*Authorize competitive solicitation and price agreements for multiple contracts for Arts-related services

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: The City of Portland, at this crucial juncture, acknowledges the need for decisive action in light of several impending developments related to the Arts: Transition to New Government Structure: The City is preparing for a transition to a new form of government. With City Council’s prioritization of the Arts in the Vibrant Communities service area, and creation of an Office of Arts & Culture, the City is championing a unique opportunity to reshape how it supports and interacts with the Arts sector, ensuring governance and cultural expressions evolve in tandem. Adoption of 'Our Creative Future' Plan: Spring 2024 marks the anticipated adoption of recommendations from the 'Our Creative Future' cultural plan. This plan, a result of extensive community engagement with individual artists and arts organizations across the Tri-County region bolstered by expert input, will chart a new course for Arts and Culture in Portland, aligning with contemporary needs and aspirations of the region. Expiry of RACC Contract : Concurrently, the contract with the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is set to expire in June 2024. This longstanding partnership has been a cornerstone of the City's Arts and Culture scene, and its expiration necessitates a thoughtful transition to new ways of managing and delivering Arts services. In anticipation of these significant changes, the City is actively redefining its model for Arts service delivery. The goal is to select new service providers who can adapt to the expanding role of Arts and Culture in our community. This process is crucial for ensuring that the future Office of Arts & Culture can manage these services efficiently and responsively. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: Procurement Services is authorized to solicit for Arts-related services for grantmaking to individual artists and arts organizations. Procurement Services is authorized to solicit for Public Art services. Procurement Services is authorized to solicit for Strategic Initiatives defined as a result of the 'Our Creative Future' Cultural Plan in 2024. For each of these procurements, upon Council's acceptance of the Chief Procurement Officer’s Report to Council, the Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to negotiate and execute contracts and price agreements for a cumulative amount not to exceed $23 million, provided the contracts and price agreements have been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office's. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because any delay in the implementation of these changes could result in service disruptions in Portland-Metro's Arts economy, including implementation of the Tri-County Cultural Plan recommendations; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.