We asked councilors to reflect on their achievements and give us a sneak peek at what's to come in 2026. by Courtney Vaughn This year marked a new beginning for Portlanders after 100 years of local government operating at a glacial pace. It was the first under Portland’s new form of government. A series of voter-enacted charter changes included expanding City Council to 12 people (previously five) and holding elections by newly established Council districts.  The city government underwent other structural changes, including greater separation between the executive and legislative branches. The mayor is no longer part of City Council and has a more prominent role in overseeing city staff and operations. Now, a city administrator has a lot more power—some argue more than the mayor. That appointed position manages day-to-day operations with the help of deputy city administrators who oversee the city’s service areas. This year also saw a series of growing pains as the City Council tested out its new operating structure, which required a few tweaks. Perhaps the most visible change is the way in which the Council carries out its business. Aside from overseeing the city’s budget, councilors are now responsible for bringing legislation forward. The old form of government didn’t bar councilors from introducing policies or code changes for consideration, but it didn’t hinge as heavily on councilors setting policy. The city operates a bit more like a state legislature and a governor now, and with the expanded legislative body, it appears more work can be done more quickly for constituents. And that’s the point of the new government. In 2025, Portland’s mayor and new Council approved more than 150 pieces of new legislation, including resolutions and ordinances. Much like a manager asking for a productivity report from staff, we asked each councilor to reflect on their achievements during 2025, as well as their agenda for 2026. Let this serve as a landmark of where the city’s leaders’ priorities are, and something you can reference long after the new year. Auld Lang Syne!  Q: Are you a person who makes New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are your personal resolutions for 2026?  District 1 Candace Avalos: “I don’t really do resolutions, but this year I’m pushing myself a little. Politics often asks people — especially public figures — to sand themselves down. I want to keep holding onto the creative, human parts of myself and not lose them to professionalism or expectations of what an elected official "should" be.” Jamie Dunphy: “I don’t believe in making New Year’s resolutions. I think they’re silly. Just do better tomorrow than you did today.” Loretta Smith: "I do make resolutions. Personally, I want to stay grounded in gratitude and balance—making time for family, community, and health even in the midst of public service. "Professionally, my resolution is to build on our workforce investments. I aim to pass the funding ordinance for the Sidewalk Improvement and Paving Program, expand the SummerWorks initiative, strengthen the Workforce Pre-Apprenticeship Program, and ensure that every policy decision is grounded in equity and focused on the long-term resilience of Portlanders." District 2 Sameer Kanal: "If I make New Year’s resolutions this year, they would probably be: finding more time to read, play guitar, watch soccer, and sleep; eat more cheese" Elana Pirtle-Guiney: “I’m not a person who makes New Year’s resolutions, per say, but my goal for this year is to get back to coaching baseball in the spring. This will be my youngest kid’s first T-ball season, and I’m ready to get back on the field!” Dan Ryan: “I’m not a big New Year’s resolution person, but in 2026 I’m aiming to maintain my health, keep the weight steady, and hopefully spend a little less time at the chiropractor and more time at yoga.”  District 3 Tiffany Koyama Lane: “I don’t make resolutions as much (as) taking time to reflect on the past year and set some intentions to carry into the coming one. For me, continuing to serve our beloved city and communities, leading with my values and relationships to find more ways to grow a city that works for everyone would be a really fine way to greet 2026 and beyond!” Angelita Morillo: “I do make New Year’s resolutions! For 2026, mine is to become more confident biking around the city. As we face deep cuts to TriMet, many Portlanders are turning to other modes of transit whether they planned to or not. I’m the only Councilor without a car (or a driver’s license), so I feel those cuts personally in my day-to-day. I’m committed to fighting for safer, more connected bike infrastructure that elevates Portland to the kind of world class cycling city we have the potential to be.” Steve Novick: “One resolution I just made yesterday is to try to make the committees I co-chair more collaborative. We should reserve time in committee to invite all members to make suggestions about topics we should cover and give each other heads-up about legislation that is in the works, rather than waiting until a concept is in full legislative form before sharing it. Since the public meetings law complicates our existence by largely prohibiting private communications, we need to expand our public communication with each other.   “On a more personal note, I need to go back to taking more advantage of our numerous independent theaters that show old movies.” District 4 City Councilor Eric Zimmerman speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in December 2024. sean bascom District 4 Olivia Clark: “Staying healthy and physically fit in the face of Council schedule and demands!” Mitch Green: “Something tells me we’re in for another bumpy ride in 2026. But no matter what fresh hell comes our way, I’m resolving to stay unbothered, moisturized, and in my lane. See you at Yammies.” Eric Zimmerman: “My personal resolution for 2026? To have my own food column in the Portland Mercury, of course! Publishers, I’m ready.” Q: What legislation, if any, did you introduce and what achievements are you most proud of? District 1 Candace Avalos: • Introduced a resolution instructing the city administrator to create a unified housing strategy (co-sponsored by Councilor Jamie Dunphy) • Co-sponsored a social housing initiative, which instructs the city to study the alternative financing options that align with the social housing model (co-sponsors: Councilors Mitch Green, Sameer Kanal, and Tiffany Koyma Lane) • Co-sponsored a resolution introduced by Councilor Kanal to expand Portland Street Response (co-sponsored by Councilor Angelita Morillo)  • Co-sponsored an ordinance introduced by Councilor Kanal to strengthen Portland's sanctuary city status • Co-sponsored the Protect Portland Initiative to denounce National Guard deployment and bolster resources for immigrants in Portland "Passing the Protect Portland Initiative unanimously, along with Councilor Kanal’s Sanctuary City ordinance that I cosponsored, is definitely one of my top accomplishments from the year," Avalos says. "I think another big win was when I was able to work together with my colleagues during the budget season to put $1.9 million back into Parks maintenance so East Portlanders continue to have clean, safe, and usable parks." Jamie Dunphy: • Introduced the fair wage policy, a section of city code that defines what the city considers a fair wage; It was removed in 2024 by the previous City Council. (Co-sponsored by Councilors Green and Steve Novick) • Ushered in the noise code repeal, removing the police’s ability to determine something is “plainly audible” and shut down legal commerce (like music venues) without meaningful measurement or the ability to contest it • Alongside Councilor Morillo, co-sponsored Mayor Wilsons code alignment project to make permitting easier and cheaper for things like renovating a home or adding an ADU • Co-sponsored Councilor Morillo's unified housing strategy • Co-sponsored the Zenith resolution seeking more transparency and investigation of the company's franchise agreement with the city • Implemented seven budget amendments that increased golfing fees to generate revenue for Portland parks; directed $100K to the Leach Botanical Garden; restored a staff position in the city's Noise Office; increased Uber and Lyft fees to benefit Vision Zero; require reports outlining financial investments into parks and transportation by district, to see where disparities exist; carved out $365K for a storefront activation program connecting owners of vacant storefronts with artists and creatives; and directed $450K to the city's Film Events Office. • Co-sponsored an initiative introduced by Councilor Loretta Smith that directs the city to investigate disparities in its contracting policies and practices "In just one year, I have seen a meaningful change in how the City of Portland thinks about, plans for, financially supports, and meaningfully responds to East Portland," Dunphy says. "The muscle memory of the City government continues to default to a position where East Portland is an afterthought, where it’s harder to deliver services specifically because of the lack of investment in the past. For example, when the Mayor proposes $6million in funding for leaf sweeping, but that leaf sweeping can only happen on streets with a curb, and if you don’t have sidewalks, you don’t have a curb. So the answer isn’t that East Portland simply gets passed over, the answer must be that we do something differently to ensure my neighbors East of I-205 get their fair share of beautification efforts." District 1 City Councilor Candace Avalos listens to remarks from fellow D1Councilor Jamie Dunphy during a meeting in April 2025.courtney vaughn Loretta Smith: • Introduced the Sidewalk Improvement and Paving resolution to prioritize safe pedestrian infrastructure like sidewalks in Districts 1 and 4—areas where infrastructure like sidewalks and paving have historically been under-developed • Introduced a fiscal transparency resolution requiring the city administrator to report new funding within 15 days, to increase accountability and transparency • Introduced a workforce pre-apprenticeship program and SummerWorks youth employment initiative • Initiated the contractor disparity study "One of the defining moments of this year was sponsoring the Disparities Studies Resolution. It gives Portland the data we need to defend programs that protect vulnerable and historically marginalized communities—at a time when those protections are under threat nationally," Smith says. "I’m also proud of securing direct funding for the Workforce Pre‑Apprenticeship Program and expanding the SummerWorks Youth Employment Initiative. These investments open doors for young people and working families, creating pathways to stability and long‑term opportunity." The councilor also cites her amendment to increase the settlement amount for Albina descendants as a high point of 2025. "This was about more than dollars—it was about honoring Portland’s history, addressing past harms, and ensuring that equity is not just a value we talk about but a commitment we act on." District 2 Sameer Kanal:• Sanctuary City Codification ordinance, which directed city staff to enshrine sanctuary city protections into Portland code. (Co-sponsors: Councilors Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, Candace Avalos, Steve Novick) • The Portland Street Response resolution, which set up PSR as a co-equal branch of Portland’s first responder system and established the Portland Street Response Committee. (Co-sponsors: Morillo, Avalos) • Co-sponsored Social Housing Resolution • Co-sponsored two resolutions governing Council rules and meetings During the spring budget development cycle, Kanal successfully introduced an amendment to redirect police overtime dollars “away from wasteful spending on protest observation to community priorities like human trafficking and burglary.” He also worked to maintain funding for the Safe Blocks program and Community Health Assess and Treat (CHAT). Kanal said he’s also proud of protecting Portland Parks and Recreation through his work during the budget cycle and support for the parks levy. He also cited connecting with constituents via “dozens of community events and meetings” and building good relationships with his Council colleagues among his accomplishments.  Elana Pirtle-Guiney: • Served as council president • Co-sponsored the Protect Portland Initiative in response to President Trump’s threats against the city. The initiative was meant to “safeguard our community through tangible, unified actions,” including solidifying the city’s response to increased immigration raids, and strengthening the separation between local police and federal immigration enforcement. (Co-sponsors: Councilors Avalos, Koyama Lane, Clark) • Led a budget amendment to fund investments in small businesses and strengthen workforce development.Co-introduced the new parks levy, which voters approved in November. (Co-sponsors: Councilors Novick and Morillo) • Co-sponsored a city code update making it easier for people to access single-use restrooms around the city (co-sponsors: Councilors Jamie Dunphy, Koyama Lane) Pirtle-Guiney also noted that as the first City Council president, she focused on behind-the-scenes work a lot of her work happened behind-the-scenes to fully implement Portland’s new form of government, including by the Council’s policy committees and managing Council operations.  Dan Ryan: • Introduced a resolution requiring the city administrator to develop a storefront support program, in an effort to “implement strategies that provide real and immediate assistance to our local business community as they face continued safety, security, and financial challenges.”  • Helped get rules for Council committees adopted and implemented Ryan also introduced an effort to create a public-private partnership for the Portland Tennis Center, which he says will help “activate a long-needed pivot for Portland Parks Recreation toward more modern, efficient operations.”  District 3 Tiffany Koyama Lane:• Served as council vice president, working to improve and help shape City Council governance, including an ordinance dictating what happens when there's a tie vote  • Led Council's response to federal government overreach, including efforts to push back on authoritarian measures and protect vulnerable Portlanders • Along with Councilor Dan Ryan, advanced new rules for Council committees • Co-sponsored resolutions and ordinances to hold Zenith Energy accountable, study alternative housing models, strengthen Portland's sanctuary status, and prevent predatory rental pricing practices “In addition to working on my own policy agenda – Vision Zero, Age Friendly Portland, and Economic Justice – I’ve been the Council’s lead representative to all of our federal response work," Koyama Lane says. "This has required building the trust necessary to create authentic relationships with community members and organizations, Council, and the executive and administrative branches. I’m so very proud of how our City has shown up and continues to show up to defend our neighbors and democracy.” Angelita Morillo: • Improved budgeting oversight • Introduced the city's first ban on AI-based rental pricing software (Co-sponsors: Councilors Koyama Lane and Green) • Along with Councilor Mitch Green, introduced a fee on new detention centers to recoup costs of environmental remediation, impacts to neighbors, and police overtime related to protests  • Co-sponsored a resolution demanding more transparency about Zenith Energy's operations and franchise agreement with the city, and requesting an audit of declarations made by the fuel transport company and its representatives (co-sponsors: Councilors Green, Dunphy, and Koyama Lane) • Implemented budget amendments to protect the Small Donor Elections program and preserve the city’s workforce capacity, while directing over $5 million into road safety and economic revitalization, including Vision Zero projects aimed at saving lives Morillo said she spent her first year in office “protecting Portlanders’ rights, strengthening community safety, and holding powerful interests accountable.” “In my first year on Council, I’m proud to have delivered on two major areas of progress: funding critical programs and strengthening our social fabric," Morillo says. "I worked closely with my colleagues across Council to craft a budget that reflects Portlanders’ real needs. I helped secure more than $7 million to close the parks maintenance gap and focus on the basics: bathrooms, community centers and youth programming, and other core facilities people use every day.” City Councilor Angelita Morillo briefly confers with fellow District 3 Councilor Steve Novick before a meeting in April. courtney vaughn Steve Novick: • Co-sponsored the sanctuary city codification ordinance introduced by Councilor Kanal • Introduced an amendment that allows fees on Lyft and Uber to be used for transportation funding • Co-introduced an ordinance with Councilor Morillo to establish a City Data and Privacy Office in an effort to “unify the City’s privacy practices, strengthen data-governance standards, and ensure Portlanders’ information is protected from inappropriate access or use.” The Council has yet to vote on the proposal. • Co-sponsored the fair wage policy introduced by Councilor Dunphy (also co-sponsored by Councilor Green) Novick cites his work on gun safety as a top accomplishment. “I’m really proud of our work on Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs),” Novick says. “Last year I learned that Portland underutilizes ERPOs to take guns out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves or others. We brought out a national expert, Everytown for Gun Safety, and other local advocates to highlight the life-saving value of this tool during a committee meeting. It helped encourage the Portland Police Bureau to commit to increasing ERPO training for its officers.” District 4 Olivia Clark: •  Co-introduced a resolution with Councilor Smith, directing the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to establish a Sidewalk Improvement and Paving Program, to remedy major sidewalk gaps in Districts 1 and 4 (Co-sponsors: Councilors Eric Zimmerman and Mitch Green) • Introduced a resolution directing the Public Works Service Area and the city’s chief financial officer to work with PBOT on local funding strategies for Portland’s transportation system • Introduced a resolution to develop a citywide asset management strategy to address Portland’s maintenance backlogs • Co-sponsored Councilor Kanal's Protect Portland Initiative • Introduced an ordinance allowing the city to sell the Sellwood Community House to Friends of Sellwood Community House for $1 • Successfully introduced a budget note during the spring budget cycle to create a staff position that will strengthen inter-agency coordination at the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Clark also noted her strong support for a fully-funded police bureau, and said she is proud of her work to help Mayor Wilson carry out his plans to end unsheltered homelessness–including by standing up against a proposal to redirect funding from the city’s Impact Reduction Program. Clark also emphasized her support for Portland’s neighborhood associations. Her office donated $2,000 in surplus funds to each of District 4’s neighborhood associations, and contributed to the District 4 monthly newsletter. Mitch Green: • Led and co-sponsored a resolution that lays the groundwork for the city to invest in a social housing model • With Councilor Morillo, introduced and passed a new detention center fee • Directed funding to provide relief for tenants at the Everett Station Lofts • Co-sponsored the resolution calling for an investigation into the city’s dealings with Zenith Energy (co-sponsors: Councilors Morillo, Dunphy, and Koyama Lane) • Co-sponsored a resolution to build $200 million of new sidewalks in Districts 1 and 4 (introduced by Councilor Loretta Smith, co-sponsored by Councilors Clark and Zimmerman) • Introduced an omnibus budget amendment that redirected $2 million from the police budget into what Green calls "a holistic Public Safety Set-Aside (with funding for a renewed Portland Street Response study)," while securing funding for arts and culture institutions like Portland Center Stage and the James Beard Market • Secured funding for a CEI Hub analyst, and reaffirmed the need for an anti-displacement task force within the city under the above-mentioned budget amendment • Co-sponsored an ordinance reestablishing the fair wage code • Along with Councilor Morillo, co-sponsored an ordinance banning predatory AI rent-setting algorithms • Along With Councilor Morillo, co-sponsored the new detention center fee Aside from working to bring infrastructure and safety improvements to District 4, Green's priorities have largely focused on housing issues "I’ve worked closely with a number of my colleagues to ensure that this new Council delivers for workers, for renters, for families, and for the environment," Green says. "We’ve racked up a number of wins in each of those areas, and I’m proud of the part I’ve been able to play in making that happen. I’m particularly proud that based upon the contributions from my office this city is taking Social Housing very seriously." Eric Zimmerman: • Along with Councilor Morillo, advanced a design review resolution in an effort to cut through red tape and speed housing development • Along with Councilor Green, stopped the city attorney from filing an unfair labor practice complaint against a local of AFSCME, which represents certain groups of city employees • Introduced a Portland Parks Recreation budget transparency pilot, asking for city bureaus to break down their budgets by program, staffing, and funding source, with PPR being the first bureau on board. "Finding $21M in unused funds at the Portland Housing Bureau is a perfect example of why this level of detail matters," Zimmerman says of his proposal. "Parks stepped up as a partner, and this pilot will strengthen transparency and accountability across all bureaus." Zimmerman also counts the work he did via the Finance Committee as a win. "I’m proud that Finance Committee passed more legislation this year than any other committee," Zimmerman says. "2025 was our first year under Portland’s new form of government, and yes, the transition has had its challenges. The house may not be in perfect order, but the behind-the-scenes work we do every day is helping position Portland as more financially responsible." Q: Are there any ordinances or legislation you didn’t have a chance to bring before Council that you’d like to introduce in 2026?  District 1 Candace Avalos: “One piece of legislation that I’m looking forward to leading in 2026 is an ordinance to put the HEART Standard into city code. The HEART Standard aims to update building codes to reduce energy costs for renters while increasing sustainability and climate resilience.  This is part of a larger body of work that started in 2020 to decarbonize buildings, led by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), and my office has been in close contact with the BPS staff leading this work. Keep your eyes out for the ordinance when it drops next year!” Jamie Dunphy: Dunphy has several pieces of legislation that could hit Council agendas next year. Among them: an all-user restroom conversion, requiring that all existing public single-stall gender-specific restrooms in private businesses change their signage and convert these rooms into all-user restrooms; a code alignment project the councilor says is “focused on continued streamlining and right-sizing our permitting”; improvements to the city’s rental registry program; and a proposal to double the current exemption levels for business license taxes, raising the threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 in gross annual income before small businesses must pay the tax. The councilor also says his office is working on “a large package of policies related to supporting the Music and Arts Economy as a tool for economic development, activation, and public safety.” District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith chats with fellow D1Councilor Candace Avalos before a meeting in October.courtney vaughn Loretta Smith: Smith said she is entering 2026 with urgency and clarity, and her top priority is passing the Slow the Inflow resolution, which is led by Councilor Avalos and co‑sponsored by Smith and Dunphy. It directs $20.7 million toward homelessness prevention, housing vouchers, rental assistance, eviction prevention, and support for households at risk. “The goal is simple: deliver solutions that are responsive, equitable, and anchored in the real needs of our constituents. Prevention must be at the heart of our homelessness strategy, and this resolution is a critical step forward.” District 2 Sameer Kanal: Kanal says he intends to bring legislation focused on traffic safety and renter support. He also intends to bring forward a policy to re-establish and empower the Human Rights Commission, and continue presenting legislation related to federal overreach and civil rights under the Trump administration–including a policy that would prohibit law enforcement from intentionally hiding their identities.  Elana Pirtle-Guiney: Pirtle-Guiney plans to bring forward an ordinance updating “good governance rules” to ensure the Council’s work is visible and accessible to the public. She also intends to focus on empty storefront activation, reopening the Columbia Pool, improving the city’s relationship with its labor unions, and working on adding family-sized homes to Portland’s housing stock. Other priorities: Finding opportunities to support the Albina district’s revitalization efforts, working on using the Portland Clean Energy Fund to “catalyze high-wage, sustainable jobs,” and weighing in on the Economic Opportunities Analysis.  Dan Ryan: Ryan intends to bring forward policies to strengthen Portland’s cannabis industry, in collaboration with people involved in the industry.  District 3 Tiffany Koyama Lane: Koyama Lane said there are a number of actions she plans to take on and support in 2026. That includes moves to ensure the city’s efforts address the needs of people of all ages to address the needs of elders, including those experiencing homelessness, making sure public plaza design is inclusive and accessible, and advocating for housing that allows Portlanders to live in their homes and communities at all ages and stages. She also expects to focus on economic justice. That means “(s)upporting community organizing for participatory budgeting; exploring how to better utilize commercial vacancies in service to housing and small businesses; improving protections for LGBTQIA2+ within City code; and considering protection from evictions during the school year for households with school age children,” Koyama Lane said. Angelita Morillo: “At the start of the year, my office will launch a strategic planning process to guide our work over the next six months,” Morillo says. “This process will begin with a survey I plan to distribute to District 3 residents and businesses to gain deeper insight into their priorities.” Morillo says she’ll remain focused on issues like housing production and affordability, consumer protection, and infrastructure needs. “I’ve also been working closely with our Vision Zero partners to identify ways to address traffic issues on Cesar Chavez Blvd and to strengthen bike and pedestrian alternatives within our transportation system.” Steve Novick: Novick plans to introduce policies related to human trafficking, especially along 82nd Ave, along with proposals to eliminate obsolete or “silly” regulations on small business, such as permit requirements that make no sense.   “Some Mercury readers may know of my obsession with reducing the number of youth suicides by jump-starting the production of ‘smart’ fingerprint locked guns by leveraging the police’s purchasing power to sway the market on their production,” Novick says. He says he’s working with Everytown for Gun Safety to develop a resolution. District 4 Olivia Clark: Councilor Clark plans to pursue a resolution that would commit the city to increasing staffing at the Portland Police Bureau. She is also interested in pursuing a new version of the city’s Neighborhood Watch program.  Mitch Green: “My office is developing a number of policies we’d like to introduce in 2026, but the most mouth-watering has to be what we’re calling the ‘hotdog ordinance,’” Green says, noting the goal is to make it easier for street vendors and small-scale entrepreneurs to operate on sidewalks. Relaxing city codes could help reactivate public spaces, Green says. “Because you really shouldn’t have to go that far to get a dog at 3am in this town. We’ll see who the real supporters of the free market are in 2026.” Eric Zimmerman: In 2026, Zimmerman says he wants to implement design review reforms and “cut the red tape deterring developers.” The councilor also wants to see construction started on the Broadway Corridor and OMSI Vision projects, and “ensure neighborhood cleanup programs are consistent and properly funded.”   ...read more read less