Portland City Council Weekly Roundup for February 27–March 3, 2017

My weekly series on what’s happening with the Portland City Council.

> Monday, February 27 @ Noon — Economic Development Committee

55 Portland Street (Portland Public Works Facility)

• This meeting is actually a tour of the parcels of land currently occupied by Portland Public Works that the City wishes to sell. According to the last available information, the City plans to sell these as a few very parcels to large-scale developers with no requirements for how the land should be used.
• Ian Jacob, former President of the West End Neighborhood Association, along with other residents spoke against this plan last month. They argued instead for the land to be split into smaller parcels — to allow for “organic” neighborhood development — instead of being sold in a single block to a single developer. You can read Ian’s analysis here.
• This is a public meeting, but they note that “public comment will not be taken.” I’m not sure how this is all going to work… should be fun!

Read the agenda here.

> Monday, February 27 @ 5:30pm — Pesticide and Fertilizer Task Force

City Hall, Room 24 (basement near Myrtle Street)

• After many months of debate and multiple drafts of regulations, the Pesticide Task Force will vote on which final draft they wish to recommend that the City adopt. There are multiple drafts being considered, some stronger than others. Public comment will not be taken.

Read the agenda, drafts, and associated materials here.

> Tuesday, February 28 @ 5:30pm — Sustainability and Transportation Committee

City Hall, Council Chambers (upstairs to the right)

• Public hearing on the proposed renaming of Franklin Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. (Not sure if they’re voting… the agenda doesn’t mention a vote, but I thought they were going to vote…)
• Review of the 2008 municipal “Climate Action Plan” and analysis of progress to-date.

Read the agenda and associated materials here.

> Thursday, March 2 @ 5:30pm — Finance Committee

City Hall, Room 209 (upstairs to the right)

• Discussion and vote on the annual “Capital Improvement Plan” (CIP) budget, for capital expenditures. The City Manager has proposed an additional $5 million for this budget over last year, bringing the total to around $18 million. Public comment will be taken before the vote.

You can read the agenda here.

The proposed CIP budget can be found in here, and some explanations the requests are in this 125-page behemoth. (It’s frustrating that these big documents aren’t searchable, isn’t it?)

> Friday, March 3 @ 8am — Legislative Committee

City Hall, Room 24 (basement near Myrtle Street)

• This committee is charged with advancing council policy initiatives before federal, state, and regional governments. It is a joint meeting with City staff and elected officials together with members of the Portland delegation to the State Legislature. No public comment will be taken.

No agenda is available for this meeting. I will update this page if one becomes available.