City of Portland transition presented to Multnomah County board; onboarding and governance timeline outlined

City of Portland transition staff briefed the Multnomah County Board on plans to implement the 2022 charter changes, including governance restructuring, operations and an onboarding timeline for newly elected officials.

Shoshana Oppenheim, the city’s transition project manager, described three core charter changes: adoption of ranked‑choice voting for certain city offices, election of a 12‑member council by districts, and the shift from a commission to a mayor‑council government supported by a professional city administrator and deputy city administrators. Oppenheim said the city has begun code revisions, facilities renovations and recruitment plans for a city administrator, and expects to complete onboarding activities around the December swearing‑in with operations starting Jan. 1.

The presentation emphasized coordination with Multnomah County and other regional partners. Commissioners asked detailed governance questions about the respective roles of the council, mayor and city administrator; oversight tools; committee structure and agenda setting; appointment and approval processes for senior administration positions; and how transition costs were funded. Oppenheim said the council retains oversight authority, committees and the council president will shape agendas in collaboration with members, and that facilities and some one‑time costs were covered from dedicated facilities reserves and one‑time funds rather than ongoing general operations.

Commissioners requested further information about how the budget process would change under the new structure and how the city and county will coordinate on shared responsibilities like homelessness services. Oppenheim said the city plans deeper work sessions on partner relationships and to present a recruitment plan for the city administrator early in 2025.

The briefing concluded with the board thanking city staff; no action or vote occurred.