Authorize Bureau of Transportation to acquire certain permanent and temporary property rights necessary for construction of the NE MLK Blvd Safety and Access to Transit Project, through the exercise of the City’s eminent domain authority

The City of Portland ordains. Section 1. The Council finds: The City of Portland may exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to Section 9-108 of the City Charter and in accordance with eminent domain procedures provided for in ORS Chapter 35 (Eminent Domain; Public Acquisition of Property), including those procedures that apply to notification, valuation, negotiation, relocation and early possession if necessary, when the exercise of such power is deemed necessary by the City Council to accomplish public purposes for which the City has responsibility. The City of Portland has the responsibility of providing safe transportation routes for commerce, convenience and to adequately serve the traveling public. The project known as the NE MLK Blvd Safety and Access to Transit Project (the "Project") has been planned in accordance with appropriate engineering standards for the construction, maintenance, or improvement of said transportation infrastructure such that property damage is minimized, transportation promoted, and travel safeguarded. The Project will construct new activated pedestrian crossings at NE Mason, Cook, and Buffalo Streets. It will also add protected left turn treatments to NE Killingsworth and Fremont Streets to make the intersections safer for people walking and driving. To accomplish the Project set forth above, it is necessary to acquire the following property interests described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 37, attached to this Ordinance, and by this reference incorporated herein. All affected property owners have been contacted and informed as to the City's need for certain property rights related to completion of the Project. All affected property owners have been invited, by mail, to attend the reading of this agenda item. Funds are available in the Transportation System Operating Fund. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: That it is hereby declared that it is necessary to acquire the property interests described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 37 to this Ordinance for the Project, for which the City is authorized by law to acquire property, and that the Project has been planned, designed, located, and will be constructed in a manner which will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury. That the Director of the Bureau of Transportation or designee and/or City Attorney are authorized to acquire necessary permanent and temporary rights for the Project under the eminent domain authority of the City, including filing an action to acquire the property interests described herein or negotiating just compensation with property owners within available project budget funds. That the power of eminent domain is hereby exercised with respect to each of the interests in property described and depicted in Exhibits 1 through 37. Each is acquired subject to payment of just compensation and subject to procedural requirements of Oregon law. That the Bureau of Transportation staff and the Office of the City Attorney are authorized to attempt to agree with the owner and other persons of interest as to the compensation to be paid for each acquisition; and, in the event that no satisfactory agreement can be reached, to commence and prosecute such condemnation proceedings as may be necessary to finally determine just compensation or any other issue appropriate to be determined by a court in connection with the acquisition. This authorization is not intended to expand the jurisdiction of any court to decide matters determined above or determinable by the City Council. That the Bureau of Transportation is authorized to determine the continuing necessity or propriety of the acquisition authorized by this Ordinance, its quantity, quality, or locality, and to reduce or abandon any acquisition described in Exhibits 1 through 37. There is hereby authorized the creation of a sub-fund in the amount estimated to be the just compensation for each interest in the property which, if necessary, shall be deposited with the clerk of the court where an action is commenced.