Committee forwards technical amendment to street-renaming code to full council

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 12 unanimously voted to forward a technical ordinance that amends Portland City Code chapter 17.93 to reestablish City Council as the decision-maker for street-renaming proposals.

Chair Clark introduced the item as a technical correction after an earlier charter-related change reassigned authority. Diego read the ordinance (document number 20 26 7) and Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal and PBOT Director Millicent Williams described the history and operational impacts of street renaming. Williams said the code change restores council authority to align the city code with Oregon Revised Statute provisions and with Portland27s current administrative structure.

Under chapter 17.93, Williams explained, applicants must demonstrate conformity with selection criteria (a proposed name is typically for a prominent person deceased at least five years, the street must be wholly inside Portland, and the same name must apply along the street27s full length). She emphasized the staff time and interbureau coordination required to process renaming requests, noting PBOT paused routine renaming applications in 2023 because of capacity constraints.

Councilor Smith moved to send the ordinance to full council with a recommendation to pass; Councilor Koyama Lane seconded. The clerk recorded aye votes from Smith, Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green and Clark and the motion carried 5-0.

The committee action forwards the technical code amendment to the full City Council for final consideration. No implementation timeline was decided at the committee; the ordinance will proceed through the council process.