Committee chair outlines draft citywide asset-management ordinance after auditor notice; seeks input

Councilor Clark, chair of Portland's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, presented a draft concept for a citywide asset-management strategy and signaled intent to pursue an ordinance after public input and the release of an upcoming city auditor report.

"Asset management is a huge concern for me," Clark said, describing the draft concept as a vehicle to create a citywide strategy and a financial plan to address deferred maintenance across city-owned assets. Clark said the city auditor would release an audit of the city's asset-management practices and that the committee should prepare to respond.

Councilors generally endorsed a cross-bureau approach. Councilor Green urged the committee to use the reorganization of city service areas to create a holistic, standardized approach to asset management, noting that system-development charge policy and other revenue and investment decisions should be examined in that light. "This will help us get a handle on those liabilities," Green said.

Several councilors requested more time to review the draft before converting it into legislation. Councilor Smith said she supported the overall goal but wanted additional time to digest details. Committee members agreed to return to the concept in May and to allow the public hearing process if an ordinance is drafted.

The proposed asset-management work would expand beyond transportation to include water, sewer, public safety, parks and other city assets. Clark said the goal is a standardized approach to condition assessment, risk-based prioritization and an associated financial plan to address chronic underinvestment. Clark and committee members framed the work as longer-term and cross-cutting; no ordinance or budget action was adopted at the hearing.