[{"_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",6655060,"mediaKeyId","5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9","parentId",5422892,"title","Council debates tie-breaking rule; adopts narrow provision to reschedule tied items for mayor'only vote","audioSeconds",1540,"startMs",3634000,"endMs",5174000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9&start=3634&end=5174","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9/thumbnail_3634000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655060/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-debates-tie-breaking-rule-adopts-narrow-provision-to-reschedule-tied-items-for-mayoronly-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655060-356ee4c817c0a42e6e32d732a1ea9fe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770493212&Signature=BpAf1NdLqcd-rx9QUggD0pVPWbs3HQQ3TvMFVBbrKTxH9zYIGYbgPIs--a-aO9wI9waJEzzTirQvunnxGh4Cm7q5P-K8kh7ZtRukyEHw9VjyrZKQyysNlhxpkeRK0owuLjmeILqWsu-aGM2QblWN7uv0uA3oNwywAqPbtHqlKfuzCVIAHFA6ub-Vsu6ifKKfFBafJk5w8aE2mc1IznPVyouATFAPYLLCpBoj78yeeTh-mGSRRGiS32M8uz6o3hl1c2FrufzQ-OCWlYMaM~4yJfxojyGJBh-ltnyDHe9qjdOUmIvdKP-DkTM9HrQAJ6g1IfYocC86VQZFLC0JVqZckA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-07-18T00:35:30.797Z","article","Portland City Council held a lengthy discussion July 17 about proposed code clarifications on when the mayor may cast a tie-breaking vote. The item is a first reading; council did not take final passage and the ordinance will return for a second reading. Councilors debated multiple amendments and procedural approaches for resolving 6-6 ties under a 12-member council.

Councilor Jo Ann Avalos (sponsor of the amendment) said she wanted to preserve legislative responsibility within council and give members \"the opportunity as a council to debate our differences\" before resorting to a mayoral tiebreak. She proposed an amendment to require multiple subsequent rounds of voting before the mayor could intervene; that amendment was discussed and ultimately failed on a 6-4 recorded vote.

City Attorney Robert Taylor explained the procedural background: under Robert's Rules, a member can change a vote before the result is announced, and a motion to reconsider has legal consequences if it fails. Taylor said that the proposed amendment's language that subsequent rounds \"would not require a motion to reconsider\" would be read to mean that a subsequent round brought before the body \"is just back before the body as if there had been a successful motion to reconsider\" and that \"you can engage in debate. You can amend it. You can refer it back to committee.\" He advised council that the precise mechanics can be clarified in code language.

After extended discussion and multiple proposed changes, council adopted by roll call (7 yes, 3 no) a narrower amendment that reads, in effect: if the mayor is unavailable to cast a tie-breaking vote during a meeting, the tied result is \"deemed inconclusive\" and the matter will be automatically postponed and rescheduled to the next council meeting \"for the sole purpose of the mayor casting their vote.\" If the mayor is not present at that rescheduled meeting, the mayor's absence is treated as a \"no\" vote under the code provision that treats absences as no votes.

Councilors who opposed expanding the mayor's role said they were concerned about carving exceptions into the charter or creating ways for an executive to delay council decisions. Councilor Smith argued the charter language is plain and cautioned against altering the charter's intent in code. Other councilors said the change is intended to minimize procedural confusion and give council a narrow, public opportunity to resolve ties when the mayor's presence is needed.

The ordinance was discussed at length but not voted on for final passage; the president noted that any amendments adopted on second reading would either require an emergency clause and nine votes to take immediate effect, or else would delay final adoption by the required post-adoption waiting period.

Key takeaways

- The item is a first reading; council will consider a second reading at a future meeting.
- Council rejected proposals to require multiple additional rounds of voting before a mayoral tiebreak, but approved (7-3) a narrower process to reschedule tied matters so the mayor can cast a deciding vote at the next meeting for that narrow purpose.
- The council and city attorney discussed how Robert's Rules and motions to reconsider interact with subsequent votes; the attorney said the proposed language could be interpreted to allow additional debate and amendment on subsequent rounds.

Representative quotes

- Councilor Jo Ann Avalos (sponsor): \"I believe that policy differences should be resolved between councilors. I don't think that we should be relying on the mayor to settle debates.\"
- City Attorney Robert Taylor: \"If I was asked to interpret this language, I would say that, once you are engaged in the second round, it is just back before the body as if there had been a successful motion to reconsider. You can engage in debate. You can amend it. You can refer it back to committee.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council PM Session 07/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Council debated and amended a proposed ordinance July 17 that would clarify when the mayor may cast a tie-breaking vote; council adopted an amendment (7-3) to reschedule tied items so the mayor can cast a deciding vote at the next meeting for that sole purpose.","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},6655064,"Council approves 10-year Comcast franchise, affirms right to pursue municipal broadband",166,3030000,3196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9&start=3030&end=3196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9/thumbnail_3030000.jpg","/articles/6655064/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-approves-10-year-Comcast-franchise-affirms-right-to-pursue-municipal-broadband","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655064-fd106f3135faf5fd33d3b0cf5389add6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770493212&Signature=l2pgD4Lhlu1yU-Q0z-OnS~vQQ2MDTag~zJi-Wh1CxV08WqZ9FdCbbedMV7fsuCNw8xJ4BysxZ-zqsUZZiHwA7vOMZUNK4fbAHVRnl-z2RY3jsKoYenmS8GMrUfJB1v3HSz3n1Qt6ERIkNEuR962nRebk-VTxAQOpZeCvbHwW1JNnPwX1wfshO9D-NYXp6SIqyhnesSSy4xyeDXkE4pKsjM~WHADmYfcavZNA0AHfq~5N0OwHKMTg2Coaa75jKVtvrno4JOb0Io5W0T~OOBwHMF5RuAJ34M6NczOwnoPU0c-RdupkVFc9ORJ454m7br~bPlhJxluv1-fwc75~mvS2Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council on July 17 approved a 10-year cable franchise agreement allowing Comcast of Oregon continued access to city rights-of-way and operation of a cable system.

The measure was considered on second reading and passed by roll call (recorded in the transcript as 10 yes votes). Discussion was brief. Councilor Green noted the staff presentation explained how the franchise interacts with the city's existing cable franchise framework and stressed that the agreement \"does not preclude the city of Portland from pursuing municipal broadband system in the future.\" Donnie Olivera, a staff member answering technical questions, confirmed that nothing in the document limits the city's ability to explore municipal internet options.

The ordinance grants Comcast a 10-year franchise term to operate within the public right-of-way subject to the terms in the agreement. Councilors who flagged concerns emphasized affordability and access as continuing policy goals and said exploring public options remains possible while the private franchise is in place.

Action taken

- Ordinance (second reading) approving a 10-year franchise agreement with Comcast of Oregon — Approved by roll call (10 yes).","Portland City Council approved a 10-year franchise agreement with Comcast of Oregon in a second-reading vote. Councilors emphasized that the franchise does not block the city from exploring municipal broadband in the future.",{"_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},6655069,"Portland council adopts emergency floodplain ordinance to maintain flood insurance eligibility",2506,533000,3039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9&start=533&end=3039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5422892-2fd189ce6b6b1ced0c2b50ad7b87f5e9/thumbnail_533000.jpg","/articles/6655069/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-council-adopts-emergency-floodplain-ordinance-to-maintain-flood-insurance-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655069-12c7ef2660e7ea3aad51f889d3db0db2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770493212&Signature=YHlGl3P1~bmPheFrvhYVLCTblU3cH25P~jmwoe-hlta0TLSIVLm9aveNP5kISzctqq2E~~F4OYFaEp9xR6-mC714CrWHA5GcTaibgGnc~ASVSFLzGrNmm4MWtfHt7XIBMMOQ1pZ8-KYGs~DAVjLTPNK46yPNynR1zFOjSwXymZqmuXbmpebXttHaVmXYn8bEf0jlG6y94ZFOSccY4DXeoWEkp9pgV3dLtr51-69D~yYNGDDNqKIAUscTjAHgB0P7gfdL0roQ2Ydl6XYRTscjPxrqX0b6l3ptxjO926O3mdXQnrJNBditJZ6ro1ceDjRQ2W2c9g5ceVNt5uaOGbuCBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland City Council passed an emergency ordinance July 17 amending Portland City Code Title 24.5 (Flood Hazard Areas) to adopt FEMA'recommended pre-implementation compliance measures so the city remains eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The ordinance was presented by Claire Adamsick, a council policy analyst, who told council the measure \"amends Portland city code title 24.5 flood hazard areas to bring the city as a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program into compliance with FEMA requirements\" and incorporates FEMA's model code language and measures intended to prevent net loss of fish habitat.

Council and staff said the change is time-sensitive. Council President introduced two amendments: one clarified the definition of \"functionally dependent uses\" to remove a newly added phrase that could be interpreted to include indirect uses while retaining language excluding \"long term storage or related manufacturing facilities,\" and a second amendment added an emergency clause so the ordinance could take effect before FEMA's July 31 deadline. Patricia Diefendorfer, a city permitting bureau attorney, told council the wording change \"will not change the way the, the rules are implemented,\" and was intended to reduce future ambiguity.

The committee history and public engagement were part of the staff summary: the ordinance was heard in the Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee on May 29 and June 12; staff reported 8 people testified at the first meeting, 3 at the second, and 14 written submissions. Testimony focused on protecting riparian habitat and salmon, tribal consultation, and the interplay between environmental protections and industrial uses in the North Reach of the Willamette River.

Public commenters included representatives of industry and conservation groups. Tanya Hartnett of the Working Waterfront Coalition urged caution about long-term impacts on harbor businesses and asked the council to keep the measure temporary in order to preserve industrial jobs. Charice Bach of 350PDX and Micah Muskell of Bird Alliance of Oregon urged passage to protect river habitat and maintain insurance eligibility; Muskell said, \"The protections put in place today are important, for salmon, for people, and our economy.\" Marnie Glickman read testimony from Heather King of Willamette Riverkeeper urging the city not to weaken the federal language and opposing a sunset clause.

Council approved the first amendment (functionally dependent use wording) by roll call (recorded as 10 yes votes). Council then approved the emergency-clause amendment by roll call (recorded as 10 yes votes). With the two amendments adopted, the council passed the ordinance as an emergency ordinance by roll call (recorded as 10 yes votes). Councilors and staff repeatedly framed the ordinance as an interim step to meet FEMA deadlines while the city returns later to craft longer-term regulations after federal processes conclude.

The ordinance and amendments do not represent final, long-term code changes; council members and multiple witnesses emphasized the measure is interim and that the city will revisit rules after FEMA completes NEPA and finalizes long-term compliance guidance.

Votes at a glance

- Amendment (functionally dependent use definition) — Approved (10 yes; motion moved from the dais; second not specified in the public roll call) — outcome: approved.
- Amendment (emergency clause) — Approved (10 yes; second recorded as Councilor Ryan) — outcome: approved.
- Amended ordinance (emergency adoption of Title 24.5 changes) — Approved (10 yes) — outcome: approved as emergency ordinance.

What happens next

Because council adopted the ordinance as an emergency measure, it takes effect immediately. Staff and council said they intend to return with permanent rules after the federal process is complete.","Portland City Council on July 17 passed emergency amendments to Title 24.5 to adopt FEMA'aligned interim floodplain rules, including two council amendments the council approved by roll call. The changes are intended to keep the city in the National Flood Insurance Program pending final federal rules.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council debates tie-breaking rule; adopts narrow provision to reschedule tied items for mayor'only vote

Council approves 10-year Comcast franchise, affirms right to pursue municipal broadband

Portland council adopts emergency floodplain ordinance to maintain flood insurance eligibility