August 25, 2021

Dear Fellow Portlanders,

This is a brief August email, with just a few highlights - and of course - info about my Monthly come-one-come-all-no agenda Zoom meeting.

First Highlight: On August 2nd, the City Council reinstated a Local Emergency Order in order to continue remote meetings. This was a unanimous decision, one that I believe, at this moment, is in the best interest of our community’s health and well being. Council meetings regularly draw crowds. Bringing people into a tight indoor space does not feel like the right thing to do as we see Covid-19 numbers climb. This decision was not made because of a lack of investment in planning for a return to in-person meetings at City Hall, or because of a failure to invest in air circulation within Council Chambers. This is a decision about what’s most prudent regarding community health, and what’s advisable regarding indoor Council meetings.

Next Highlight: On August 23rd the City Council voted 5-3 to advance a Competing Measure which will be offered to voters along with a Citizen Initiated Question regarding shelter capacity. Both questions will appear on the November 2021 ballot. Provision for this Council action is set out in Portland’s City Code Chapter 9. To see all documents supportive of the Council’s work to (1) advance the Citizen Initiative Question to the November ballot, (2) Amend the Citizen Initiative Summary, and (3) Offer a Competing Measure, please see the 8.23 Council Meeting Packet with all back up materials inclusive of amendments. While the Citizen Initiative seeks to limit new emergency shelter capacity to 50, the Council’s competing measure limits new emergency shelter capacity to 150.  

This Month’s Zoom: Monday, August 30th 4 - 4:45pm. The reason for the 45 min time slot is that I have a Council Workshop starting at 5pm. 
I move the day of week and time of day each month. If you can’t make it this time, please try for another! 
To Join the Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82109334746?pwd=Y3BXQTVyZENPMGZzTGVhWTRTWHEydz09

September is almost here...I hope you enjoy the last few days of August, 

Kate Merchant Snyder

City Council Meetings: 
The Portland City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. In the case of a Monday holiday, we typically meet the next Wednesday. In the case of school vacation weeks, we typically push the meeting by a week. Agendas and Info, go here.

The next City Council meeting is Wednesday, September 8th. 

Council Workshops:
Please Check in here to see all upcoming meetings.

On Monday, August 30th, there will be 2 Workshops back to back starting at 5pm regarding Fair Elections and City Manager Search Process. 

Council Committees: 

There are five Council Committees: Finance, Health & Human Services & Public Safety, Sustainability & Transportation, Housing & Economic Development, and Legislative & Nominating. For Committee Meeting Info, go here.

City News & Updates:
Sent every Friday afternoon straight to you. Email or Text. 
If you’re generally curious about City updates and news - please click here to subscribe to the ‘City News’ group. You can also go to that page to click on the latest weekly update - and look back through news, too. The weekly compile has everything from Council decisions to construction updates to news about things happening around town. It’s a fantastic, concise, easy to read resource.