Portland City Council Weekly Roundup for July 31–August 4, 2017

A public airing of grievances between the Mayor, the City Manager, and the Council, plus selling City-owned waterfront land to Wex.

> Monday, July 31 @ 5pm — City Council Workshop

City Hall, Council Chambers (2nd floor to the left)

** I don’t normally talk about “workshops” — which are usually less formal public meetings in which councilors collaborate but in which no decisions are made. But maybe I should, because the workshops are where a lot of the work actually happens. **

Key agenda items:

• A discussion of “the assignment and duties of the City’s Executive Department.” It’s unclear what exactly will happen at this meeting, but it has been reported that it will give City Manager an opportunity to air grievances regarding Mayor Strimling and vice-versa, and for the Mayor, the Council and the City Manager to discuss what the Mayor’s duties and abilities should be. For more information, read the Portland Press Herald’s article about tonight’s workshop, and the ongoing conflict between the Mayor, the Council and the City Manager. Public comment will NOT be taken.

View the one-line agenda for the workshop here.

> Tuesday, August 1 @ 5:30pm — Economic Development Committee

City Hall, Room 24 (basement, Myrtle Street side)

Key agenda items:

• Vote to sell a parcel of city-owned land on the Eastern Waterfront on Thames Street. This parcel is currently home to the gravel parking lot near Ocean Gateway. The City received two proposals: one for a new headquarters for 400 Wex employees, a local tech company, and another for two mixed-use (commercial+residential) buildings. The Economic Development Committee has announced (without voting ?) that they have chosen the Wex project, and the committee will vote to recommend the Council approve the sale of the land to Wex in this meeting. Public comment WILL be taken.

View the agenda and associated materials here.