Portland City Council AM Session 11/04/26

The proposed ban on surveillance pricing and limits on dynamic price increases in retail stalled at first reading after Councilor Zimmerman's amendment prompted Councilor Morillo to seek further committee review; her motion to refer it to the Committee of the Whole failed 3-9. The ordinance will return for a continued first reading in January 2027.

During first reading of an ordinance to declare two PBOT remnant parcels at the SE Foster/Woodstock couplet as surplus property, councilors Smith, Pirtle-Guiney, Kanal, and Council President Dunphy raised concerns about disposing of city land without a broader strategy, calling for a citywide land banking policy, Housing Bureau review of surplus property, and a pause until a comprehensive city asset list is delivered.

During the City Administrator's monthly report, Councilor Kanal raised concerns about a $306,000 contract with biometric firm Tech5 USA and police plans to use Copilot AI despite city restrictions; Administrator Lee promised a review but would not commit to an immediate pause.

During the City Administrator's monthly report, councilors raised concerns about rising motorcycle deaths and noted that 18 of 28 recent traffic deaths on PBOT streets occurred in District 1, though no specific action was taken on the issue.

Not addressed in this meeting; the summary contains no discussion or vote on Portland Fire & Rescue fee schedule changes.

During first reading of an ordinance to declare two small PBOT remnant parcels at the SE Foster/Woodstock couplet as surplus property, Councilors Smith, Pirtle-Guiney, Kanal and Council President Dunphy called for a citywide land banking policy, a Housing Bureau review of surplus property, and a pause on sales until a full city asset list is delivered. No formal action was taken on the broader policy, and the parcel sale ordinance advanced to a second reading.

Not substantively addressed in this meeting; public safety discussion centered on a $306,000 biometric contract with Tech5 USA, police use of Copilot AI, and rising traffic deaths, with no mention of police response times or call volume.

Not a focus of this meeting; police-related concerns raised during the City Administrator's report centered on a $306,000 biometric contract with Tech5 USA and the Police Bureau's plans to use Copilot AI, rather than staffing expansion or cost framework issues.

During public comment, a downtown neighborhood group urged council to publicly release the two competing bids to manage the city's five arts venues (the P5) before a venue manager is selected, but no council action or discussion on the PSU performing arts venue or Keller Auditorium preservation occurred.

The proposed ban on surveillance pricing and limits on dynamic price increases stalled at its first reading after Councilor Zimmerman's amendment prompted debate over whether more committee review was needed. Councilor Morillo's motion to send the item to the Committee of the Whole failed 3-9, and the ordinance was postponed to a continued first reading in January 2027.

During the City Administrator's monthly report, Councilor Kanal raised concerns about a $306,000 contract with biometric firm Tech5 USA and police plans to use Copilot AI despite city restrictions on facial recognition. Administrator Lee promised to review the matter but would not commit to an immediate pause.

Council passed an emergency ordinance (12-0) setting a new event parking rate for the Lloyd Event District, amended to encourage suspending permit boundaries on N Flint Ave and improve PBOT signage after a nearby business reported major revenue losses. Separately, councilors raised concerns about rising motorcycle deaths and noted that 18 of 28 recent traffic deaths occurred on PBOT streets in District 1, while a surplus parcel sale at SE Foster/Woodstock prompted calls for a citywide land banking policy before further PBOT property sales.