Budget committee trims $1 million from camp removals, approves tied planning note

Councilor Carmen Green moved an amendment, Green Three, that would remove $1 million from the citys removal (sweeps) budget and shift that money into one-time investments such as litter and tent-side waste collection, public toilets and hygiene services, free showers and laundry, and workforce-development programs for people experiencing homelessness. "We adopt both a dollar amount for sweeps and a target number of sweeps," Green said, citing city data and news reporting and arguing the current approach "moves people around the city and takes away their shelter."

Mayor Wilson defended the removal program and the shelter-offer approach, saying the city now provides a shelter offer at the time of removal and that sleeping in tents downtown has dropped. "Were rushing care to those individuals because we recognize we have a 24/7 city," the mayor said, urging continued investment in the shelter and outreach system.

Council debate focused on outcomes versus outputs; multiple councilors said outreach workers and local faith groups report people being moved repeatedly and, in some cases, pushed into more dangerous locations. Councilors asked staff for budget detail; bureau and CBO staff explained the removal crews and how the impact-reduction/IRP dollars are structured inside Portland Solutions and PMO budgets. Councilor Green acknowledged the city is legally constrained by the Tozer settlement and said the amendment was not a proposal to end required removals but to redirect discretionary funds toward stabilization and hygiene services.

The committee approved Green Three and the accompanying budget note (Green Six) directing planning and coordination work. Council action: Green Three passed on a roll call and Green Six, the associated budget note, was also approved. Councilor Avaloss related proposals to create a larger restricted reserve and planning process (Avalos Four and Nine) drew extended debate about duplication with county and joint planning groups and failed to reach approval in separate roll-call votes.

What happens next: the approved budget note directs the city administrator and Portland Solutions to assess overlapping responsibilities, evaluate shelter governance and contracting, review cost-effectiveness and housing outcomes across shelter and outreach programs, and develop recommendations for redirecting resources toward prevention, housing stabilization and permanent exits before the FY28 budget cycle.