Commissioners postpone ordinance to move Office of Diversity and Equity pending new director

The Multnomah County Board voted unanimously Thursday to postpone indefinitely a second‑reading ordinance that would move the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) from non‑departmental code into the Department of County Management.

Commissioner Moyer, who introduced the ordinance, urged postponement so the person selected as the county’s new chief diversity and equity officer can help shape how the office should be positioned and staffed. "I am going to motion to table this until that position is filled and that we can have a board work session," Moyer said, noting the new director should have an opportunity to present a vision for how equity work will be institutionalized.

Commissioners said they agreed the question requires more discussion. Several noted current practice already has the interim diversity lead reporting to the county COO and that code language in chapter 25 is out of date. Members also discussed whether equity functions should be politically housed or integrated into county operations and stressed the board would need to update county code if it wants to change the office’s structure permanently.

The motion to postpone indefinitely passed on a roll call vote. Commissioners asked that staff hold a work session after the new director has time to orient and to return with updated ordinance language or operational proposals as appropriate.

The item was the second reading of an ordinance (R‑2) that had been introduced earlier; the board did not adopt the ordinance and instead left the matter for further work with the incoming director.