Portland budget proposed at $9.6 million

Portland’s budget for next year is proposed at nearly $9.6 million.

Portland City Council on Tuesday briefly looked at and also held its public hearing on the 2024 budget.

Council also approved a couple of ordinance changes.

The city’s notice to taxpayers shows a budget of $9.59 million for 2024. It includes $4.42 million in the general fund, $1.31 million in the motor vehicle highway fund, $1.3 million in the insurance surplus non-reverting fund and $509,000 in the park and recreation fund.

There were no comments from the public or the council on the proposed budget.

Council approved the formation of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in the city.

Boggs had proposed an ordinance to do so at its last meeting, but council members asked for more time to consider the measure.

Under new state legislation that went into effect July 1, cities can have Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas where bar/restaurant patrons can purchase alcohol, leave the establishment and walk with their drink in an open container. The beverages would need to be in a designated container, such as a plastic cup approved by the city.

Several council members expressed hesitation at that meeting, but Golden said his questions had been answered through conversations with the mayor and police chief. With no other comment, council voted unanimously to approve creating a designated outdoor refreshment area in downtown Portland that will stretch to cover The Greazy Pickle, Good-Rich Brewery and establishments in between.

Council members Kent McClung, Mike Aker, Michele Brewster, Goldsworthy and Golden, absent Janet Powers and Don Gillespie, also approved an amendment to the city’s historic preservation ordinance to eliminate the need for a “certificate of appropriateness” unless city funds are being requested.

He recommended hiring an outside company to do similar work in the future, saying the concrete poured in 2022 likely won’t last for more than a decade. Hemmelgarn presented park board with a few options — leave the space as is and pay for the entire cost or take out the concrete and re-pour it, or take the issue to Portland City Hall. If the work is redone, Jay County Pee Wee Football would pay for half the cost, he said.

Moving forward, Ison recommended park board create written agreements with organizations. The process would include going through Portland City Council, he noted.

Park board member Michael Brewster criticized Jay County Pee Wee Football, saying he has seen the work and although he said he understood the concern, the invoice needs to be paid.

“Pee Wee Football is setting a bad precedent by not upholding their agreement with the park board,” said Brewster.

Ison added that the group uses a city park, and the park board provides supplies, lawn mowing, trash removal and water, among other amenities.

The park board agreed to forward the issue to city hall.

In other business, the board:

•Received two quotes for new playground equipment at Haynes Park. (Shauver suggested replacing the set east of the park’s center pavilion.) Both proposals included two sets of swings, one for infants and one for young adults and older. Board members agreed to review the proposals and make a decision at a later date, with Ison reminding them there are Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars available for the parks.

•Decided to look into creating and enforcing a catch-and-release fishing ordinance for Hudson Family Park. Shauver noted individuals have been netting 20 to 30 fish at the park at a time.