Next Up at City Council, 9/24/08
It’s 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, as I sit at the dining room table starting this post. The house is quiet. After a lovely summer letting in fresh air and the roar from I-5’s flow, the windows are closed. My family members are sleeping – probably even Maxwell in New Jersey, despite the fact that they’re three hours ahead of us. I’ve fed and petted the cats, clicked through The Hunger Site‘s pages in my daily day-starting donation of one minute to worthy causes, brewed and enjoyed my first mug of coffee. And now I get to review the Portland City Council’s Agenda for the coming week. Life is good.
An important Time Certain kicks off the hearings:
1306 TIME CERTAIN: 9:30 AM – Authorize agreement with National Marine Fisheries Service to implement the Bull Run Water Supply Habitat Conservation Plan (Ordinance introduced by Commissioner Leonard)
The Ordinance outlines the process being pursued to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act, providing fish habitat improvements in exchange for the “incidental take” of four species of fish because of the dams in the Bull Run water supply system. The Water Bureau and community experts have worked hard on this package. I’ll be interested to hear whether all sides believe the appropriate strategies have been identified, and how the Council plans to fund them.
On the Consent list, as an Emergency Ordinance, changes to the City Code section that allows contracts to run 25% over budget with administrative approval (the one I’ve been highlighting for years):
Office of Management and Finance – Purchases
*1309 Update Code Chapter 5.68 regarding the procurement of professional, technical and expert services (Ordinance; amend Code Chapter 5.68)
The proposed changes include this one:
The Purchasing Agent has authority to execute amendments to such contracts, provided that such the amendments do not, in the aggregate, exceed 25% of the original contract amount. Otherwise, the original contract or contract amendment must be approved by the City Council. Contracts executed pursuant to Subsection 5.68.020 B. 4. may be amended in excess of 25% without Council approval provided the City Attorney and the Purchasing Agent both approve the amendment. Periodic reports of such actions shall be provided to City Council by the City Attorney’s office.
Yes, that’s right, they’re adding to the extent of over-runs allowed without Council oversight.** It’s unfortunate that this revision is on Consent, six weeks before an election that is demanding full attention from citizen organizers who understand the crucial importance of getting the right candidates elected to the White House, US Congress, Oregon Legislature, and local offices. Oh well. We can go back to this Code section in January. But there is a significant dent in my good humor from an hour ago.
An important set of items Wednesday afternoon:
1332 TIME CERTAIN: 2:00 PM – Adopt and implement the North Pearl District Plan (Ordinance introduced by Mayor Potter)
1333 Adopt the Action Charts and additional implementing measures of the North Pearl District Plan (Resolution introduced by Mayor Potter)
I’m told by an activist mom who’s been involved in forming the Plan that it has many good features. Other comments?
** Update 8:10 p.m. – A concerned reader wants me to make clear that the added leeway on 25% over-runs is only for the provision being added to Subsection 5.68.035 B, i.e., it applies ONLY to 5.68.020 B4, “The City Attorney’s retention of expert witnesses, consultants to assist the City Attorney’s Office in providing legal advice to the City, and outside legal counsel.”. Thank you for contacting me, shy person. I still question why any contract, approved by any City official, should be allowed by right to run 25% over budget, let alone even more than that, before re-approval.