Public commenters urge verification for port tariff and ask council to increase library funding

During the public-comment period the committee heard two distinct appeals. Joey Burnell, representing Portland Cruise Control, asked the committee to strengthen Port Tariff 11 before it advances: add verification language so ships must document clean-fuel use to claim a $2-per-passenger discount; remove liquid natural gas from the qualifying-fuel list because of methane lifecycle and idling emissions; and direct the port director to begin formal MOU negotiations with cruise lines rather than rely only on a tariff.

Burnell cited industry cases of document falsification and argued that a discount without verification or consequences will not drive environmental outcomes. He asked the committee to require documented fuel reports, strip LNG from the tariff's clean-fuel list and initiate MOU talks with carriers.

Separately, Jay Gruber and Rebecca Starr, downtown library employees, asked the committee to increase the library's budget allocation above the manager's recommended 5% so wages do not continue falling behind inflation. Gruber used a Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI calculator to show that a 2018 starting wage equivalent would be $22.65 in today's dollars and said current starting wages are below that mark; both speakers described the downtown library as an essential community hub and urged the committee to invest in staff retention and livable wages.

The committee thanked public commenters and noted both topics will remain part of upcoming public hearings and council agendas.