Portland councilors debate draft civilian police review board ordinance, disagree over union negotiations and eligibility rules

Portland councilors held a public workshop on a draft ordinance to implement a November 2022 city charter amendment creating a Civilian Police Review Board, discussing governance, member eligibility and whether the council must negotiate with police unions over aspects of the ordinance.

Attorney Rachel Millette, associate corporation counsel, told the council the charter amendment approved by voters in November 2022 requires the council to draft an ordinance to create the civilian board and said the current draft reflects prior council direction and negotiation with police unions. "In November 2022, the Portland city voters voted to approve an amendment to the city charter, which adds an article, codifying a civilian police review board in the city's charter," Millette said.

The workshop focused on three recurring issues: (1) whether the city should draft and vote on the ordinance without prior agreement from police unions, (2) eligibility rules that would bar city- or school-system employees from serving for a waiting period after employment ends, and (3) the board's composition, intake process and training.

Councilor Kate Sykes (District 5) pushed for an open legislative process and said the council should not allow union negotiation to determine the ordinance's terms. "We're writing a law that is about civilian oversight of police, and it is absolutely inappropriate for us to…