Council approves emergency ordinance creating driver resource center and clarifies ride fee rules

Council amended an existing code change to add definitions and operational clarity for a driver's resource center for transportation network company (TNC) drivers and then adopted the ordinance with an emergency clause.

Sponsor Councilors described the amendment as narrowing language around deactivation, delegating authority through the city administrator to PBOT and the contracted operator, and explicitly stating the resource center would not exercise regulatory or adjudicatory authority. Sponsor remarks emphasized working with drivers and PBOT to refine operational details.

Drivers' advocates told council the amendment met their needs. "We have had a chance to review the amendment, and we do believe that this will help us accomplish our goals," Joe Jackson of Drivers' Union said during in‑chamber remarks. Driver Nathaniel Hudson Hartman, who identified himself as a rideshare driver and driver advocate, described the change as an important step for drivers who face deactivation: "I've been a rideshare driver for over 9 years now and a proud, advocate, on behalf of drivers with Drivers Union Oregon," he told council.

Council then approved a motion (Ryan 1) to add an emergency clause, with sponsors citing frequent deactivations and the need for timely protections and support; roll call on the emergency ordinance returned 12 ayes and the ordinance passed as an emergency measure, enabling immediate implementation steps.

Next steps: PBOT and the city administrator will carry the operational details forward and coordinate with the contracted resource center operator and drivers' representatives to implement the center and associated procedures.