City Of Portland Working On Implementation Of Recently Passed Citizen Initiative Ordinances

Press release from the City of Portland:

November 19, 2020

City of Portland staff continue to work on the implementation of the five citizen initiative ordinances that were passed by Portland voters during the November 3 election. Staff has completed its legal review of Questions A (Minimum Wage), B (Facial Recognition), and F (Marijuana), and has received Council guidance for implementing those ordinances. Question A will go into effect in January 2022, and Questions B and F will become effective on December 6.

The Portland City Council issued guidance on three of the five recently passed citizen initiative referendum questions following Executive Sessions on November 10 and November 16. Following the November 10th Executive Session, the Council issued the following guidance on the minimum wage and marijuana referendums.

“Once policy is adopted, either by a vote of the City Council, or, in this case, by citizens at referendum, City staff works to faithfully implement the language of the ordinances,” said Mayor Kate Snyder. “Corporation Counsel offers guidance when needed, and the City Manager has the responsibility for implementing and enforcing the new ordinances.”

The Council will go into another remote executive session with Corporation Counsel on Monday, November 23 at 5:00 PM.

Proponents of the marginally failed Referendum Question E (Short Term Rentals) requested a recount last week, which began today, Thursday, November 19. It is expected to continue through Monday, November 23.

This press release was produced by the City of Portland. The views expressed here are the author’s own.