[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6462278,"mediaKeyId","5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f","parentId",5809586,"title","Finance committee backs on-bill collection for Portland’s share of regional flood‑safety fee, sends ordinance to full council","audioSeconds",2514,"startMs",3108000,"endMs",5622000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f&start=3108&end=5622","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f/thumbnail_3108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6462278/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Finance-committee-backs-on-bill-collection-for-Portlands-share-of-regional-floodsafety-fee-sends-ordinance-to-full-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462278-2126f626a5f15b8c14ed3c81c37b5bbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770030427&Signature=cn8V3YigMZjipH2sEyE3iZOJx8c4YiKNNQ4xWx9s5YN1rekvdyDI4c8ctxlms7A5aZum3QPBdtcdSXqWijHCqGgPHYLVP4W-Ap1LH37oQ1tY13g2aQf0bkjLSfgArZbdW3nqsWWGQqyz7BhMCDb5ZqclebdGoV8VhU2Ex9tYB3Qd-AI4DwpUGbdl5kldWyQrmknjCdItNmRK0cqLvObsT5Q13rLGc2oAIYsBDc8OXUVDp0D0-2~54qG9yOaUAOGBhA5892CO5NKFdbH93wIvvJaBZiGriM~bzG31Jc3aRikef1fPlG7jFkLpmAK9s5UiX-uxC3ziHWsn2ee-J1~WBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-09-22T21:19:07.793Z","article","Portland’s Finance Committee voted Sept. 22 to send to full council with a “due pass” recommendation an ordinance that would establish a mechanism to collect the city’s allocated payment to the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District via a small line item on utility bills.

Jonas Birri, the city’s chief financial officer, told the committee the district — created by the Oregon Legislature in 2019 and given fee authority by 2024 legislation (Senate Bill 1517) — charged incorporated cities within the district a flood safety benefit fee for 2025–26. “The district is a district created by the state legislature in 2019, charged with managing the Portland Metro levy system and the Columbia Corridor in North Portland,” Birri said. He noted the district’s 2025–26 allocation for the City of Portland is roughly $5.3 million and that the city’s adopted budget directs staff to develop an on‑bill collection mechanism by Oct. 15 for implementation July 1, 2026.

Staff recommended a two‑part collection method: a residential flat charge of roughly $1.20 per dwelling unit per month and a nonresidential charge set as 0.9% of the utility bill. Staff said gross collections under that structure would be about $7 million in the first year; applying low‑income discounts and estimated nonpayment plus collection costs administered by Portland Water Bureau, the projected net revenue for FY 2026–27 is about $5.7 million — slightly above the amount expected to be owed to the district.

Birri emphasized that the utility bill would be a collection mechanism only. “I want to be very clear, it's not a utility charge… Funds collected will be deposited directly into the general fund and will not be comingled with any water, sewer, or stormwater utility funds,” he said.

Councilors asked about equity, indexing and governance. Councilor Nick Green asked whether the city would hold overcollection as a separate subfund to cover future shortfalls; staff said it would be accounted for in a general fund subfund reserved for the fee and that council direction would be required to divert those dollars to other purposes. Councilors also asked whether the per‑door residential approach was regressive and requested staff consider the impacts on multifamily residents; staff said the methodology balanced administrative simplicity and equity given the size of the fee.

The committee approved a motion, moved by Councilor Nick Green and seconded by Vice Chair Protogany, to forward the implementing ordinance to full council with a due‑pass recommendation. Roll call recorded four ayes: Councilor Nick Green; Councilor Amanda Avalos; Vice Chair Protogany; Chair Zimmerman. No nay votes or abstentions were recorded in committee.

Next steps: The ordinance is scheduled for full‑Council consideration in early October. If the Council adopts the ordinance, Portland Water Bureau will begin technical billing work, customer communications and staff training to meet a July 1, 2026 collection start date; staff warned that timeline is accelerated and limits community engagement time.

Authorities cited: Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) section 550 (as modified) and Senate Bill 1517 (2024) were referenced by staff as the statutory basis for the district’s fee authority and the city’s responsibility to identify a local collection mechanism.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council Finance Committee 09/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Finance Committee voted Sept. 22 to forward to full council a proposal to collect Portland’s share of a regional flood‑safety fee via a small line item on water and sewer utility bills, with staff recommending a $1.20 monthly residential charge and a 0.9% charge for nonresidential accounts.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6462283,"Portland finance committee presses staff to deliver earlier, clearer mayor’s budget materials",2583,536000,3119000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f&start=536&end=3119","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f/thumbnail_536000.jpg","/articles/6462283/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-finance-committee-presses-staff-to-deliver-earlier-clearer-mayors-budget-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462283-7165853e472dd0cec117a107d9bd6603/orig.mp4?Expires=1770030427&Signature=OnBGu5hietzutfTiKAKqZqqhnFyj0bCl1DZMR~WGcqctbWvEaxsU3l5gUWE0y7GEn2BTisZosOlC4L19aEkNLhOLhC-~6lgiGwrLIuRaDwjKNMzKx5LXiLJgESPG-nxS7EeiKNl5va-A3EVKs2sbKBQ21LYkTj3lMbX8Rh5s5LvGbIPFB1qXPYBRlZMNJaDgM77Mw2b0uoGIrs7Ah8QsLewtZKod~v5XczP0-ayxgYagiCf7jSzckf7oL8TQjnZezzDtEOdorH4Vyc0s~5sDEXaNdg1ixEjyoZQhFtPH2mkOYjrfIhbYZ8h9LDeC7Dn4ux48geHYNLB9V0Qjhk1UNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland’s Finance Committee spent the bulk of its Sept. 22 meeting focused on the city’s 2025–26 budget calendar and how the executive and Council can change the timeline and materials to improve public engagement and Council deliberations.

Jonas Birri, the city’s chief financial officer, and Ruth Levine, budget director, told the committee that producing a technically checked, analyzed and book-ready mayor’s proposed budget requires roughly 18–20 weeks of work from the December starting point, which places the earliest feasible mayoral delivery in mid‑April. “When you add all that up, it’s about 18 to 20 weeks, which when you start at the December 1 gets you to roughly mid April,” Levine said.

Councilors said that timeline left the Council too little time to review and weigh amendments before adoption. “I think that not getting any budget until April, puts us in a ridiculous position,” Councilor Steve Novick said. Novick and several colleagues urged staff to produce earlier, conceptual scenarios — for example, a citywide proportional cut scenario — in January or February, so Council and the public can vet trade-offs before the sprint to finalize numbers.

Why it matters: Councilors said late delivery compresses public engagement and the Council’s amendment process, producing rushed decisions and frequent last‑minute clarifications from bureaus. Committee members repeatedly pressed for clearer “budget 101” materials, earlier upstream conversations with communities and better program‑level data (including FTE and fund sources) so Council can evaluate operational effects of proposed changes.

Councilor Carmen Rubio (vice chair at the session) and Councilor Nick Green emphasized the human resources limits in central finance: staff who would produce earlier materials are already stretched, and any acceleration would require choices about where to assign limited staff time. Birri said there are options to produce scenarios and rough forecasts earlier, but cautioned those figures are estimates and subject to change as revenue inputs solidify.

Committee members also discussed the former “requested budget” concept, ways to use committee meetings to vet potential amendments with bureaus before formal amendment filing, and whether some committee work should move to full‑Council “committee of the whole” sessions so all members see the same briefings.

What was decided: The meeting did not adopt any ordinance or motion on the calendar itself. Committee members asked staff and the Council President to develop a recommended budget calendar and clarified deliverables (what the Council should expect in January/February versus the mayor’s book). Staff said a full‑Council work session on the budget process is scheduled for Oct. 22.

The discussion also included repeated requests by the finance committee chair that the city administrator prioritize the central budget realignment and that bureaus provide program‑level clarity on employees, costs and funding sources — the committee flagged these as essential to improving transparency and reducing unnecessary amendments.","City finance staff outlined the fiscal-year timeline and constraints for producing the mayor’s proposed budget; councilors urged earlier, more accessible deliverables, scenario planning for cuts and improved bureau data to give the council time to deliberate.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6462268,"Committee forwards PBOT plan to vacate unnamed road and sell parcel to adjoining business, preserves trail and sewer easements",942,6311000,7253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f&start=6311&end=7253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f/thumbnail_6311000.jpg","/articles/6462268/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Committee-forwards-PBOT-plan-to-vacate-unnamed-road-and-sell-parcel-to-adjoining-business-preserves-trail-and-sewer-easements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462268-5adebb1681c2ffa48e66672714397e17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770030427&Signature=KH2x17XVXcvtVsgvpqkYbuv3tv6vuCskJkOtWDJXlZaCpDRJQOZiCuhm6zDdZnkCN1achL6OOg7Dazmna36AkrWKx3BbrbKKPYkPebXyjPmdWok9S96k~a5RlnkawVw~ewldRvefwmJy~zMNzDGX7BtGTnWbn8LgYNMw8O9IzyAlagdbzroPaREwtmCo9412Soy7G67u8iDHsXCPJiATv7CI84zLc9fnloVYTN~l9VtfANlGRTTvK8S4AEd8LLHLzUPS1opDL0iFS-zP4V1z8AJHgusUWBfuYDOwOThqvegTX9pVUbf2TbiEJ1nq-glR8RlyjOkjZJBE88DNRIMhpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance Committee voted Sept. 22 to forward to full council two linked PBOT actions: (1) vacate an unnamed road off NE 303rd Drive/Northeast Marine Drive and (2) declare the vacated land surplus and approve the sale to the adjacent owner, WPC Marine LLC, subject to conditions.

Kevin Balick of PBOT’s real property group summarized the protracted ownership history: the parcel had been mapped as a public street while under Multnomah County title in the 1980s but the county never constructed the planned turn lanes. Title transferred to the city in 2019 and PBOT has determined the right‑of‑way is no longer needed for street purposes.

PBOT proposes to sell the 48,219‑square‑foot parcel to WPC Marine LLC (the adjacent owner) under the city’s surplus procedure (ADM 13022 A.4 referenced in the presentation). Conditions negotiated for the sale include (a) the buyer granting the city a 30‑foot‑wide trail easement along the southern edge of the buyer’s parcel to enable a future extension of the Marine Drive segment of the 40‑Mile Loop, and (b) the city reserving a 20‑foot sewer easement over an existing 36‑inch pressurized sewer main.

PBOT said the price (net to the city) is $310,000, discounted to reflect the encumbrances described above; the sale will also return the parcel to the property tax rolls. The committee heard questions about how the trail easement will connect to existing city property on the east side of NE 303rd Drive and whether short segments would be left as “orphan” pieces if the private owner delays constructing a connection.

Walter Valenta of the 40 Mile Loop Land Trust testified at the meeting, saying the group supports the easement location but requested clarity on (1) the detailed alignment where the easement meets the city‑owned right‑of‑way, (2) whether the easement‑granting owner or the city will construct the trail segment and when, and (3) whether the small connector segment to the city property will be funded or become a future local budget fight.

The committee forwarded both the street vacation and the surplus sale to full council with due‑pass recommendations. Roll call recorded ayes from Councilor Nick Green; Councilor Amanda Avalos; Vice Chair Protogany; and Chair Zimmerman.

Next steps: The items will return to full council for final approval. PBOT told committee members no other city bureaus claimed interest during the surplus process, and staff said they will continue outreach to trail advocates and property owners as the project advances.","Finance Committee moved two related items to full council: vacating an unnamed road (returning title to the city), and declaring the vacated property surplus for sale to WPC Marine LLC, subject to a 30‑foot trail easement and a 20‑foot sewer easement. The 40 Mile Loop Land Trust raised design and timing questions for the future trail connection.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6462272,"Committee clears NE 122nd Avenue crossings project, authorizes right‑of‑way acquisition process",665,5621000,6286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f&start=5621&end=6286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5809586-7988de3b6fddce1d3bbcc9b0f92b167f/thumbnail_5621000.jpg","/articles/6462272/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Committee-clears-NE-122nd-Avenue-crossings-project-authorizes-rightofway-acquisition-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6462272-162c8be6ac0a0e5fa1478a75565ca65a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770030427&Signature=RgAo6HFMKlu34HFeuYbg7BwcOFBc~TCWEVENm4GZiJtvqCWq6dnXrqpn4LEtbIaINQ~yWVVeY3hL8yZtHulCn5zkxciCg6ycA9PN6lPnBcNfsFvGpoyRTMfafXXNxwC9HiRbjGgmVSIZ5mRFWQYJyykZYuN33R3NFBLqHOL95~UpdmcMn2HK-2com5WMhtR4BK0BohrK0G39-X5Un1Z3UOclXqadYBJ6m~r10c8phS0ZLejI6uLx5fdc3Aa4DPW~G9xx3sqpka0461Z6B0T3po0H8c2epa4nkbB-BDSdAN0vKn-Bz~8hCPQdNICbsHfLL4NSEd5W0UozkPrekoyxHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) presented the Northeast 122nd Avenue Crossing Improvements Project to the Finance Committee on Sept. 22, and the committee voted to forward the item to full council with a “due pass” recommendation.

PBOT project leads said the capital project — funded with a mix of federal grants and local transportation charges — adds or upgrades three signalized crossings on 122nd Avenue at NE Beech (near Parkrose High School), NE Russell (a neighborhood greenway connection) and a new signal north of Halsey to improve access to the San Rafael shopping area. Brian Poole of PBOT summarized the engineering intent: the upgrades include a pedestrian hybrid beacon at Beech, an enhanced rapid flash beacon at Russell and a new channelized traffic signal near the shopping center to reduce conflict movements.

PBOT sought committee authority to begin right‑of‑way acquisition, saying temporary construction easements are needed from five property owners (each under 400 square feet in size) to build ADA‑compliant sidewalks, ramps and signal work. PBOT advised the committee that the bureau will seek negotiated easements first but requested authority to proceed with condemnation under the city’s eminent‑domain authority if negotiations fail.

“Some are far less than that. The temporary easements will facilitate construction of the sidewalk improvements that are ADA compliant, the ramps, the signals that are going,” PBOT right‑of‑way staff said. Committee members asked for and received clarification that the easements are temporary and expire after construction.

The committee voted to move the ordinance to full council with the recommendation that it be passed. Roll call recorded ayes from Councilor Nick Green; Councilor Amanda Avalos; Vice Chair Protogany; and Chair Zimmerman; the motion passed in committee.

Next steps: If full council approves the ordinance, PBOT expects to begin construction in the summer following council action and will carry out the negotiated acquisitions, billing and construction‑phase outreach. The bureau noted the project is one of several planned investments on 122nd Avenue, including lighting infill and a larger Safe Streets for All project slated for later design and construction phases.","Portland Bureau of Transportation presented a package to add or upgrade three signalized crossings on NE 122nd Avenue to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety; the committee approved moving the ordinance to full council and authorized staff to begin negotiations for temporary construction easements and, if needed, condemnation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance committee backs on-bill collection for Portland’s share of regional flood‑safety fee, sends ordinance to full council

Portland finance committee presses staff to deliver earlier, clearer mayor’s budget materials

Committee forwards PBOT plan to vacate unnamed road and sell parcel to adjoining business, preserves trail and sewer easements

Committee clears NE 122nd Avenue crossings project, authorizes right‑of‑way acquisition process