This legislation is being proposed to adopt a streamlined and district-equitable Council committee structure under Portland’s new form of government. Since January 2025, the City Council has operated with eight standing committees meeting on a bi-weekly basis. While this structure has enabled early implementation of policy committee work, it has also led to several challenges:Not all committees currently include representation from each of Portland’s four geographic districts, limiting equity in legislative deliberation.The volume of committee meetings has outpaced the available time for full Council to consider and act on items in public session.The existing workflow places a disproportionate time burden on Councilors, staff, and support teams without sufficient space for whole-Council collaboration or public input on cross-cutting issues.This resolution addresses these structural challenges by consolidating the number of standing policy committees from eight to five and giving the Council President explicit authority to bring matters of the full Council to work sessions or Council meetings to minimize redundant deliberations. It creates a more balanced and sustainable legislative process that ensures district representation on all committees, and reduces the total number of committee meetings. This adjustment supports long-term functionality and accessibility as the City continues to transition to its reformed structure.
Official proposal and impact statementShould Portland establish new City Council committee structure?
This legislation is being proposed to adopt a streamlined and district-equitable Council committee structure under Portland’s new form of government. Since January 2025, the City Council has operated with eight standing committees meeting on a bi-weekly basis. While this structure has enabled early implementation of policy committee work, it has also led to several challenges:Not all committees currently include representation from each of Portland’s four geographic districts, limiting equity in legislative deliberation.The volume of committee meetings has outpaced the available time for full Council to consider and act on items in public session.The existing workflow places a disproportionate time burden on Councilors, staff, and support teams without sufficient space for whole-Council collaboration or public input on cross-cutting issues.This resolution addresses these structural challenges by consolidating the number of standing policy committees from eight to five and giving the Council President explicit authority to bring matters of the full Council to work sessions or Council meetings to minimize redundant deliberations. It creates a more balanced and sustainable legislative process that ensures district representation on all committees, and reduces the total number of committee meetings. This adjustment supports long-term functionality and accessibility as the City continues to transition to its reformed structure.
Official impact statementSee the official legal title
Establish new City Council committee structure
What this proposal would actually do.
Plain-language orientation first. Every substantive statement below links to its official basis.
The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.
Official matter recordThis proposal concerns other city business and requires action through Portland’s public legislative process.
Official matter classification and recordThe revised committee structure is intended to enhance transparency, accessibility, and equity in City governance. By ensuring that every standing committee includes representation from all four districts, this ordinance strengthens geographic equity and brings a broader range of community voices into the policymaking process.Reducing the total number of committees and establishing a predictable, balanced meeting schedule improves public access by making it easier for Portlanders to follow Council business, attend meetings, and engage with their elected representatives.
Official community impact statementWhat the record establishes and what it does not.
Votes show choices. They do not, by themselves, prove why a member made that choice.
Failed · 5–6
Read the exact motion or vote question
Motion to table the item: Moved by Clark and seconded by Smith. (Aye (5): Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Smith, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Absent (1): Ryan). Motion failed to pass.
We will not turn the roll call into invented arguments.
The vote above establishes who supported or opposed that exact motion. A source-validated account of the competing reasons will appear only after human review of the meeting transcript and documents.
This legislation is not anticipated to have significant financial or budgetary impacts. The revised committee structure reflects a rebalancing of Council workload, with fewer overall committee meetings and an increase in full Council meeting time. Existing staff and operational resources are expected to accommodate the new schedule.
Official financial impact statement- The source-linked record has not yet received a human review of competing arguments. A yes or no vote alone does not establish a Councilor’s rationale.
- What implementation evidence will show whether the intended result occurred?
Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.
Official Council agendaInspect the complete research record.
Official text, source files, exact motions, roll calls, provenance, and the technical completeness check remain available without crowding the explanation above.
Official documents12 sources
The operative official record after Council action.
Open at Portland.govShow 6 more documents
Read the full official text
WHEREAS, Sec 2-111 of the Charter of the City of Portland provides that the Portland City Council (Council) shall determine its own rules of procedure and may establish committees and subcommittees; andWHEREAS, City Code Section 3.02.050 provides that Council, by resolution, may form or terminate committees to assist Council’s legislative functions; and WHEREAS, City Code Section 3.02.050 grants authority to Council to adopt rules for the subject matter, duties, structure, and schedule of Council committees; andWHEREAS, on January 1, 2025, Portland transitioned to a new form of government, creating geographic representation across four districts and increasing the number of elected Council members from five to twelve; andWHEREAS, to ensure effective governance and equitable representation under this new system, a consistent, district-inclusive committee structure is necessary for managing the increased volume of legislative and oversight responsibilities; andWHEREAS, since January 2025, Council has operated with eight standing policy committees meeting on a bi-weekly basis, without consistent district representation on each committee and with an output that exceeds the available time for full Council deliberation; andWHEREAS, a revised committee framework consolidates the number of policy committees from eight to five, to balance duties and subject matter, equitable representation, and Council workload; andWHEREAS, this revised framework supports equitable participation across all districts, reduces complexity for the public in tracking policy, and enhances Council’s ability to serve the needs of Portlanders citywide; andWHEREAS, this revised structure will allow for a leadership group of no greater than six Councilors that includes all Committee Chairs, the Council President, and the Council Vice President.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Council Committees, including their duties, subject matter, membership, and leadership, are established as provided in the attached Exhibit A. Exhibit A shall replace the exhibit adopted with Resolution 37696, and the revised committee structure herein shall take effect immediately.
Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes2 meetings · 7 votes
Recorded amendments
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Pirtle-Guiney A: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Kanal.
Motion to divide Pirtle-Guiney A to vote on the amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A separately: Moved by Kanal. Vote on Pirtle-Guiney A amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A: (Aye (2): Dunphy, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan). Motion failed to pass. Remainder of Pirtle-Guiney A withdrawn.
Motion to remove Dunphy B from the table: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Avalos. Approved by unanimous consent. Vote to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy B: Previously moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (3): Morillo, Green, Dunphy; Nay (9): Koyama Lane, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy C: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Zimmerman. (Aye (1): Dunphy; Nay (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy D: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (2): Green, Dunphy; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Green 1: Moved by Green and seconded by Kanal. Vote not called. Continued to future meeting date.
Motion to amend Exhibit A has shown in Novick 1: Moved by Novick and seconded by Koyama Lane. Vote not called.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy A: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (4): Clark, Zimmerman, Dunphy, Smith; Nay (8): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy B: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green.
Read all 11 exact motions
Motion to table the item: Moved by Clark and seconded by Smith. (Aye (5): Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Smith, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Absent (1): Ryan). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Pirtle-Guiney A: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Kanal.
Motion to divide Pirtle-Guiney A to vote on the amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A separately: Moved by Kanal. Vote on Pirtle-Guiney A amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A: (Aye (2): Dunphy, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan). Motion failed to pass. Remainder of Pirtle-Guiney A withdrawn.
Motion to remove Dunphy B from the table: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Avalos. Approved by unanimous consent. Vote to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy B: Previously moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (3): Morillo, Green, Dunphy; Nay (9): Koyama Lane, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy C: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Zimmerman. (Aye (1): Dunphy; Nay (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy D: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (2): Green, Dunphy; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Green 1: Moved by Green and seconded by Kanal. Vote not called. Continued to future meeting date.
Motion to amend Exhibit A has shown in Novick 1: Moved by Novick and seconded by Koyama Lane. Vote not called.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy A: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (4): Clark, Zimmerman, Dunphy, Smith; Nay (8): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy B: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green.
Motion to table Dunphy B and close debate: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. Approved by unanimous consent. Continued to August 14, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 14, 20255 yes · 6 no · 1 absent
Motion to table the item: Moved by Clark and seconded by Smith. (Aye (5): Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Smith, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Dunphy, Kanal; Absent (1): Ryan). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 14, 20252 yes · 10 no
Motion to divide Pirtle-Guiney A to vote on the amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A separately: Moved by Kanal. Vote on Pirtle-Guiney A amendments in Sections B.1.a. and 5. in Exhibit A: (Aye (2): Dunphy, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan). Motion failed to pass. Remainder of Pirtle-Guiney A withdrawn.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 14, 20253 yes · 9 no
Motion to remove Dunphy B from the table: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Avalos. Approved by unanimous consent. Vote to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy B: Previously moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (3): Morillo, Green, Dunphy; Nay (9): Koyama Lane, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 14, 20251 yes · 11 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy C: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Zimmerman. (Aye (1): Dunphy; Nay (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 14, 20252 yes · 10 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy D: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. (Aye (2): Green, Dunphy; Nay (10): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Clark, Zimmerman, Avalos, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 13, 20254 yes · 8 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Dunphy A: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (4): Clark, Zimmerman, Dunphy, Smith; Nay (8): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 13, 2025
Motion to table Dunphy B and close debate: Moved by Dunphy and seconded by Green. Approved by unanimous consent. Continued to August 14, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Data quality, timeline, and provenanceRules v2
Unreviewed keyword matches and machine-extracted fragments are not presented as authoritative findings. Only 0 human-reviewed findings are available for this matter.
Technical information-completeness check · Ready With Caveats
This checks whether decision-relevant categories appear in the published packet. It does not recommend approval or opposition.
The official title and operative text identify the requested action.
Official text was found. This check does not certify that every referenced exhibit is complete.
The official impact statement includes financial information.
The impact statement identifies funding information without an explicit unresolved-source qualifier.
11 linked supporting documents found; presence alone does not verify their internal completeness.
The text references exhibits. This guide has not yet automatically verified that each referenced exhibit is present, populated, and internally consistent.
The reviewed action is not expressly identified as a non-binding agreement.
An implementation owner or milestone was not found deterministically.
Stability requires at least two observed snapshots; the system will update this after another ingestion.
- First discovered
- Aug 13, 2026, 1:04 PM PDT
- Last checked
- Sep 13, 2026, 2:23 AM PDT
- Evidence hash
- b1e376f7d08d337c
- Guide status
- Deterministic baseline
- SOURCE UPDATED
Placed on file
- DOCUMENT PUBLISHED
Observed in the official source.
- Council Action
Continued
- Council Action
Continued