Windowbox · Portland City Council

Portland's City Council deadlocked 6-6 through nine rounds of voting on January 7 and could not choose a Council President, splitting evenly between incumbent Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Councilor Sameer Kanal before recessing the election to the next day (06:41:38).

An election that would not resolve

The council spent nearly the entire session on what is normally a first-meeting formality. After approving the election procedure by a 12-0 vote (00:33:18), Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1) nominated Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) and Councilor Jamie Dunphy (District 1) nominated Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2). Every roll call came back the same: six for Pirtle-Guiney (Smith, Dan Ryan of District 2, Steve Novick of District 3, Olivia Clark of District 4, Eric Zimmerman of District 4, and Pirtle-Guiney) and six for Kanal (Candace Avalos of District 1, Dunphy, Kanal, Tiffany Koyama Lane of District 3, Angelita Morillo of District 3, and Mitch Green of District 3).

Kanal's backers framed the vote as a case for rotating leadership. Dunphy called it "a deeply held philosophical belief on my part that in the interest of this body, rotating this president year to year is the best option for how we share power" (02:06:04), adding that his vote "is not a critique of her performance, but a statement about process, norms, and the kind of institution that we are trying to build." Kanal said that if elected he would step back from most of his legislative work to focus on governance (00:46:07) and would leave the Progressive Caucus (01:27:17).

Pirtle-Guiney's supporters argued for continuity through a hard year. Clark said the council needs "a very calm, steady hand on the wheel" (03:04:26). Smith said "there's nothing that you all can say that will change my mind, so don't try" (04:57:12). Pirtle-Guiney committed to no third term, saying she has "absolutely no intention of running for a 3rd term" (02:57:56).

The caucus fight

Novick made the sharpest objection to Kanal's candidacy, saying he was "deeply uncomfortable with the idea of electing a member of the Peacock Group to the presidency" (00:57:20) and describing the Progressive Caucus as "a private club" (00:58:00). He pointed to "that August 6th meeting that's under investigation by the Ethics Commission" (00:59:11). Novick also said his own progressive record — voting to establish the small-donor program and sponsoring a CEO pay-ratio tax — meant "it does actually kind of hurt me that there's a progressive caucus that doesn't include me" (05:07:05).

Morillo answered that the caucus is "primarily made of people of color" who "have never had access to local government or politics before" (01:02:50), and later noted there are "only 6 councilors endorsed by the Portland Business Alliance" (04:21:30). She said progressive members have repeatedly worked across the council, citing her own housing work with Zimmerman.

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The council adopted the Homelessness Response System Action Plan and its key performance indicators on a 9-3 vote, over objections that the plan sets goals with no numbers attached (01:48:01). Councilors Jamie Dunphy of District 1, Sameer Kanal of District 2, and Dan Ryan of District 2 voted no.

Homelessness metrics plan adopted with three dissents

The plan and its 12 performance indicators, carried by Mayor Keith Wilson and Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney of District 2, came out of the city-county Steering and Oversight Committee. Councilor Eric Zimmerman of District 2, who sits on that committee, said the product is "so much better than it was" and urged adoption (01:43:04). Wilson called it a "living document" that still lacked focus on the full continuum (00:44:01).

The dissenters focused on missing targets. Dunphy said the plan "is attempting to do many things, and it does none of them particularly well" (00:46:56) and would not approve goals with no metrics attached. He cited a point-in-time count showing 94% of Multnomah County's surveyed unsheltered people were in Portland (00:47:32). Ryan said he wanted indicators tied to sobriety and workforce outcomes: "I cannot support this until we have those kind of metrics" (01:08:04). Kanal said the structure asked councilors to outsource a legislative task to unelected committee members while voters would hold the council accountable.

A staff member identified in the record as Jillian said only minor changes had been made since a November work session — a new workgroup action item, an appendix on state involvement, and one clarifying sentence from the county board (00:52:02). She said specific numeric goals would be set in a later phase after the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, with the clock starting July 1, 2026, because the funding outlook was too uncertain. She cited a possible loss of $36 million in federal money for permanent supportive housing, which she said represented 1,200 Portlanders who could lose their housing (01:01:36). Ryan Deibert, Deputy Director at the Homelessness Response System, said his team would build tools estimating how budget choices move each indicator (01:33:23). Councilor Steve Novick of District 3 supported the plan but floated added indicators tracking affordable-housing vacancy rates and cross-city comparisons; Councilor Mitch Green of District 2 urged a cost-efficiency measure, noting "we can't double our resources."

Legislative agenda adopted; a housing bill splits the council

The council adopted its 2026 state and federal legislative agendas 12-0 (02:57:39). Pirtle-Guiney said the federal agenda newly prioritizes pushing back against federal overreach.

The sharpest debate was over a state inclusionary-zoning bill, LC-5. State Senator Khanh Pham of District 23 testified that the bill "does not mandate the City of Portland to do anything that it is not already doing" and asked councilors to say whether the city should be "the sole entity actively opposing this widely supported initiative" (01:57:20). Government Relations director Sam Chase gave four city concerns: an unfunded mandate, legal liabilities, removal of the council's funding decision to the state, and a chilling effect on a statewide inclusionary-housing program (02:09:15).

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Portland's City Council confirmed Raymond C. Lee III as the city's first permanent city administrator on an 11-0 vote, then approved his employment offer and a severance package that drew objections from one councilor as "not a good look." (02:27:56)

Lee, presented by Mayor Keith Wilson, comes to Portland from Greeley, Colorado, where the mayor said he managed 1,600 employees and a $515 million budget serving 116,000 residents, with prior roles in Dallas and Amarillo, Texas (00:36:05). Council President Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) presided over the meeting; Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane (District 3) was absent for all votes.

City administrator confirmed

Much of the two-hour hearing turned on how information flows between city staff and the 12-member council. Councilor Steve Novick (District 3) said some staff still believe they cannot talk to councilors, and pressed Lee on whether every routine question must be copied to all councilors (00:51:14). Councilor Mitch Green (District 4) tied his vote to the city charter's requirement that the administrator keep council "fully advised at all times" of the city's finances, pointing to a summer episode in which a change in fund balances reached staff months before council was told. "What I don't want to do is confirm a city administrator who wants to hold information back 'cause they're worried about embarrassing the city," Green said (01:03:16).

Lee described his first 90 days as a "listening tour" and repeatedly stressed transparency, dashboards and a strategic plan. He committed to living in Portland (01:46:41). Councilor Jamie Dunphy (District 1) warned of the city's history of elevating people of color into top jobs "without any of the supports" and then "throwing things at that person." Councilor Eric Zimmerman (District 4), who said he would have supported any of the three finalists, and Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1) both noted that no deputy city administrators or bureau directors attended the confirmation (01:52:34). No one signed up to testify; Pirtle-Guiney acknowledged feedback that outreach had been insufficient.

The severance fight

Council then took up Lee's employment offer. Ron Zito, interim director of the Bureau of Human Resources, explained the city's severance policy—12 months' salary the first year, six months for later years, paid only on a termination without cause. Smith objected that legacy bureau directors received 12 months in every year and that the administrator should get the same. "It does not look good for someone to come in and get less of a severance who is the city administrator," she said (02:35:31). Wilson said the policy shifted to the 12-6-6 structure in January and that "it was a competitive negotiation and a competitive offer" (02:33:51).

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The Portland City Council adopted its annual investment policy 10-1, but only after adding an amendment, passed 8-3, directing a 2026 push toward a human-rights screen on city investments.

The amendment, moved by Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2), does not change this year's policy or any current holdings. It urges the administration to work with council offices on options for an "ethical investment policy," including a human-rights screen and a goal that the city not invest in companies enabling war, genocide, slavery, torture, or crimes against humanity. It passed with Councilors Eric Zimmerman (District 4), Dan Ryan (District 2), and Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) opposed (06:31:14). The full resolution then passed with only Zimmerman opposed (06:52:44).

Dozens of residents testified over hours, urging divestment from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia and Walmart. Testifiers said the city holds about $68 million in Amazon corporate bonds — its largest single holding — and roughly $15 million in Nvidia, citing the companies' ties to the war in Gaza and to immigration enforcement surveillance. Chief Financial Officer Jonas Biery told council the city carries a AAA Moody's rating and that limiting investments produces "some amount, some non-zero amount of reduced revenue" (05:47:10), and that the city would not put a subjective moral judgment "on a city staffer." Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1) repeatedly stressed her vote was "not about a country or about a particular company" (06:24:22). Pirtle-Guiney declared a potential conflict of interest because her spouse works at a company the city invests in, and was advised she could vote (04:42:37).

Detention facility impact fee

Council gave final passage, 9-2, to an ordinance creating a Detention Facility Impact Fee Code, sponsored by Councilors Angelita Morillo (District 3) and Mitch Green (District 4) (02:07:31). The fee would recover public costs tied to detention facilities through an annual charge and a nuisance component. Councilor Kanal reported that police overtime at the ICE facility on McAdam fell from about $800,000 in June to $1.384 million over the five months from July 1 to December 1 — a 65.4% reduction — after a budget note limiting protest overtime (01:43:00).

Councilor Steve Novick (District 3) and Councilor Dan Ryan voted no. Novick said he could not endorse the principle that a facility generating protests should have those policing costs billed to the landowner, drawing an analogy to an abortion clinic. That triggered the meeting's sharpest exchange. After Morillo apologized for suggesting his absence from the first reading showed indifference, Novick said, "I do not accept your apology because you knew that I was out of town on an annual trip that I do... your suggestion that I didn't think this was important enough to show up is insulting" (02:05:30). Councilor Candace Avalos (District 1) voted yes but said, "I think it's good to have some dissent here" (02:06:58).

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Portland's council advanced a first-of-its-kind fee and nuisance ordinance targeting property owners who lease land for immigration detention, adopting a technical amendment 9-0 but holding the ordinance itself for a vote at its next meeting after roughly 30 residents demanded the city instead revoke the permit for the South McAdam Avenue facility. (03:10:23)

Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) presided; the mayor did not vote on any item.

Detention facility fee draws hours of opposition

Councilor Angelita Morillo (District 3), with co-sponsor Councilor Mitch Green (District 4), brought a two-part ordinance: an annual impact fee on property owners who lease land for detention, plus standalone nuisance provisions that would apply now. Morillo's policy advisor Susie Doister described it as a "Pigouvian" measure meant to make operators bear the costs they impose on neighbors. The fee amount would be set later through administrative rulemaking; no fee schedule exists yet. Green said the structure was delegated to rulemaking to withstand legal challenge, citing federal benefit-cost guidance and the roughly $100,000 Grays Landing had already incurred (02:38:48).

More than 36 people signed up and about 30 testified. The overwhelming majority opposed the fee as inadequate and called for the city to revoke the facility's permit. Holly Brown, of Portland Contra las Deportaciones, called it a "performative stunt" and said 560 people were arrested by ICE in Portland in the past month (01:11:03). Blair Glennon, a registered nurse at Legacy Emanuel, said ICE brings injured detainees to hospitals and that staff are told they cannot contact patients' families until after discharge or provide legal resources. Cami Saunders said the Cottonwood School was gassed so heavily it moved into another building owned by the facility's landlord, Stuart Lindquist. Several testifiers noted the fee, by Morillo's own account, would not apply to the McAdam facility unless its lease is renewed or renegotiated. Sam Diaz of 1000 Friends of Oregon and Beth Chvilicek of Unite Oregon supported the ordinance as a tool while the enforcement process proceeds.

Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2) pressed City Administrator Michael Jordan and the city attorney on where the money would go. Jordan said an earlier draft's dedicated fund was dropped for a general-fund account to reduce administrative cost and legal exposure, and that administrative rules would govern collection and disbursement. Kanal noted roughly $800,000 in police overtime at the facility in June alone and asked how the city would ensure funds reach harmed residents rather than being consumed by police overtime (02:56:40). Green said the ordinance's intent is to recover the full public cost and prioritize external stakeholders. Morillo said her priority is "the people who are first impacted." On a question from Councilor Dan Ryan (District 2), Jordan said behavioral health and deflection facilities would not be captured under the Title 33 definition of a detention facility.

Jordan told the council the permit revocation decision currently rests with the administration, not the council, and that the property owner's deadline to provide information had been extended to December 1 (02:36:33). Morillo said councilors cannot state a position on the permit because it is a land use decision they may later vote on.

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Portland's City Council authorized revenue bonds of up to $41 million to build out a leased fleet maintenance facility, passing the ordinance to a second reading on November 5 over a councilor's objection that the city would be sinking the money into property it does not own.

$41 million for a fleet garage the city won't own

The council advanced an ordinance to issue revenue bonds of up to $41 million to replace the century-old Kirby Garage with a build-out at the leased Cutter facility, moving it to a second reading on November 5 (01:31:48). Council Policy Analyst Christopher Hare said total principal would not exceed $43.9 million after issuance costs. Debt manager Matt Giurach put annual debt service at about $3.3 million for 20 years, and Aaron Beck of Business Operations said the cost would flow through vehicle rates so that "any bureau with a vehicle will be paying for the Cutter Garage" (00:45:11).

Councilor Eric Zimmerman (District 4) pressed the deepest objection, calling it "a big lift" to invest that much "into a piece of property we don't own" and asking whether leaving property costs out "was a tactic to keep the bond low" (00:59:26). The bureau said the city holds a right of first refusal and a purchase option on the Melitus Company site. Councilor Mitch Green (District 4) defended the lease as "option value," comparing it to power-purchase agreements from his energy career. The Cutter figure includes about $7 million in ongoing annual costs; the bureau attributed roughly $4 million above debt service to the new lease and a major-maintenance reserve set at 3% of replacement value.

Councilors Olivia Clark (District 4), Dan Ryan (District 2) and Jamie Dunphy (District 1) thanked garage staff and Maddie Sauter. Dunphy described conditions in which "at least one mechanic has to lay on their back in a puddle at the bottom of the slope" (00:51:13). Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1) asked whether an RFP was issued; the bureau said leasing bypasses procurement and the lease had gone to the prior council and was signed by July 1 of last year.

Bull Run filtration report accepted as bills are set to rise

The council voted 10-0 to accept the Bull Run Treatment Projects 2025 annual report (02:12:13). Interim Water Bureau director Keisha Light said the project will add about $40 to a single-family combined water and sewer bill over five years (01:44:48) and that missing the compliance deadline to deliver filtration by the end of September 2027 could let the EPA take over the system, force daily boil-water notices and hurt the bond rating.

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Portland's City Council voted 11-1 on Wednesday to pay $300,000 to settle a lawsuit by a man who spent more than four years in prison believing he had killed an overdose victim who had in fact survived (01:19:51).

$300,000 police settlement over a wrongful belief

The settlement in the Adam Gregg case came to council as an emergency ordinance introduced by Mayor Keith Wilson. Mike Porter, a city attorney, told the council that Gregg pled guilty to heroin distribution in 2015 and served over four years after the district attorney and defense both proceeded on the belief that a person had died from the drugs. The victim survived; a responding officer performed CPR, and his original report described the victim as alive before, Porter said, the report "was modified to indicate the victim had died." With the prosecutors dismissed under immunity, the city was the sole remaining defendant, and Porter said a jury could assign it full responsibility worth millions.

Three Portland Cop Watch members testified, calling the episode corruption, naming the two officers involved, and noting the Police Bureau paid more than $5.7 million in claims over the year (00:43:20). A related plaintiff, Mr. Cook, received a $45,001 judgment.

Councilor Eric Zimmerman (District 4) cast the lone no. He pressed Porter that the city employs no prosecutors and did not prosecute the case, that the presumptive sentence for the charge was 80 months regardless of whether the buyer lived, and said, "I think we should go to trial. I think Portlanders expect us to go to trial" (01:04:50). Councilor Olivia Clark (District 4) voted yes "reluctantly," calling the matter "a breach of trust" rather than corruption (00:57:30). Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1), Councilor Angelita Morillo (District 3), Councilor Steve Novick (District 3) and Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2) all grounded their yes votes in due process and equal protection; Kanal said he read the record as a mistake, not intentional wrongdoing. Deputy City Administrator staff said officer Thurman has been on leave with the investigation on hold, and officer Hutchison had a sustained finding for misinformation in a report.

Disparity studies held over amid a drafting scramble

A resolution by Councilor Smith to launch two studies of disparities in city contracting and workforce participation drew broad support but stalled procedurally. Smith argued the studies are needed to comply with Mayor Wilson's executive order EO 2025-01 and told colleagues the last city disparity study was completed in 2009. Haley Blonsky, a senior project manager, said a study authorized in 2022 was never funded. The cost was cited as roughly $450,000, shared with Prosper Portland while TriMet and the county pursue studies under the same contract, though Chief Financial Officer Jonas Biery said the technical-adjustment ordinance as filed shows $400,000 — a discrepancy to be resolved before that budget vote (01:45:32).

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Portland's City Council voted 12-0 to enact an emergency ordinance codifying the city's sanctuary protections into binding law and, in a separate 12-0 vote, adopted a resolution creating a "Protect Portland Initiative" against federal immigration and military deployment (05:16:39, 04:57:56).

Sanctuary status written into city code

The ordinance, sponsored by Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2) with Councilors Tiffany Koyama Lane (District 3), Angelita Morillo (District 3), Candace Avalos (District 1) and Steve Novick (District 3), converts pieces of Portland's 2017 sanctuary resolution into city code. Kanal said the 2017 resolution "is not legally binding" and that the ordinance mirrors the 2021 state Sanctuary Promise Act while adding employee trainings, protocols for staff or community members detained by federal agents, and signage marking private, warrant-required spaces inside city buildings.

Council attached an emergency clause on a 12-0 vote (05:13:18), letting the ordinance take effect immediately. Councilor Loretta Smith (District 1) proposed pulling the codification of Freedom of Information Act request reporting, saying she had concerns about directing bureaus beyond their charter duties. Councilor Mitch Green (District 4) offered a friendly amendment restoring the FOIA language into an annual reporting requirement, which passed 12-0 (05:08:45). Two further amendments — changing "residents" to "residents and visitors" and adding "leased spaces" to the signage rules — also passed unanimously. Jonas Biery, chief financial officer and acting City Administrator, told council the incremental budget impact of the new trainings "should be minimal" (04:49:34).

Hours of testimony, most in support

Roughly 80 people signed up to testify across the evening's three items, with more than 40 speaking on the sanctuary measures. Invited panelists included Mercedes Elizalde of Latino Network, which she said serves nearly 11,000 community members; Frank So of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, whose SOAR legal program receives "an average of 100 calls per day" for immigration help (02:29:00); and Jessica Maravilla of the ACLU of Oregon. Bob Cozzie, Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety, read a statement from Police Chief Bob Day affirming that Portland Police Bureau members will not be deputized by federal or military entities without city authorization.

Angela Bonilla of the Portland Association of Teachers said there had been "at least 4 reports" of Portland Public Schools parents taken after dropping children at school. Several speakers described being detained or injured at the ICE facility at 4310 S Macadam and urged council to revoke its permit. Multiple testifiers cited an estimate of 108,000 Oregonians at risk of deportation. Two speakers opposed the measures: Darren McCormick said "No one has been kidnapped by ICE" and urged a narrow exception for people convicted of crimes (03:00:40), and Karen Shirai asked for a no vote. After McCormick spoke, presiding officer and Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) reminded the room that "everybody remain respectful of other people who are testifying" (03:02:41).

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Portland City Council adopted a resolution 12-0 directing the city administrator to build a storefront support program and deliver a plan by January 31, 2026, after more than a dozen small-business owners described repeated break-ins, assaults and unreported crime. (03:48:53)

Storefront support program

The resolution, brought by Councilor Dan Ryan (District 2), directs staff to map vacant storefronts, collect data on why businesses close or leave, and coordinate responses across the Portland Management Office, police, the Bureau of Transportation, Portland Solutions and Prosper Portland. Ryan told the council the city has "a revenue problem," saying the city economist reported the business license tax coming in more than $12 million below last year's forecast (01:26:47).

Roughly a dozen owners testified, all in support. John Blumenauer of The Joinery said foot traffic fell 84% from 2020 to 2024 — 65,000 fewer visits — and that the business lost over 35% of its jobs (02:07:51). Justin Youngers of Binks Bar on Alberta said security now costs about $10,000 a month (02:17:42). Bianca Youngers described a 45-person brawl and stabbing at the bar and said, "we need help or we are going to die" (02:22:50). Stephen Cook of Vinyl Resting Place said he had replaced nine windows and had a gun pulled on him twice (02:02:41). Brian Owendoff cited downtown retail vacancy rising from 2.9% in 2019 to 8% today (02:23:10).

Councilor Angelita Morillo (District 3) questioned whether the resolution duplicated work already done by the Portland Management Office and Prosper Portland's new Office of Small Business, calling it "a plan to create a plan." Ryan pushed back: "It is a plan. It's a strategic plan" (01:33:31). Councilor Steve Novick (District 3) pressed whether the coordination the resolution ordered would cost money; City Administrator Michael Jordan said developing the plan "will take city resources to do" (01:40:04). Councilor Candace Avalos (District 1) said city support and incentives tend to "stay west of 82nd" and pushed for East Portland businesses to be included.

The council adopted several amendments. A scope amendment from Councilor Sameer Kanal (District 2) requiring a definition of "storefront business" passed 11-1, with Councilor Eric Zimmerman (District 4) opposed (03:09:26). Ryan's amendment adding a storefront representative from each district passed 11-1 (03:23:14). The council split over a "whereas" clause stating businesses were struggling under a tax burden, citing an 82% increase over four years. Novick objected to the language when "we're not planning to cut somebody's taxes"; his amendment adding a caveat, revised by Councilor Mitch Green (District 4) to strike the word "local," failed 5-7 (03:21:17). Kanal then moved to strike the tax clause entirely, which passed 9-2 (03:34:13).

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Portland City Council adopted a framework for a permanent Public Street Plaza Program on a 7-0 vote (03:57:48), directing the transportation bureau to build out and fund plazas citywide — though councilors noted not one exists in District 1.

Public Street Plaza Program

The resolution (Item 17) directs the Portland Bureau of Transportation to create a permanent plaza program, adopt administrative rules, refine fees, and report back within five years. Vice Chair Angelita Morillo (District 3), presiding for absent Chair Olivia Clark (District 4), recommended the package. Two operators testified to the plazas' effect: Alex Morell of Dream Big City said the Dream Plaza at 9th and Taylor was activated the same day the permit issued for about $25,000 and now draws 200 to 800 people daily (03:10:01). Thomas Gatley of the Kernside Business Association estimated about 4,000 visitors over the summer at the Ankeny/28th plaza and "several hundred thousand dollars of sales" on roughly $20,000 of city investment (03:13:11).

Several councilors flagged that no pilot plaza sits in District 1. Jamie Dunphy (District 1) called it "a glaring hole in this map." Candace Avalos (District 1) said she was "disappointed." Art Pierce, PBOT Deputy Director for Planning Projects and Programs, said East Portland has so far used play streets and park settings and that PBOT has issued a new call for plaza proposals. Sameer Kanal (District 2) warned that relying on existing community capacity risks bias: "otherwise what's going to end up happening is we're going to put plazas where white folks live" (03:44:00). Mitch Green (District 4) said the $150-per-year vending-cart fee was "too low." The lighting exception and fee-schedule ordinances (Items 18–19) move to a second reading October 8.

Police settlement and a fight over process

Council passed a $150,000 settlement of the Rossio and McDonald bodily-injury lawsuit against the Portland Police Bureau 11-0 (01:45:27). The case stemmed from an August 29, 2023 pursuit in which officers used a PIT maneuver on the wrong vehicle. Mark Porras of Portland Copwatch, the lone public testifier, said officers held the plaintiffs about 20 minutes after determining they were not suspects and noted that four months later, in December 2023, Chief Day loosened restrictions on car chases (01:44:40).

Eric Zimmerman (District 4) said policy and discipline questions belong in the Public Safety Committee, not a settlement vote, and warned against turning settlements into "a public comment forum." Candace Avalos and Loretta Smith (District 1) disagreed, saying the forum should "daylight" issues to stop settlements from draining the budget. Kanal said the officer-discipline question concerned the officer who lost track of the car, cited "$20 million on one bureau," and charged that some colleagues want the settlement trend data pushed "as far into the back room as possible... And that is unacceptable" (01:35:38). He said he has repeatedly offered to fund an extra committee meeting from his office budget; Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney (District 2) noted he had been approved an additional committee date.

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