Portland City Council City Life Committee 06/09/26

The Portland City Council City Life Committee met on June 9, 2026, to discuss an ordinance establishing a Driver Resource Center aimed at supporting ride-share drivers in Portland. The ordinance seeks to address issues such as unfair deactivations, wage disputes, language barriers, and lack of benefits for drivers classified as independent contractors by Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft. The proposal includes clarifying and expanding the applicability of existing ride fees to capture revenue from trips ending in Portland, estimated to generate about $1.5 million annually to fund the center without increasing fee rates. The committee heard extensive testimony from drivers, the Drivers Union, and Lyft representatives, highlighting challenges faced by drivers and the need for culturally competent, language-accessible support services. A technical amendment was adopted to include interpretation services and preferences for nonprofit operators with experience in driver advocacy in the procurement process. The discussion also covered procurement procedures, geographic accessibility, and data privacy concerns related to customer information. The committee emphasized the importance of measurable success metrics for the center and the city's role in regulating this sector to ensure fair treatment of drivers.