City Council · morning

2:14Keelan, this is Councilor Smith.

2:19I'm online.

2:23Thanks, Councilor Smith.

2:25Paul, I'd like Keelan to chamber 7.

2:36Thank you.

2:38I'm also online.

2:39This is Councilor Morillo.

2:44Thanks, Councilor Morillo.

2:45Uh, we hear you, Councilor Smith and Morillo, loud and clear.

2:49I'll let them start rounding up chambers.

2:52Thank you.

4:00Good morning, everyone.

4:04Hello, good morning.

4:06Uh, this is the meeting of the Portland City Council.

4:08It's called We're called to order at 9:32.

4:12Keelan, will you please call the roll?

4:14Good morning.

4:17Koyama Lane?

4:18Here.

4:19Morillo?

4:21Here.

4:22Novick?

4:22Here.

4:24Green?

4:24Here.

4:25Zimmerman?

4:28Avalos?

4:29Here.

4:31Dunphy?

4:32Smith?

4:33Here.

4:34Small?

4:35Here.

4:35Here.

4:39Clark.

4:40Here.

4:42Thank you, Keelan.

4:43And Mike, our attorney, will you please read the rules of decorum?

4:48Yes, thank you.

4:50Welcome to the Portland City Council.

4:51To testify before council in person or virtually, you must sign up in advance on the council agenda at www.portland.gov/council/agenda.

5:01Information on engaging with council can be found on the council clerk's webpage.

5:04Individuals may testify for 3 3 minutes unless presiding officer states otherwise.

5:09Your microphone will be muted when your time is over.

5:12The presiding officer preserves order.

5:14Disruptive 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.

5:22If you cause a disruption, a warning will be given.

5:25Further disruption will result in ejection from the meeting.

5:28Anyone who fails to leave once ejected is subject to arrest for trespass.

5:31Additionally, council may take a short recess and reconvene virtually.

5:35Your testimony should address the matter being considered.

5:38When testifying, state your name for the record.

5:40Your address is not necessary.

5:42If you are a lobbyist, identify the organization you represent.

5:46Virtual testifiers should unmute themselves when the council clerk calls your name.

5:49Thank you.

5:51Thank you, Mike.

5:52Uh, the first item today, colleagues, is approval of the September 30th agenda.

5:57May I have unanimous consent to approve the agenda?

6:01Seeing, uh, no objections, the agenda is approved.

6:04Keelan, can you please, uh, start us off with public communication?

6:08Yes, thank you.

6:09First up, we have Robin Gelfand.

6:15Good morning, Robin.

6:17Good morning.

6:20My name is Robin Gelfand.

6:222 weeks ago, my 11-year-old daughter was hit by a vehicle while biking to school.

6:27Shortly after she entered a crosswalk with a walk sign, a driver pulled forward to turn right on red.

6:33This took place at Southeast 47th and Stark Street, half a mile from 2 PPS schools, Glencoe Elementary and Mount Tabor Middle School.

6:42I'm here today to advocate for increased safety measures at intersections near schools, and in particular Southeast 47th and Stark.

6:51PBOT has identified Stark as a top 10 high-crash network street, and 47th and Stark is particularly dangerous for 2 reasons.

6:59It's an offset intersection, which creates confusion for drivers about who has the right of way, causing them to focus on navigating around other vehicles instead of looking out for pedestrians and cyclists.

7:11Additionally, drivers heading south on 47th can't see pedestrians approaching the crosswalk due to a stone wall that stands 6 feet tall at the corner.

7:20We've seen countless close calls there, and another child who lives on our block has also been hit by a vehicle in the same intersection.

7:28Because of these risk factors and the proximity to 2 schools, I'm asking the council to support implementation of 3 safety measures at 47th and Stark: a no-turn-on-red restriction, high-visibility crosswalk markings, and a leading pedestrian interval.

7:45PBOT traffic data shows that no-turn-on-red signage can reduce crashes at intersections by 9%.

7:51In the case of my daughter's collision, a no-turn-on-red restriction would have made a material difference.

7:56Thank you.

7:57Last month, the council passed the No Turn on Red ordinance, and we are requesting that 47th and Stark be added to the list of intersections receiving No Turn on Red signage.

8:08Secondly, we're requesting a high-visibility crosswalk marking to replace the current faded transverse lines.

8:15And finally, we're requesting a leading pedestrian interval to give pedestrians a head start before drivers get a green light.

8:22Studies show that LPIs can reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by as much as 60%.

8:26Thank you.

8:28As noted in the Vision Zero action plan, redundancy is crucial.

8:32If one layer of the system fails, another layer must be in place to prevent serious injury.

8:38Adding no turn on red signage, high visibility crosswalk markings, and a leading pedestrian interval to 47th and Stark are common sense moves that would create necessary safety layers for our kids and neighbors.

8:51Thankfully, my daughter only suffered a broken ankle from the collision.

8:55But it could have been much worse.

8:57We should not have to wait for a fatality for these common sense changes to be made.

9:02Thank you.

9:04Thank you, Robyn.

9:04I think on behalf of all of us, we really regret that this happened to your daughter, and rest assured we'll bring this back up in the Public Works Committee.

9:11Thank you for being here today.

9:13Vice President, is it possible for me to—.

9:15Absolutely.

9:16Say a couple things?

9:16Um, I just really wanted to appreciate you for coming out and sharing your story.

9:20I know that We also have gotten to sit down, and thank you for sharing this and for your advocacy.

9:26I also appreciate DCA Williams and our new PBOT interim director who have responded quickly to some questions that I've asked and have shared what PBOT's safety improvements and projects they have that are planned for that area, which include a few different things like speed cushions and looking into larger reflectorized traffic signal heads, and also some near-term improvements PBOT has considered or would recommend.

9:54And so my office is going to continue this conversation and we'll be in contact with you.

9:58And thank you so much, and I'm really sorry that this happened to your child, and I'm glad that she's okay.

10:04And I heard that many kids at Mount Tabor Middle School are baking her goodies.

10:07I hope those keep on coming her way.

10:10Thank you, Councilor Koyama Lane.

10:11And thank you again, Robin, for being here today.

10:14Keelan.

10:15Next up we have Morgan Oystersands.

10:21Good morning, nice to see you all.

10:23My name is Morgan Oyster Sands.

10:26I am an advocate for outdoor accessibility.

10:30I love Portland.

10:31I chose very carefully to move here 12 years ago, in part because I could go from a 2-car household to one relying on public transportation, city infrastructure, and biking.

10:45In the last month, I've witnessed or been in many biking near misses, and 2 people I know were hit by cars while biking, one of them an 11-year-old little girl.

11:00I was invited to speak, um, from my friend Robin, and I just want to echo everything she said and agree with everything.

11:08I hope you act on those things.

11:10I've loved the recent Vision Zero initiatives.

11:14And our work is not nearly finished.

11:17To better mitigate risk, we need to collect stats on near misses as well as accidents.

11:24With a self-reporting mechanism, our city can invest more into safe streets, including protected bike lanes and expanding the no-turn-on-red restrictions.

11:35I have read the Vision Zero action plan, and it appears that transportation safety, education materials, and programming are only for school-aged children who are walking and biking.

11:48We need to educate adult drivers.

11:52To my councilors from District 2, I was there at the City Club panel where you said you would put pedestrian safety as a priority.

12:02I implore City Council to direct Vision Zero to create an annual adult driver awareness campaign.

12:12The time is now.

12:13This is at a boiling point for bikers.

12:16An educational campaign is low cost and can be mobilized quickly.

12:21We can't have Bike Summer, we can't have City Bike Bus if bikers are being harassed, hit, or killed.

12:30Portlanders deserve safe streets.

12:33Please prioritize pedestrian and bike safety now.

12:36Thank you.

12:37Thank you, Morgan.

12:38Thanks for coming today.

12:41Next up, we have Anne Casper.

12:51Anne.

12:54Next, we have Arthur Baldwin.

13:05Welcome.

13:05Hello, Council.

13:06Hello, neighbors.

13:08My name is Arthur Leroy Baldwin IV.

13:11I worked for Broward County, Florida, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians as a water and wastewater treatment plant operator at the very water plant adjacent to a modern holocaust at Alligator Alcatraz.

13:26This is where I studied chlorine reactions.

13:30I took my operator training courses.

13:32I passed my state exam, and I worked the job for many years.

13:38When my political beliefs were discovered by my state, I was banished, harassed by Border Patrol, and made a refugee.

13:49I kept working with pumps and tanks in the private industry to stay sharp.

13:55I studied fermentation and cleaning chemicals to stay interested.

14:01I moved here to work at your utility, a last chance to practice my trade of passion and choice in my home country.

14:15Well, what is it that holds me back now?

14:19It is that I speak too freely to my constituents, that I enjoy to smoke a joint after work, and because of this, I must cede my work to a more inept candidate.

14:34How infuriating!

14:36How discouraging!

14:39You should reevaluate your hiring process for your water utility.

14:44Smoking a joint after work should not make someone disqualified for working on the water supply.

14:51I see it as a systemic disenfranchisement and a crime by the whole of government, a policy you can choose to ignore, just as access to clean drinking water was ignored for the detainees.

15:08I yield my time.

15:11Thank you.

15:16Next up, we have Michelle Dewberry joining online.

15:22Good morning, councilors, and thank you for your time.

15:24My name is Michelle Dewberry, and I'm the board chair of the Portland chapter of Families for Safe Streets, and I am the mom of Seamus Dewberry, a 1-year-old boy who was killed by a careless driver in a Portland crosswalk.

15:40I want to share a bit of information and context about a bill that Families for Safe Streets is working on along with Oregon Walks.

15:47That is called the Stop Super Speeders Bill.

15:51We are working on this for the 2027 state legislative session.

15:55And I know that Councilor Koyama Lane has asked that this bill be included in the council's legislative priorities for 2027.

16:04Oregon roads are among the most dangerous in the nation.

16:07Consistently ranking higher than the national average in fatalities per vehicle miles traveled.

16:13In the last 10 years, there has been a 20% increase in annual traffic deaths in Oregon, and the number of serious injuries has more than doubled.

16:21More than one-third of these catastrophic crashes involve speeding.

16:26The Stop Super Speeders bill provides a tool to address this problem by requiring the worst speeding offenders to yes.

16:36—Technology onto their vehicles.

16:39ISA prevents acceleration beyond the posted speed limit.

16:43And there are several states, including our neighbors to the north in Washington, who have passed super speeders legislation, and several more who are considering it in the coming year.

16:53This bill targets only the most egregious offenders, so folks who are going 100 miles or more over the posted speed limit.

16:58Or more over the speed limit, or 40 or more in a school zone, repeat speeding offenders, drivers who cause a crash or a serious injury where speed was a factor, or street racing.

17:10And we know that the current approach of issuing fines and license suspension does not work because 75% of drivers with a suspended license will drive anyway, largely because in most places there is not a safe, affordable, or reliable alternative to driving.

17:25Thank you.

17:26In terms of logistics, this is modeled after ignition interlock devices, which are installed on vehicles to prevent folks who have been convicted of DUI from driving under the influence.

17:37It's very similar.

17:39It would allow people who are convicted of speeding-related offenses to continue to participate in society.

17:46They can go to work, they can take their kids to school, and we recognize that is really important.

17:52I listened to the discussion yesterday, and I want to address concerns around data privacy brought by Councilor Kanal.

17:58So I just want to assure you all that our bill has been vetted by data privacy experts, and the legislation includes limitations on the scope and the use of data collection.

18:08So the data is encrypted, it's anonymized, the data cannot be sold or shared, and it must be destroyed after the person leaves the program.

18:16Okay.

18:17So this morning I sent you an email with our one-pager, a policy white paper, and a link to a presentation we made at the Senate Judiciary Committee a few weeks ago, and I hope that addresses your concerns.

18:28But if you have questions, please feel free to reach out.

18:30Thank you.

18:31Thank you, Michelle.

18:32Thanks for being with us today.

18:33We appreciate you.

18:35Our alternate today is Ivana.

18:40That completes public communications.

18:43Thank you, Keelan.

18:44We'll now receive an update from CA Lee on the city's response to federal intervention in Portland.

18:51Thank you, Council Vice President.

18:53Uh, no new updates on the ICE facility litigation, just a reminder that the hearing is still set for November the 20th, uh, to consider the appeals filed by the building owner.

19:07And that's it.

19:09Thank you, thank you for that update.

19:12Okay, Keelan, can you please call item number 4?

19:15I'm sorry, Oh, you want to ask a question?

19:17Sorry.

19:18Go for it.

19:20Thanks, Madam Vice President.

19:21City Attorney, thanks for the update.

19:22Are there any updates on anything other than the ICE facility with relation to federal response?

19:28No, not at this time.

19:31What we'll be doing, we have some updates that will be given to council as it relates to our program as a sanctuary city.

19:38We'll be briefing council on that progress.

19:41And I think 6x6s are individuals, but we're scheduling those out now.

19:46To give an update on our process for city staff, uh, knowing the process if we do have interaction with ICE, uh, agents on our actual property.

19:58What is that protocol?

20:00That's great.

20:00And I know a little later down, uh, towards the end of the calendar year, we'll be inviting in our Immigrant Affairs lead to, uh, brief at the Committee of the Whole, um, and we'll announce that as soon as the date's settled.

20:11But, uh, in terms of, um, the ICE activity or federal, I guess, government activity, there's been beyond just the facility, there's been an increase in— and so I would love to see if there's anything maybe for next time, um, that we could hear about that and what we're doing, if anything, uh, to respond to the surge, the silent surge.

20:33100%.

20:34We are seeing a, a big increase in the amount of detentions that are happening, uh, increase from the previous year.

20:42ICE approach to how they're handling these detentions and apprehending people is different, more discreet than what it was in the prior year.

20:53So we are and will be having conversations with council as it relates to the actual data that we're seeing and also our work with PERC to try to provide resources to help in those endeavors.

21:06We are seeing the mass hearings, and we are knowing that if people are not showing up for those mass hearings, hearings that they're automatically going on the deportation, uh, list.

21:16Uh, the legal information that we've been receiving for PERC and advice to give to individuals is to call the number to check on your, uh, immigration hearing twice a day because those things are changing very rapidly, uh, as it relates to just getting updates in the schedule being moved up, uh, for people's actual immigration hearing.

21:43Okay, thanks.

21:44And, um, down the line, I'd also love to hear an update on any verification work that's been done.

21:48Thanks.

21:49Most definitely.

21:49Thank you, Councilor Kanal.

21:51I know, um, there have been surges.

21:53Definitely, we've read about those in Southern Oregon and now at the Portland Airport.

21:58Um, lots of activity.

21:59So I appreciate your asking those questions.

22:02Thank you, CA Lee.

22:03You're welcome.

22:05Uh, Keelan, now can we please read item 4?

22:08Item 4, document 2026- Add psychedelic health and safety code.

22:13Add Code Chapter 14B.140.

22:18So colleagues, this is the second reading of an ordinance.

22:21Um, I don't know if anybody wants to make any, uh, further comments on it.

22:25We had an excellent, uh, hearing, great testimony, as I recall.

22:30Uh, Councilor Pirtle-Guiney, do you want to make a statement?

22:34You know, we had a lot of good discussion about this.

22:36I don't think we need to get back into the debate, but I just want to thank the, uh, advocates who brought forward their concerns and the, the idea behind moving this forward, our colleagues on the committee who put a lot of time and work into making sure we got the language to a place that could gain broad support, and also Commander Shaning with the Portland Police Bureau who worked alongside us to make sure that this did in fact align with their current practices and was something that, um, that would work seamlessly with how we do things in our city.

23:09Terrific.

23:10Thank you for all the work that you put into that and the co-sponsors.

23:13So without any other— oh, sorry, Councilor Koyama Lane.

23:16I just wanted to quickly say, listening to the public testimony and my colleagues speak during the first reading was really moving.

23:24And I want to thank again everyone who shared their stories.

23:27You really made an impact on us, on myself.

23:31I'm glad that we can move quickly on this, hopefully as a unified council.

23:36It looks like that's how this is going.

23:40Yeah, I see many of our collective values really aligned in this ordinance.

23:46So yeah, you know, our concern for mental health, especially those who have experienced trauma, our respect for cultural diversity, spiritual diversity, our support for groundbreaking local wellness community, our concerns for how we focus on public safety resources, all of those are so important.

24:05I'm really proud that we can be moving this forward alongside many other jurisdictions throughout the country.

24:09Councilor Smith.

24:11Thank you, Councilor.

24:12I think we all ditto that very much.

24:15Great.

24:15Uh, Keelan, can you please call the roll?

24:21Koyama Lane?

24:22Aye.

24:23Murillo?

24:25Aye.

24:26Novick?

24:26Aye.

24:27Green?

24:28Aye.

24:29Zimmerman?

24:30Aye.

24:31Avalos?

24:32Aye.

24:33Dunphy?

24:34Absent.

24:34Smith?

24:35Aye.

24:38Aye.

24:39Aye.

24:39Ryan, absent.

24:41Clark.

24:41Aye.

24:42The ordinance passes with a vote of 10 ayes and 2 absent.

24:46Great, thanks everybody.

24:48Excellent work.

24:50Keelan, can you please read item 5?

24:54Item 5, document 2026-334, authorize Bureau of Transportation to acquire certain temporary property rights necessary for construction of the Southeast Division Street Southeast 148th to Southeast 174th project through the exercise of the city's eminent domain authority.

25:15Thank you, Keelan.

25:16I see Claire, uh, is at the helm here.

25:19I would just say that, uh, both items 5 and 6, we can talk about those at the same time.

25:24Uh, we were heard— they were heard in the Public Works Committee last week, and we, um, have sent them here with a do pass recommendation.

25:31We had a great conversation discussing safety and infrastructure improvements that are brought by these 2 ordinances.

25:38There was significant public engagement during the outreach process, and I'm thankful for my colleagues in PBOT, if you're here, for addressing and improving the safety on these 2 streets.

25:48So, Claire, do you want to talk about it?

25:51I think we may have some technical experts in the room as well.

25:56Thank you, Vice President Clark.

25:58Sorry, just to clarify, did you open item 6 as well or just 5?

26:01Can we open them at the same time?

26:03Yeah.

26:03Would you like me to read both?

26:04Sure.

26:04Yeah.

26:05Thank you.

26:05Yeah.

26:06Thanks, Claire.

26:07Item 6, document 2026-335, authorize Bureau of Transportation to acquire certain temporary property rights necessary for construction of the Southeast Stark Street 111th through 151st Avenue project through the exercise of the city's eminent domain authority.

26:26Thanks, Keelan.

26:28Claire.

26:29Thank you again, Council Vice President and councilors.

26:30For the record, Claire Adamsick, Council Policy Analyst and staff to the Public Works Committee.

26:35So I will share a quick summary of both of these ordinances.

26:38The first ordinance, document number 2026-334, was heard in the Public Works Committee on September 22nd, where it was referred to full council with a recommendation to pass.

26:50This ordinance authorizes PBOT to acquire certain temporary property rights necessary Thank you.

26:55This ordinance authorizes the city to make necessary improvements to Southeast Division Street between 148th and 174th Avenues through exercise of the city's eminent domain authority pursuant to Section 9-108 of the city charter and Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 35.

27:10Exhibits 1 to 2 of this ordinance describe the slope modification and temporary construction easement needed to facilitate these improvements.

27:18I'll quickly share for the other ordinance, document number 2026-335, also heard in Public Works on September 22nd, This ordinance authorizes PBOT to acquire certain temporary property rights necessary for intersection improvements at Southeast 119th Avenue and Stark Street through exercise of the city's eminent domain authority pursuant to Section 9-108 of the city charter and ORS Chapter 35.

27:46Exhibits 1 to 4 of this ordinance describe the temporary construction easement needed to facilitate these improvements.

27:51I have a question.

27:56Yes.

27:58Both of these ordinances grant PBOT and the City Attorney's Office the authority to negotiate and offer just compensation for the required property interests.

28:07If negotiations are unsuccessful, the ordinance authorizes the initiation of condemnation proceedings to determine just compensation through the judicial process.

28:15The authority does not extend or alter the jurisdiction of the courts.

28:18Beyond what is appropriate or reserved for City Council determination.

28:22These ordinances further authorize the creation of a subfund in the amount estimated to be the just compensation for each interest property, which, if necessary, shall be deposited with the clerk of the court where an action is commenced.

28:33The full impact statement on both of the ordinances includes information on financial and budgetary impacts and community impacts and community involvement.

28:41And the committee did not receive verbal or written testimony on either of these items.

28:44Thank you.

28:45Prior to committee action.

28:46And that concludes the committee staff summary.

28:48Thank you.

28:48Thank you, Claire.

28:49Keelan, do we have anybody signed up on either of these items?

28:52No one signed up.

28:54Okay.

28:55All right then.

28:57Um, any council discussion before we move this to a second reading?

29:03Any questions?

29:04Great.

29:04Okay.

29:07And we need another— we need to do the same for 6, item 6 as well.

29:11There's no council discussion.

29:13We can just move that to a second reading.

29:14Correct.

29:15All right, super.

29:15Thank you.

29:16Don't go far away, Claire.

29:18Um, let's see, Keelan, we need to have you please read item 7.

29:24Okay, thank you.

29:25Document 2026-212, amend advertising on bus benches code to allow advertising on city streetcar benches and shelters.

29:36Amend Code Chapter Thank you.

29:39This is a long-awaited measure.

29:42Claire, take it away.

29:45Thank you again, Council Vice President and councilors.

29:48Claire Adamczyk, Council Policy Analyst and staff to the Public Works Committee.

29:51This ordinance, document number 2026-212, was heard in the Public Works Committee on June 23rd and again on August 11th, where it was referred to the full council with a recommendation to pass.

30:02The ordinance amends City Code Chapter 17.45, as shown in Exhibit A of the ordinance, to allow the city to advertise on benches and transit shelters which are owned, operated, and maintained by the city for Portland Streetcar.

30:16The full impact statement on this item includes information on financial and budgetary impacts.

30:21No verbal or written testimony was submitted on this item prior to committee action, and that concludes the staff summary.

30:26Thank you.

30:26Thank you, Claire.

30:27I would just guess we have no public testimony on this today either.

30:31No one signed up.

30:32Great.

30:32Any questions from my colleagues?

30:36Great.

30:36Well, we will pass this on to a second reading.

30:39Thank you.

30:40All right, Keelan, will you please read item number 8?

30:45Document 2026-300, amend fire regulations fee schedule, amend Portland policy document FIR-12.01.

30:56Thank you.

30:57Um, do we have a committee staff person here to address this.

31:01It's, uh, Kevin.

31:03Is he online or— oh, he's in the back.

31:06Sorry, I didn't see you back there.

31:08Welcome.

31:20Good morning, Council Vice President and councilors.

31:22For the record, my name is Kevin Alvarez, Council Policy Analyst for the Community and Public Public Safety Committee.

31:28The ordinance before you, document number 2026-300, was heard in the Community and Public Safety Committee on September 1st, 2026, where it was moved to full council with a recommendation it be passed.

31:40The ordinance amends the fire regulations fee schedule contained in Portland Policy Document FIR-12.01, as shown in Exhibit A, to align the fees Portland Fire and Rescue Charges for permits, codes, enforcement inspections, fire reports, and miscellaneous services more closely with the cost of providing those services.

32:02The amendments remove the permit fee for retail storage or sale of fireworks in structures or tents, add a fee for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire systems, and add a fee for an annual laser display permit.

32:18On amendments, one amendment was approved by the Community and Public Safety Committee on September 1st, 2026.

32:23Aye.

32:23The amendment removed Section 2, which was the emergency clause.

32:29Impact statements.

32:30The full impact statement on this item includes a financial and budgetary impact, community impacts and community involvement, and economic and real estate development analysis.

32:39There was no verbal or written testimony provided prior to committee action.

32:43And that concludes the committee staff summary.

32:45Thank you, Kevin.

32:47Councilor Novick, do you want to make some remarks?

32:54I, I really have nothing to add.

32:55I mean, we— committee was persuaded that, uh, FIRE had made the case that the changes are necessary to come closer to full cost recovery.

33:03Okay.

33:04Keelan, is there any public testimony?

33:06No one signed up.

33:08Any questions?

33:09I, uh, Councilor Koyama Lane, you have your hand up.

33:12Is that a legacy?

33:13Legacy?

33:14No, it's my hand up.

33:15Oh, it is a hand up.

33:16Okay.

33:16Thank you.

33:18Thank you, Vice President.

33:20I see in the presentation from committee that there are comparisons to fees in other jurisdictions, others, you know, Austin, Denver, Detroit, San Francisco.

33:31I'm wondering if someone can explain how these fees would compare to cities in our region.

33:37How do we compare to Vancouver, Washington, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Milwaukee?

33:41I think we have someone here from FYRE.

33:43Hi.

33:44Welcome.

33:45Please state your name for the record.

33:48Hi, my name is Angela Wright.

33:50I'm the budget analyst for fire, and I did the city comparables.

33:54Um, one of the big challenges when we're looking at city comparables is that not all fire departments function the same.

34:02We are a fire bureau.

34:04Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue is a district.

34:07Um, so for example, Some fire departments have a much shorter fee schedule, so it's either not controlled directly by the fire department or— sorry, catch my breath from the stairs.

34:22Um, it is very— ours is much more extensive than some of the other comparable cities we are looking at.

34:29And then when we're looking at cities such as Seattle or Vancouver, Tualatin Valley, Clackamas, it's just very different because for like Clackamas and Tualatin Valley, they have cities within their jurisdictions that function separately, whereas we are one city under one fire department.

34:49So I was trying to find comparables in that similar city structures, similar fire bureau structure, and availability of information.

35:00Okay, so just to clarify, there's no other there's nowhere around Portland that is comparable?

35:07We could, yeah.

35:08That's the easiest way to explain it.

35:11Okay.

35:12Not directly.

35:15And I'm wondering if someone can share about maybe some of the partnership or working in collaboration with permitting development around this.

35:22I know that we're talking often about how the administration can be finding opportunities to streamline planning and permitting that process.

35:31So as we're adding their fees, has there been Uh, consideration to making sure the impacts to the permitting process aren't overly burdensome.

35:40Can I hear about—.

35:41Yes, uh, Councilor, we are looking at how do we pull, uh, Fire Bureau— and this would be the last time you kind of have this offshoot of the Fire Bureau being on this standalone— we'll be rolling this into the process with the rest of the other fees that you have that we currently have now through permitting and development, similar as you see with PBOT, water and sewer, all those things being collectively done together.

36:04So this is kind of a relic of our old system of this being kind of this offshoot standalone.

36:10It'll be moved in together.

36:12We'll also be looking at our process as a whole as it relates to fees.

36:16As you know, we'll be going through some fee studying as well to comprehensive look at the costs associated with the fees and permitting of having businesses here in Portland.

36:29So when we look at this comprehensively, we'll be coming back to council as part of the budget process, which will kind of do a comprehensive analysis and kind of have a work session even before council is looking at adopting a future budget of looking at the impacts of the fees and permitting that we have moving forward.

36:51Thank you for the information.

36:53Great.

36:54Councilor Kanal.

36:56Thank you, Madam Vice President.

36:57I, uh, thanks Angela, thanks everybody involved.

36:59And I know there's some folks in the back from Fire as well.

37:02Um, I think the, the issue about combining with the, the normal cadence of fee, uh, uh, increases or, or revisions was something that got a little bit of discussion at, um, the Committee on Community and Public Safety.

37:15I think Councilor Zimmerman raised that as well, uh, there.

37:18I just wanted to I just want to speak to one little piece here.

37:20I, I put up the amendment that removed the emergency clause, which seems to be somewhat convenient given our attendance today.

37:25But, uh, but it was, it was largely because I, I very much support the increases.

37:30I just wanted to have the opportunity to separate these for, uh, consideration if anyone wanted to testify on the idea that their fees would be increased.

37:38Felt that that was appropriate to give them the 12 days instead of the 5 of having, you know, to be able to watch and all that.

37:44Which is different from the other fire item that we did last week, which was heard together at committee, um, which is about compliance with state law and did have a, a very significant urgency to it.

37:55And therefore the emergency clause remained intact there.

37:58Um, so wanted to give that information, but also say I, I very much support this.

38:02And I think, um, we will need to move a little further next time we, we do this in order to get to full cost recovery.

38:08Fire has a few places where we haven't allowed them to do that yet, and the fire budget has, um, suffered as a result of it.

38:14So I'm hoping that we can get there, um, within the next year after approving this.

38:18Thank you.

38:19We do have 9 people if you want to change your mind.

38:24Councilor Pirtle-Guiney.

38:26Thank you, Council Vice President.

38:29Um, you know, fees often affect behavior, and where we have fees or have or don't have fees can incentivize certain behaviors.

38:38It looked at my, um, reading of this, like, the only new fees or places where we were taking away fees or taking away discounts were on discounts that would incentivize certain safety systems, which I think are predominantly required now, and then the new fee for laser shows.

38:56But I'm wondering if there were any other new fees that I missed and if there was any discussion in committee about the balance in going to full cost recovery between using fees as a tool to incentivize certain behaviors or actions and making sure that we have those funds to fully fund our fire department.

39:16Do you, or Councilor Zimmerman, or other members of the committee want to address?

39:19Got 3 of you here.

39:21Yeah, yeah, um, I can— I confess I don't remember if we had a discussion like that exactly.

39:29Any other committee members want to answer Councilor Pirtle-Guiney's questions?

39:34Apparently not.

39:36Okay, Councilor Kanal looks like maybe he has something to say.

39:41He's thinking.

39:43Okay, um, as we move toward cost recovery, I'd like to make sure that we're thinking about whether we are inadvertently changing some, um, some carrots that we have, some incentives that we have, and make sure that those are intentional intentional actions.

40:03I have no problem with this fee schedule moving forward, but I, I do hope that we're making sure that as we look at our budget bottom line, we're also looking at the tools that we have to make sure that folks are moving in the direction we're hoping they do in our city.

40:19Thank you, Councilor.

40:20I think CA Lee would agree with you, and when we move ahead, he'll take that into consideration, I'm sure.

40:28Uh, any other discussion?

40:29I don't see any other hands up, so we will pass this to a second reading as well.

40:35Um, unless there's any kind of discussion that people want to entertain, we're sitting here with some extra time if we need to have a conversation about anything.

40:44Otherwise, we're just going to adjourn until Thursday.

40:48That would be—.

40:48Point of information, Councilor.

40:50Um, are we adjourning today or are we recessing until tomorrow's meeting?

40:56Yes.

40:56Oh, we're recessing.

40:57Okay, thank you for the clarification, Keelan.

40:59All right, we will recess, uh, today at 10:09 until tomorrow afternoon.

41:04I was in the queue.

41:06Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

41:08Uh, just briefly, I just want to note, um, Councilor Dunphy, who I don't know where you are today, you have an excused absence, but we didn't go quickly just to spite you.

41:18Um, uh, this is, you know, we're trying to move fast because of you, so thank you.

41:24It was a pretty easy agenda.

41:26Okay, thank you, Councilor Green.

41:27Any other comments for the good of the order?

41:29All right, we are in recess.

41:36Thank you.