[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6533750,"mediaKeyId","3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da","parentId",3660916,"title","Council adopts committee rules after amendments to clarify referrals, testimony access and analysis requirements","audioSeconds",3007,"startMs",5226000,"endMs",8233000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da&start=5226&end=8233","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da/thumbnail_5226000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533750/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-adopts-committee-rules-after-amendments-to-clarify-referrals-testimony-access-and-analysis-requirements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533750-27d55d5a34c7cce9af3ee38ccac8aedc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993737&Signature=idHovXeCuLFye5NY7qyY4Fz0z6dPZFV3fN3d4UOB922RX6nfxlUIlSmFXK9wqFAmp02qSCMVyUDsDbzZUVAskCgMsgRZuPO7ReOPg3HvurJYBo5uiU6kMWRmfz9chG-IW~DGS5RjDxzpjXJDL--1ouk2DotAbas1r3KLeGyJNXiD~~u03yYaJs8c8HEdk7S8~t3uxh4PzS4RkUL6J4wlvrAluCVhZ8zkZQzXLLgo1XdhMj~qyOC~aS5F7Ufy~OXMvHxFpQa4xCbiosuSuonQiYFn17-fU~Iwd-sYMD6IJcXIEemZC85jA3tNSZ1PIlEk9Rw7TtrxajLt9TOQ~PLdbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-06-04T20:57:57Z","article","Portland City Council adopted a resolution establishing rules for council committees after the governance committee forwarded an amended draft to the full council.

The resolution, developed and unanimously recommended by the Governance Committee, sets procedures covering quorum, public notice, testimony access, meeting recordings and how items are referred from the mayor, auditor or councilors to committees. Councilors debated several floor amendments before adopting the resolution as amended.

Key changes approved on the council floor: an amendment clarifying that when the council president delegates proposals to committees, that delegation is governed by existing city code (so committee rules do not supersede code); and language in committee materials that will include links to oral and written testimony so council members who were not present can access public comment efficiently.

Council members and several public commenters urged additional improvements. The League of Women Voters submitted written suggestions recommending timely online posting of materials at least 48 hours before committee meetings and a mechanism allowing people who signed up to testify but were not heard in committee to present at a subsequent committee meeting. Several councilors also discussed whether staff summaries of testimony risk filtering public input and whether the clerk and council operations should provide easier access to original written testimony and recordings.

The council adopted the resolution after consideration and amendment; councilors asked staff to return with implementation details and to work with the clerk’s office and BTS to improve accessibility of committee materials and testimony on the city website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council AM Session 06/04/25","oneSentenceSummary","Portland City Council adopted a set of rules for council committees, changing language to clarify how items are referred to committees, how the public can access testimony, and how bureaus may produce impact analyses.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533755,"Portland approves $2.6 million in settlements over park and pool incidents; parks bureau replaced hundreds of light poles",403,2449000,2852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da&start=2449&end=2852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da/thumbnail_2449000.jpg","/articles/6533755/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-approves-26-million-in-settlements-over-park-and-pool-incidents-parks-bureau-replaced-hundreds-of-light-poles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533755-115c9f41b8b279d27a8468c2865972f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993737&Signature=Gdjf21P8nZkWB5rcFbXAtDAdB-f6XkaqzaH24Ahpzk2zc1KfyrHm1H9mtqCK8fIJxrpiml~mSLkGC3ZkP0lWeKlL2UgYNUvH3ROTQPDUC0iTgmwEVVMawyD41mkSZwG9OOZlKdcZmfSBrnYnHWcd8Vks2zBgUSpi8WXue3srlToMYVS~dh1mhbEHB9vKQYsBF0745bD6kXOsQ38~r3j-GaEpVxI-QA~AUITZese8Tavs3H7GjLF7oCbNB9Sn3LZ4MWqlhFNuUX11rItlVqEO3xx4wn3oLEjRVK0-BUGBMcsYzZW8hVu0tGSne1J5R1VB5p46fN~KVVVJir1Nfj8PQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council approved two ordinances on Wednesday resolving lawsuits tied to Portland Parks and Recreation incidents: a $942,600 settlement in a hammock‑related light pole collapse at Irving Park and a $1,660,400 settlement in a drowning at a city pool.

On the hammock incident, city attorneys told the council the pole to which a hammock had been tied failed and fell onto a child and an adult on June 23, 2022. The Parks Bureau contracted KPFF Inc. to conduct a structural analysis; KPFF found inadequate tie‑wire diameter, misaligned base hairpins and corrosion among potential failure causes and recommended immediate removal of poles with the same anchoring design. Parks inspected over 1,000 similar poles and removed about 300 of the same anchoring design, the bureau said.

City attorneys recommended approval of a $782,600 settlement for the claims by EF (a minor) and Daniela Araujo, and a $160,000 settlement for claims by Eva Levin. During council discussion, Councilor Kunal praised Parks for proactively inspecting and replacing poles and asked about enforcement of a rule that prohibits hanging hammocks in parks; Parks staff said the rule exists in Title 20, is posted in some parks and park rangers may enforce it but are not always present.

The council approved the ordinance on a recorded vote of 12 ayes.

Separately, the council approved a $1,660,400 settlement to resolve a wrongful death claim filed by the estate of M.A., a minor who drowned at a city pool in August 2023. Ryan Bailey, deputy city attorney and legal counsel on the matter, said city attorneys, risk management and parks reviewed the facts and exposures and recommended settlement. Councilors expressed sympathy for the family; there was no public testimony in either item. The drowning settlement also passed on a recorded vote of 12 ayes.

Parks officials said the hammock pole incident prompted a citywide safety response: inspection of poles in parks and replacement of those with the same anchoring design. Councilors noted the combined settlement amounts in the context of budget pressures and asked staff how many park rangers could be funded with the settlement money; Parks staff estimated a fully‑loaded park ranger salary would be about $133,000, and councilors noted the settlements roughly equated to the cost of several ranger positions.

The council adopted both ordinances after brief presentations by the city attorney’s office and Parks staff and without public testimony.","The city council approved settlements totaling $2,602, by two separate ordinances resolving a hammock‑related light pole collapse at Irving Park and a wrongful‑death drowning at a city pool. Parks inspected thousands of poles and removed hundreds after a structural review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533759,"Portland council remands Children’s Levy allocations, approves one‑year extension at reduced level",3713,3590000,7303000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da&start=3590&end=7303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660916-7fbbec601da47c1a0b27a8bc717ae0da/thumbnail_3590000.jpg","/articles/6533759/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-council-remands-Childrens-Levy-allocations-approves-oneyear-extension-at-reduced-level","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533759-b77dcee525d09464c82897706f2bab30/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993737&Signature=Ou55wljQk6I5lea~CzORN~S9lDZWOiUvwga1sHIeCeH1vKF4MwVg-7QuU5SHBJhlwLxJTKHdARAO2AVEUa6QJtNlE7hMBQ7kDk-dRRHLFgU44RbQdSRhQY81-MBc-Ra81HOw1z3o7SMN5AhLtn4qgOFda9L57hyEGkHuCiF9pvEYeQ8FP3n3ojsKYOWihQWkX3nla8zjfD~5VEOnlEY-cvjWjC471bgaPRlqP6rqmXvZsVQ~Glhihr4R9~MK3cc5OKJjWVd5xFCSvg65LEp8d~bWzXlqp9Tts7Rzq603MZKvC0YjektMIoH~LGoCylZGAP0zHPdILm2~dnF9VmYWoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council remanded the Portland Children’s Levy allocation recommendations for further review and approved an emergency ordinance extending current grants for one year at lower funding levels to avoid a disruption on July 1.

The council voted to send the levy recommendations back to the Portland Children’s Levy for reexamination after multiple councilors and community members raised concerns about how applications were scored and whether the process accounted for COVID‑era impacts on long‑standing providers. The remand motion passed on a 7‑vote tally. Council then approved an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of the levy to extend existing FY2024‑25 grant awards for 12 months with a percentage reduction to reflect lower projected levy revenues, an action supporters said was necessary to prevent immediate service interruptions.

Councilors and several community representatives spent more than an hour debating whether problems reflected errors in application of the existing scoring process or broader flaws in the process design. Councilor Kendra Smith said organizations in historically underserved communities had reported “systemic problems” with the process and urged the council to pause allocations so the grievances could be addressed. “We have major questions about why some applicants were denied funds even though their applications were significantly higher than organizations who were successfully awarded funds,” Smith said during the discussion.

Opponents of an immediate remand argued that delaying funding would hurt children and families served by current grantees. Councilor Ryan, who supported keeping a competitive process, said the levy’s competitive, data‑driven approach is what taxpayers expect. “This was especially true coming out of COVID,” Ryan said, adding that the evaluation process had been thorough and relied on community reviewers and volunteers.

Lisa Pellegrino, director of the Portland Children’s Levy, told the council every application was scored and that the levy team had shared detailed score sheets and summaries with council members. “Every application in this process was scored, and we provided the counselors access to a folder that shows the scores for every organization and a summary of each scoring,” Pellegrino said. She also said the allocation committee had reduced recommended funding levels across the board because projected levy revenues were down.

Councilors pressed levy staff on several technical points: whether reviewers read submitted written testimony, how data from the COVID years were treated in scoring, and whether the application format disadvantaged newer organizations or those with less grant‑writing capacity. Panelists acknowledged the tension between preserving funding for established providers and opening space for newer groups that the community council and allocation committee had urged the levy to support.

The remand instructs the levy to revisit the allocation decisions; council did not detail a specific set of rules for redoing scoring, leaving some procedural guidance to follow‑up meetings between council and levy staff. To prevent a gap in services while the remand is carried out, the council passed an emergency ordinance giving the levy director authority to extend current grants for up to 12 months and to pro‑rate awards to reflect projected revenue declines. Levy director Pellegrino said staff could implement the extension administratively if council acted quickly.

Self Enhancement, Inc., a long‑standing levy recipient, told the council it supported the one‑year extension to avoid service interruptions while the allocation questions are resolved. Sahan McKelvey, director of advocacy and engagement at Self Enhancement, Inc., said the organization preferred the remand to a sudden funding cut: “This is something that we would support as a path forward from where we are right now.”

Council members who voted for the remand said they expected the levy to return with clarified documentation of scoring, reviewer composition, and how COVID‑era data were treated. Those who opposed remand said they feared a lengthy redo would produce similar results and would deny immediate funding to children and families.

The emergency ordinance requires a supermajority vote to take immediate effect; council recorded the necessary affirmative votes and approved the one‑year extension. Council directed staff and Levy leadership to report back with an expedited plan for the remand, options for holding contracts harmless during reconsideration, and a timetable for when a reissued allocation list could be expected.","After hours of debate about scoring, equity and process, Portland City Council voted to remand the Portland Children’s Levy allocation decisions for further review and to approve an emergency, one‑year extension of existing grants at reduced funding to avoid a July 1 funding gap.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council adopts committee rules after amendments to clarify referrals, testimony access and analysis requirements

Portland approves $2.6 million in settlements over park and pool incidents; parks bureau replaced hundreds of light poles

Portland council remands Children’s Levy allocations, approves one‑year extension at reduced level