In community with the Government Transition Advisory Committee

By requesting a presentation on the Transition website, Portland State University hosted a presentation for over 70 attendees to learn about Charter reform and the coming changes to Portland’s election method and government structure.

On Feb. 2, 2024, members of the City of Portland’s transition team, the Government Transition Advisory Committee, and Independent District Commission came together to present to an audience of more than 70 students, professors, and community members for a panel discussion on Portland’s historic charter transition hosted by the Institute of Metropolitan Studies and the Center for Urban Studies.

Data-rich maps show Portland’s strengths and challenges

Data can sharpen the understanding of the unique strengths and challenges in our neighborhoods, for example, low voter turnout. To help amplify voter education, community organizations can apply for grants in the coming weeks.

Last month, Civic Life completed a two-year project with Portland State University to develop data-rich profiles by neighborhoods (and soon, by district)! In 2022, Civic Life/PSU shared 95 preliminary neighborhood profiles as PDFs and asked for community feedback to help improve the final profiles and create an interactive data map.

Office of Community and Civic Life, Office of Equity and Human Rights are now part of Mayor Wheeler’s portfolio

Moving these offices into a new reporting structure are related to the implementation steps set by city council in fall 2023.

Mayor Wheeler announced the move of the Office of Community & Civic Life and the Office of Equity and Human Rights to his portfolio as part of the alignment of bureaus into service areas established by city council in Resolution 37609. The offices had been under Commissioner Dan Ryan’s portfolio since the beginning of 2023.

Read the announcement

Central Budget Office offers opportunities to learn about costs for operating essential services and how the budget process might change in January 2025

Meetings are open to all; Portlanders can participate in the budget process.

The annual budget process starts with bureaus developing and submitting their Requested Budgets. The budget process began when the City's organizational chart was approved by council in fall 2023 so that bureaus could begin budgeting by service area for the first time. This new way of budgeting is part of the City's Charter Transition, in which the mayor with the support of a professional city administrator will oversee all City services and programs by January 2025.

Chief Administrative Officer Michael Jordan outlines the city's progress on the transition

Portlanders voted in 2022 to completely overhaul the city's form of government. It's Chief Administrative Officer Michael Jordan's job to make that happen.

Published by KGW, Feb. 2, 2024.

Portland City Council members may just have 1 staffer each in 2025

According to a draft budget document, the city is considering having just one employee for each City Council member in the new government. A volunteer committee tasked with advising the government transition says that is a bad idea.

Published by OPB, Feb. 12, 2024.

City struggles to find viable space for new district council offices

The problem that's raising costs: the city's fiber network.

Published by Willamette Week, Feb. 9, 2024.

Portland Tea Party Ep 03: What is Charter Reform? Why Are We Doing It? How Does it Affect Me?

Amy Randel of Portland's Government Transition Advisory Committee chats with host Ciara Pressler about Charter Reform 101.

Published by Portland Tea Party, Jan. 26, 2024.

Here's how to run for the newly expanded Portland City Council in November

Voters will be electing three council members from each of Portland's four new districts in November — which means there's a big, wide open field.

Published by KGW, Jan. 25, 2024.

About the City of Portland Transition Project

In November 2022, Portland voters approved Ballot Measure 26-228 that directs the City of Portland to implement these three connected changes by Jan. 1, 2025:

Allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, using ranked-choice voting.
Establish four geographic districts, with three city council members elected to represent each district – expanding city council to a total of 12 members.
Establish a city council that focuses on setting policy and engaging with community, transitioning day-to-day oversight of bureaus to a mayor elected citywide and a professional city administrator.

Need access to information or services?

The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.

Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या

口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad

Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas

Translation and Interpretation: 311

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