Portland City Council Weekly Roundup for March 6–10, 2017

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

> Monday, March 6 @ 5:30pm —City Council Meeting

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

Key agenda items:

• First reading of the proposed $18 million Capital Improvement Plan budget, recommended by the Finance Committee. No public comment; vote will happen later this month.
• First reading of the proposed $65 million bond question to repair four elementary schools, recommended by the Finance Committee. No public comment; vote will happen later this month.
• As always, you can speak about anything not on the agenda at 6pm.

Read the agenda, drafts, and associated materials here.

> Tuesday, March 7 @ 4:30pm — Legislative Committee

City Hall, Room 209 (second floor, to the left)

• 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.

The agenda — such as it is — is here.

> Tuesday, March 7 @ 5:30pm — Economic Development Committee

City Hall, Room 24 (basement near Myrtle Street)

Key agenda items:

• Vote on the proposed sale of city-owned land in Bayside with no requirements for how potential buyers must use the space (i.e., no required housing or particular land use). There was significant public opposition to the proposed plan to sell these parcels as-is with no use requirements (including an alternate proposal by Ian Jacob, former President of the West End Neighborhood Association), but the proposal remains unchanged. Public comment might be taken?
• Vote (I think) on a proposal to trade a city-owned parking lot between Spring and Free Streets for a parcel on Canco Road, to complete the Public Works facility out there. The trade will include additional money will would be earmarked for the Milestone substance abuse treatment facility, and a pilot program to pay panhandlers for jobs beautifying the city. The existing parking lot has provided over $1 million in revenue for the City since 2007. Public comment might be taken?
• Vote (I think) of a proposal to sell a small parcel of land on Franklin Street between Congress and Federal Street to an abutting property owner. This parcel seems to be where an unofficial footpath currently exists, but the Planning Department does not feel this parcel is necessary. (For more information, consult page 96 in the agenda.) Public comment might be taken?

Read the agenda and additional materials here.

> Wednesday, March 8 @ 5pm —Housing Committee

City Hall, Room 209 (second floor, to the left)

Key agenda items:

• Vote to reallocate ~$200,000 of money from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to a rental housing development for seniors. This project has already received over $425,000 in funding from the City, and due to fluctuations in the bond market caused by President Trump just talking about corporate tax reform, the project now needs additional funds. Public comment will be taken.
• Early discussion of possible zoning changes to encourage more affordable housing, such as increased density along public transit corridors and density/height bonuses based on percentage of affordable units in a proposed development. Public comment will not be taken for this item.

Read the agenda and additional materials here.