Portland City Council AM Session 5/27/26

The Portland City Council held its AM session on May 27, 2026, addressing several procurement and budget-related matters. Key procurement discussions included the approval of a $2.5 million supplemental budget ordinance to support affordable home ownership development projects in District 2, specifically with Self-Enhancement Inc. (SEI) and Williams and Russell CDC. These projects aim to provide 69 affordable home ownership opportunities, focusing on historically displaced Black communities, with funding sourced from the construction excise tax. The council also approved a $315,000 settlement related to a Portland Police Bureau vehicle collision and appropriated a $667,230 grant for veteran home ownership assistance programs. Additionally, a $100,000 grant was appropriated for a pilot mass timber feasibility study to explore sustainable construction methods in Portland. The council discussed and passed an ordinance requiring law enforcement officers to display identification and prohibiting facial coverings during law enforcement activities, despite concerns about its constitutionality and implementation challenges. Lastly, the council considered but did not pass an amendment to delay the effective date of an ordinance banning the sale of force-fed poultry products, reflecting concerns from local restaurants about the impact on their businesses. Throughout the meeting, motions to reorder the agenda and amendments to funding sources were passed, demonstrating collaborative efforts to address housing equity and community development.