Portland City Council City Life Committee 08/11/26

The committee advanced a resolution supporting a new city-owned, ~3,000-seat Broadway-capable venue at PSU with a due-pass recommendation, but adopted amendments requiring council review of a full financial plan (total cost, capital stack, city contribution) before any funds are committed, with staff estimating roughly $44 million eventually needed from the city; Councilor Ryan voted no citing unresolved funding and Keller-related questions. A companion amendment directed the city to keep Keller Auditorium open through construction and pursue funding to renovate it into a smaller theater.

District Two councilors Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, and Kanal introduced a resolution directing the city to begin negotiating with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near the Moda Center in lower Albina. An amendment added a 12-month negotiation window and removed "exclusively" language after Councilor Morillo raised sole-source concerns, with officials clarifying no land transfer or funding commitment is made until a final agreement returns to council.

The PFAS firefighter suits item was not taken up at this meeting and was rescheduled for consideration in late September 2026.

District Two councilors Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, and Kanal presented a resolution directing the city to begin negotiating with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near the Moda Center, with an amendment adding a 12-month negotiation window and removing "exclusively" language to avoid a sole-source lock-in. The resolution moved forward without committing land or funds, with Moda lease negotiations expected to conclude in December and any final agreement returning to council for approval.

District Two councilors (Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Kanal) introduced a resolution directing the city to negotiate with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near the Moda Center in lower Albina, with an amendment setting a 12-month negotiation window and removing "exclusively" language to avoid a sole-source commitment. Officials clarified the resolution doesn't transfer land or commit funds, with any final agreement requiring council approval, and separate Moda lease negotiations are expected to conclude in December.

The committee did not directly address the $573 million Moda Center renovation funding figure; instead, District Two councilors advanced a related resolution directing the city to negotiate with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near Moda Center, with officials emphasizing no land transfer or funds are committed at this stage and any final agreement would return to council for approval.

Not addressed in this meeting; the summary covers unrelated items (PSU performing arts venue, Keller Auditorium, and Albina Vision Trust negotiations) with no mention of RICAP 11 Land Use Code Amendments.

Not mentioned in this meeting summary; the session focused on the PSU performing arts venue, Keller Auditorium, and Albina Vision Trust negotiations.

District Two councilors Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, and Kanal introduced a resolution directing the city to begin negotiating with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near the Moda Center in lower Albina; an amendment set a 12-month negotiation window and removed "exclusively" language over concerns about a sole-source arrangement. The resolution moved forward without transferring land or committing funds, with any final agreement required to return to council.

The committee adopted the Clark-Zimmerman amendment directing the city to keep Keller Auditorium open throughout construction of the new PSU performing arts venue and to seek funding for its eventual renovation into a smaller theater, acknowledging the building's seismic vulnerabilities and deferred maintenance. No specific funding source or amount was committed for Keller's future capital needs at this time.

The PFAS firefighter suits item was not taken up at this meeting; it was rescheduled and is now expected to come before the committee in late September 2026.

The committee advanced a resolution supporting a roughly 3,000-seat Broadway-capable venue at PSU, but amended it to soften commitment language and require a full financial plan (including the city's estimated $44 million contribution) before any funds are approved; the state has already committed $137 million. A companion amendment directs the city to keep Keller Auditorium open during construction and pursue funding for its eventual renovation into a smaller theater, with Councilor Ryan dissenting over unresolved funding and Keller-future questions.

District Two councilors Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, and Kanal introduced a resolution directing the city to begin negotiating with Albina Vision Trust as development partner for city-owned parcels near the Moda Center, an area where the Black community was historically displaced by urban renewal and I-5 construction. An amendment set a 12-month negotiation window and removed "exclusively" language over concerns about a sole-source arrangement, with officials clarifying the resolution does not transfer land or commit funds and any final agreement would return to council.

The committee voted to advance a resolution supporting a ~3,000-seat Broadway-capable venue at PSU to full council, but amended it to soften funding commitment language and require council approval of a full financial plan (including the city's estimated $44 million contribution) before any money is spent; Councilor Ryan voted no citing funding and Keller uncertainty. A separate amendment was adopted directing the city to keep Keller Auditorium open during construction and pursue funding to renovate it into a smaller theater.