Commissioner Steve Novick: Pass the Business Fee by November, or Lose the Whole Street Fee

City Commissioner Steve Novick announces the plan for a Portland street fee on May 22.
By AARON MESH

City Commissioner Steve Novick has confirmed the plan to split his proposed Portland street fee into two parts—and pass the household fee first, while delaying the charge on businesses.

But he says City Council must pass the business fee by November 14, or lose the whole proposal.

"The Mayor's and my plan is to move forward with a vote on a residential fee, and set a deadline of November 14, 2014 for the City Council to pass a nonresidential fee," Novick says in a statement. "Both fees would take effect as of July 1, 2015. If Council does not pass a nonresidential fee by November 14, the residential fee would be cancelled."

That November deadline is being written into the language of the $138-a-household fee, which City Council will vote on June 4.

Mayor Charlie Hales' office told WW last night that city officials planned to take up the business side of the fee within a few weeks. But the November deadline means City Hall could try to delay long enough keep opponents of the fee from referring it to the November ballot.

A public hearing on the divided fee starts today at 2 pm.

Here's the full text of Novick's statement:

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