WHAT IS HAPPENING? The Office of Community & Civic Life, the Portland bureau formerly known as the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, is rewriting the section of the City Code that governs its operations for City Council approval. The final proposal will be released soon and the council is expected to hold at least one hearing and vote on it in July or August, but no date has yet been announced.

WHAT IS THE GOAL? The office operates under Chapter 3.96 of the code. The council passed a resolution last summer changing its name and requesting the rewrite to better reflect its responsibilities helping all communities engage with city government. A citizen advisory committee was appointed to work on the rewrite, which acknowledges that Portland is becoming a more diverse city, with different needs and challenges than in the past.