Update City Code rules for City Council in 2025.
Official proposal and impact statementOrdinance2025-186
Should Portland amend Council Organization and Procedure Code to include Council rule on tie-breaking (amend Code Section 3.02.030)?
Update City Code rules for City Council in 2025.
Official impact statementSee the official legal title
Amend Council Organization and Procedure Code to include Council rule on tie-breaking (amend Code Section 3.02.030)
Next appearanceFinal action is posted; watch for implementation updates.
Follow this matterWhat 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 government & democracy and requires action through Portland’s public legislative process.
Official matter classification and recordThese changes will facilitate City Council rules.
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.
Final Council action
Passed · 10–2
Read the exact motion or vote question
Final action on 2025-186: Amend Council Organization and Procedure Code to include Council rule on tie-breaking (amend Code Section 3.02.030)
Rationale review not yet published
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.
These City Code changes do not implement changes to current FTE or budgets and do not result in new financial obligations.
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?
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 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 documents1 sources
Final legal actionOrdinance 192093
The operative official record after Council action.
Open at Portland.govRead the full official text
The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:Portland City Code does not address Council vote tie-breaking by the Mayor; andPortland City Charter Section 2-401(e) provides that the Mayor has the responsibility to “[v]ote on matters before the Council in case of a tie, when the Mayor casts the deciding vote;” andSome matters before Council resulting in a tie vote should be left to the Council to resolve without initiating Charter Section 2-401(e); andThe Mayor cannot anticipate when they may be needed to break a tie causing Council action to be deferred; andPortland City Charter Section 2-111 authorizes Council to determine its own rules of procedure, which would include procedures relating to the Mayor's tie-breaking vote; andThe City Code must be amended to explicitly detail voting procedures as they relate to tie-breaking.NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:Amend City Code Section 3.02.030 as shown in Exhibit A.
Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes5 meetings · 9 votes
Passed as amendedAgenda item 9
Passed to second reading as amendedAgenda item 17
Passed to second reading as amendedAgenda item 22
RescheduledAgenda item 6
Referred to City Council as amendedAgenda item 3
Recorded amendments
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Novick. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (1): Clark) Passed to second reading as amended September 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Avalos 1: Moved by Avalos and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan); Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to replace Subsection J.2 with "If the Mayor is unavailable either in person or virtually to cast the tiebreaking vote on final passage during the meeting, the result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive. If the vote on final passage remains inconclusive at the end of the meeting, 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, it would be considered a no vote as in J.3.": Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Novick. (Aye (7): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Ryan; Nay (3): Zimmerman, Smith, Pirtle-Guiney); Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy)
Motion to amend Exhibit A to restore "resolutions, reports" to Subsection J.1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal; Nay (4): Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass. Passed to second reading as amended August 6, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.1. to strike resolutions and reports: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Pirtle-Guiney. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Dunphy, Koyama Lane; Nay (1): Clark)
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.2. to strike everything after the first sentence and amend first sentence to strike “result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive” and add “vote fails”: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy; Nay (1): Koyama Lane)
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to add Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.3. In determining if a vote is a tie, absences, abstentions and vacancies will be counted as no votes: Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Clark. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Motion to send Ordinance as amended, Document Number 2025-186, to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Read all 9 exact motions
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Novick. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (1): Clark) Passed to second reading as amended September 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Avalos 1: Moved by Avalos and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan); Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass.
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to replace Subsection J.2 with "If the Mayor is unavailable either in person or virtually to cast the tiebreaking vote on final passage during the meeting, the result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive. If the vote on final passage remains inconclusive at the end of the meeting, 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, it would be considered a no vote as in J.3.": Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Novick. (Aye (7): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Ryan; Nay (3): Zimmerman, Smith, Pirtle-Guiney); Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy)
Motion to amend Exhibit A to restore "resolutions, reports" to Subsection J.1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal; Nay (4): Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass. Passed to second reading as amended August 6, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.1. to strike resolutions and reports: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Pirtle-Guiney. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Dunphy, Koyama Lane; Nay (1): Clark)
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.2. to strike everything after the first sentence and amend first sentence to strike “result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive” and add “vote fails”: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy; Nay (1): Koyama Lane)
Motion to define a tie vote as receiving specifically six affirmative votes on final passage: Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Dunphy. Motion withdrawn.
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to add Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.3. In determining if a vote is a tie, absences, abstentions and vacancies will be counted as no votes: Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Clark. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Motion to send Ordinance as amended, Document Number 2025-186, to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Final Council action · Sep 3, 202510 yes · 2 no
Final action on 2025-186: Amend Council Organization and Procedure Code to include Council rule on tie-breaking (amend Code Section 3.02.030)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Aug 6, 202511 yes · 1 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Kanal 1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Novick. (Aye (11): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Zimmerman, Avalos, Dunphy, Smith, Kanal, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (1): Clark) Passed to second reading as amended September 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 17, 20256 yes · 2 absent
Motion to amend Exhibit A as shown in Avalos 1: Moved by Avalos and seconded by Kanal. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Green, Avalos, Kanal, Pirtle-Guiney; Nay (Novick, Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan); Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 17, 20257 yes · 3 no · 2 absent
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to replace Subsection J.2 with "If the Mayor is unavailable either in person or virtually to cast the tiebreaking vote on final passage during the meeting, the result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive. If the vote on final passage remains inconclusive at the end of the meeting, 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, it would be consid
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Jul 17, 20256 yes · 4 no · 2 absent
Motion to amend Exhibit A to restore "resolutions, reports" to Subsection J.1: Moved by Kanal and seconded by Koyama Lane. (Aye (6): Koyama Lane, Morillo, Novick, Green, Avalos, Kanal; Nay (4): Zimmerman, Smith, Ryan, Pirtle-Guiney; Absent (2): Clark, Dunphy). Motion failed to pass. Passed to second reading as amended August 6, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · May 5, 20254 yes · 1 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.1. to strike resolutions and reports: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Pirtle-Guiney. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Dunphy, Koyama Lane; Nay (1): Clark)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · May 5, 20254 yes · 1 no
Motion to amend Exhibit A, Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.2. to strike everything after the first sentence and amend first sentence to strike “result of the tied vote is deemed inconclusive” and add “vote fails”: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (4): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy; Nay (1): Koyama Lane)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · May 5, 20255 yes
Motion to amend Exhibit A, to add Code Subsection 3.02.030 J.3. In determining if a vote is a tie, absences, abstentions and vacancies will be counted as no votes: Moved by Koyama Lane and seconded by Clark. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Meeting-level motion or recommendation · May 5, 20255 yes
Motion to send Ordinance as amended, Document Number 2025-186, to the full Council with the recommendation that it be passed: Moved by Ryan and seconded by Dunphy. (Aye (5): Pirtle-Guiney, Ryan, Clark, Dunphy, Koyama Lane)
Data quality, timeline, and provenanceRules v2
Why technical findings are hidden above
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.
Decision definition
CompleteThe official title and operative text identify the requested action.
Official legal text
CompleteOfficial text was found. This check does not certify that every referenced exhibit is complete.
Financial impact
CompleteThe official impact statement includes financial information.
Funding source
CompleteThe impact statement identifies funding information without an explicit unresolved-source qualifier.
Supporting documents
UnknownNo linked attachments were found on the official page.
Referenced exhibit integrity
UnknownThe text references exhibits. This guide has not yet automatically verified that each referenced exhibit is present, populated, and internally consistent.
Counterparty acceptance
Not ApplicableThe reviewed action is not expressly identified as a non-binding agreement.
Implementation
CompleteA direction, reporting requirement, or deadline appears in the official text.
Document stability
UnknownStability requires at least two observed snapshots; the system will update this after another ingestion.
- First discovered
- Aug 13, 2026, 1:12 PM PDT
- Last checked
- Sep 13, 2026, 2:30 AM PDT
- Evidence hash
- de33cc72e382205f
- Guide status
- Deterministic baseline
- SOURCE UPDATED
Passed as amended by council
- DOCUMENT PUBLISHED
Observed in the official source.
- Council Action
Passed as amended
- Council Action
Passed to second reading as amended
- Council Action
Passed to second reading as amended
- Council Action
Rescheduled
- Council Action
Referred to City Council as amended