Portland City Hall: Looking For Order At Council Meetings

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has not had any more success than his predecessor in keeping decorum during City Council meetings. Again this past Wednesday, protesters disrupted the meeting, forcing the council to retreat behind closed doors to get anything done.

Many of the protesters are upset with Wheeler, feeling that after weeks on the job he should have accomplished more and should resign.

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Wheeler's not alone in experiencing frustration, Charlie Hales, his predecessor, passed a rule that allowed the council to exclude someone based on previous behavior.

A federal judge ruled that violated peoples First Amendment rights.

So, Wheeler - believing he's learned from Hales' mistakes - has another idea.

Starting next week, whomever is running the councl meeting, will have the power to exclude someone for disruptive or threatening behavior.

The council will also have the power to exclude people for longer periods but will be required to first give them written warnings.

Wheeler says the change is necessary.

"Over the past few years, City Council meetings have been repeatedly interrupted by the disruptive or aggressive behavior of some individuals of the public attending the meetings," the supporting documents to the proposed ordinance say. "This loss of civility and disruption has become more frequent, almost to the point it has become the new 'norm'

"Such disruptive behavior not only delays the ability of the City Council to effectively conduct City business, in some cases the behavior creates a hostile or threatening environment for Council members, City staff, and other members of the public in attendance."

The council will consider the change next week.

Photo Colin Miner