Council Meeting

Portland City Council PM Session

The Portland City Council PM session on July 17, 2025, covered several key issues affecting city governance and compliance with federal programs. One major topic was the amendment of the city code to align with FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, which is crucial for maintaining eligibility for flood insurance. This amendment, after thorough discussion and testimony from the public, was passed unanimously. Another significant decision was the approval of a ten-year cable franchise agreement with Comcast of Oregon, ensuring continued operation and access. Lastly, the council debated amendments to the council’s tiebreaking rules, specifically regarding the mayor’s role in breaking ties. An amendment to allow multiple council voting rounds in the event of a tie before the mayor intervenes was proposed but ultimately failed to pass. The session demonstrated the council’s active role in addressing complex issues and making decisions critical to the city’s compliance and operational governance.

Key Points

  • Discussion on amending flood hazard areas code to comply with FEMA requirements.
  • Granting a cable franchise agreement to Comcast of Oregon.
  • Amendment of council organization and procedure code to include council rule on tiebreaking.

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Votes

PASSED
Amend flood hazard areas code to comply with FEMA National Flood Insurance Program pre-implementation compliance measures.
10 for, 0 against
Motion: Item 20
PASSED
Grant a cable franchise agreement to Comcast of Oregon to continue access to the right of way and operate a cable system for a period of ten years.
10 for, 0 against
Motion: Item 21
FAILED
Proposed amendment to allow council to vote up to two times in case of a tie before the mayor casts a deciding vote.
6 for, 4 against
Motion: Amendment to Item 22
The amendment proposed by Councilor Avalos failed to pass.

Action Items

  • Further discussion and possible amendment to the council organization and procedure code regarding mayoral tiebreaking votes.