PDX Agenda Tracker: Tax the Rich, House the People | April 7-10, 2025
Public testimony debate... Policy Committee roundup... Councilor Avalo's One Housing Plan unveiled... Councilor Novick's proposed new revenue for vital services... plus Multnomah County & Metro
Dear Readers,
Last week brought a moment of both validation and frustration when I read OPB’s coverage of the confusion around public comment under our new form of government. The central question—whether public comment should be offered at the committee level, full Council sessions, or both—is the tip of the public engagement iceberg. It has become exponentially more challenging to find and follow the City’s agenda with eight new policy committees that now oversee various aspects of city government, let alone watch all these meetings or provide meaningful public input.
When I couldn’t find the updated Council agenda earlier this year, I called the City and was informed the schedule had been changed to twice a month—and the person I spoke with had just found that out themselves. This lack of effective communication has compounded an already frustrating system, with hard-to-find information on the City’s website and unclear guidelines for public comment.
During my time at City Hall, I worked tirelessly to modernize and streamline the City’s internal systems. Despite some successes, like spearheading the creation of 311 and overhauling the permitting system, much of this work stalled when leadership changed and resources were pulled. A key project—a civic engagement platform—never launched, leaving us with the same inefficient and inconsistent system we’ve had for decades.
So, what does this all have to do with public comment? Everything.
If Portlanders can’t even find the agendas or understand how to participate, how can they help shape the decisions that affect their lives? Council has added one evening session a month to accommodate people who can’t attend during regular work hours, which I applaud. However, they’ve also added more than eight monthly committee meetings without clarity about when or where public comment will be heard.
Here’s where the validation comes in: it’s not just me and you. Everyone is confused—even the Council. Despite my frustration, I’m motivated to continue this work: explaining the issues, demystifying the process, and helping Portlanders get their voices heard.
Please let me know if I can help you better understand or engage with the process—that’s what I’m here for!
With Love, Hope & Solidarity,
Chloe
P.S. Thank you to the estimated 30,000+ Portlanders who turned out for the Hands Off protest on Saturday. You give me hope!
Portland City Council
As mentioned last week, I'll include the full agendas for each Policy Committee with limited commentary.Monday, April 7th | 9:30am
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
1: Utility rates and budget discussion (Presentation)
2: Solid waste rates discussion (Presentation)
Monday, April 7th | 12:00pm
2: Adopt rates and charges for water and water-related services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026 (Ordinance)
3: Revise sewer and stormwater charges and fees for FY 2025-26 (Ordinance)
4: Revise sewer and stormwater rates for FY 2025-26 (Ordinance)
7: Amend Portland Permitting & Development fee schedules to improve cost recovery and service levels for customers (Ordinance)
Tuesday, April 8th | 9:30am
1: Portland Permitting & Development, consolidation, reforms, and forecasting (Presentation)
2: Public comment on Portland Permitting & Development, consolidation, reforms, and forecasting (Public Hearing)
Tuesday, April 8th | 12pm
Homelessness and Housing Committee
1: Community testimony on Homelessness and Housing (Public Hearing)
2: Perspectives from shelter providers (Presentation)
3: Councilor Avalos One Housing Plan (Presentation). Councilor Candace Avalos, Chair of the Homelessness and Housing Committee, introduced the One Housing Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at unifying Portland’s fragmented housing efforts into one cohesive, implementation-driven roadmap. The plan is grounded in the belief that housing is a human right and uses a housing stability continuum model that supports individuals across all stages—from homelessness to middle-income homeownership.
4: Housing production strategy overview and discussion (Presentation)
Tuesday, April 8th | 2:30pm
Community and Public Safety Committee
1: Labor panel on the allocation of Public Safety Service Area personnel time and the impacts of potential budget changes (Presentation)
Thursday, April 10th | 9:30am
Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee
1: Appoint Matthew Sanchez and Vesla Lee to the Urban Forestry Commission for terms to end March 31, 2029 (Report)
2: Discuss proposal regarding additional revenue to protect vital services (Presentation). Councilor Novick will present a concept for committee discussion regarding additional revenue to protect vital services. Proposal to protect vital services by adding one-third of one percent to an existing tax on giant retailers; doubles the small business exemption to Business License Tax. While they're at it, why not increase the Pay Ratio Surtax, aka CEO Tax? It's been almost a decade since its adoption, and the rich have only gotten richer.
3: C40 Cities Climate Leadership efforts (Presentation)
Thursday, April 10th | 12:00pm
Labor and Workforce Development
1: *Create a new non-represented classification of Lead Preschool Teacher and establish a compensation range for this classification (Emergency Ordinance)
3: *Authorize Letter of Agreement with the Laborers' International Union of North America, Local 483 Recreation for premium pay to Assistants and Aides as defined in the Preschool for All Program (Emergency Ordinance)
4: Direct funding for the Workforce Pre-Apprenticeship Program and a SummerWorks Youth Employment Initiative (Resolution)
5: Internships, apprenticeships, and workforce needs throughout Portland (Presentation)
Multnomah County Board of Commissioners
Thursday, April 10th | 9:30 AM
Consent Agenda
C.1 Consent Agenda: IGA for Bike-Ped Undercrossing in Fairview: This agreement allows the City of Fairview to carry out construction of a new bike and pedestrian undercrossing beneath the Union Pacific Railroad tracks at NE 223rd Avenue—a County road—with Multnomah County retaining final ownership and maintenance responsibilities. The project is intended to improve safety and connectivity in East County, where pedestrian and bike access across major rail corridors remains limited.
Regular Agenda
R.1 2025 Federal Legislative Agenda: Multnomah County has released its draft federal legislative agenda for the 119th Congress (2025–2027), outlining top priorities for funding and policy advocacy in Washington, D.C. The agenda isn’t binding legislation but shapes how the County’s Office of Government Relations, in partnership with lobbying firm Thorn Run Partners, will advocate at the federal level.
The focus remains squarely on protecting core safety net programs and securing funding for housing, health care, behavioral health, infrastructure, and emergency resilience. It also affirms the County’s commitment to racial and economic equity, tribal consultation, and civil rights protections—including immigration policy aligned with its sanctuary status. The County also explicitly supports “braided” funding models to connect Medicaid with housing and behavioral health—something advocates have long called for.
While light on specific asks or dollar amounts, the agenda affirms the County’s intent to defend core federal programs and push for more integrated, equity-focused solutions—particularly for people experiencing homelessness, communities of color, and those with complex health and economic needs.
R.2–R.5 Budget Modifications – Supportive Housing Services: The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is reviewing several budget modifications related to the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) to adjust funding allocations and address anticipated financial changes. These proposed adjustments reflect the County's efforts to manage funding streams effectively and ensure the continuity of services provided by the JOHS.
R.6 Lobbying Transparency Ordinance: Multnomah County proposes establishing a formal lobbying registration and reporting program—joining the City of Portland and Metro in requiring lobbyist disclosures. The ordinance broadly defines lobbying as attempting to influence legislation or curry favor with Commissioners. Anyone who spends more than 10 hours lobbying per quarter must register and file quarterly expense reports. Employers of lobbyists must also report what they spend and disclose which public officials received anything valued over $50.
The ordinance also outlines conduct restrictions, including bans on lobbying with contingent compensation and a one-year “cooling off” period for former public officials. Initial enforcement will rely on education and outreach, with a proposed effective date of July 1, 2026. Violations may result in fines of up to $500.
This ordinance mirrors Portland’s lobbying rules but goes beyond state law by requiring County Commissioners to disclose gifts over $50 and post quarterly calendars of official meetings.
This is a long-overdue step to bring Multnomah County in line with basic transparency practices. Key questions remain about enforcement, public accessibility of filings, and whether nonprofits, unions, and in-house staff are subject to the same standards as paid contract lobbyists.
Further Reading
Commissioners Propose New Board Rules to Promote Transparent and Balanced Government (Multnomah County)
Two Graphs Show Why the County Needs Lobbying Rules (Willamette Week)
Metro Council
Thursday, April 10th | 10:30 AM
Resolutions
4.1: For the Purpose of Approving the Purchase of Certain Real Property in Washington Park for Use By the Oregon Zoo. Metro Council is being asked to approve the purchase of the former Children's Museum property—roughly 3.4 acres and a 75,000-square-foot building—adjacent to the Oregon Zoo in Washington Park. The building is in poor condition and not considered viable for reuse, but the land would give the Zoo long-sought room to grow. Staff describe this acquisition as key to expanding the Zoo’s footprint, freeing up internal space for animal habitat development, and supporting future implementation of the 2024 Zoo bond.
The City of Portland (via Portland Parks) will retain a 1,800-square-foot office lease and six parking spaces on the site, giving parks staff a local base of operations for patrols and maintenance. The sale is contingent on due diligence and likely requires a quasi-judicial land use process to amend the Zoo’s Conditional Use Master Plan.
This is a significant step in the long-term planning and expansion of the Zoo—an opportunity that has been on the table in various forms since OMSI vacated the site in 1992.
Ordinances
6.1: For the Purpose of Amending Metro Code Section 11.01.130 (Administrative Cost Recovery) Concerning Use of Administrative Funds and Declaring an Emergency. Multnomah County has approved a $15 million transfer of Metro Supportive Housing Services (SHS) administrative reserves to the City of Portland to support homelessness services, as the County faces a $104 million budget shortfall. However, Metro cannot complete the transfer without first amending its code. This ordinance would do that.
It will require two significant changes to the current policy:
It allows Metro to allocate a portion of its 5% administrative share of SHS funds to local governments, including cities.
It enables, for the first time, direct city-level funding from Metro.
SHS is Metro’s first direct role in funding housing and services, and it was always likely that the original framework would need revision over time. This ordinance reflects that evolution. Until now, all SHS service funding has flowed exclusively through Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties via intergovernmental agreements. This ordinance represents the first formal step toward expanding Metro’s role in funding services at the city level.
It also comes amid growing scrutiny of SHS program delivery, an oversight audit, and pressure from local jurisdictions to ensure funds are reaching the ground more quickly. The ordinance opens the door to more flexible, potentially faster-moving spending—but it also raises concerns about transparency, consistency, and coordination between Metro, counties, and cities.
Presentations
5.1-5.1.1: FY 2025–26 Proposed Budget & Public Hearing. This meeting marks the formal presentation of Metro’s proposed FY 2025–26 budget and budget message to the Council, kicking off the public phase of the annual budget process. The Council, acting as Metro’s Budget Committee, will begin reviewing how the proposal aligns with its stated goals—such as racial equity, climate resilience, and shared economic prosperity. This year’s process includes more scheduled work sessions and earlier public engagement. Department-specific presentations will take place throughout April. Members of the public can submit written testimony throughout the process or sign up to testify at scheduled meetings, typically by 4:00 p.m. the day before. Metro will vote to adopt the budget on May 1.
WONK OUT!
Books
The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans—and How We Can Fix It by Dorothy A. Brown (2021) This book examines how the U.S. tax system disproportionately affects Black Americans, contributing to the racial wealth gap. Brown proposes reforms to address these inequities.
A Brief History of Equality by Thomas Piketty (2022) Piketty explores the evolution of economic inequality and advocates for progressive taxation and wealth redistribution to address disparities.
The Inequality of Wealth: Why it Matters and How to Fix It by Liam Byrne (2024) Byrne analyzes wealth inequality in the UK, discussing its societal impacts and proposing solutions such as boosting wages and implementing an annual wealth tax.
Articles
Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing (United Nations). This UN report underscores housing as a human right and calls for global policy reforms to address housing insecurity and ensure access to safe, affordable housing for all.
Tax the rich – do it now. Start with me (The Guardian). Randi Weingarten argues for progressive taxation on the wealthy to reduce inequality and fund vital public services, highlighting the need for a fairer tax system.
The Case for Universal Housing Vouchers (Community Preservation Corporation). This article makes the case for universal housing vouchers as a key solution to the affordability crisis, ensuring everyone can access stable housing.
Podcasts
The Billionaire Tax Club (What A Day Podcast). This episode discusses how the super-rich avoid paying their fair share of taxes and advocates for more equitable tax policies to fund public services.