Multnomah County adopts Portland code alignment, approves service-district budgets and ratifies labor contract

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal votes at its May meeting, adopting a City of Portland code amendment, approving proposed budgets for two county service districts, approving several budget modifications and notices of intent for state grant applications, and ratifying a three-year labor contract for parole and probation officers.

The board unanimously adopted an ordinance to amend Multnomah County’s comprehensive plan and zoning code to align with the City of Portland’s recently adopted Montgomery Park area plan. County staff said the change is required by an existing intergovernmental urban services agreement with Portland; the county ordinance will take effect June 1 and was adopted by emergency to align effective dates with Portland’s action.

The board, sitting as the governing body and budget committees for two local service districts, approved the fiscal-year 2025–2026 budgets that county staff presented: the Dunthorpe Riverdale Sanitary Service District No. 1 budget at $6,794,000 and the Mid-County Street Lighting Service District No. 14 budget at $2,000,000. Staff said the Dunthorpe Riverdale increase (about 89% year-over-year) reflects capital work at the Elk Rock pump station and included a proposed 14% increase in the district’s monthly assessment to $240 ($2,880 annually) and a planned internal loan of $4 million to cover construction. The streetlight district budget includes a $750,000 capital program and proposed work to replace poles and upgrade lighting along Southwest 250 Seventh Avenue in Troutdale; staff proposed no increase in the $75 annual property…