[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6626613,"mediaKeyId","2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a","parentId",2751383,"title","Portland council orders investigations, pauses related administrative actions in Zenith Energy matter","audioSeconds",10666,"startMs",6357000,"endMs",17023000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a&start=6357&end=17023","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a/thumbnail_6357000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626613/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-council-orders-investigations-pauses-related-administrative-actions-in-Zenith-Energy-matter","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626613-30d4fbf8928e16044523e83f4e9ac95b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770680096&Signature=fFtfpEanyYICLbuFlxsA~~bIC65ZtbrTznY~JZ5jiiisJ9Y5qogUcRCy25zhkfZ~FzZ0yvtJYHU6d1kcGjug~Gf8Iubd5tak3PNoGUkNThJ4mT~yxjeZ8QmdaWNm0b-fiIMKUdyJvvvMb9y175vuvfkQ0PeP9VxRqrlK2Hs7bLjgN5sP3UZ4IrkKduoLEpWeBvQZJJg0X3Cag6aWklUq1BX~qqFxvspa0i12LL8lzE6yqYhJgrXW6FTjRsRsfxX3yjm2O6Pu71qb5TANCPIgs4e9c9EFe377KvOEvwEGlwH6mEtte68sGL6YcPyIaoH3Z5Y1NihzVCdIEqKPVjh6Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-03-20T15:58:42.46Z","article","Portland City Council voted to investigate decisions and communications tied to Zenith Energy Terminal Holdings LLC, directing the mayor and bureau staff to review potential violations of the company’s franchise agreement and urging the city auditor to examine competing statements that arose during January briefings.

Councilors framed the resolution as a transparency and public-trust measure designed to resolve conflicting claims about how the company and city staff handled land-use compatibility and related administrative actions. The resolution asks permitting and development, the city attorney and other bureaus to disclose prior communications with Zenith and requests the mayor pause further administrative actions related to Zenith while the reviews proceed.

Supporters said the city needs clarity given years of public concern and multiple, sometimes contradictory, accounts in the record. “When Portlanders lose faith in the work of our city, we lose so much,” Councilor Angelita Murillo said, arguing that a public, independent review would restore confidence. Sponsors emphasized that the mayor has charter authority to investigate franchise agreements and that the auditor’s role is to examine the facts and prepare a public report.

Opponents and cautious voters expressed concern about the tone and attachments in the draft resolution and about possible effects on city staff. Several councilors pressed for language that preserves fairness and does not presume guilt; an amendment adopted during debate removed one disputed attachment and narrowed language so the mayor’s investigation could proceed under the city charter.

The council also debated whether to accept extensive outside materials and media reports into the official record. A council amendment that would have stripped multiple attachments and background paragraphs failed; a narrower amendment that removed a single unsigned attachment passed.

Public testimony was brief; two speakers urged accountability and transparency and asked the council to approve the requested investigations so the community can know whether local laws or procedural obligations were followed.

Outcome and next steps: the amended resolution passed by council vote (final recorded result: 11 yes). The resolution directs the mayor to investigate potential violations of the Zenith franchise agreement, asks bureaus to disclose communications with Zenith, requests that permitting staff evaluate recent land-use review decisions in light of prior records, and urges the city auditor to report on competing statements made to council during prior sessions. The resolution also asks the mayor to pause administrative actions related to Zenith to the extent permitted by law while those reviews proceed.

What the council did not do tonight: the vote did not revoke any permit or immediately halt already-issued approvals; the resolution asks the mayor and auditor to review and report publicly and asks the mayor to pause further administrative action going forward, within legal limits. Council repeatedly stressed investigations should be fair and that personnel accountability, if any, will follow established administrative processes.

The council recorded the vote and adopted the amended resolution. The mayor indicated he would carry out the investigation consistent with the council’s direction and the charter. The auditor’s office was asked to consider an independent factual review and to report findings to council.

Provenance: council committee staff summary, committee discussion, public testimony, extended council debate and final vote were recorded in the March 19 transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council Regular Meeting 03/19/25","oneSentenceSummary","Portland City Council voted to direct the mayor to investigate potential violations of Zenith Energy’s franchise agreement, ordered disclosure of prior communications with the company and urged the city auditor to review competing statements made to council about the company’s activities.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6626603,"Council appoints two preservation professionals to Historic Landmarks Commission",551,1704000,2255000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a&start=1704&end=2255","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a/thumbnail_1704000.jpg","/articles/6626603/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-appoints-two-preservation-professionals-to-Historic-Landmarks-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626603-5bbc8b0c8217e0e7eb745dc570277a4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770680096&Signature=MOBkvDZRKbHyjNXT4kBkdB5xnWPjOyFtpznEanWSgcsCTUlvtvKf1zlH3zQFGuPLsu7TuIf~Q~HcFieQ4mT0qSow0EjttDvGIZ95hKwWtaV6SjQyT~WLSdr19MMAv37LvaKpAHTdZRAFFbpQsRNb0lL8gUKiLIrhEVf~IgIsM0uAlJOyluVhEkLxwZHu73BZiMvbTriDeCciiD7oWDik25Iiuqz0mZsc3HqA6DW~ul5bhwfJIsp2Co1k6a8lmKDt3RgpU3xh-7ll~DLx-NUBrXq~~mJyLNdqHaTpCAZuB8VBLFYAViW8h~TqqtAtttNnRqqOR8MOSGYuNNcEx6yuuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council voted to appoint Susan Trexler and Jonah James Jensen to the Historic Landmarks Commission, filling two upcoming vacancies and restoring the commission to a full seven members.

City permitting staff described Trexler as a consulting architectural historian with more than 10 years of preservation experience and Jensen as a licensed architect with two decades of practice and prior service on a historic commission in Washington. If confirmed, Trexler’s term runs April 1, 2025–March 30, 2029; Jensen’s term runs June 2, 2025–June 2, 2029.

Councilor Kunal had pulled the appointments from the consent agenda to allow a brief public vetting and to emphasize that council should review advisory-board appointments in public going forward; Kunal said he supported both nominees. Committee members and staff said the appointees had been vetted through the governance committee recruitment and recommended by staff.

No public testimony was offered. Council voted to accept the report and confirmed the appointments on a voice roll call that yielded 12 ayes.

The Historic Landmarks Commission is the city decision-making and advisory body on historic resource reviews and demolitions. The newly appointed commissioners will begin terms as noted above and assume responsibilities for review and preservation guidance for designated city landmarks and historic districts.","Portland City Council confirmed Susan Trexler and Jonah James Jensen to four-year terms on the Historic Landmarks Commission; councilor requested pulling the item from consent to review appointments publicly.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6626608,"Government Transition Advisory Committee closes out work; council accepts final report",6668,2391000,9059000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a&start=2391&end=9059","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2751383-c6abec042995cf3faca03c08c1307c4a/thumbnail_2391000.jpg","/articles/6626608/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Government-Transition-Advisory-Committee-closes-out-work-council-accepts-final-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626608-fa605eaaca1789d47c5ee67c7c45547c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770680096&Signature=TtpnuKRKwr3WPa0dNbnamqdKidIv3rpddQwSDSJ7Vjj7vPPLrgNdEtFqCJgzpohdUbGLiEow8L-~KwlP2pFwkN1-pDPqJqF58-dIV528VB4mEMkKgjXMGeSZVZ3fokvd2M8Xi6SJm~ojgqLzY9GHg4b4yw1fxyA6OOezLRPw0-RbL~eT~ZBDd-9JV8o75N4nsWs4omPSzNO8-iiYjfGedELGP7XFvBNJgrD2XJXkZVSH0VgOB0OKJNRC1lyWDXy2-yu1PAWB8tdy8pUjkrHnZHP5rcOMXH-zmVw6oqdpA5CbKmgoM09Yj8~P0heBzumizs7c6AIoeYv~OhdyHssI6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Government Transition Advisory Committee (GTAC), a volunteer advisory body appointed after Portland’s charter reform, presented its final report to City Council and concluded its work. The report summarized nearly two years of meetings, community engagement, and recommendations to guide the implementation of Portland’s new form of government.

GTAC leaders told council the committee conducted more than 75 public meetings, engaged historically underrepresented communities, and researched practices in other cities. Major GTAC recommendations included: a unified, well-coordinated citywide approach to community engagement; consolidating or reorganizing bureau advisory and budget advisory groups into service-area advisory bodies; accelerating development of a citywide strategic plan; creation of a code commission to review and update the municipal code; and a robust, transparent recruitment process for the city administrator.

Committee members emphasized the need for increased staffing and resources to support council and district offices, better tools to coordinate communication between branches of government, and ongoing follow-up on GTAC recommendations. They also urged that budget engagement be simplified and made more accessible, including reconsideration of bureau-specific budget advisory bodies.

Council discussion acknowledged the work performed by GTAC and stressed the need to implement recommendations. Multiple councilors praised GTAC’s outreach to communities historically excluded from city decision-making and asked about continuing contact with committee volunteers. Several councilors said they will pursue GTAC recommendations via committees and during the budget process.

The auditor’s office and transition staff were thanked for their partnership. Council voted to accept the GTAC final report; acceptance carried on a recorded vote of 12 ayes. Council directed the city administrator and governance committee to consider the recommendations and requested regular updates on implementation.","The Government Transition Advisory Committee (GTAC) presented a final report outlining recommendations on community engagement, budget participation, council committees, city administrator recruitment and voter education. Council accepted the report and asked for follow-up on recommendations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Portland council orders investigations, pauses related administrative actions in Zenith Energy matter

Council appoints two preservation professionals to Historic Landmarks Commission

Government Transition Advisory Committee closes out work; council accepts final report