Portland City Council PM Session 06/04/26

The Portland City Council held a meeting on June 4, 2026, which included a ceremonial recognition of the Portland Sister Cities program and formalized the sister city relationship with Lviv, Ukraine. The council then discussed and voted on several ordinances and amendments related to local policies and housing programs. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the ordinance to prohibit the sale or provision of certain force-fed poultry products, specifically foie gras. An amendment proposing a grandfather clause to exempt existing businesses was debated but ultimately failed. The main ordinance banning foie gras passed with a 7-5 vote. The council also considered the establishment of Portland's Moderate Income Revolving Loan Program (Merurl) to support affordable housing development. Several amendments were proposed to modify eligibility criteria, oversight, and program administration. The council debated shifting program administration from Prosper Portland to the Portland Housing Bureau, with concerns raised about staffing capacity and oversight. After public testimony and discussion, amendments to remove minimum unit requirements and to increase council oversight were considered, with mixed support. The meeting concluded with votes on these amendments, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance housing development goals, administrative capacity, and fiscal oversight.