Council Updates
Zenith Resolution Passes
The City Council passed a resolution directing the Mayor to pause any administrative actions related to Zenith Energy until the investigation of the franchise agreement is complete and urging the City Auditor to investigate the City's handling of Zenith's Land use Compatibility Statement applications.
Portlanders have lost faith in the City when it comes to Zenith. I'm proud to support this step to restore transparency and accountability on an issue that impacts the environment, health and safety of thousands of North Portland residents. My office will continue to share updates as developments unfold.
Creating Affordable Housing & Protecting Renters
On Wednesday, April 2, the City Council will hear a proposed resolution I'm co-sponsoring to study social housing and an ordinance to ban algorithmic rental pricing. Portland's shortage of housing for lower- and middle-income residents is an emergency. We need more than 20,000 new affordable housing units—at a rate of 6,000 a year—to meet Portlanders' needs and Governor Kotek's housing production goals. Social housing models have been effective in addressing similar needs in other cities, and I support studying them and other alternative housing models as options here in Portland.
I also support the ordinance that would ban property rental companies from using an algorithm to coordinate on setting rent prices. Algorithmic pricing is anticompetitive and leads to artificially inflated rates for renters. As one of only a handful of City Councilors in Portland's history who are renters, I will always fight for pro-tenant housing policies.
I encourage everyone who cares about equitable, affordable housing in our city to attend this Council meeting (in person or virtually) and share your testimony!
District News
Swimming in North Portland
Portland Parks & Recreation is working to get Pier Pool back online and is on track to re-open the pool this summer! Construction is expected to begin in mid-April and be completed in late June. Updates will be posted to the Pier Pool webpage every two weeks to keep community members informed.
On March 17, the City decided to pause the planned demolition of Columbia Pool. Thank you for letting us know how important this pool is to our community! While there isn't yet funding identified for a potential renovation or reopening, my District 2 colleagues, the Mayor and I are glad we were able to preserve the option, and we're committed to expanding swimming access for North & Northeast Portlanders.
St. Johns Community Center
I heard you loud and clear: Keep St. Johns Community Center open! The City Administrator's preliminary budget recommendations proposed closing one community center; however, they did not suggest any specific one. I do not support the closure of any community centers, and I'm working with District 2 colleagues and Portland Parks & Recreation to find ways to preserve them.
I've been meeting with constituents at some great spots across the district, like the NE Coalition of Neighborhoods, Capitola Coffee, Albina Press and Madrona Hill Cafe. Check out upcoming events below, and feel free to reach out if you'd like to organize an event in your neighborhood!
District 2 Budget Listening Session
Join Mayor Wilson and District 2 City Councilors on Thursday, April 3 from 6:00-8:30 p.m., for a Budget Listening Session at Portland Community College Cascade Moriarty Auditorium, 5514-5518 N. Albina Ave. Share your ideas around budget priorities and how the City can close its budget gap. If you're unable to attend in person, you can watch online on the City's YouTube channel. You're also welcome to submit written testimony related to the City budget anytime.
Q&A Panel with District 2 City Councilors
The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is hosting a forum with Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, Councilor Kanal and Councilor Dan Ryan on Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. Join us at the University of Portland Brian Doyle Auditorium, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., to hear about our experiences and plans for North/Northeast Portland. Admission is free—register today to reserve your spot!
District 2 Town Hall
Join us for a District 2 Town Hall on Thursday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m. at George Middle School, 10000 N. Burr Ave. Hear what the City Council is working on now and discuss the issues impacting your neighborhood during a Q&A.
City Council Meetings
City Council meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month and alternate between day meetings and evening meetings. The next meeting is April 2 at 9:30 a.m. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on YouTube. Agendas post on the City website the Friday before each meeting.
Committee Meetings
City Council Committees meet on the second and fourth week of the month. The next meetings are:
- Monday, April 7, 9:30 a.m.: Transportation and Infrastructure
- Monday, April 7, 12 p.m.: Finance
- Monday, April 7, 2:30 p.m.: Governance
- Tuesday, April 8, 9:30 a.m.: Arts and Economy
- Tuesday, April 8, 12 p.m.: Homelessness and Housing
- Tuesday, April 8, 2:30 p.m.: Community and Public Safety
- Thursday, April 10, 9:30 a.m.: Climate, Resilience, and Land Use
- Thursday, April 10, 12 p.m.: Labor and Workforce Development
Community members are welcome to attend meetings in person at City Hall or view the live broadcast on . Committee agendas post online the Thursday before the meeting.
Neighborhood Association Meetings
The City of Portland posts upcoming neighborhood association meetings on its website. See when your neighbors are gathering this month and view construction and maintenance updates for your area!
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