Portland City Council next week will begin the process of passing a street fee that could raise as much as $53 million a year for transportation projects.



Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Steve Novick have for months talked about creating the fee, which would charge households up to $12 a month and businesses much more.



Officials have said they might pass the fee without taking it to voters.



The appearance of the fee on a City Council agenda today signals that process will start next Thursday, May 29, with a final vote coming as soon as June 6.



Multiple sources tell WW that Hales and Novick will hold a press conference May 22 to announce their plan to pass the fee. The Portland Bureau of Transportation will also unveil a fee calculator allowing businesses to tally how much they'll have to pay.