Arts and Economy Committee urges mayor to sign Swimmable Cities charter; sends resolution to full council

PORTLAND — The Portland Arts and Economy Committee on June 3 voted unanimously to send to the full City Council a resolution urging the mayor to make Portland a signatory to the Swimmable Cities charter, a global initiative aimed at making urban waterways safe and accessible for swimming.

The committee’s action, adopted 4-0 as amended, came after invited testimony from city staff, tribal representatives, environmental groups, business and community organizations who described recent investments and ongoing projects to improve conditions in the Willamette River and expand equitable access to the river for recreation.

The resolution asks the mayor to join the international Swimmable Cities alliance and recognizes local organizations that have led river access and restoration efforts. The committee approved an amendment adding the Human Access Project, Black Swimming Initiative, Willamette Riverkeeper, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Portland Metro Chamber and Lloyd EcoDistrict to the resolution’s list of acknowledged stakeholders.

City testimony emphasized the role of large infrastructure investments in improving river health. Priya Dhanapal, deputy administrator for public works, said Portland’s Bureau of…