One other transportation-related coverage change, made unilaterally by town’s administrative wing, has rankled metropolis council members.
In line with the Willamette Week,
Members of council, led by Councilor Eric Zimmerman, mentioned Wilson’s unilateral directive to increase the hours of paid parking from 7 to 10 pm in pockets of town this summer season—a transfer that has annoyed many Portlanders—is an overreach of Wilson’s administration.
“We might revert again to the paid parking hours as they had been on the final fiscal yr if we need to get severe,” Zimmerman pitched to his colleagues, “and take again our management because the legislative physique at this metropolis.”
An “overreach of Wilson’s administration”? Hmm, why does that sound acquainted? Oh yeah, it’s identical to how an workplace overseen by Mayor Wilson unilaterally determined to take away site visitors diverters on two neighborhood greenways in Northwest Portland. In my protection of that subject again in August, we realized that almost all members of metropolis council hadn’t even heard concerning the plan. Actually, Metropolis Councilor Mitch Inexperienced was so peeved by this lack of session that he’s shared an intention to vary metropolis code so it received’t occur once more.
Inexperienced pulled out a statute in Portland Metropolis Code that states, “Metropolis Council is the highway authority for all public streets.” Then he informed a metropolis advisory committee that, “Town administrator is allowed to execute our vote. It’s inappropriate for town administrator to tug again on investments they’ve made with out no less than notifying metropolis council and asking for permission. That should change and that may change.”
On the paid parking subject, it appears like metropolis councilors are cut up on the deserves of the coverage, however united in concern over the way it was carried out.
On a associated notice, I can’t assist however discover the hypocrisy right here from Councilor Zimmerman. He’s involved about administrative overreach when it impacts a coverage he dislikes (paid automotive parking), however he didn’t communicate up when it impacted a coverage he likes (eradicating the diverters).
The Willamette Week story makes it clear that even Metropolis Administrator Mike Jordan isn’t certain who has final authority over transportation choices. Looks like this is a matter we have to rectify instantly. Both that, or perhaps the mayor and different administrative workplace workers ought to do a bit extra outreach to their colleagues earlier than transferring ahead with main coverage adjustments.
