we built a cushion in. 25:07 The client wanted to have some ability to add additional storage space, which is available in the building. 25:12 They're also looking for the opportunity to add a washer and dryer. 25:16 That is not determined yet where that might be. 25:20 So we added some not-to-exceed number that allows us to go back and add that later on.
25:27 Okay, that's helpful. 25:29 And $27 a square foot seems about market rate.
25:33 It's the same rate that we received last year when we put Councilors Avalos and Dunphy in that space. 25:39 So we, one year later, we got the same rate. 25:44 I got—.
25:44 Roger that. 25:45 Um, it is high, but I'll, I'll leave it there, um, given the glut of, of space that we have. 25:52 Although this is probably a specialized use. 25:54 This is not like other space, right?
25:58 So when we got the programming requirements from the client, it included lots of details about size, the amount, what kind of space, and where it would be located. 26:08 And so in this eastern area, there's not very much opportunity to lease space of this quality. 26:14 And so we did look at some other properties that but this one just, it rose to the top of the list because of many attributes, public transit being accessible and really the quality of the landlord and their ability to self-perform all the tenant improvements, which they're doing at no cost to the city. 26:35 A lot of things came into that that just the client really liked this space for all those reasons.
26:41 I appreciate that. 26:41 And I think it's important to know for the public that that the landlord's gonna do those TI&Is on behalf of the city? 26:49 Is that what I'm hearing?
26:51 Okay. 26:51 The city will be performing some. 26:53 We do our own, the BTS group does our own low voltage and data lines, but the bulk of the requests from the client to make the space suitable for them is all being provided at no cost.
27:07 All right, thank you.
27:08 Those are my questions.
27:09 Thank you, Councilor Green. 27:10 Councilor Zimmerman.
27:13 Being on the committee and as the sole no vote against this, I thought I'd just take an opportunity to explain why, and I'll vote no again today. 27:25 I think that leases in the public— or excuse me, the private sector for municipal government have times when they're appropriate. 27:33 I think it should be used few and far between, right? 27:36 When we talk about the janitorial services and what that building is like, we start to relinquish some of our control for the values that we put on what goes on in our own buildings. 27:46 So that's one aspect. 27:48 The other is I haven't heard anybody in the city government tell me that they're scrunched for space in our own used buildings, our own, our owned buildings, if you will, where we planned in the pre-work-from-home era. 28:02 And that's very different 7-plus years later. 28:07 And so I'm not seeing that we're busting at the seams anywhere in the city's portfolio. 28:13 And the other part, and I appreciate that if you had to go to East Portland, this building seems fine, right? 28:21 I got no issues there. 28:23 The other part is that this idea that there's excitement around co-location for certain services I'm also excited about a future thing I could have at my home, but the budget doesn't dictate it right now. 28:34 I'd love a swimming pool. 28:36 I'd love to remodel the kitchen. 28:40 You know, I think that in a year of budget constraints, excited to do a thing is maybe not the reason to do something this year. 28:49 So for me, I don't see the need. 28:52 I don't see the timing. 28:53 I don't see the our Portland-owned real estate as a reason to not require that this organization stays within our own portfolio. 29:03 And so for those reasons, no, $400,000 is not an astronomical amount of money in the city's overall budget. 29:10 I'm not sure it's a necessary amount at this point. 29:12 So that's why I'll vote no today. 29:14 I would encourage you to consider the same and ask that we, at some point, you don't cut a budget and then never actually tighten the belt. 29:23 Thank you. 29:26 Councilor, could I speak to that?
29:28 I just, I think you should take some comfort, I think, from the fact that when we get the intake request from the client, which includes all their programming requirements, we are required by Admin Rule 1301 to seek maximization in city-owned property as the first pass. 29:44 So the first thing we do is reach out to all the bureaus. 29:46 We ask them, does anybody have space available that would suit this particular requirement? 29:51 And when that comes back negative, only then do we go out and actually search for other space. 29:56 Now, that doesn't speak to the utilization of the existing space we have, but that's a whole separate issue we could address. 30:02 But when we get a no, we can't accommodate this, and we're forced to go to market. 30:09 I don't disagree with you. 30:10 What I— where I think that the pinch point is, is from a leadership perspective about who's really examining their own space. 30:17 What are they really using? 30:19 And is the co-location— and I get it, the program has put a requirement out to be in East Portland. 30:24 I understand that.
30:29 In the acquisitions world, we use requirements a little different than normal people use requirements, right? 30:35 Requirements is to meet a spec, whereas, uh, these organizations are not required to be at this street or in this they might be enhanced by it. 30:45 I recognize that. 30:47 So I don't disagree with you, Mr. Dyer. 30:49 I really don't. 30:51 I think that there are other places, and having been somebody who worked for the county in East Portland and East Multnomah County, I do know that it can be a little hard to find a place to kind of call refuge to come into. 31:05 And that can be challenging. 31:06 I am not denying those challenges. 31:08 I am— I think that's a great point. 31:10 Deciding that maybe this isn't the year for it. 31:12 But I do appreciate that. 31:13 And I think Stephanie's online and can maybe add to that. 31:16 But I would say that I feel— I think her requirement for that particular side of the city was where she felt she could be most effective with those programs. 31:23 Right. 31:24 Thank you.
31:25 Director Howard, if you want to go ahead and, uh, if you have something to respond to that as well.
31:28 Thank you so much. 31:29 And I, I completely appreciate, um, Councilor Zimmerman's comments and, and concerns. 31:34 I did, uh, I did just want to note that while the timing of this lease expiration is not ideal, we do have a current lease that is expiring and need to relocate at least the Office of Violence Prevention. 31:48 And so this effort is to try to maximize that opportunity to serve all of the programs within that portfolio. 31:54 I'll also note that there is not an increase in cost, uh, in this lease from the current lease, uh, to the Office of Violence Prevention. 32:03 Nor to the ceasefire program, so there is not an additional cost for those programs. 32:11 Portland Street Response has been planning for some expansion based on council resolutions from last year, and also working to expand our districting plan. 32:22 So the need to be in East Portland for all of these programs is actually quite significant and can help. 32:30 Us to also, you know, bring forward the direction that council has given us under that resolution. 32:35 But I did just want to allay any concerns that this is increasing cost. 32:40 It is only increasing costs to Portland Street Response within a planned amount, but not adding costs to the Office of Violence Prevention and ceasefire programs.
32:50 Thank you, Director Howard. 32:53 Councilor Ryan.
32:55 Thank you, President Dunphy. 32:58 First of all, thank you for stating, Chair Pirtle-Guiney, that it was rushed. 33:03 And I was a hesitant yes. 33:04 I think I got there because of the location. 33:07 I've been on a couple ride-alongs with Portland Street Response, leaving from Lower Southwest, and the calls that I experienced were in East Portland, and it took a long time. 33:19 And by the time we got there, those that were identified to do outreach with were— you couldn't locate them. 33:24 So from probably the relocation of Portland Street Response alone, in the rushed conversation, I got to a yes. 33:31 I do have some more questions. 33:33 I'm glad we're taking time with this today. 33:37 And I'd like to point out, I think we all know the commercial real estate market requires— first of all, it's a good market for those that are purchasing and buying. 33:45 There's some bargains out there. 33:47 And so I think everyone knows that the demand is low. 33:52 And so I know that— I'd like to point out that the commercial real estate market then requires these types of concessions to fill the space. 33:59 And since the demand is low, we can get a bargain in this market. 34:03 And I did see the tenant improvement, TI, in this contract is included, but what's the estimated value of those improvements? 34:11 And that is a question for staff.
34:16 Do you know the answer to that one?
34:18 I'm trying to remember. 34:22 I don't think they put a value on them. 34:24 They just agreed to them. 34:26 So the list was— we did construction drawings, submitted those with all the requested improvements, wall movements, adding doors, painting, new carpet, lighting. 34:35 They approved them all and didn't— they self-perform. 34:38 It's an internal group that does it within their— so they didn't have to go out and contract with a contractor and maybe that would have been some of the reason they don't actually cost it when they provided it to us.
34:50 So there's no— you can't give me an estimated value of those TI improvements?
34:56 I really— we did not— the landlord did not provide us a number. 35:00 Okay. 35:01 If I might, I think I may be a little bit helpful to give you a little bit more on some of the improvements. 35:06 While I don't know what the dollar figure is, there are some substantial projects, including installing a kitchen and upgrading a kitchen on another floor. 35:17 So there are some fairly substantial infrastructure adds that are happening, including some of those types of improvements, which I think, you know, I'm not an expert on this, so I wouldn't want to put a dollar figure. 35:30 But I think if that gives you more of a sense, Councilor, on the types of improvements that they're doing, I think they are fairly significant value. 35:36 Thank you.
35:39 Yeah, perhaps at least $100K. 35:42 But anyway, it would be helpful to have that type of information at this time.
35:50 Thank you, Councilor Ryan. 35:51 Councilor Kanal.
35:55 Thank you. 35:56 I have 3 questions, and I think there's— We've known for a while that this lease was going to expire. 36:07 So my question is, how did we get to the place where this was an emergency ordinance? 36:11 I understand that now today we're at a place where if we don't approve it, there's a time issue. 36:18 But I don't understand why this didn't come a couple months earlier so that it wouldn't be an emergency ordinance, just in case there was a need for 12 days instead of 5 at full council for the public to weigh in and things like that. 36:28 So can, can someone speak to that, please?
36:30 I can certainly speak to that, Councilor. 36:32 So I had been working on a, a different location that was—.
36:40 The city was exploring as a potential acquisition for over a year in anticipation of this. 36:47 And that did— that fell through only at the beginning of this year, and that necessitated me really, you know, expediting a short timeline on a normal project with the facilities team that we have today, who's just done a tremendous amount of work to bring this forward. 37:05 And the timeline has been extremely compressed, but it's because that previous plan fell through at the very beginning of this year. 37:13 But it has been something we've been working on for, for a year.
37:17 And I can add to that that we actually got the ISA executed by Stephanie's group. 37:22 That was in May. 37:23 That ISA says this is an 18 to 24 month process from when we get your programming requirements to when we actually execute a lease, when the construction is finished and you're actually moved in. 37:33 May— we're probably going to be signing a lease this— yet this week if the council approves this. 37:38 They're going to be in September 1st. 37:40 I mean, that is an extremely protracted process. 37:43 It's like unbelievable. 37:45 So we've just had a lot of things fall into place very nicely to make this accommodate her, uh, her need.
37:52 Thank you. 37:52 I appreciate both those answers. 37:54 I think maybe one thing that might be helpful is just kind of a heads up on, on that if that's happening so that, um, we're aware. 38:01 Um, and, and, you know, again, public notice is my concern primarily around emergency ordinance. 38:06 Um, after August 31st, do we no longer have any presence at that Lower Mississippi building?
38:15 And by we, I mean the city, not— it's every program is moving out, right?
38:22 And then a process question. 38:23 Why did this go to City Life and not Public Safety?
38:29 Council President, do you want me to take first stab? 38:32 Do you want to send that to Councilor Novick, or—.
38:34 I don't remember the answer to that, so please.
38:36 So, Councilor, there was a conversation about where Leasing goes, if I remember correctly, and whether that comes to, uh, to you at Committee of the Whole or to the committee that has the relevant policy or to City Life looking kind of broadly at some of these things. 38:58 And City Life had just taken on a different lease conversation, so we were in the groove on that, and Public Safety didn't have to schedule this, and we ended up having a lot more public testimony than we thought we would, but thought we had a spot that it would slip into easily. 39:16 So I had offered to take it on to be helpful and make sure that we could move it to council as quickly as possible, given the needs for the lease term.
39:26 I appreciate that. 39:28 So in terms of broadly, I do think I'd like to first say I welcome I wanna follow up on something Councilor Zimmerman brought up and do ask for us to have a better understanding given to council about our existing space. 39:43 I think, you know, fire stations don't often have the capacity for something this large, but I know that there are fire stations all over the city and there's public safety collaboration there, for example. 39:54 So there are things like that that make sense. 39:56 Having said that, I do think that the idea of having a standalone space in East Portland Portland makes sense for these things together. 40:03 I think it's a natural next step from council's resolution last June that established PSR as a co-equal first responder and a precursor to the conversation around what constitutes a bureau-level conversation around community safety or portions thereof. 40:20 I will say that cities around the country have established similar independent offices. 40:25 Albuquerque has Community Safety together in its own space as well. 40:29 And I'm personally excited about the impact that this will have for response times for PSR in addition to obviously additional scheduling because I have a similar experience to Councilor Ryan about many of the calls being in East Portland. 40:43 I'll obviously be asking and making sure that we don't have a decline in attention to District 2, but obviously PSR, that's not where it's coming from.
40:54 Thank you. 40:55 I appreciate that as well. 40:56 And so I'll be voting yes on this. 40:58 But I do think as we move forward, it will be helpful to have a better understanding of the capacity that we have in city buildings. 41:05 I know that there's a conversation that's been on the back burner for a while about restacking the Portland Building, about some of the other spaces. 41:11 And I definitely think that's something worth exploring. 41:15 I don't know that it always applies to each and every part of the city because having ready access to parking lots is a really important thing. 41:22 Councilor Dan Ryan. 41:23 I was in Minneapolis last year and just talking about the move of their equivalent programs, Canopy Roots, there, um, to a space where they had ready access to their vehicles quickly when a call came in was— that was the primary reason they moved, um, or among the primary reasons, I should say. 41:39 So it was helpful to learn that, and I imagine that, that, that's all been done here, um, because it was done last year for the 2 council offices.
41:46 I, I should add to that— excuse me— that topic that we did— there were actually 2 opportunities within in the BFF portfolio that the client considered. 41:54 One was, as you probably know, Parks has recently vacated the St. John's building. 42:00 We showed that to the client. 42:01 It was too small. 42:02 It's kind of awkward space and it was in the wrong location. 42:06 The second one was Water Bureau was vacating a portion of their space in the ECC building on the east side. 42:12 But again, that was way too small. 42:14 So those, you know, we did explore what we thought might be potentially suitable and were rejected.
42:21 Thank you for that. 42:22 I would love to follow up with you about that St. John's.
42:25 No, that's another topic.
42:27 Thank you, Councilor Kanal. 42:28 Councilor Smith.
42:29 Thank you, Council President. 42:31 Uh, just a quick question. 42:33 Um, Director Howard, are these funds coming out of the materials and services budget?
42:41 No, these are, uh, part of OVP's existing overhead budget. 42:46 As I mentioned, that that cost is almost identical, so there's no additional cost to OVP or Ceasefire with this lease.
42:55 So that the overhead budget is the money that was saved in your previous office budget, is that correct?
43:03 It's just the same lease overhead costs that we have every year.
43:09 And is it— is that category— how is that categorized?
43:14 I, I think because of the way the current lease is structured, it's not a full-service lease. 43:19 So there are some internal materials and service costs that have gone towards overhead and some external materials and costs. 43:26 So now under the new, uh, portion of the lease would be a full service, and they would just be, I think, uh, coming through the, the Bureau of Facilities. 43:37 So I think it would all fall under our internal Materials and services, I believe.
43:42 Okay, so it's the external. 43:43 I'm just trying to figure out how it's, how it's being paid for.
43:47 So that's how we pay for our, our rent in our offices here at City Council and our district offices. 43:54 Thank you.
43:56 Thank you, Councilor Smith. 43:56 Councilor Koyama Lane.
43:58 Thank you, Council President. 43:59 So looking at the notes, I can see that no current city building fits the, the needs, the requirements. 44:07 For example, enough parking for city vehicles. 44:09 I'm wondering if someone could just talk briefly about what those requirements are and which city buildings were investigated and considered.
44:19 They included the programming requirements of how many hard wall offices, how many open cubicles, how many conference rooms, how many kitchenettes, how many parking spaces, location requirements, including access to public transit. 44:35 Those are the highlights that come to the top of my mind. 44:37 Stephanie, anything you can add? 44:38 Yeah, I think for Portland Street Response in particular, because of the nature of their work, they also require decontamination access. 44:46 So we have to be sure that they have the ability to, you know, shower, address any kind of contaminants that they may encounter out in the field, which is a unique feature. 44:59 And the washer and dryer which Rick mentioned is also a part of those requirements, and we're working to problem solve on that. 45:07 But, you know, specifically combining those unique needs with the needs of the Office of Violence Prevention and Ceasefire programs, which also require adequate community space so that we can host our regular meetings, our community peace collaboratives, so that we can service our Rose City self-defense courses. 45:28 That there are some very challenging needs in trying to bring these together. 45:33 And so the space that we have in this proposed lease would meet all of those requirements. 45:39 And one thing that I would add too is that there was a wish to have after-hours HVAC services. 45:45 The landlord has provided a number for those services should we elect to use them. 45:48 So Stephanie knows that she has the ability to add that if she wants to be operational until midnight or 2:00 AM. 45:54 Still have the conditions of the building heated and cooled, she has that ability.
45:59 Thank you. 45:59 That's helpful. 46:00 And especially having an east side location, making sure that it has the capacity for regular community events is really important.
46:08 I plan to support this.
46:10 Thank you, Councilor Koyama Lane. 46:12 Councilor Ryan.
46:17 I am— again, we rushed this through, so this is a good conversation. 46:21 I'm still slightly leaning to yes. 46:24 I do think in the future we need to have better information on the details of the financials. 46:30 And I know that it's a good market. 46:33 But I think, Stephanie Howard, your comments both in the committee meeting when you presented and today make the case for a leader who's looking at the system and how to improve services. 46:47 So I'd like to see with this capital investment and this change, what does success look like as you integrate these teams? 46:59 What are some of— what's some of your hopes in terms of how the different departments integrate and work with one another? 47:08 How do we bring in more community partners? 47:09 When I go to the Peace Collaborative meetings, it's not lost on me that there's no one from the schools there. 47:15 And increasingly the behavioral issues that go down much lower than they used to, and the incidents that we're seeing this summer on the streets with the age range dipping lower and lower. 47:28 I need to hear the case of how this space is going to improve our integration of services and working with the community that helps do what we want, which is to have more restorative justice and less violence on our streets. 47:45 So, Stephanie, is there anything else you'd like to add to that? 47:48 Because you have been consistent with some of this type of thinking, and that's what the council, I think, wants to see in general is more vision about where we're going. 47:58 So it's one thing to make a change, but we need to really be sold on why this is an improvement. 48:04 What is the vision? 48:05 How will this—.
48:06 Have impact on services? 48:08 I want to get away from the nuts and bolts of the lease deal right now. 48:12 I want to hear about the impact of the services.
48:16 Absolutely, Councilor Ryan.
48:18 So I think for so long, the Office of Violence Prevention has been sort of the place where the city could funnel dollars to help support community-based organizations and violence prevention without a consistent strategy and without the capacity to do more holistic work. 48:40 And what I see here in bringing these teams together in the ceasefire program and the OVP program, for instance, is a great, a great way to make sure that everyone is operating from the same, you know, sheet of music, that we all have the same information and that we can specialize and what I mean by that is having the ceasefire program, which is our intervention, our gun violence intervention strategy, being able to be very well integrated with our violence prevention strategy at the OVP team and creating a more holistic approach that is not just tasking an organization to do, you know, 20 things, but instead allowing them the growth and the opportunity to to specialize and to get, you know, continue getting some of those really strong results that we've seen. 49:35 The same is true for Portland Street Response. 49:37 What we've seen since these programs have been grouped together are, you know, a great sort of natural collaboration happening, whether it is, you know, building up our internal safety committees and helping bring some of that specialized sort of OSHA view that our PSR teams have to the view that we have for our, uh, our, you know, Office of Violence Prevention and Ceasefire teams.
50:05 There's a huge through line between all 3 of these programs, and that is the, the use and the leveraging of people with lived experience, peers, to help connect with community members in moments where they are in desperate need of help, whether that's in a behavioral health crisis or in a, you know, a crisis that's leading them to pick up a gun. 50:27 Um, the use of these, these sort of principles is very uniform through these programs, and it's lending to really strong, um, ideas. 50:37 It's lending to really strong, uh, you know, um, sort of approaches. 50:43 We've got PSR coming to community peace collaboratives now, but it's helping highlight the areas where we can do more to support one another and, and, you know, frankly identifying additional funding opportunities like grants, which we've been applying for in this last year as well, that help tie these pieces together. 51:02 Um, but, but being in the same space is a huge part of the cohesion that's needed in order for that organic thinking and that sort of coalescence around a shared mission, whether it's a little bit of a different I appreciate that.
51:23 I want to say a couple things. 51:26 As you know, I'm a big fan of the Peace Collaborative meetings and I attend them. 51:29 I'll have to figure out how to be as loyal when they move out to the east side. 51:35 And I'll do that because that's where I've been able to see the system that we're building.
51:40 I think that's a great point.
51:41 I will say that having the police officer, Jaeger, I believe, who attends frequently, when he comes and he presents data, that's when the Peace Collaborative room lights up and there's more engagement and there's more authentic dialogue about the why and what we need to do. 51:59 So in the new location, if that's where the Peace Collaborative is held, you have to make sure that it won't be as convenient, of course, 'cause the North Precinct is where they're held. 52:07 Yeah. 52:08 Held now to continue to include the police. 52:11 And that's even why the whole— in the whole budget response deliberations, it became so clear to me how we're all needed. 52:19 And you can't hollow it out in the middle with police, but they're all interconnected. 52:23 And I see them working together like an integrated team in ways that I think was the vision years ago when we were trying to do reforms to public safety. 52:32 So again, I just want to hear how you as a leader are seeing this relocation as an opportunity to go deeper with what that vision is and how this integration works and keep including data at those meetings and also what the collective success looks like for all of them in the rooms. 52:52 Because that's what I'm seeing. 52:53 I'm seeing people having shared accountability and responsibility, and that's the beauty of integrated systems. 53:00 So I'm trying to really see this as an— as that opportunity to make that case go even further with this relocation. 53:09 So thank you. 53:10 If there's anything you'd like to respond to, I'd appreciate it.
53:13 Oh, I'll just add that this— we will continue to have one. 53:16 We're having 2 Community Peace Collaborative meetings a month. 53:19 One will stay in North Precinct and the second will be in East because we're trying to, again, have a broader reach with the variety of community members and community organizations that we work with.
53:31 Well, that impressed me. 53:32 I didn't— was this new? 53:34 There's only been one a month.
53:36 We've started that— no, we've started that probably in the last 10 months or so.
53:41 Oh, that's why I keep missing meetings. 53:42 I thought there was just one a month still. 53:45 Okay, great. 53:46 Humbled as always up here on the dais.
53:49 Thank you, Councilor Ryan. 53:50 Councilor Smith, verify, is that a legacy hand? 53:53 Thank you very much. 53:54 Colleagues, seeing no one else in the queue, this is an emergency ordinance, requires 9 votes to pass.
53:59 Rebecca, can we please call the roll?
54:02 Calling the roll on document number 2026-236. 54:06 Koyama Lane?
54:27 The ordinance passes with 11 aye and 1 nay vote.
54:30 Thank you very much. 54:31 Could we please call item number 6?
54:36 Item 6, amend the FY 2026-27 budget to appropriate $13,076,892 in Portland Clean Energy Fund interest income, $5,491,200 $2 other fund resources and $335,000 in county IGA revenues to restore frontline positions and services reduced in the approved budget and to provide transition support for affected employees. 55:04 Document number 2026-222.
55:06 Thank you very much, colleagues. 55:08 This is the second reading of our ordinance. 55:10 As I mentioned last week, under state budget law, only one supplemental budget can be prepared at a time. 55:17 As such, we've considered both of the ordinances on today's agenda, but only one of them can become law. 55:23 To keep the procedure simple today, we will open and vote on the items separately in the order they were filed. 55:28 Let's begin with remarks from the— actually, I'm gonna turn to the lead sponsor, Councilor Murillo, on this, but also City Administrator Lee has asked to also provide remarks. 55:39 So Councilor Murillo and then City Administrator.
55:42 Thank you so much, Council President, and thank you, colleagues, for being here for this extended conversation and for all of the folks who are on this ordinance as well who have helped to pave the way for this. 55:54 I feel like it has been a difficult process, but last year we experienced what may only be described as a small glimmer of hope that maybe this council is able to compromise and is prepared to do some of that work. 56:07 You know, after a lot of discussions and hearing a lot of the feedback that we heard There were things that I didn't necessarily agree with, but I brought an amendment to bring those things to the table because I think that this is still a more stable funding source. 56:23 It will still protect the Police Accountability Board that is just getting, you know, it's just getting started. 56:30 And I think that it sends the right message to Portlanders if we can choose to come together on this, that we chose to compromise and that we chose to work together.
56:40 Hearing from elders in our community like Reverend Leroy Haynes, who talked about how important it is to protect the OCPA and who talked about making sure that we're saving the critical parks positions that we told voters we would do if we passed another levy, I think shows our continuous commitment to Portlanders. 56:59 This ordinance does save more positions, and I have heard behind the scenes that we're going to be able to save more positions.
57:03 Councilmember Herbold.
57:03 That means that a few of you wanted to go bigger than maybe you were given the option to in the other ordinance. 57:08 So I hope that we can sort of set aside all of the, the rest of the politics of this and that we can have this be a shared council win, that we can tell the public that we came together to do this. 57:22 And I'm just very grateful for the folks who expressed interest, you know, even interest in this last week. 57:28 Councilor Smith, I think Councilor Zimmerman, I know you and I had some discussions on this, and I hope that we can move forward with this today. 57:44 I also know the city administrator has some things to say about not just our ordinance, but both ordinances, as some city employees have already left the city and we're trying to, you know, address some of these positions. 57:56 But it's something that's happening with both ordinances because of how complicated this process is. 58:01 And my team is working with CBO to reconcile some of that as we speak. 58:05 And with that, I will pass it over to you, City Administrator.
58:09 Thank you, Councilor. 58:10 And I will ask our interim HR Director Ronzito to come and speak on this item as well. 58:17 What I do want to do is provide some clarity to Council versus just assuming that this ordinance or both ordinances may do certain things as it relates to bringing back certain employees. 58:29 I know there's intent behind both ordinances and what they intend to do, but I actually, I actually want to talk about the reality of where we are right now from a staffing perspective of the remaining employees that we have left in the organization, but also talk about bumping as well. 58:50 Some of these conversations have been around, I know, certain actual people within the organization, but when we look at this holistically, we're looking at positions. 59:01 So what that means is you might have the intent of saving a person, but that person may not be saved due to our bumping, due to our labor agreements. 59:13 We may be able to save the position, But not actually that individual. 59:18 So I'll turn it over to Ron to give some more clarity to that as well. 59:22 Then, Council President, we'll turn it back over to you or to any questions that councilors may have with this information we're providing today.
59:31 Thank you, Administrator Lee. 59:32 Uh, good morning, councilors. 59:34 Uh, for the record, Ron Zito, Interim Director of the Bureau of Human Resources. 59:38 I think actually Councilor Morillo and Administrator Lee I think the city attorneys said it best, so I'll just try to reiterate what they shared, which is due to the timing of these ordinances, I wanted to ensure there was awareness in terms of the administration and impact of the outcomes if either were voted and approved today. 59:56 So for instance, across both ordinances, we see we've got about 10 vacancies of the positions being restored. 1:00:03 And so I wanted to make sure there was awareness of that. 1:00:06 And then as it relates to bumping, We've got a number of outcomes that we still need to analyze. 1:00:11 So if either of these ordinances were approved, we're going to need to go back and draft rescind notices for people, restore those vacant positions, and then evaluate what those restorations mean in terms of positions still being cut. 1:00:25 And so, for example, my staff brought to me a few different scenarios where some of the positions we're assuming that are being presented in this ordinance, if they were restored, we would still see that person who occupies that position still losing their job because of the bump flows that have taken place. 1:00:43 You also have scenarios where positions would be restored to teams that have already been disbanded because of the core services realignment, so they might be returning to a team with no manager. 1:00:54 We have had staff who've moved on because of the length of this process to new roles, accepted new positions, sometimes inside the city and sometimes outside the city. 1:01:04 So maybe I just want to reiterate that there's awareness of the impacts of either of these ordinances as you take a vote today, and you have a full understanding of that. 1:01:13 And we'll be unpacking what that means for the individuals impacted in the days ahead.
1:01:21 Okay, thank you very much, Ron. 1:01:24 Colleagues, now to the queue— or council discussion, rather.
1:01:30 Thank you so much, Council President, and, and thank you, City Administrator Lee, for kind of level-setting us on that piece, um, and, uh, Director Zito. 1:01:39 Um, you know, it's not lost on me that, that, you know, we— this, this work started in the budget process and now we're here where they are. 1:01:46 So there are, of course, some complications here, but I think I want to stay focused on what this ordinance authorizes in terms of capabilities. 1:01:53 It sort of says we want to preserve the capabilities that that these jobs have. 1:01:58 So if there are folks who have moved on, or if we have to do some work to get them back, that's work that we always are going to be faced with in an organization. 1:02:05 And again, I have, I have a lot of confidence in the city administrator, uh, uh, to do the work that, that is spoken to in the ordinance to kind of do that position analysis and, and make sure we're preserving that flexibility. 1:02:16 I want to turn to, for a moment, just to appeal to my colleagues to, to, for your support on this ordinance because you know, the first— I think the first public comment we received today was from a gentleman who lives in East Portland, District 1, and he's frustrated. 1:02:32 Jacob Schnorr, I believe, is his name. 1:02:33 He's frustrated that this governing body has failed his community by failing to make the investments and the resources that we need to keep him safe. 1:02:44 And, you know, public safety is not always the lens that I start my work in, but it is but it does matter to me. 1:02:52 I think we're hearing loudly from Portlanders that, hey, before you ask us for new money for new things, we really want you to take care of what we have. 1:03:03 We want to make sure that you are filling those potholes, keeping our fire capacity up to snuff, making sure that we are not losing ground on the investments we've built in this holistic public safety and so I think that if we fail to act today to make those investments, then we're sending a signal to a person like Mr. Schnorr that you've got every right to be frustrated with this City Council. 1:03:26 And so we have an opportunity right now to take a decision, to make a decision to say we're standing together to say, while this wasn't the most perfect process, we do have an opportunity to recommit to investing in those public safety resources that we need.
1:03:41 That we deserve in our community. 1:03:43 And that's on the floor right now. 1:03:45 And so however we felt about this process all along the way, I think we're right to have feelings about that and right to learn from the process. 1:03:52 And, you know, we'll do better next time in the budget process. 1:03:56 But today we have a chance to make the investment we need to make. 1:04:00 And it comes from a pot of money that we have right now to make that work happen.
1:04:06 And so I really hope that we can use this moment to get this across the line, make these investments, and then we'll do the hard work we have to do to come together with our labor partners, with the city administration, and say, how do we set ourselves up for success for the next budget and the next years to come? 1:04:23 I think Portlanders are watching. 1:04:24 So really appreciate the dialogue, appreciate the willingness to compromise. 1:04:30 And again, thanks again, Mr. Lee, for kind of making your rounds this morning and being ready to kind of thank you, Councilor Green.
1:04:41 Councilor Morillo.
1:04:43 Thank you, Council President. 1:04:45 I just wanted to reiterate that I think that with either of these ordinances, we're going to run into these issues and reemphasize that because of the timing that this is coming forward after the budget process. 1:04:56 So this is, although our ordinance is being heard first, this is not unique to our ordinance. 1:05:01 And I still believe that our ordinance provides the greatest amount of compromise amongst this council body. 1:05:05 And I think that we're going to have to make some and I believe that we have a duty as the legislative body to try to work together in every way that we can when we can. 1:05:14 And I want to outline for perhaps the media that's catching up on this today the compromises that happened since June. 1:05:22 Back in June, our Services First Amendment saved 103 jobs. 1:05:26 That was around $22 million, and the counteroffer was around $7.8 million. 1:05:32 That died 6 to 6.
1:05:34 On July 2nd, we introduced other positions, and there were other ordinances that were brought forward to fund with OCPA funding. 1:05:44 For many of us, that was a hard line because that police accountability ballot measure passed with 82% of the vote. 1:05:51 That was a very difficult discussion for many of us, where I think we wanted to save similar positions, but we had different ideas around the funding source. 1:05:59 And then on July 16th, I brought forward Morillo 1, which funded 55 positions. 1:06:05 And all of that dollars, every single dollar that was added was priorities from your ordinance. 1:06:12 It was priorities in police training and other positions that we didn't necessarily agree were a priority, especially while we were trying to save certain job positions because of the functions that they play. 1:06:23 But we understood that that was important. 1:06:25 And the trajectory over time is that we are really trying to come to the table with you and be good partners in this. 1:06:35 And I think that what we have today is something that accomplishes everything that you guys wanted to save, along with things that we cared about, with a stable funding source that already exists. 1:06:47 The other ordinance with the underspending, relies on funding that does not yet exist, and I think that's a really important difference to remember when we're talking about what's stable right now because we can always backfill the PSF interest later with underspend. 1:07:02 But if there isn't underspend later, we can't actually—that's imaginary money. 1:07:06 And given the financial state of the city, I'm not sure that there will be the underspend that people are expecting there to be, especially with a lot of the police accountability work that has to. 1:07:16 Be established, a lot of the cases that they're gonna have to pursue. 1:07:20 So colleagues, I would just really implore you one last time, if we could come together on this as a council and make this work, because we are ready to be strong partners with you. 1:07:31 Thank you.
1:07:32 Thank you, Councilor Maria. 1:07:34 Councilor Koyama Lane.
1:07:36 Thanks. 1:07:37 The first thing that I want to acknowledge is that this process has been hard on all of us. 1:07:42 But that it's been especially hard on our city staff, the staff that holds everything together, or the glue that holds everything together. 1:07:54 Staff that are real people who have dedicated years and years of their lives to building expertise and experience, to serving and to serving our public. 1:08:04 I know that there are folks that are here in the audience and who are watching right now who are holding their breath watching this protracted budget process unfold. 1:08:14 Um, and that is not lost on me. 1:08:18 I saw Chief Johnson at the Pride Parade, and she pointed out someone who, um, is at one of the stations that is having the rescue cut and said, you know, they're watching every single meeting, they're tuning in. 1:08:34 So thank you to the staff who have been through this excruciating process alongside us, and to every Portlander who's spoken up for the programs and services that matter to them. 1:08:43 And to my colleagues, you know, we've worked together for a year and a half now during really intense times, and I, I can confidently say that I know that all of us deeply care about this city and fellow Portlanders, and we have some of the exact same values.
1:09:02 That we all share. 1:09:03 I think we all want a city where our parks program is one where people of all ages can thrive, where we have staff ready to respond to emergencies, where we have a real person on the line with real answers when someone calls 311. 1:09:18 And I think that all 12 of us believe in transparency and accountability, and I don't think anyone up here takes cuts to staff and to programs lightly. 1:09:28 Um, you know, most Portlanders elected us to handle the details so they don't have to. 1:09:34 Our constituents, many of them are working multiple jobs, raising families, caregiving, just trying to get through the week, or just trying to enjoy our wonderful city and don't have the time to follow every line of a budget or who proposed what and why. 1:09:48 But they do really feel it when we get it wrong.
1:09:52 And they feel it when we're gridlocked 6-6, and they'll feel it when services slip and they see it in their districts and their life gets harder. 1:10:03 And our— this new council structure proposed something better, and there are people that aren't quite feeling that yet. 1:10:12 And they're not asking us to agree on everything, but they are asking us to make the city work and figure out how to get as close as we can, because I do think we agree on a lot.
1:10:24 So I do hope that all of us up here can agree to pass this supplemental budget that gives, in my opinion, gives staff and our city administrators some time to deliberate, to make informed decisions, to give us the opportunity to consult with our staff who do the work and engage all of the people. 1:10:46 I hope that we can agree to pass this.
1:10:51 And do this right. 1:10:53 I think that this in some way buys us time as we're doing realignment and hope that folks will vote yes for this ordinance in particular with the amendment. 1:11:04 We are very close. 1:11:05 Thanks.
1:11:06 Thank you, Councilor Koyama Lane. 1:11:08 Councilor Avalos.
1:11:09 Thank you. 1:11:10 Just to close the loop based on the conversation we had earlier, I'm hearing that folks from CBO might have some more information for us on how implementable the ordinances are. 1:11:20 So can Brian Connell please come up and confirm?
1:11:31 Good morning, councilors. 1:11:32 Uh, for the record, Brian Connell, Deputy Director, CBO. 1:11:35 Um, I would just refer back to CA Lee's, uh, previous comments that most of these issues can be characterized as operational, where the impact may Uh, differ from the intended effect. 1:11:51 However, from a technical perspective, the ordinances, both of them as amended, are implementable, and perhaps some of those issues can be addressed via technical corrections in the follow-through or operational realities. 1:12:12 There could be further information sharing as those more details of those are addressed or available. 1:12:21 Sorry.
1:12:22 Thank you. 1:12:22 Thank you for confirming that. 1:12:24 Yeah, I just wanted to make sure I understood that from the technical perspective that we can move forward with this, that all of those issues can be worked out and are operational in nature. 1:12:34 So I think what we are seeing here in front of us is that every priority from the other is now in this package seems pretty straightforward. 1:12:43 I think this is a great opportunity to show Portlanders that we did come together and make a compromise to ultimately fund the services that they care about. 1:12:53 So, you know, I think everybody has already said it in many different ways, but just to put that final point that I believe Portlanders are watching, and I hope we don't disappoint them with this vote. 1:13:04 Thanks.
1:13:05 Thank you, Councilor Avalos. 1:13:06 Councilor Morillo.
1:13:08 Thank you, Council President. 1:13:09 Actually, Brian, could you stay up here? 1:13:10 Sorry, I just have one question for you. 1:13:13 So to clarify, when we're talking about the impacts, I believe there was an impression that specific individuals were supposed to be saved. 1:13:24 And I want to clarify that the positions that we chose were based on the services that are being carried out for Portlanders. 1:13:33 So this doesn't impact that, correct? 1:13:35 When you're talking about impacts, it's not going to change those core services?
1:13:42 Correct, yes. 1:13:43 So from a technical perspective, there's no issues with those positions being restored because the funding is a new one-time funding source. 1:13:54 So there isn't an issue. 1:13:55 It's more the operational realities and If there was an intended outcome for a particular position or employee, there may be a disconnect there. 1:14:07 But from a technical perspective, it is implementable.
1:14:12 Okay, thank you so much for all those clarifications. 1:14:14 I appreciate you.
1:14:17 Thank you, Councilor Morillo. 1:14:18 Councilor Kanal.
1:14:19 Thank you, Council President. 1:14:21 I just wanted to draw attention to one piece of the ordinance that is, I think, particularly meaningful in helping me differentiate between It's paragraph 11. 1:14:28 It's paragraph 11, and it's reiterated down below in Part C. But the idea of taking the time to assess and pause and get deep into the conversation around what's happening to positions, why are they being moved, why are they being eliminated, those sorts of things between now and the fall, position-by-position service impact analyses, and the cost of redistributing the work. 1:14:54 Which I think is something that ideally would've happened before. 1:14:57 I think everybody's acknowledged that. 1:14:58 And I think the key piece here is that this one requires it. 1:15:02 This ordinance requires that. 1:15:04 What I'd ask is, we've been hearing a lot of the— we've been hearing a lot of the good on this. 1:15:11 Obviously, that's why my remarks are short. 1:15:12 A lot of it's been said by my colleagues. 1:15:14 I would love to hear if someone is intending to vote no, I'd love to hear why. 1:15:19 Because I am concerned for you that if we don't hear why at this point, um, a vote might be— that the public might take away from this that it's, uh, more about tribalism than about policy. 1:15:31 So I'd love to hear that.
1:15:34 Thank you, Councilor Kanal. 1:15:36 Vice President Clark.
1:15:37 I'm happy to try to address your question, Councilor. 1:15:41 Um, and you're right, there are lots of similarities between these 2, um, I also want a shared council win. 1:15:51 I also believe that we have compromised on the creation of the risk reduction ordinance. 1:15:57 But I would say, for me, bottom line, that one of these is the more fiscally responsible amendment. 1:16:04 While it still addresses critical needs in the city, I think I'm concerned about the bottom line and what that means for the next budget.
1:16:15 Thank you, Vice President Clark. 1:16:21 Colleagues, seeing no one else in the queue, Rebecca, can we please call the roll?
1:16:28 Calling the roll on the ordinance document number 2026-222. 1:16:33 Koyama Lane?
1:16:56 Aye. 1:17:00 Um, the mayor is here. 1:17:02 Mr. Mayor? 1:17:04 The final— oh, please go ahead. 1:17:06 We don't know the final vote. 1:17:09 Hold on a second. 1:17:09 I have a little script to read.
1:17:12 Go ahead. 1:17:15 Mr. Mayor, the final council vote on a non-emergency ordinance has resulted in a tie. 1:17:21 Under the rules of this chamber, it is your prerogative to cast the deciding vote. 1:17:25 Under Charter Section 2-102, quote, the mayor is not a member of council, however, under Charter Section 2-402— 401, it is among your responsibilities to vote on matters before the council in the case of a tie when the mayor casts the deciding vote. 1:17:41 Debate has concluded on these items and we are in the process of voting. 1:17:45 The body does not accept continuous debate during the roll call. 1:17:49 However, in this case, I will extend a courtesy to you to speak to your vote if so desired, up to 2 minutes.
1:17:54 Council President, thank you for that courtesy.
1:17:56 At this point, my vote is a no. 1:17:59 Okay.
1:18:01 Okay. 1:18:01 And so— Eric, would you please formally call the mayor's vote?
1:18:05 Mayor Wilson, your vote is— can you repeat your vote, Mayor Wilson?
1:18:11 And so with 7 nay and 6 aye votes, the ordinance fails to pass.
1:18:18 Thank you very much. 1:18:19 Can we please call item number 7?
1:18:24 Item 7, adopt a supplemental budget for FY 2026-27 to reduce potential risks to city services, document number 2026-223.
1:18:36 Colleagues, this is the second reading of a non-emergency ordinance. 1:18:39 We are now in consideration of the sole remaining budget ordinance before us. 1:18:43 Let's begin with remarks from our lead sponsor, Vice President Clark.
1:18:47 Thank you, Councilor President. 1:18:49 I also want to thank City Administrator Lee for the clarification that you offered and the complexities that you offered of both of these ordinances. 1:18:58 I really appreciate that. 1:19:00 Um, colleagues, we have another opportunity to demonstrate unity because I also want a shared council win, and I would say that the risk reduction ordinance thank you. 1:19:15 This ordinance is also a compromise ordinance between a variety of colleagues that are sitting up here. 1:19:21 We did compromise on this between our colleagues. 1:19:25 And we also worked with labor unions to identify and restore the positions that are critical to the operation of the city. 1:19:33 Also, our ordinance allows for a smooth transition during a time of necessary cuts to balance our budget, and it also will extend pay and benefits to all laid-off employees through September 30th. 1:19:50 So as I mentioned earlier, this amendment— this budget ordinance is the one that is the more fiscally responsible amendment while still addressing the city's critical needs. 1:20:00 So we'd ask for a positive vote.
1:20:03 Thank you, Vice President Clark. 1:20:05 Colleagues, we are now in council discussion. 1:20:07 Is there any further comment? 1:20:11 Councilor Kanal.
1:20:12 Thank you, Council President. 1:20:17 Colleagues, I'm disheartened we couldn't get to a place of majority support for the Save Our Services ordinance, um, but I did want to, uh, take some time to comment on this because there's some things that got brought up last week. 1:20:27 As you know, I was remote for it. 1:20:28 I didn't really get a chance to respond to— um, I'm really grateful for the amendment that was brought forward, uh, last week. 1:20:35 And on Wednesday, uh, and I want to start by saying that if this conversation shows anything, it's that the Office of Community-Based Police Accountability is off limits. 1:20:43 I have colleagues who are staunch defenders of PCF in this chamber and outside, of supportive housing services, of preschool for all, of all the different ballot measures that have been done in this city. 1:20:55 And the reason ballot measures happen in the city, and not just the city government, but this community, So often is because people go through that effort because they don't feel like they're being heard. 1:21:05 Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose at the ballot, but there's a lot of attempts at that. 1:21:08 And these ones pass, and we're obligated to respond to them. 1:21:11 We're obligated to, uh, uphold them. 1:21:14 And I don't believe that our election is any more legitimate than that that created a ballot measure, um, and a requirement there. 1:21:22 So that's why it's important that we state for the record that that's an important change. 1:21:26 And whether this passes or fails in a moment here, that that's off limits. 1:21:30 I also want to take the opportunity to correct the record on 3 things that were brought up last, uh, last week now that the outcome is all but locked in. 1:21:38 Um, last week I was, uh, accused of lying and saying that the administration did not request the restoration of a ceasefire position during one of the amendments. 1:21:46 I think this one has been mostly resolved due to City Administrator Lee confirming that in fact the administration did request that position. 1:21:52 But I wanted to ask if City Administrator Lee, if there I don't think there's anything more you wanted to, to add about that position at this time.
1:22:01 Okay, um, I'm hopeful that we're able to work on that one, um, going forward. 1:22:05 I'm also hopeful that we're able to work on the, um, the Office of Government Relations position related to international relations and that, that particular program. 1:22:14 Secondly, there was an accusation about lying during the budget about the Driving Towards Democracy amendment, which moved $450,000 $450,000 from the golf fund to the small donor election program as a way of saying we should now look at the funding source of small donor elections. 1:22:28 The accusation was that I didn't say the money would be used for this year's election at the time of the amendment. 1:22:32 You can check the transcript. 1:22:33 It's at 2:23:30 on the timestamp for the May 20th, 2026 morning meeting. 1:22:39 And the quote is, just to be very specific about it, it removes it from 603, the golf fund at Portland Parks and Recreation, $450,000. 1:22:47 Thank you. 1:22:48 Transferred to special appropriations, the public election fund there, and it's $450,000, which is sufficient to ensure the full amounts that are needed for this year's election. 1:22:58 So just wanted to get that out of the way.
1:23:00 Mr. President, point of order. 1:23:01 What are we talking about right now? 1:23:03 I'm not clear.
1:23:03 I'm talking about the OCPA part and the amendment.
1:23:06 We are in discussion of this amendment and Councilor Kanal is recognized and he's responding to the discussion last night.
1:23:13 And you can read the rest of the transcript. 1:23:14 I gave the timestamp. 1:23:15 And third, there was a conversation in the newsletter about the— that I wrote about the impact of this program, or the, sorry, proposal on the Office of Community-Based Police Accountability.
1:23:24 Point of order, Mr. President. 1:23:24 I'm not sure what we're talking about.
1:23:25 We're not talking about— Councilor Kanal is recognized. 1:23:27 He's responding to comments from last week.
1:23:29 Okay, he should have been here.
1:23:31 Well, he was here.
1:23:31 I am— I am— I recognize Councilor Kanal.
1:23:34 It's relevant to the vote. 1:23:37 And if you'd like it to have my vote, I think it's important that we actually have the conversation. 1:23:42 Um, if we were having a deep conversation, colleagues, about TriMet, I'd give a little extra credence to whatever Councilor Clark said because of her experience. 1:23:50 If we were talking about the county, I give a little extra credence to Councilors Smith and Zimmerman. 1:23:54 I can say that about all 11 of, of my colleagues on different topics. 1:23:57 I think it's really important that we recognize some of us have a lot of experience in the space of the OCPA. 1:24:03 I've had people respond without actually addressing the concern that I'm raising. 1:24:07 The concern has not been, other than the original Clark 1 amendment in the budget, about violating Charter 2-1004, which relates to the 5% rule on the OCPA. 1:24:16 All of these have to do with a different concern, Charter 2-1006. 1:24:20 I've read that in the past. 1:24:21 I won't bother to read it again here, except for a little piece later. 1:24:25 When you write a check and back that check off of the OCPA bank account, you're committing them to underspend or putting pressure on them to do so. 1:24:34 And while you should believe me saying that because it's obvious, if you don't, it's okay because we got this a week ago from the city administrator and budget director. 1:24:41 When I asked Director Levine about underspending, we were told that there's been, quote, there's been pretty specific guidance, significant guidance, I apologize, from the administration in one form or another relating to sort of reducing expenditures in order to generate underspending. 1:24:55 So particularly in '25 and '26, we were aware pretty early on that that was going to be necessary. 1:24:59 And even in '24-'25, there was some guidance. 1:25:02 So I would, I would as a director probably defer to the city administrator's guidance. 1:25:06 And I asked, do you think that that affected any of the bureau director's decisions? 1:25:09 Do you think that that advice was— that guidance, sorry— was heeded? 1:25:13 And City Administrator Lee added, I can't speak, Councilor Kanal, as it relates to if that guidance was heeded, but it does impact decision-making when those constraints are being put on the organization. 1:25:24 And it continues on. 1:25:25 Thank you. 1:25:25 Put another way, end quote. 1:25:27 Put another way, our bureau director noted that there has been historically guidance to underspend, which was noted as necessary. 1:25:32 Our city administrator then said that the guidance does impact decision-making. 1:25:35 In other words, being told to underspend changes decisions, puts influence on decisions, affects decisions. 1:25:41 And the relevant part of Charter-2-1006 is the city council, mayor, city administrator, auditor, and city departments, bureaus, and other administrative agencies shall not interfere end quote. 1:25:55 This was also confirmed by much of the testimony we heard, including from Reverend Leroy Haynes, who knows more than any of us about the history of police accountability in the city because he helped write much of that history, as well as from the testimony of the board members themselves. 1:26:07 The issue has always been the independent judgment, and taking that away is sabotage, in my view, by undermining the ballot measure. 1:26:12 And as for defunding, I think giving someone money they can't spend isn't giving them money, it's performance. 1:26:18 And if they can't spend it, it's not really theirs. 1:26:22 I'll go a step further at the risk of being too focused on labels and ideologies and less on the primary questions here and say that those who oppose police accountability are fundamentally disinterested in holding power accountable, allow the passive association of might and right, and accept that level of hierarchy without question. 1:26:36 And that is fundamentally a conservative worldview. 1:26:39 Two last things about the newsletter. 1:26:41 First, the idea that I somehow misled people in it is somewhat laughable to me because the the people that came and testified are independently informed and grounded in their values and positions and were not led here by me because I am not their leader. 1:26:52 But I am very proud to be part of your representation. 1:26:54 I'm glad that you came and testified last week and appreciate that immensely. 1:26:58 And finally, for those who don't really know what we're talking about, wondering what did I miss out on, right, you can sign up for any of our councilors' newsletters at portland.gov/their-last-name. 1:27:06 And it's worth doing because you can get a good idea of where everyone's at. 1:27:10 Now moving forward, I do anticipate that there will be underspending in several bureaus this year, and that might include the OCPA. 1:27:16 And if there is underspending, even significant underspending, that won't moot this point. 1:27:20 My point was never that they must spend all this money or that we can't use underspending. 1:27:24 It was that this ordinance cannot pressure them to, and I'm grateful that with the amendment, it doesn't. 1:27:30 So if in the spring TAO we end up with money left over, or if it gets rolled over into next year, that's okay. 1:27:36 Because what we're sending— we're all going to say different messages about what this vote means in a little bit. 1:27:41 But what the legal thing that you can take away from this is, independent judgment remains. 1:27:46 And so to the board, do what you need to do, exercise your independent judgment without feeling coerced here, and understand that if there's underspending in any bureau, we can use it or not. 1:27:56 With that amendment, now we can say that that's what this ordinance says. 1:27:59 As proposed, it didn't. 1:28:01 But I do want to just make sure that we're— I'm level setting that here because if If I'm going to vote yes on this, I want to be clear that it tells a very clear story that the OCPA is off limits. 1:28:14 Thanks.
1:28:15 Thank you, Councilor Kanal. 1:28:16 Councilor Murillo.
1:28:19 Thanks, Councilor Kanal. 1:28:22 I think it's really wild that we as a council couldn't close the deal over 5 hundredths of a percent of our total budget. 1:28:31 And that we have to call, uh, I don't know, the daddy of the city of Portland to come help break a tiebreaker for us because for some reason the city council can't get together to get it done.
1:28:42 Point of order, Mr. President.
1:28:44 Point of order. 1:28:45 Why are we impugning folks?
1:28:47 I'm not impugning anyone.
1:28:49 Who are you calling daddy?
1:28:50 Well, he's your daddy, not mine, because—.
1:28:54 Colleagues, colleagues, colleagues. 1:28:57 Councilor Morillo is continuing to be recognized. 1:28:59 Thank you.
1:29:00 I think that if we have to call on a higher authority because this legislative body—.
1:29:04 Charter given. 1:29:05 Charter given.
1:29:06 Councilor, please.
1:29:07 Point of order. 1:29:08 Please call order here.
1:29:10 Stop talking when another councilor is talking. 1:29:12 Turn your mic off.
1:29:15 Councilor Morillo is recognized.
1:29:17 Our ordinance was the only one that was financially responsible. 1:29:21 Again, We didn't close a deal over 0.05% of our total budget, with roughly $2 million in PCF interest that just arrived a few days ago before the forecast unbudgeted at a net cost of ending this fight. 1:29:37 And that's about $4 million one time, 0.05% of the over $8 billion budget this council adopted. 1:29:47 I think we would rather manage that $4 million gap during the next budget budget than spend next year explaining why the pool didn't open on Saturday, but why nobody was able— why nobody came when they called about a stolen car, why the senior center closed on 21 adults with disabilities, and why we fired 25 people with decades of experience to save these core services. 1:30:11 That's 5 hundredths of a percent. 1:30:13 It is very clear what's going to happen today. 1:30:16 Obviously, the mayor is here to do the tiebreaker vote. 1:30:19 I've heard likely that he is going to be supporting this ordinance, and it's very devastating to me that we had a completely responsible financial source that did not have to harm the police accountability board that is just being established. 1:30:37 We are now putting any of the new people that are coming in—the new executive director. 1:30:45 They are being pressured to underspend in order to give money later. 1:30:53 We are unnecessarily pitting police accountability against workers. 1:31:00 This is a fight that actually did not have to happen. 1:31:03 Everyone could have won. 1:31:04 There was no reason for this. 1:31:06 I am still kind of mulling this over as I'm going to hear other people. 1:31:09 Councilmember Loretta Smith. 1:31:11 Because I'm very sure that this is going to pass with you, Mayor, from what I've heard in the halls. 1:31:17 And there is a part of me that would like to honor the 82% of voters that voted for the OCPA to be established and vote against this, because I know that the workers in this ordinance are going to be saved. 1:31:31 If I thought that was in any way a risk, I would probably vote differently.
1:31:36 So I'm going to mull it over just hearing what other people are saying, but this is a financially irresponsible decision, and Portlanders want our government to handle tax funds responsibly. 1:31:48 Oversight is important to them. 1:31:50 We just got polling from Metro that shows that one of the top things that people say is that they are willing to pay more, but they want to make sure that those dollars are being used appropriately, that they want real fiscal oversight. 1:32:03 That's what they're asking of us. 1:32:06 That is why we have this new government in place. 1:32:09 Change is very difficult and it takes time, and the old form of government is continuing to rear its head in instances like this. 1:32:17 Regardless, we can't let our government just collapse, and we need to continue to do the work to transition this into the future. 1:32:25 We do not have to do the arbitrary spending lines We can actually look into all of this technically and do it well, and we could use a funding source that already exists. 1:32:37 So I, I am sorry that people feel sad about being called conservatives and getting called different labels. 1:32:46 I'm proud to be a leftist. 1:32:48 I'm proud to stand up for police accountability and not pit workers against police accountability. 1:32:53 And if you want to be labeled a progressive, you have to move with the times. 1:32:57 Maybe you were a progressive in the '80s. 1:32:59 Not anymore. 1:33:01 Not anymore. 1:33:02 Because people are asking for us to fight for both of those things, workers and police accountability today. 1:33:09 It is not fiscal stewardship to refuse to spend more than an arbitrary dollar figure where neither the figure nor the spending is tied to an impact analysis, by the way. 1:33:22 So we're just saying, oh, we have to spend $12 million why not $11 million? 1:33:28 Why not $12.5 million? 1:33:30 And if we do spend that, what spending can get us the most bang for our buck? 1:33:34 That's definitely not the BLT reserve, but we added some of that in, in our compromise for you. 1:33:41 So to me, this is completely financially irresponsible, but it appears that this is perhaps the only path forward. 1:33:50 And again, I don't see that this is likely to fail.
1:33:52 So I may end up just standing with the 82% of voters, and you can explain to people why you decided to cut off the OCPA as they are just getting started.
1:34:05 Thank you, Councilor Morillo. 1:34:07 Councilor Green.
1:34:11 Thank you, Council President. 1:34:15 I'm disappointed we didn't pass the previous item. 1:34:18 But I want to speak to why I think this ordinance cannot accurately call itself the fiscally responsible ordinance. 1:34:31 Fiscal responsibility is not about arbitrary numbers on a balance sheet. 1:34:34 It's about what the money buys for the capabilities of the organization. 1:34:40 So if you're going to talk to Portlanders and you're going to ask them if they want to open up their wallets to issue another housing bond, mm-hmm. 1:34:47 The thing they will tell you is maybe, but I want to know that you're using the dollars that we currently have wisely to deliver the highest priority needs for the city. 1:34:59 And so when we've got a balance of funds here that has not yet been budgeted, it is there, it is fungible, it can be used for broad uses. 1:35:10 And we're saying also, I know we just asked you to pass a parks levy.
1:35:16 But we're going to immediately cut a bunch of Parks Bureau capability because we want to keep some dollars arbitrarily in a balance that we may or may not have put to a use that the mayor would propose in his budget that's aligned with Portlanders' values. 1:35:32 That's a really hard sell, and I think a lot of Portlanders can see right through it. 1:35:37 And so fiscal— I don't use fiscal responsibility, I use fiscal stewardship.
1:35:42 Because it's about using the, the financial balances you have to steward and transform that into capabilities for the city of Portland. 1:35:51 And our ordinance had more capability that it preserved for the city of Portland. 1:35:55 Um, and I think it's a huge slap in the face to Portlanders when they're going to see those capabilities in their Parks Bureau, which— public safety, parks, boom— those are the top 2 priorities when you poll Portlanders. 1:36:10 And some Portlanders will prioritize one or the other over, you know, depending upon their politics and where they are in the district. 1:36:15 But those are the two things. 1:36:17 And so what this ordinance is going to do is it's going to validate deep cuts in the Parks Bureau, full stop. 1:36:24 And it's going to do so by saying we're not comfortable using some money that we could have used, that we want to maybe hold for, for, um, for a rainy day later. 1:36:34 Um, That's a choice, but I needed to name that. 1:36:38 Simply not accurate to say this was the more fiscally responsible package because it's not just about this one budget act, supplemental budget item, and it's not just about the next budget that we pass. 1:36:50 It's about what is the volume of funds that will flow through our city as a result of voters' choices over the next 5 years. 1:36:57 And colleagues, I am deeply concerned that I am deeply concerned that when we ask Portlanders to say yes to a parks levy again, they're going to say no because of this action. 1:37:06 I am deeply concerned that when we ask Portlanders or regional metro voters to say yes to renewal of the SHS, they're going to say no. 1:37:14 And I'm deeply concerned that when we ask them to issue another bond for housing bonds, they're going to say no because I remember this moment when you guys got wrapped around the axle of a matter of $4 million. 1:37:24 Councilmember Herbold. 1:37:26 And that resulted in fewer hours at a rec center. 1:37:31 That resulted in the lawn growing a little too high at a park. 1:37:34 And that resulted to slower response times in our public safety system. 1:37:41 Voters do remember. 1:37:43 I'll also note that legislative intent matters. 1:37:48 And a lot of the work that happened last week was about breaking a line of continuity from Clark 1 in the budget process that didn't even talk about loaning. 1:37:57 It was just a straight, let's go after the OCP funds. 1:38:00 That evolved into a loan concept to draw down contingency reserves today to backfill by the OCPA. 1:38:06 But the legislative intent was still, we don't need all that money. 1:38:09 So that is a signal that's being sent to that incoming director. 1:38:13 And when we talk about the OCPA's capabilities, as Councilor Kanal articulated, it was very, very important to break that legislative intent. 1:38:20 And and we did that by amending the budget, amending this ordinance last week. 1:38:25 We struck the reliance on the OCPA. 1:38:27 We instead replaced it upon— with a broad underspend concept across all of our bureaus. 1:38:34 So we— when we tell voters and when we finally hire that director, I don't want that director to face any pressure at all from our mayor and our city administrator to underspend To validate this, because that's not what voters wanted. 1:38:51 And so we now have in the legislative record that there is no expectation for that, because all bureaus are up for the same backfill concept. 1:39:00 PSF interest is going to be there as well. 1:39:02 So it's unfortunate that we frankly took the fiscally irresponsible position to not spend PSF money today. 1:39:09 And so we're going to gamble a little bit on some underspend. 1:39:11 We did that in the fall TAO last year. 1:39:12 I think we're going to have to do that again. 1:39:13 Last year, by the way, there was sort of a line item that said, quote, economic efficiency or efficiency savings. 1:39:18 It was never grounded in anything except for hopes and dreams. 1:39:21 And what happened? 1:39:22 We ended up spending up short. 1:39:24 And so you'll have to excuse me if I have a little lack of confidence in the fiscal responsibility lens that sometimes comes before this council. 1:39:32 And so I'm reclaiming that here and articulating what it really means. 1:39:37 So I don't know how I'm going to vote on this. 1:39:38 I've got to think about it, but I need to make it very crystal clear that the amended version is a significant improvement on what was filed because we did strike the reliance on the OCPA. 1:39:48 However subtle it was, it still traced back to a legislative intent that was there from the very beginning. 1:39:55 So we broke that. 1:39:56 So I thank my colleagues for voting for that. 1:39:59 So now we have a hedge here today. 1:40:02 Unfortunately, however this decision goes today and whatever the resolution of this final action is, will restore fewer capabilities to Portlanders, even though we could have afforded to do more. 1:40:13 And so, Mr. Schnorr, if you're still watching, I apologize on behalf of this body that we didn't do more. 1:40:19 And so you have every right to be upset with this body. 1:40:22 That's it for now.
1:40:23 Thank you, Councilor Green. 1:40:25 Councilor Kanal.
1:40:28 Yeah, I wanna take the chance to thank 4 of my colleagues. 1:40:34 Actually, 5. 1:40:35 Uh, I'll start with you, Council President, um, for putting up the amendment last week, because as I mentioned, this, this to me really did address my primary concern, um, the thing that was a red line that could not be crossed. 1:40:45 Now it's a question of do I think this is good or bad, not a question of do I think it's legal or not. 1:40:49 And I really want to just, uh, appreciate the work that you did on that. 1:40:53 I also want to thank Councilors Zimmerman and Ryan for not joining the— as co-sponsors on I don't know what happened there. 1:41:00 I don't know why, and I don't need to know, but I appreciate it. 1:41:03 It was noticed. 1:41:04 And I also want to thank my District 2 colleague, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, as well as one of my favorite people on council as well, Councilor Novick, for voting for the amendment last time. 1:41:20 I appreciate that that was engaged with in good faith, and eventually we were able to— by all of my colleagues, by the way, and we're We're able to get to a place where 2 of you were able to vote for it and support it. 1:41:33 I, as I said, I no longer have the legal concern. 1:41:36 I no longer have the sort of existential concern that was raised around it personally. 1:41:41 And I think the same thing I said earlier about, you know, I would ask that some of my colleagues who may be disappointed if I vote yes on this understand that I also have the same message about my opinion as to when it's—.
1:41:55 Crossing the line or not the other way, in the same— on the same topic of whether 2-1006 is violated by this. 1:42:04 I no longer think it is. 1:42:06 So with that, I'm, you know, I don't think we're sitting here letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. 1:42:11 I do think what we're doing here is deciding whether or not it's worth taking a chance on some fiscal irresponsibility to— Councilor Dan Ryan. 1:42:21 Save jobs. 1:42:22 Um, I think it is. 1:42:25 I thought it was in the last one. 1:42:27 I think it is on this one as well. 1:42:29 So I wanted to, to get that on the record as well before we get into this vote.
1:42:34 Thank you, Councilor Kanal. 1:42:36 Councilor Smith.
1:42:39 Thank you, Council President. 1:42:41 First, I want to thank Councilor Murillo for the amendment that she put forward, and I truly do believe that she She put a good faith amendment forward, and I appreciate that. 1:42:53 But I too stand with the 82% of voters to allow the mayor to break all ties on all matters before council. 1:43:01 It's 58%. 1:43:04 Today we face a decision, decision that isn't just about line items or faceless numbers on sophisticated accounting ledgers. 1:43:14 Our decision today is about the men and women who wake up every single morning to keep Portland moving safe and clean. 1:43:24 I am talking specifically about the janitors, our public safety workers, and our street sweepers. 1:43:32 Over the past few weeks, my office, we've heard the anxious voices of our city employees, people who work tirelessly in our parks, and across our public safety and community programs. 1:43:45 These voices are our neighbors. 1:43:46 These voices are our parents trying to pay rent, feed their families, and keep healthcare coverage for their kids. 1:43:55 The thought of handing layoff notices to hundreds of dedicated public servants when we have a viable, compassionate path forward is Something I simply cannot support. 1:44:12 Supporting the allocation of $9.96 million in general fund underspend as a close-the-gap remedy is both practical and fiscally responsible, and it's a solution and a moral imperative. 1:44:32 Let me be clear. 1:44:34 This funding source allows us to protect our core workforce, and stripping a single dollar away from our primary climate grant commitments or vital community investments is egregious. 1:44:52 We cannot deliver on our promise to this city if we dismantle the very workforce required To execute our mission in pursuit of illusion of a perfect future savings. 1:45:06 Stripping away frontline staff, emergency support specialists, and essential workers would leave our neighborhoods underserved when they need us the most. 1:45:16 So I will join my colleague Councilor Clark in favor of voting for this remedy for our workers for our families and for our strength of the entire city. 1:45:29 Thank you so much.
1:45:32 Thank you, Councilor Smith. 1:45:33 Councilor Zimmerman.
1:45:35 Thank you, Mr. President. 1:45:36 Um, before I do comments to the ordinance, um, I just want to direct some concerns to the city administrator that hearing about— I'll just say controversy or unclear guidelines within the bumping world Is something that's concerning, bumping between different unions, not bumping within a union. 1:45:56 I would ask for your attention on that matter to make sure that we are upholding all of the correct laws and rights and responsibilities. 1:46:04 As a young worker in AFSCME a long time ago, I thought that was going to be my reality at one point. 1:46:10 That really makes it a lot worse when it's confusing. 1:46:13 So I think we need your attention on that because—. 1:46:16 Thank you. 1:46:18 It is something to be told by the leadership of a bunch of workgroups that they have concerns on it because generally they're able to help navigate that for their members. 1:46:28 And to not have that part is a concern. 1:46:31 I would love your attention there. 1:46:33 But so thank you. 1:46:35 And moving toward the sponsors of this ordinance, those that were on it, you know, I looked at your exhibit, you know, City Operations, Bureau of Environmental Services, Portland Fire and Rescue, Human Resources, Finance Office, the Office of Equity, Parks and Recreation, Portland Police Bureau, Bureau of Transportation, and the Water Bureau. 1:47:05 And that's 30 FTE that this ordinance is restoring. 1:47:09 And I appreciate your—. 1:47:10 Thank you. 1:47:12 Doggedness to those sponsors who stayed on some of these corrections that you noticed during the budget cycle. 1:47:19 And I believe you worked with the administration on a number of these items where some, you know, oversights or mistakes or whatever the right word would be occurred in the original grouping. 1:47:30 And it sounds like you put together that. 1:47:32 And so I recognize that this ordinance isn't as large of a restore as the other, the previous one, but I—. 1:47:38 Thank you. 1:47:39 I guess I'm not losing the thread that I think this is a really a positive move. 1:47:43 I was very concerned during the budget on those police training opportunities, the support staff that keeps our public safety fabric woven. 1:47:56 And Councilor Clark and Smith and Novick and Pirtle-Guiney, I appreciate you having a focus on that. 1:48:04 I think you've rounded it out. 1:48:06 I am approaching this in a positive manner. 1:48:09 I'm approaching this as a restore. 1:48:10 I'm approaching this as something that Portlanders should have faith in. 1:48:14 I wish that some of the media over the last couple of days would note that there were public safety improvements in both ordinances, and I'm not sure why that's not been the case. 1:48:26 I recognize also, I appreciate your comments, Councilor Kanal. 1:48:31 You are recognizing that an amendment occurred and changed this one, and I hold that because there has been a little bit in some of the comments, a little bit of both-sidedness in terms of what this means. 1:48:44 Either this is or it isn't taking money from one fund or another. 1:48:48 And I think you made that clear. 1:48:52 And your comments aren't lost on me. 1:48:54 And we've all been on the losing end of something we wanted to pass. 1:49:00 I certainly have been.
1:49:02 It is emotional, but I don't want that emotion or that fervor. 1:49:07 I mean, I noticed there are certain members in the body here who walked out after one of the amendments passed, but there are— excuse me, one of the ordinances, excuse me, failed. 1:49:19 But there is another ordinance that is gonna pass and keep some of their members here. 1:49:22 And I'm disappointed by that because it seems like maybe it was—.
1:49:26 I think it's a good thing. 1:49:27 Strange idea that only one of these was doing some restore. 1:49:30 So I'll be supportive of this. 1:49:33 It's been challenging. 1:49:35 I do appreciate the restoration list that's come forward. 1:49:39 I think it's hard to figure out 7,208 positions in terms of what is the right thing. 1:49:47 I get it. 1:49:48 That's a heavy lift in a lot of different bureaus. 1:49:50 So to those sponsors, appreciate that. 1:49:52 Thank you. 1:49:53 For those of you who are recognizing the change and where this is coming from and where it's not coming from. 1:49:58 I appreciate your comments and, uh, I'll be supportive. 1:50:01 Thank you.
1:50:02 Thank you, Councilor Zimmerman. 1:50:03 Councilor Ryan.
1:50:04 Thank you, Council President. 1:50:07 A lot has been said. 1:50:08 This is the 4th time this has been discussed and it's evolved. 1:50:15 I've agreed with both sides at times and disagreed with both sides. 1:50:21 And, you know, good people can agree and disagree. 1:50:24 My hope going forward in the next phase of realignment is that we are inspired by a vision. 1:50:30 We're inspired by a vision on where we're going as an organization and who's charged to improve our services. 1:50:39 That's what Portlanders want. 1:50:42 And thanks for allowing me to stare at you, CAB. 1:50:47 You're getting your sea legs under you. 1:50:49 You still haven't been here that long, so this will be your first year to really be fully involved in a budget process, and I trust you. 1:51:00 So how does this work match a focused strategic plan? 1:51:05 So it can get less personal but more focused on a strategy on where we're going. 1:51:13 We all want more certainty. 1:51:14 I think both sides would agree with that on this issue. 1:51:18 So after a lot of compromise myself, yes, there was a lot of compromise. 1:51:22 I can thank in particular Councilors Pirtle-Guiney, you get to smile right now, Novick, Clark, and specifically, it wasn't easy for us to get on the same page. 1:51:37 So I think it's important for people listening to know that there's compromise within the ordinance that I'm supporting. 1:51:44 So compromise is not as simple as sometimes it's, um, portrayed up here. 1:51:50 Anyway, I remain a supporter of the much-evolved Clark ordinance, which is now before us as 223. 1:51:56 Thanks.
1:51:57 Thank you, Councilor Ryan. 1:51:58 Councilor Pirtle-Guiney.
1:51:59 Thank you, Council President, and thank you to every single of my colleagues on this dais who has worked at some point over this very long process to try to find a way to restore some of these positions, and to our city employees who have sat with us over a long period of instability for them as we debate their livelihoods. 1:52:30 We heard during the discussion of the last agenda item that at this point there is little difference in terms of implementability and funding between Ordinances 222 and 223. 1:52:42 In fact, come spring, much of the many different dollar sources we have talked about are somewhat fungible because these are funding sources that we use to address shortfalls that arise by the spring and projected budget shortfalls as we enter into next year's budget. 1:53:02 So when we peel back all the rhetoric, what we truly have before us is a question of scale. 1:53:09 City workers and their unions, city management, and much of this council agree that there are jobs that never should have been on the cuts list this year. 1:53:18 We have been trying to restore those positions.
1:53:20 Councilmember Herbold.
1:53:21 I have been trying to restore those positions and the services that the individuals, the people in these positions provide for months now. 1:53:30 There are life safety cuts that were not restored during the budget process. 1:53:35 The life safety concerns in my district were addressed, and I feel some obligation to support my colleagues who are trying to do the same for Portlanders who live in the parts of town that they represent. 1:53:48 I will say, as I've said in our discussions before, that I very simply wish we could restore all of the amazing work that our city employees do, all of the services that Portlanders rely on that were cut in June. 1:54:04 I also don't want to be faced making double those cuts next year, and as I stated the last time we were up here, it would lead to double the cuts. 1:54:14 Because we're using money that would otherwise be available next year. 1:54:20 I'm hopeful that we will finally have the opportunity to restore some of these positions today, to provide certainty to our city employees who have been dealing with this whiplash, to ensure that city employees who are laid off have healthcare for long enough after their layoff that they can keep appointments that are on the books, hopefully find new employment and not have a lapse in healthcare at all. 1:54:42 These are real tangible impacts we're talking about to people's lives. 1:54:47 I'll note that I think we should bake that into our work whenever we have layoffs related to budget cuts or changes in program priorities. 1:54:55 There are really critical positions that many people have been trying to restore for months. 1:55:02 I hope we have the opportunity to do that today. 1:55:04 I'll be voting yes. 1:55:06 Thank you, colleagues.
1:55:07 Thank you, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney. 1:55:09 Councilor Koyama Lane.
1:55:11 Thank you. 1:55:12 I would like to acknowledge and thank those who worked hard on amending this ordinance so it no longer names specific funds and now will present options across General Fund Bureau underspending. 1:55:29 Thank you, Council President, for leading that amendment and bringing it and having your name on it. 1:55:35 And I also want to thank Councilor Kanal for the work that you did to get that to where it was. 1:55:41 Even, even if your name wasn't on that, I saw you being collaborative and working hard. 1:55:46 And, um, also want to thank Councilor Pirtle-Guiney for your work in those conversations. 1:55:54 They weren't always easy, but thank you for having them. 1:55:57 Um, I was clear that I needed to see a few more programs added to the restoration list to be able to vote yes for this. 1:56:05 Spoiler alert, this is going to pass without my vote. 1:56:07 If that wasn't the case, I might reconsider, um, but wanted to explain that while I plan to vote no, I still have appreciation for the work that was done along the way and the amending that happened.
1:56:22 Thank you, Councilor Koyama Lane. 1:56:24 Councilor Smith, last word. 1:56:27 Oh, never mind. 1:56:28 Councilor Zimmerman, not the last word at all. 1:56:30 Councilor Smith, all yours.
1:56:32 Were you up, Councilor Zimmerman, before me? 1:56:34 Okay. 1:56:35 Thank you, Council President. 1:56:37 I just want to say that, um, I think we all worked really, really hard to try to come to a conclusion that we all could be very proud of, and I literally decided my position in less than 24 hours. 1:56:57 And I think that Councilor Zimmerman said it best. 1:57:01 We couldn't save all the jobs. 1:57:03 And when I also learned that the 30 additional jobs from the other ordinance, from the other amendment, 10 were actually vacant, that kind of helped me to know where I was gonna support.
1:57:23 But Council President, I really would like you to address— there were a couple people who kind of impugned our city administrator, and they said that the departments were being pressured by him and to underspend to be able to afford this. 1:57:47 And I know you're used to telling me that I'm impugning folks, and I accept it.
1:57:52 But this is a little different. 1:57:55 When we start saying that our administration and our executives and accusing them of pressuring our employees, I don't think it's right. 1:58:05 You know, we can say what we want to say about us, but let's try not to impugn the people who are responsible for helping to run this city.
1:58:20 Adding those 30 additional employees back to work and restoring those, that was important to me, and I feel good about it. 1:58:29 And I feel good about being able to say to some of those folks that now they can, they can breathe a little bit. 1:58:37 They will be able to have those surgeries that they needed to get for their family, and they'll be able to send their kids Thank you, Councilor Smith.
1:58:50 Councilor— sorry, my cue moved around. 1:58:53 Councilor Murillo.
1:58:55 Thank you, Council President. 1:58:57 I just want to state and reiterate part of what Councilor Green said earlier, that I think we have made the legislative intent abundantly clear so that if this passes today, because legally I don't think that the amendment actually fully protects the OCPA, I think that if you're talking about underspend, that's going to apply to a lot of things. 1:59:17 But I hope that administration, you are listening to us loud and clear and know that we will come for you in ways we have never come for you before if you touch the OCPA, because that was the legislative intent of this.
1:59:29 Council President, is that a threat? 1:59:31 Is that a threat? 1:59:32 When I'm saying you're going to come for somebody, say what you mean, ma'am. 1:59:35 Say what you mean, because that is not appropriate.
1:59:38 That is I'm sorry that you don't understand metaphors, Councilor Smith, but some of us do. 1:59:44 I think that it is really—.
1:59:45 Please take the tone, like, the temperature down just in general, everybody. 1:59:48 This is not what I signed up for. 1:59:50 Thank you.
1:59:51 Thank you, Council President. 1:59:52 I would appreciate that, but also you need to stop people when they interrupt others. 1:59:55 That is what's going to take the temperature down.
1:59:56 Councilor Avalos, thank you.
1:59:59 The OCPA again was voted through with 82% of the vote, so We put an amendment to remove that language out. 2:00:07 I expect that the legislative intent is very clear and that should this pass, we are going to defend it the way that Portlanders are expecting us to. 2:00:18 Also, I don't really know why any councilors up here are talking about people who have to leave the room, including some of the city employees who are frankly very heartbroken, who had to get up and leave because they know that a bunch of their friends are about to be laid off. 2:00:29 I think they get to leave the room. 2:00:30 I also think I get to leave the room because I brought forward an amendment that I did not enjoy bringing at all, and this council body constantly says that they want compromise, and then we work with you and we bring things forward that are absolutely tough pills for us to swallow, and you do not move at all. 2:00:48 So I never want to hear about who is unable to move or unable to compromise ever again because I brought forward something I Thank you. 2:01:00 But I will be voting for this because I am worried about the city employees, and I think that we should save some of the core services that we have left. 2:01:08 But moving forward, if this touches the OCPA, I will make sure— I will do everything in my power legislatively to protect it moving forward. 2:01:17 Thank you.
2:01:18 Thank you, Councilor Morillo. 2:01:20 We're gonna go Councilor Green, Councilor Clark, and then we're moving to a vote. 2:01:23 I'm limiting debate to those who are currently in the queue. 2:01:27 Including Councilor Avalos now. 2:01:28 There we go. 2:01:29 Thank you. 2:01:29 Councilor Green, go.
2:01:32 Thank you, Council President. 2:01:33 Um, Councilor Morillo, thank you for, uh, anticipating what I want— went back into queue to speak to, which was just really making sure, uh, that we have clarified the legislative intent of the history of this, um, item. 2:01:48 The Dunphy 1 Amendment amended out the specific particular emphasis on the OCPA, and so that is the legislative intent on what finally passes. 2:01:58 And because of that, I am I'm willing to vote yes on this. 2:02:01 I also don't think it's good to cede the responsibility and obligation of this body to come to a final conclusion on its actions to a mayor tiebreak. 2:02:10 I know that there are some of my colleagues who think that that's something we should rely upon all the time, but I do not. 2:02:16 I think it's wrong, and I think it's an abdication. 2:02:19 It's a recognition of the failure of this body to find resolution before matters before it. 2:02:24 So I will be voting yes. 2:02:26 On the question of oversight, it's not a threat to say based upon the outcome of this, councilors will and the city administrator should expect oversight action. 2:02:40 That is not personal. 2:02:41 That is not a threat. 2:02:42 That is sort of us declaring that, listen, The charter speaks to the body having an oversight obligation. 2:02:49 And there's a lot of areas where we have adopted policies, like the Zenith franchise agreement investigation was insufficient. 2:02:58 We should have probably done some follow-up on that, maybe more to come. 2:03:03 So this is not a one-off relationship between passing an action and then it just goes into the ether and then it gets executed. 2:03:10 There is a— It's a process. 2:03:11 There's a reciprocal and ongoing interaction between council to make sure that we're actually doing the things that we say we're going to do in our legislative rulemaking or legislative intent when we pass laws. 2:03:24 That is a normal feature of a healthy democracy, and that is something I will continue to press on and focus on. 2:03:30 And again, I'll remind voters, or I guess voters, but also remind my colleagues who've all seen the Metro polling data, that, you know, some 700-odd respondents to a survey said they want to see a lot more oversight on everything. 2:03:46 Everything from water filtration plants to Moda Center conversations to housing monies and OCPA. 2:03:55 So expect it. 2:03:57 It's coming. 2:03:58 Thank you. 2:03:58 I will vote yes.
2:03:59 Thank you, Councilor Green. 2:04:00 Councilor Avalos. 2:04:05 Okay, Councilor Clark.
2:04:08 Thank you, Council President. 2:04:10 Um, I really appreciate the deep feelings, the passions that have been expressed here today, and the frustrations. 2:04:18 I share some of those, but I recognize that deep passion, and I'm concerned that sometimes that deep passion, uh, has led to impugning the motives of some people including myself on Clark 1. 2:04:31 And I think I said from the very beginning my motives were pure. 2:04:35 So I would appreciate you believing me. 2:04:39 But I do think that we have an opportunity right now to show a council win that might even improve our, our rating in the public. 2:04:50 I also want to say that I think the voters do want accountability and transparency. 2:04:55 I know that's clear, and that's something that we'll all strive for. 2:04:58 I also want to echo Councilor Ryan's comments. 2:05:01 I really appreciated them, that I look forward to a more strategic focus on our decision-making, that we can address our shared priorities in, in a different way, all pulling together in the same direction. 2:05:14 So with that, thank you so much, colleagues, for an excellent conversation, and I would appreciate your aye vote.
2:05:22 Thank you, Vice President Clark. 2:05:23 Councilor Avalos, last word, and then we'll move to a vote.
2:05:35 What a frustrating conversation this has been. 2:05:39 And before we take this vote, I just want to reflect what I'm seeing on how this process went over the last several weeks. 2:05:46 We've all said that we wanted to save that became clear. 2:05:52 It became clear that we as a body did not agree with the mayor's proposed budget, that he cut several of the services that we believe our constituents deserve. 2:06:02 That is clear that we have agreement on. 2:06:04 But I need to be honest that I do not understand, uh, how people are defining compromise, because to me compromise means that everyone moves.
2:06:15 It means that you don't get everything you want, and neither do I. I definitely did not in that last bill. 2:06:21 And it means that we incorporate one another's priorities because finding common ground matters more than winning every disagreement. 2:06:27 And I just am so frustrated to be told that people who were not willing to work with us, to talk to us, that they were the ones who were compromising and not us. 2:06:39 So absolutely reject.
2:06:41 Um, the calls of, um, or the statements, um, that people have been compromised— compromising. 2:06:48 I don't agree. 2:06:49 I think what we fought for was pretty simple. 2:06:52 I was fighting for parks workers who want to keep our trails and pools and community centers and natural areas open. 2:06:59 I was fighting for the unarmed PS3 responders who will allow sworn officers to focus on higher priority emergencies. 2:07:06 I was fighting for the analysts and technicians and frontline workers who are keeping the city functioning every day. 2:07:13 But I also was fighting for something that I continue to believe is more than just good governance. 2:07:17 We— before we permanently eliminate people's jobs, we need to actually understand what those jobs do. 2:07:22 And that's why I'm frustrated that this is the— now the ordinance that's in front of us, because the key thing that it misses is any kind of analysis or accountability that the administration is not going to next year put more jobs in front of us without giving us the why, without telling us the impact of those jobs lost, and without giving us as the councilors who represent the constituents who are the ones who are telling us about those impacts to have a genuine opportunity to influence and impact that budget before it gets passed. 2:07:54 I think that is what we were attempting to do here. 2:07:57 The administration itself acknowledged that the process was rushed. 2:08:01 They acknowledged that some positions were mistakenly eliminated, and they acknowledged that given more time, they would have made different recommendations. 2:08:10 So I think that it's unacceptable that this current ordinance that we are debating doesn't have those protections for the future. 2:08:18 I also want to speak briefly about OCPA and say that, one, I'll echo what my colleagues have said, that yeah, I'm glad that it doesn't literally say OCPA, but this does not protect the OCPA. 2:08:30 I think that's foolish to, uh, to look at voters in the eye and tell them that they can't see what they can't see with their own eyes, which is that you are depending on money that we do not know even exists, that you are, um, essentially put— you are putting pressure on OCPA. 2:08:48 So let's just call it that. 2:08:49 That is my concern. 2:08:50 That is my continued concern with this. 2:08:52 Councilmember and I'll also say that during our discussion of the settlement for Manny Clark's family, I heard that broad agreement around this dais that we need to do culture change within our public safety system. 2:09:03 I agree with that, but culture change doesn't happen just because we say that we want it. 2:09:08 It happens when we build and protect independent accountability, and that's exactly what voters were promised when they voted for what became the OCPA. 2:09:17 Community members spent years designing it, and they spent time coming to talk to us over the last few weeks about their concerns that these proposals were going to undermine that work. 2:09:27 And I believe that we have an obligation to listen to that, and that's what we tried to do in offering our, our alternative. 2:09:34 But yet here we are again with the same thing, which I don't understand how you could possibly say that, uh, you all compromised on something that you didn't bother to work with us on. 2:09:45 I, I, I don't agree. 2:09:46 So I'm really sick of hearing that. 2:09:48 I think that compromise needs to be both ways. 2:09:52 Ultimately, the structural challenges facing the city are going to remain with this vote no matter what. 2:09:59 There are a lot more workers that we are losing because we chose to do this instead of the other ordinance. 2:10:05 And I, you know, I want to reflect back on what I heard Councilor Novick say last week or whenever that was. 2:10:12 Basically saying, yeah, if the police underspend, then we'll take that too. 2:10:15 I hope that's the case, because let me remind you that the police are currently sitting on 70 unfilled positions while we're cutting 200. 2:10:23 And when it comes time for the spring TAO, and they, per their own police staffing report that shows that they're clearly not going to fill those 70 positions by the spring TAO, I hope y'all are ready to take that money and protect other workers, because we're saving a bunch of money in that budget. 2:10:37 Councilor Loretta Smith. 2:10:38 And cutting a lot of essential services. 2:10:40 And I, I don't know how you could possibly say that you're fiscally responsible if that's the case. 2:10:46 So, uh, I really don't know how to feel about this. 2:10:49 Um, I'm frustrated that this also became a game about how we can get the mayor to vote. 2:10:56 Uh, I'm not even gonna get into that because my blood pressure is already too high about this conversation. 2:11:01 But I think that, as I've said before, I think it's very weird to abdicate your duties as legislators and expect that the mayor come in to save you. 2:11:09 And I hope you know that if you have a Mom Donny mayor in the future, you ain't gonna like that. 2:11:14 So the tables can turn. 2:11:16 And if that's the precedent that we're going to set, I don't believe that people understand that that could not go in their favor. 2:11:22 But I guess we'll see. 2:11:24 I'm disappointed in where we're landing today, but I will not I will never regret standing up for the people that we were fighting for in this ordinance, standing up for police accountability. 2:11:35 I honestly don't know how I'm going to vote. 2:11:37 It seems like the tides are turning in that they're— that this is going to pass without needing a mayor's vote. 2:11:44 I think my issue with voting for this is not wanting to reward this kind of behavior because this has been gross. 2:11:52 But I do care about these jobs. 2:11:53 I care about these these services that are being cut, but I'm disappointed that we lost so many more. 2:12:01 And, uh, I, I just— I, I really feel that we've done Portlanders a disservice by this display, and I'm very frustrated. 2:12:09 That's all.
2:12:11 Thank you, Councilor Avalos.
2:12:13 Rebecca, can we please call the roll?
2:12:16 Calling the vote on document number 2026-223.
2:12:29 I suspect I'm going to be watching very carefully to protect the OCPA later on down the line, but I share the same concerns that Councilor Avalos has. 2:12:39 I'm also torn because I care about the city employees that this saves. 2:12:43 So because of that, I will be a yes.
2:12:47 Clark. 2:12:47 Green.
2:12:48 Zimmerman. 2:12:48 Ryan. 2:12:49 Avalos.
2:12:51 Expect Oversight. 2:12:52 Aye.
2:13:15 And the ordinance passes as amended with 10 aye and 2 nay votes.
2:13:19 Colleagues, as the last item on our agenda for this afternoon, or this morning, we are recessed until 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. 2:13:27 Thank you, everybody.
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