Should Portland amend Vehicles and Traffic Code to clarify applicability of ride fees and establish a Drivers’ Resource Center for Transportation Network Company…

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:The City has an interest in ensuring that its transportation system operates in a safe, reliable, and equitable manner for all users, including passengers, drivers, and the general public.Transportation Network Company (TNC) drivers operate as independent contractors and often lack access to traditional workplace protections, making City-supported resources and procedural transparency particularly importantThat private for-hire services provided by Transportation Network Companies and their independent contractor drivers are vital parts of the transportation system within this city and provide necessary services in response to the needs of city residents, tourists and business representatives from outside this city.That private for-hire drivers and independent contractors performing work for TNCs experience unexplained deactivations and have a need for culturally appropriate translation services, Council calls for the establishment of a Drivers' Resource Center.Drivers have reported challenges in accessing clear and timely information regarding deactivation decisions, appeals processes, and compliance requirements imposed by TNCs and local regulationsFor-hire trips that originate outside of the City, but end on City infrastructure, have a measurable impact on the transportation system.Language barriers and lack of culturally competent support services may limit some drivers' ability to fully participate in and comply with regulatory frameworks, thereby impacting economic opportunity and system efficiency.The City has a responsibility to ensure that regulatory systems do not create unintended barriers to participation in the workforce, particularly for historically underserved and immigrant communities.Trips that either originate or terminate within the City place demands on public infrastructure, including streets, curbs, and traffic management systems, regardless of trip origin.Establishing a Drivers' Resource Center will promote transparency, improve communication between drivers, companies, and the City, and support consistent application of regulatory requirements.NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:Amend City Code Sections 16.40.030 and 16.40.240 as shown in Exhibit A.That the City Administrator is hereby authorized to make necessary rule changes to collect permitted ride fees on trips either originating or terminating within the City of Portland.That the City Administrator is hereby authorized to establish a Drivers' Resource Center as a program within the Private for-Hire Transportation with the following purpose:Support drivers in appealing eligible deactivations;Support drivers with access to translation services for the navigation of City and company systems;Support drivers with access to all necessary documentation for operating as for-hire drivers within the City; andProvide information, education, training, and other services to drivers within the City of Portland.The City Administrator is authorized to adopt administrative rules to establish:The scope and parameters of the Drivers' Resource Center,The expectations and responsibilities of the Private for-Hire Transportation Regulatory Program in responding to requests from the Drivers' Resource Center,The expectations and responsibilities of for-hire companies in responding to requests from the Drivers' Resource Center.The City Administrator is authorized to utilize a portion of the ride fee to manage the Drivers' Resource Center.The City Administrator is authorized to complete a competitive procurement process to enter into a contract, not to exceed $1.5 million annually, with an agency authorized to conduct the roles and responsibilities of the Drivers' Resource Center.Any such contract shall require that the selected contractor operate independently from Transportation Network Companies, including prohibitions on ownership, control, or direction by any Transportation Network Company, and shall include conflict-of-interest, data protection, and governance provisions sufficient to ensure the contractor's impartiality in carrying out the functions of the Drivers' Resource Center.Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists due to the ongoing deactivation of ride share drivers in Portland and immediate implementation of the deactivation requirements and establishment of the resource center are necessary to provide timely protections, support, and due process to affected drivers: therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council