The Agenda: October 11th & 12th, 2023
Portland Harbor Superfund Site... Emergency shelter expansion... Safe Rest Villages Annual Report... Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan... 82nd Ave Transit Project Update... Regional Transportation Plan
Dear Readers,
I’ve got to attend to some personal matters and don’t have time to do my usual detailed rundown of what’s going on this week. I’ve included the highlights and links below, but you’re going to have to do your own digging—let me know what you find!
I’ve also included links to current volunteer opportunities at the City, County, and Metro in the Wonk Out! section. If you’re interested in getting involved in local politics and policymaking, serving on a board, committee, or commission is a great place to start.
Earlier this week, I met up with Jim Labbe from Participatory Budgeting Oregon, who may be bringing a measure to the ballot next year similar to the charter amendment recommended by the Charter Review Commission, which was ignored by City Council. I'll be writing about participatory budgeting more in a future issue, but encourage you to check out PBO in the meantime!
Finally, there are a number of new candidates who’ve recently thrown their hats in the ring for City Council and the Mayoral race. You can see who has filed a notice of intent with the Small Donor Elections Program here. There will likely be many, many more in the coming weeks and months. I’m feeling pretty good about the likelihood that we’ll have three or more solid progressive candidates in each of the districts; I’m feeling much more concerned about the Mayoral race.
We Need a Hero,
xc
Portland City Council
Wednesday, October 11th, 9:30 AM
Consent Agenda
847
852
*Authorize application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for a Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant for $25 million (Emergency Ordinance)
853
855
*Accept grant in the amount of $1,095,000 from Metro and authorize Intergovernmental Agreement for Equitable Options, Empowered People Project (Emergency Ordinance)
856
*Accept and appropriate grant for $187,500 from Metro and authorize Intergovernmental Agreement for Portland DOT Commute Program Strategy Development Project (Emergency Ordinance)
857
*Authorize Subrecipient Grant Agreement with Organizing People/Activating Leaders in the amount of $36,000 for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 for the Equitable Options, Empowered People Project (Emergency Ordinance)
Regular Agenda
845
*Authorize legal services agreement with Law TMR PLLC for outside counsel related to Portland Harbor (Emergency Ordinance)
“Services under this contract will support the City's liability management efforts for the Portland Harbor Superfund, which will eventually determine the City's ultimate financial obligation.”
860
*Accept grant from Multnomah County and authorize Intergovernmental Agreement for emergency shelter expansion and appropriate funds received FY 2023-24 (Emergency Ordinance)
Wednesday, October 11th, 2:00 PM
Time Certain
864 (3pm)
Accept 2022-2023 Safe Rest Villages Annual Report (Report)
Thursday, October 12th, 2:00 PM
No Thursday session this week.
Multnomah County Board of Commissioners
Thursday, October 12th, 9:30 AM
Regular Agenda
R. 1
Resolution Adopting the 2023 Multnomah County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.
Metro Council
Tuesday, October 10th, 2023
Work Session
Thursday, October 12th, 10:30 AM
Metro Strategic Targets Town Hall Listening Session
In lieu of their regular Council Meeting, Metro is holding a virtual public town hall to gather public input on developing regional strategic targets for housing, the economy, and the environment to “help unify the region and create a north star direction we can all move towards.” This sounds like a great opportunity for public input, but there is currently no other information available.
Wonk Out!
Volunteer!
Advisory Body Recruitments (City of Portland)
Volunteer at the County (Multnomah County)
Further Reading for This Week’s Agenda
The People’s Money (New York City) Participatory budgeting went citywide in New York this year!
Portland Harbor Overview (Portland Harbor Community Coalition)
You Win Some, You Lose Some
Mercy Corps Executive Hired by City of Portland to Oversee Pod Shelters and Sanctioned Camps (Willamette Week) Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis.
City Loses $550,000 Federal Grant for Transportation Service to Delayed Sobering Center (Willamette Week) Ugh.
What Happened to Treatment and Recovery?
Oregon State Troopers Will Help Portland Police Patrol Downtown on Bikes (Portland Mercury)
Follow Up on Last Week’s Agenda
Commissioners Exert Pressure on Mayor Wheeler to Establish District Offices for Future City Council Before 2025 (Willamette Week)
Portland City Commissioners Push Back on Mayor’s Plans For Government Transition (Portland Mercury)
Without a Strong Ally in City Hall, Frog Ferry Project Loses Buoyancy (Portland Mercury)
Portland Set to Begin Work on First-of-Its-Kind Climate Investment Plan Financed by Clean Energy Fund (Portland Mercury)
Portland Association of Teachers sets strike vote timeline (OPB)
Chloe, The changes going on in the city due to the Charter amendment are significant, and they are expensive. I can understand why the current Council needs to maintain control of the budget for the next year or two rather than adopt participatory budgeting. They also need to begin on that right away. Progressives have to spend a little more time considering the expense of remodeling City Hall for 12 and distributing General Fund money. Even televised or zoomed sessions require upgrades to technology. I also appreciate Mingus Mapps more as I listen to him discuss his hopes for the City. The Council needs some continuity.