District 4 Councilors Olivia Clark and Eric Zimmerman joined residents at the June 16 meeting for an engaged and thoughtful discussion that ranged across citywide policy and neighborhood concerns.
Residents opened with questions about the proposed Moda Center renovation and its budget, then raised a series of questions on city governance and spending.
On oversight, residents asked both councilors whether they would support codifying the ONI (Office of Neighborhood Involvement) standards as regulations adopted by City Council, rather than leaving them to administrative revision by Civic Life.
On climate spending, residents pointed to the city’s February 2026 audit, which found Portland has cut roughly 26% of emissions and would need to double its annual rate to meet its 2030 goal. They asked how the councilors reconcile that finding with proposals to redirect Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) interest to the General Fund and to weigh $75 million in PCEF money toward the Moda Center, particularly given reporting that PCEF revenue is already allocated through 2028. Residents asked which committed programs would be affected, and whether those would be named before any vote.
On the South Waterfront ICE facility, residents asked what policy measures within council’s power, setting aside any land-use matter the councilors may have to adjudicate, the councilors would bring to a vote.
On the proposed renaming of a city street to Campesinos Boulevard, residents asked how the councilors weigh the public-process guarantee that the ordinance’s waiver sets aside against the history of the 2009 renaming effort, and how each would vote.
On data centers, residents raised the buildout in Washington County and its connection to regional utility rate increases, and asked the councilors’ position on permitting data centers within Portland, what power and water conditions they would require, and whether they would commit to a full public process.
The discussion was candid and wide-ranging. FPNA thanks both councilors for joining the neighborhood.
