The Metro Council unanimously approved its 2010 capacity ordinance Thursday, setting policies that will guide the Portland region's growth for decades to come.
But the approval came after the council decided to delay taking on one of the ordinance's more controversial topics.
The capacity ordinance approved Thursday sets the stage for an urban growth boundary review in 2011 by formally spelling out the region's 20-year need for housing, and establishing how much capacity the region has for homes, businesses and factories. Councilors formally accepted that at least half of the region's 20-year need can be met inside the current urban growth boundary.
The council also accepted many of Chief Operating Officer Michael Jordan's recommendations as part of his Community Investment Strategy, including establishing six outcomes that the council will use in future decisions.
"We have much to cheer for in this capacity ordinance," said Metro Councilor Kathryn Harrington. "It's far-reaching. There are aspirations here, and we should continue reaching for those. We're not resting. This work does not rest on any laurels. There is no status quo maintained here. That's why I support this."
Council President Carlotta Collette lauded the Community Investment Strategy as an effort that will leave a legacy in the region.
"We can plan communities all we want, but unless we can invest in them we can't deliver," she said. "So this strategy really talks about how do we get people to commit to bring not just public dollars, which are tiny, but also private dollars, which are also tiny – but together they start making something that is a livable community."
The meeting, though, wasn't without some surprises. Early in the discussion on the ordinance, Harrington issued a rebuke from the dais because proposed changes to Title 11, adopted by the council at the Dec. 9 meeting, weren't properly announced on Metro's website.
"I am deeply disturbed that the Title 11 language, that a lot of people hustled and bustled last week to work out and get amended, hasn't been published as part of our vote," she said. "I do not want to be voting that in as part of this ordinance."
The proposed changes to Title 11 prompt cities to plan for affordable housing in urban growth boundary expansion areas.
In the final public hearing on the ordinance, representatives from the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland and the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors also asked that the Title 11 changes be delayed.
"The new language hasn't received input from the housing community… not even MPAC (the Metro Policy Advisory Committee)," said Dave Nielsen, the CEO of the Home Builders Association. "We have not had a chance to review this language and the ramifications of a policy like this are huge."
Harrington emphasized that her issue wasn't disagreement with the language, and said she appreciated the work that MPAC's housing subcommittee and Metro staff did to get the wording into the capacity ordinance.
"I'm proposing this amendment to ensure that we have what I believe is the appropriate and required public availability of the proposed language," she said.
The council voted 4-2 on the motion to hold off on the Title 11 language until 2011; Councilors Robert Liberty and Rod Park voted against the motion.
"It was unfortunate the final meeting of MPAC was cancelled unilaterally," Liberty said, adding that he thought the committee would have approved it anyway. "Are you going to be able to satisfy the concerns raised by the home builders and the Realtors after taking everyone's time to go through another set of meetings? I'd submit to you we won't."
Park's last meeting
The meeting was the last for east Multnomah County Councilor Rod Park, who has served 12 years on the board and is term-limited out.
"So many people continue to push us, as well as the region, just to be a better place, and I have a lot of faith in your ability that you're going to continue to do that," Park said to a packed council chamber.