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Council delays vote on parking-space reservation code; asks bureaus for economic and labor analysis
Summary
Portland City Council held over a second-reading ordinance that would amend code governing reservation of on-street parking for temporary uses, and asked staff to return with economic impact information and suggested amendments on parking-hour authority.
The Portland City Council on Sept. 18 held over a second-reading ordinance that would amend the city code governing temporary on-street parking reservations, directing staff and councilors to draft possible amendments and to provide an economic impact statement and labor implications before the council again considers the measure.
The ordinance, a second reading of changes to parking-space reservation rules, drew objections from Councilor Zimmerman, who asked whether the mayor or the council had authority to set parking hours after the administration recently changed enforcement hours. Zimmerman said he would vote no on any parking-related item until the council received a clear explanation. Councilor Knoell and others asked the bureau for better documentation about which specific staff units perform tasks such as posting temporary no-parking signs and for consistency about when the council uses code versus resolution to direct bureaus.
Matt (last name not recorded in transcript), representing PBOT, said the proposed change is intended to make it “easier for folks applying for these temporary no parking permits” and to allow different city enforcement staff to focus on street-safety enforcement while permit staff manage temporary reservation notices. Matt said the change was designed to improve efficiency and that he was not aware of other systemic inefficiencies tied to the proposal.
Councilor Zimmerman proposed instead that the council hold the measure to develop an amendment to reassert council authority over parking hours. Councilor Green said he favored longer parking hours as a policy matter but supported the delay to get clarity about legislative versus administrative authority. Councilors asked for an economic impact statement and for the bureau to clarify budget and labor implications; Councilor Kunal suggested including effects on the evening economy in the analysis.
Councilors Clark, Kunal and Zimmerman were asked to work with staff on possible language for an amendment and to consult labor partners. The council directed staff to return with a draft amendment and the requested analyses at the next meeting. The ordinance was not adopted on Sept. 18; councilors agreed to hold the item for one week to allow development of amendment language and bureau analysis.
No formal vote on the code change occurred on Sept. 18; councilors moved to delay action to the next meeting to allow time to draft an amendment and to receive an economic and labor impact assessment.
