Portland City Council will consider the proposed rate methodology changes on October 18, 2023. Below are important documents and resources relevant to the City Council Session. 

• Council Packet: Includes a memo summarizing the recommendations and proposed changes to Portland City Code Chapter 17.36. 
• Overwater Structure Memo: This memo summarizes stormwater charge practices for floating homes and overwater structures examined in Environmental Services' Rate Study Report. 
• Overwater Structure FAQ: Contains answers to frequently asked questions raised during conversations with overwater structure homeowners. 

• Rate Study Preliminary Report: This report contains the technical findings and rate and fee design options developed as part of the rate study. 

More information on the council process and how you can participate can be found later in this newsletter. 

Office Hours 

If you would like to see a sample of your bill with the proposed updates or you have technical questions regarding the rate study, we have set aside time for one-on-one conversations with our staff. Please email Aaron Abrams if you would like to attend an office hour session. Upcoming times include: 

• October 16 from 11 a.m. to Noon 
• October 17 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Community Presentations 

Council Process and How to Participate 

The review and adoption process will be a typical council process: Environmental Services will present, Council will ask questions, and they will hear public testimony. After testimony and discussion, Council can choose to vote on whether to adopt the package. They can also choose to amend the package or reject the package. If they choose to approve the recommended changes, they will then be sent to a second reading one week later.   

Council can reconsider their decisions after adoption. To do so, City Staff or a member of Council would need to bring the item to Council for discussion and a vote.  

You can learn more about this process on the Council Clerk's webpage. 

Public comment is encouraged at all Council meetings: Public comment is allowed and encouraged for the first reading of all ordinances. People are asked to sign up ahead of time with the Council Clerk to testify. Council Chambers can accommodate about 180 people. Meetings are hybrid, so people can also testify via Zoom if they wish. Find out how to testify on the council webpage. 

Project Background 

Since 2019, Environmental Services has been conducting a rate study or cost-of-service analysis, which is a technical analysis comparing our rates and charges with peer agencies. The analysis focuses on developing recommendations for updating how we charge our ratepayers to ensure billing is more consistent with service costs. 

As part of this effort, BES conducted an outreach and engagement effort to gather community feedback and input on various aspects of the rate study. The community engagement opportunities informed how Environmental Services proposes to update its rate structure. 

View our webpage for more information about our work to align our current sewer and stormwater rates and charges with service costs.