October 27, 2021

Hello Portlanders,

Better late than never?!
I’m sorry to be late with my monthly email. My Zoom is tomorrow - and I’ve included some important updates below. I hope you will take the time to read.

Monthly Mayor Zoom Meeting (No formal agenda. Come one, come all.)
This Thursday, October 28, 2021 at Noon
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88095041938?pwd=M0Z1dy9YTFo0SnVVUCsycnFaL0J5dz09
FMI info click here
(For anyone new to my email list - I host a monthly “Mayor Zoom” meeting. This is a relaxed, drop-in meeting with no agenda. I’m interested in hearing what’s on your mind. And, I’m happy to answer questions to the best of my ability. This has proven to be a good way to share information, ideas, and concerns. If you can’t make this meeting, please know there will be another next month - always during the last week of the month, but on different days of the week, and at different times of day - in hopes of reaching as many people as possible as the months go...)

Some Important Updates:

Update on Asylum Seekers coming to Portland
“Currently, we have 31 families for 88 individuals on-site at the family shelter with four rooms open to absorb after-hours arrivals. Hotels, which are paid and processed through Portland’s General Assistance, have a census of 119 families for 390 people. The 478 individuals in families sheltered by the City exceeds the total number of individuals assisted in the summer of 2019, when the City opened the Expo.”
This is information from an October 4th memo from city staff to the Council’s HHS Committee. (see the full memo here, FMI) 

Homeless Services Center
The Portland City Council will take action this Monday, November 1st, to “Approve the Homeless Services Center Ground and Building Master Leases at 654 Riverside Street”. Public Comment will be taken. A First Read on this action was on the October 18th Council Agenda. To read all background information provided at that time - and to be included again for the November 1st agenda - scroll down to Order 82 here. 

Election & Voting. Election day is next Tuesday - November 2nd!
Information about in-person early voting, mailed ballots, and day of election voting can be found here. Tomorrow - Thursday, October 28th is the last day for early in person voting at City Hall. You can vote up until 7pm tomorrow. On Tuesday, November 2nd, you can vote in person at your polling location. Click here to see Polling Place Locations and Maps. ALL POLLING LOCATIONS ARE OPEN ON ELECTION DAY FROM 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM. 

2021 District Meetings
District meetings will be held remotely. This page will be updated soon with access information - however, dates are available now - so please mark your calendar! District meetings are an opportunity for residents to discuss neighborhood issues with the Mayor, City Councilors, the City Manager, and City staff. (Please note: the District 2 meeting will be held when there is a Councilor to host.)

American Rescue Plan Act Funding for Portland
The City Council is scheduled to vote to allocate ~$14.2M in Federal ARPA funds at our meeting on Monday, November 1st. Public Comment will be taken.
This Council action is the culmination of a multi-month process to review eligibility standards for the funds, consider community input (individuals and organizations), city staff priorities, and Council priorities. FMI and to look up background, click here.
Brief ARPA overview: the City of Portland is considered an Entitlement Community and was awarded $46M in Federal ARPA funds. This was and is wonderful news. The first “tranche” of ~$23M was received in May 2021. $8.75M was allocated to the FY22 City of Portland Municipal Budget in order to fill municipal revenue gaps (think lost revenues related to Covid-19 such as parking revenues, cruise ship revenues, etc.). Use of ARPA funds in the annual budget was a strategic decision so as not to require raising this revenue gap through local property taxes. The remaining funds allocation decision from this first “tranche” is what’s being considered and decided on Monday. 
The second tranche of $23M will be received in May 2022. Determinations regarding possible use in the FY23 Municipal Budget will be managed within the annual budget development work. 

City Manager Transition
We will be saying goodbye, thank you, and good luck to City Manager Jon Jennings on Monday, November 1st at our Council Meeting. (To join us - please find the agenda, and Zoom link here.) As a reminder, the City Council took action on October 4th to appoint Portland’s Corporation Counsel, Danielle West, as Interim City Manager, effective Tuesday, November 2nd. Associate Corporation Counsel Jen Thompson will step in as Interim Corporation Counsel at the same time. The Council is very grateful to both Danielle West and Jen Thompson for their willingness to step into these interim roles while the City Council conducts a search for a permanent replacement. On October 18th, I named the Council members of our Search Subcommittee. Joining me will be Councilors Ali, Dion and Fournier. Our first meeting will be at 8am, Tuesday November 9th and will take place remotely. 

My best,

Kate Merchant Snyder

General Information regarding access to City Updates, and City Council work:

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 Monday, November 1st.

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

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.

Sign up for 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.