Portland City Council AM Session 08/12/26
Council voted to keep the Blazers 20 more years, raising the Moda Center rent to $3.17M/year after a 7-5 vote (a plan to tie rent hikes to Oregon's rent cap failed 6-6). Deal's non-binding for now—final vote's targeted for Dec 17, and Morillo's still pushing for a cost report before any money moves.
Agenda
- 2026-242: Amend the Comprehensive Plan Map and Zoning Map for a vacant lot on NW 31st Ave described as Willamette Heights Addition, Block 18, Lot 14 at the request of Portland Parks and Recreation (LU 26-007966 CP ZC)
- 2026-293: August 2026 City Administrator update
- 2026-213: Direct the Portland Bureau of Transportation to evaluate and implement no turn on red restrictions at signalized intersections within the High Crash Network
- 2026-280: Authorize a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management LLC and Trail Blazers Holdings, LLC outlining the terms for Moda Center arena renovation, operating and lease agreements that will keep the Portland Trail Blazers playing in Portland for at least 20 more years
Summary
A no-turn-on-red pilot for Portland's high crash corridors was approved unanimously. The ordinance directs PBOT to add up to 30 new no-turn-on-red intersections at a cost of about $800,000, aimed at reducing pedestrian and bicycle crashes. Council also unanimously approved a zoning and comprehensive plan change for a vacant lot on NW 31st Avenue requested by Portland Parks and Recreation.
The bulk of the meeting focused on a non-binding term sheet to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland for 20 more years and renovate the city-owned Moda Center. After heated debate, council added rent (initially set at $2 million per year, then raised to $3.17 million by a 7-5 vote), protections for the city's development rights, community benefits reporting, and clearer oversight language. A proposal to peg the rent escalator to Oregon's residential rent cap failed on a 6-6 tie. Councilors who had blocked amendments the prior week supported a repackaged set this time, and several noted the improvements came from council members pushing amendments. Critics including Councilor Morillo called it still the worst public stadium deal in the country and pushed unsuccessfully so far for a required financial opportunity-cost report before any funding vote.
The City Administrator's August update covered Lloyd Center relocation grants, street cleaning pilots in Kenton, Cathedral Park, and St. Johns, National Night Out events, and answered questions about RV relocation services and legal claims involving police use of chemical agents. Next steps on the Moda Center deal include a public work session on October 14, definitive documents filed by December 1, and a final council vote targeted for December 17.
Key Points
- Second reading passed for a no-turn-on-red pilot ordinance at signalized intersections in the high crash network, adding up to 30 new no-turn-on-red intersections at a cost of about $800,000
- Council authorized a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings for a Moda Center renovation and lease deal, adding rent, community benefit language, and oversight after multiple amendments
- City Administrator delivered the August monthly update highlighting creativity themes, Lloyd Center relocation grants, street cleaning pilots, and claims/legal questions
Votes (6)
Item 5 / Document 2026-213 - No Turn on Red Ordinance
Directs PBOT to evaluate and implement no-turn-on-red restrictions at signalized intersections within the high crash network as a pilot
Item 3 / Document 2026-242 - Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map Amendment
Amends the Comprehensive Plan Map and Zoning Map for a vacant lot on Northwest 31st Avenue at the request of Portland Parks and Recreation
Green/Avalos Amendment to the Amendment (rent escalator)
Would peg the Moda Center rent escalator to the maximum allowable rate under Oregon's residential rent stabilization statute (ORS 90.324) instead of CPI or 3%
Dunphy/Pirtle-Guiney/Ryan/Kanal Amendment 1 (Resolution amendments)
Amends the resolution to add budget process, ROI commitments, and clarify mayor and city administrator authority
Dunphy/Pirtle-Guiney/Ryan/Kanal Amendment 2 (Term sheet amendments)
Amends the term sheet to add $2 million rent, development rights, community benefits reporting, third-party tenant benefits, and other terms
Novick Amendment (increase rent to $3.17 million)
Increases the Moda Center rent amount from $2 million to $3.17 million per year with the same escalator to help the city break even over 20 years
Action Items
- PBOT to implement no-turn-on-red pilot and report crash impact data
- Portland Solutions to provide a memo on wraparound services for RV residents near North Portland Road
- Legal/Risk to provide memos clarifying claims denied and defense verdict entries on the claims list
- Negotiating team to continue Moda Center negotiations with the Trail Blazers, county, and state
- Public work session on the Moda Center deal scheduled for October 14, 2026
- Definitive documents to be filed by December 1 for a final vote by December 17, 2026
- City moving toward a two-week advance filing deadline for council items
- Leadership cohort project teams to present quarterly review and cross-service ideas to councilors
Issues Discussed (11)
Council approved a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings for a 20-year lease and Moda Center renovation, after amendments raised annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote) and added development rights protections, community benefits reporting, and oversight language; a proposal to tie the rent escalator to Oregon's residential rent cap failed on a 6-6 tie. Next steps include an October 14 public work session, definitive documents by December 1, and a final vote targeted for December 17.
Portland Solutions was directed to provide a memo on wraparound services for RV residents near North Portland Road, with homelessness response touched on only briefly amid the City Administrator's broader August update.
Council debated oversight and transparency provisions within the Moda Center term sheet, adding community benefits reporting and clearer oversight language after amendments, while critics pushed unsuccessfully for a required financial opportunity-cost report before any funding vote. The city also noted a procedural shift toward a two-week advance filing deadline for council items.
During the City Administrator's August update, council raised questions about legal claims involving police use of chemical agents, prompting Legal/Risk to provide memos clarifying claims denied and defense verdict entries on the claims list; no specific settlement action was taken.
Council unanimously passed the second reading of an ordinance directing PBOT to add up to 30 new no-turn-on-red intersections across the high crash network at a cost of about $800,000, with PBOT tasked to report back on crash impact data.
Council unanimously passed the second reading of the no-turn-on-red pilot ordinance, directing PBOT to add up to 30 new no-turn-on-red intersections in the high crash network at a cost of about $800,000, with PBOT required to report back on crash impact data.
Council approved a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings for the Moda Center renovation, adding amendments that raised annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote) and strengthened development rights protections and oversight language, while a proposal to tie the rent escalator to Oregon's rent cap failed on a 6-6 tie. Critics like Councilor Morillo continued to call it the worst public stadium deal in the country, with a final funding vote targeted for December 17 pending definitive documents due December 1.
Council voted to authorize a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings for a 20-year lease and Moda Center renovation, after amendments raised annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote) and added development rights protections and community benefits reporting, though a proposal to tie the rent escalator to Oregon's residential rent cap failed on a 6-6 tie. Next steps include an October 14 public work session, definitive documents by December 1, and a final vote targeted for December 17.
Council authorized a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings for a 20-year Moda Center lease and renovation after amendments raised annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote) and added development-rights protections, community benefits reporting, and oversight language, though a proposal tying the rent escalator to Oregon's residential rent cap failed 6-6. Next steps include an October 14 public work session, definitive documents by December 1, and a final vote targeted for December 17.
Council approved a non-binding term sheet for a 20-year Trail Blazers lease and Moda Center renovation after amending it to raise annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote), add development rights protections, and strengthen community benefits and oversight language; a rent escalator tied to Oregon's rent cap failed on a 6-6 tie. Critics like Councilor Morillo continued to call it the worst public stadium deal nationally, with next steps including an October 14 public work session and a final vote targeted for December 17.
Council authorized a non-binding term sheet with Rip City Management and Trail Blazers Holdings to keep the team in Portland for 20 years and renovate the Moda Center, after amendments raised annual rent from $2 million to $3.17 million (7-5 vote) and added development rights protections, community benefits reporting, and oversight language. A proposal tying the rent escalator to Oregon's rent cap failed 6-6, and critics like Councilor Morillo continued to call it a bad deal while pushing for a financial opportunity-cost report; next steps include an October 14 work session and a final vote targeted for December