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Committee narrows Visit Portland agreement, adds workforce and reporting requirements and sends amended PTDD plan to council
Summary
Committee approved forwarding a redlined Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) agreement and a narrower development plan designed to emphasize workforce development, transparency and reporting; committee asked Visit Portland for a detailed expenditure report and for public posting of PTDD meeting minutes.
The Housing and Economic Development Committee voted June 11 to forward an amended Portland Tourism Development District (PTDD) agreement and development plan to the full City Council, adding new workforce-development priorities and reporting requirements.
Greg Watson, director of Housing and Economic Development, said the revised redline agreement and the attached development plan reflect committee direction to prioritize workforce development and public transparency. Among the confirmed changes: Visit Portland will post PTDD meeting minutes online; the PTDD development plan now includes specific workforce development activities including peer listening sessions and reporting criteria tied to a return-on-investment metric.
Councilor Pete Sykes and Visit Portland executive director Lynn Tillotson met between meetings and worked through edits that Watson said narrowed the work plan’s scope and moved tactical details into the development plan. Committee members asked Visit Portland to report back with an itemized accounting of expenses for the prior fiscal year and to explain any unexpended portion of the 10% assessment that the city retains for district work. Watson and Tillotson agreed to provide that breakdown for the council’s review.
Tillotson told the committee Visit Portland has invested in outreach to underrepresented audiences: she said Visit Portland spent about $125,000 in FY25 on outreach overall, including roughly $80,000 “specifically reaching targeted demographic areas,” and hired diverse photographers and engaged influencers as part of the outreach effort. Committee members said they wanted more granular reporting that maps specific vendors, influencers and trade-show attendance to the PTDD’s 10% allocation to BIPOC and LGBTQ+ outreach.
Councilors also discussed the city’s use of PTDD-collected funds for public infrastructure in the district, such as restrooms, and asked staff to track the PTDD-related city balance and how it is being spent.
Motion and vote: Councilor McNeviz moved, and Councilor Sykes seconded, a motion to forward the redlined PTDD agreement and development plan to the full council; Councilor Sykes then offered an amendment requiring Visit Portland to provide a report on prior-year expenditures and on any unexpended portion of the 10% assessment. The committee approved the amended motion in roll call: Councilor Pete Sykes — yes; Councilor McNeviz — yes; Councilor Regina Phillips — no; Chair Bridal Ali — yes. The motion carried.
