Decisions/2025-363
Ordinance2025-363

Should Portland amend transportation fee schedule for FY 2025-26 to reflect changes in the Plaza Use Permit program (amend TRN 3.450)?

The Plaza Program aims to activate plazas with a variety of uses including Community Events, Outdoor Dining, Vending, and Encroachments. While these uses have already been in place, there have not been specific fees associated with those uses that take into account the Plaza designation and the goals of that program. The Outdoor Dining program became permanent in 2023, but a separate program is needed to address outdoor dining and other uses within Plazas. The fees proposed take into account the current installations that exist and the potential for future installations. Outdoor dining fees in plazas are based on existing rates and most establishments will not see any change, or perhaps a reduction in fees.Similarly, a variety of events have been held in the plaza using the Community Event program fees. The proposed Plaza Use fees aim to distinguish between plaza events and community events, and continue to subsidize and incentivize events in plazas. The fees also incorporate the fact that staff time for event approvals in plazas is lower given that the street is already closed to traffic. The majority of events in plazas

Official impact statement
See the official legal title

Amend transportation fee schedule for FY 2025-26 to reflect changes in the Plaza Use Permit program (amend TRN 3.450)

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01 · Understand it

What this proposal would actually do.

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What would change

The Plaza Program aims to activate plazas with a variety of uses including Community Events, Outdoor Dining, Vending, and Encroachments. While these uses have already been in place, there have not been specific fees associated with those uses that take into account the Plaza designation and the goals of that program. The Outdoor Dining program became permanent in 2023, but a separate program is needed to address outdoor dining and other uses within Plazas. The fees proposed take into account the current installations that exist and the potential for future installations. Outdoor dining fees in plazas are based on existing rates and most establishments will not see any change, or perhaps a reduction in fees.Similarly, a variety of events have been held in the plaza using the Community Event program fees. The proposed Plaza Use fees aim to distinguish between plaza events and community events, and continue to subsidize and incentivize events in plazas. The fees also incorporate the fact that staff time for event approvals in plazas is lower given that the street is already closed to traffic. The majority of events in plazas

Official proposal and impact statement
What would stay the same

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

Official matter record
Who may be affected

The fees proposed incentive activity in Street Plazas including commercial activity, community events, and community encroachments, such as public art. The uses enhance the overall vibrancy of the adjacent business districts and add a sense of place to the right of way. Adjacent business owners and neighborhood associations are active participants and organizers in the Plaza Program activities and are communicated with regularly.

Official community impact statement
What happens next

Passed

Latest official agenda appearance
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Financial implications

No additional staffing is needed to implement these fees. The goal of the Plaza Use fees is to capture a portion of staff costs and represent a reasonable commercial use of the Right of Way. The estimated revenue is listed below: Community Events:36 nonprofit events with vending: $015 for profit events with vending: $3,30020 nonprofit events with vending and alcohol: $5,25020 for profit events with vending and alcohol: $10,500Vending Carts:10 vending cart permits - $1,500Encroachments:2 commercial encroachments: $1,892Outdoor Dining:30 outdoor dining permits - $35,000 Total Revenue Expected: $57,442

Official financial impact statement
Open questions
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Can residents still participate?

Official testimony on this decision has closed. Residents can still contact their district Councilors about implementation and follow-up.

Official Council agenda
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Official documents1 sources
Final legal actionOrdinance 192112

The operative official record after Council action.

Open at Portland.gov
Read the full official text

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:The City, through the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), manages the public right-of-way to shape a livable city for all. Council passed Ordinance 188556 on August 16, 2017 to establish pedestrian plazas under PBOT for the enjoyment, safety, comfort and convenience of the public. Since 2017, PBOT Pedestrian Plazas, as defined in 17.43.020, have contributed to a re-envisioning of city streets as spaces for people and provided opportunities for economic development in downtown and neighborhood commercial centers.PBOT documents current Pedestrian Plazas in Appendix B_ Pedestrian Plaza Designation Memo. The new Plaza Uses, which include outdoor dining activity, vending carts, community events, and community use encroachments, such as public art, enhance the overall vibrancy of the adjacent business districts and add a sense of place to the right of way. That the updated Plaza Use Fees for uses within designated Pedestrian Plazas are intended to incentivize the use of plazas and support commercial economic development opportunities. Adjacent business owners, neighborhood and business associations, and newly formed Friends of Plaza groups, are active participants and organizers in plaza activities and are communicated with regularly by the Plaza Program staff. That the Plaza Use fees capture a portion of staff costs and represent a reasonable commercial use of the right of way. That the Plaza Use permit program provides new permitting options for program participants which will require changes to the Transportation Fee Schedule. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:Amend TRN 3.450, Exhibit B, Fees, Rates and Charges for Community Events of the Transportation Fee Schedule to include Plaza Use fees.The Director of Transportation is hereby authorized to create, adopt, and modify accompanying administrative rules to govern this process.This Ordinance is binding City Policy.

Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes3 meetings · 2 votes
Read all 1 exact motions
Sep 22, 2025 · Main · Recorded

Motion to send Ordinance, Document Number 2025-363, to the full Council with a recommendation to pass: Moved by Morillo and seconded by Green. (Aye (5): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Smith, Clark)

Final Council action · Oct 8, 202510 yes · 0 no · 2 absent

Final action on 2025-363: Amend transportation fee schedule for FY 2025-26 to reflect changes in the Plaza Use Permit program (amend TRN 3.450)

Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Sep 22, 20255 yes

Motion to send Ordinance, Document Number 2025-363, to the full Council with a recommendation to pass: Moved by Morillo and seconded by Green. (Aye (5): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Smith, Clark)

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First discovered
Aug 13, 2026, 1:10 PM PDT
Last checked
Sep 13, 2026, 2:29 AM PDT
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  1. SOURCE UPDATED

    Passed

  2. DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

    Observed in the official source.

  3. Council Action

    Passed

  4. Council Action

    Passed to second reading

  5. Council Action

    Referred to City Council