Portland City Auditor Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Public comment period open until 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2024

Summary

The City Auditor’s Office proposes updates to the following administrative rules, which are available for public comment for thirty days before adoption:

• ARA 15.01 - Lobbying Entity Registration & Reporting
• ARA 15.02 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: City Official Reporting
• ARA 15.03 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: Enforcement and Civil Penalties

About the changes

ARA 15.01 - Lobbying Entity Registration & Reporting 

• Updates and clarifies definitions of at-will staff of elected city official to align to mayor-council form of government, specifies City Director definition based on status quo and any added similar or higher-level directors, including those in office of city administrator. 
• Provides additional guidance on lobbying definition and indirect lobbying, such as through an intermediary. 
• Clarifies requirements to report indirect lobbying and examples of application.

ARA 15.02 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: City Official Reporting

• Streamlines and organizes definitions, updates references to new Auditor’s Office rules.
• Adds process for calendar safety exemptions for city officials required to quarterly post their calendar and the criteria for meeting the exemption, as determined by the City Attorney or designee. 

ARA 15.03 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: Enforcement and Civil Penalties

• Adds comprehensive complaint filing information (new complaint form online, requesting confidentiality process).
• Removes cap on fees for late filings.
• Adds options for disposition of complaints (such as dismissal) from Auditor’s Office.
• Adds enforcement standards, when there is lack of evidence to the contrary, the Auditor’s office will use to determine whether the time or monetary thresholds for lobbying registration and/or reporting was reached as well as examples of these standards. Updates civil penalty language for legal accuracy, and makes clearer reconsideration issuance timelines for the Auditor’s Office.

Public comment

The Portland City Auditor is asking for public comment on the proposed rule changes. Anyone can submit comments and questions about this rulemaking.

How to comment

The Portland City Auditor will accept comments by survey, email, or mail.

• Submit comments through our online form.
• Email us at auditorsoffice@portlandoregon.gov.
• Submit written comments in person or by mail at City Hall, 1221 SW Fourth Ave, Room 130, Portland, OR 97204.

We will only consider comments on the proposed rules received before the deadline.

Deadline for public comment

All public comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on December 4, 2024.

CONTACT

Please direct questions to Portland Elections.