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Committee forwards amended transportation utility fee ordinance to full council after extensive debate
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Summary
After hours of discussion and multiple amendments addressing Vision Zero funding, renter relief for multifamily households, rate-setting and appeals processes, the Committee of the Whole voted to refer the amended Transportation Utility Fee ordinance (doc 2026-113) to the full council with a due-pass recommendation.
The Committee of the Whole spent the bulk of its April 15 meeting continuing consideration of a proposed Transportation Utility Fee (TUF) intended to fund maintenance and safety of Portland’s transportation system.
Vice President Olivia Clark, the ordinance’s primary sponsor, said the proposal responds to persistent maintenance needs and public testimony and described a set of collaborative amendments meant to strengthen Vision Zero investments, create relief for low-income residents in multifamily housing and provide additional time and structure for rate-setting for nonresidential accounts.
PBOT Director Millicent Williams told the committee that while allocation requirements would narrow how TUF revenues are used, the bureau maintains other funding sources (state gas tax, parking revenues, TNC fees) that provide additional flexibility. Shoshana Cohen, PBOT chief of staff, said the proposed maintenance and safety buckets were consistent with community outreach and mirrored elements of the current local gas-tax funding.
Councilors offered competing priorities: some argued a large share should go immediately to maintenance to prevent further deterioration, while others pushed for dedicated Vision Zero and sidewalk investments and protections for renters. Novick and Dunphy emphasized the urgency of preventing street deterioration; Pertelgini and Avalos raised concerns about binding allocations and affordability for renters.
Councilors moved and passed three major amendments in committee: a Koyama Lane–Zimmerman amendment dedicating part of the remaining 25% to Vision Zero and the Sidewalk Improvement Program (approved 11–1); an Avalos–Kunal amendment requiring equitable relief and a PBOT report on multifamily renter assistance (approved 12–0); and a Clark–Green amendment adding specific rate-setting timelines, PBOT hearings by Feb. 15 and an appeals process for nonresidential accounts (approved 12–0).
After amendment votes and further debate, the committee voted to refer the amended ordinance (document 2026-113) to the full council with a due-pass recommendation; the referral passed with 10 yes votes and 2 no votes. Committee members noted the ordinance will return with implementation details, rate design hearings and reporting requirements.
Next steps: The amended TUF ordinance will be considered by the full Portland City Council; the committee’s referral includes direction for PBOT to hold rate-design hearings and to deliver reports and implementation plans for discount and appeals programs.
