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 assessment.

The board approved a $962,101 budget modification for the Department of Community Justice (DCJ) to carry forward unspent FY 2024 grant funds into FY 2025, covering 17 program offers and 10 grants and funding provider pass-throughs, client assistance, and temporary personnel. Separately, the board approved notices of intent to apply for Oregon Criminal Justice Commission funding for two treatment-court programs (STEP and START) and authorized staff to submit applications.

The board also approved a $200,000 one-time budget modification from the general-fund contingency to begin development of the technology infrastructure the board authorized for the newly adopted lobbying and transparency ordinance (an online lobbying registration and reporting system and calendar reporting for commissioners). County staff and the county COO said they will provide an implementation study and report to the board in mid-May and a fuller update by Aug. 1.

In labor matters, the board ratified a successor collective bargaining agreement between Multnomah County and the Federation of Parole and Probation Officers (FAPO) covering July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027. County staff summarized key contract provisions as including a 4.3% cost-of-living increase + a 3.5% market adjustment effective July 1, 2024; a $4,500 one-time retention incentive for active employees at ratification; additional COLA steps in 2025 and 2026; a market study for 2026 with possible additional adjustments; increased sick-leave accrual; enhanced worker-compensation supplementation; and an unallocated-return-to-work option for retired officers to serve as sworn at‑will officers for up to three years.

Votes at a glance (motion, mover, second, outcome): - Ordinance to adopt Montgomery Park area plan code amendments (effective June 1, adopted by emergency). Motion: Commissioner Brim Edwards; second: Commissioner Singleton; outcome: adopted (roll call: unanimous “aye”). - Dunthorpe Riverdale Sanitary Service District No. 1 FY 2025–26 budget ($6,794,000). Motion: Commissioner Bridal Edwards; second: Commissioner Singleton; outcome: approved (unanimous “aye”). - Mid-County Street Lighting Service District No. 14 FY 2025–26 budget ($2,000,000). Motion: Commissioner Bridal Shinsky; second: Commissioner Moyer; outcome: approved (unanimous “aye”). - DCJ budget modification (carry forward $962,101 in unspent FY 2024 grant funds). Motion: Commissioner Brim Edwards; second: Commissioner Jones Dixon; outcome: approved (unanimous “aye”). - Notices of intent to apply to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for STEP and START court grants. Motion(s): Commissioner Jones Dixon; second(s): Commissioner Brim Edwards/Commissioner Singleton; outcome(s): approved (unanimous “aye”). - Ordinance establishing lobbying registration and reporting requirements (with phased implementation; implementation target July 1, 2026). Motion: Commissioner Brim Edwards; second: Commissioner Singleton; outcome: adopted (unanimous “aye”). - Budget modification D300225 ($200,000 one-time from general-fund contingency) to fund initial technology development for the lobbying/transparency program. Motion: Commissioner Brim Edwards; second: Commissioner Jones Dixon; outcome: approved (unanimous “aye”). - Ratification of successor collective bargaining agreement with Federation of Parole and Probation Officers (three-year contract, effective retroactive to July 1, 2024). Motion: Commissioner Singleton; second: Commissioner Jones Dixon; outcome: approved (unanimous “aye”).

Why this matters: the votes together align county land-use rules with Portland’s Montgomery Park plan, set property assessments and capital work for two local service districts, authorize grant applications that support specialty treatment courts, fund carry-forward grant spending for DCJ programs, launch the county’s new lobbying/transparency requirements with initial startup funding, and finalize a labor agreement that affects public safety staffing and compensation.

Details and background: county and city planners described the Montgomery Park code alignment as an administrative step required under the urban services intergovernmental agreement; county staff said it does not affect unincorporated urban pockets. Dunthorpe Riverdale staff said the Elk Rock pump station project has been in planning since FY 2021 and represents the primary capital driver of the larger budget. Streetlight district staff emphasized LED conversion savings but said capital replacements are needed on Troutdale corridors for safety and to replace wood poles at end of life. DCJ staff provided a line-item summary of the grants carrying forward and noted many of the grants are state- or federally timed and must be spent by specified deadlines. The COO said the county will return with a study and recommended budget for the lobbying/transparency program’s personnel and technical needs.