A city committee advanced legislation on Thursday that would repeal the laws establishing Portland’s system of neighborhood associations.

In place of the old code, the 25-member panel recommended the full City Council adopt a set of “aspirational statements” that lay out the equity-focused responsibilities of the citizen engagement bureau, the Office of Community & Civic Life.

The change would likely have major effects if adopted. At its core, it would purge from civics code the neighborhood associations system, which has been hailed nationally as a potent example of citizen activism.

Also repealed is the associations’ power to submit official comment to city agencies on “any topic” affecting a neighborhood’s livability, safety or economic vitality. So, too, is the responsibility that the government tell neighborhoods of any actions affecting them, such as zoning changes.

The list of deletions goes on: Requirements that neighborhoods open their meetings to the public and retain copies of records. A procedure for neighborhoods to file grievances about city actions. Even the responsibility to enforce noise control laws.

Leaders from Portland’s 95 neighborhood associations say adopting these changes would kneecap their organizations, which perform a variety of functions from picking up trash and hosting block parties to filing complex land-use appeals that opponents say stifle development.

Proponents of the change say it would not curtail neighborhoods’ influence but merely spread those powers to additional affinity groups such as those formed around religion or race. They say power has for too long been concentrated among neighborhood associations, which are controlled primarily by homeowners and may not reflect the interests of Portland’s diverse population.

Neighborhood leaders, in turn, contend that their organizations are particularly necessary and beneficial within Portland’s unique commission-form government, where elected officials do not represent certain parts of the city.

“The fact is we are there for people. They don’t even necessarily know we exist,” said John Laursen, a member of the Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association board, who testified Thursday to the code change committee.

An official analysis of the proposal’s effects has not yet been conducted by the government. Such analysis is required when legislation comes before the City Council.

Suk Rhee, the director of the civic engagement bureau, said neighborhood leaders’ concerns are “legitimate” and resulted in the committee adding a section to its recommendation that intends to preserve neighborhood powers.

It’s questionable, however, if that wording would do so. It states Rhee must adopt a list of “recognized organizations” – including neighborhood associations and other not yet sanctioned groups – for the purpose of retaining powers afforded to already certified groups.

But that accreditation process is still deleted, as is code establishing the powers of neighborhood associations and the government’s responsibilities to them.

Winta Yohannes, an aide to the commissioner in charge of the civics bureau, Chloe Eudaly, said some of those laws, such as the ones applying open meetings standards to neighborhoods, should not have been in code to begin with. Yohannes said other laws are redundant, like those requiring notice of land-use decisions. Others still are unnecessary, she said, such as the ability to comment on government actions, which is a right already retained by all groups.

Margaux Weeke, a spokeswoman for Eudaly, said the changes are a step toward a more inclusive city government.

“This code change will recognize more civic groups in the code, open up additional prospects for civic engagement, include more voices in civic dialogue, and practice Portland’s values of equity and inclusion,” Weeke said.

Committee members worked for more than three hours and well into the evening on Thursday before advancing their recommendation on a 17-2 vote. Some members openly questioned whether their work product was precise enough or had become overstuffed with jargon.

More than 100 residents attended, though just a handful – who were called to speak by lottery – could testify during the 10 minutes allotted for public comment.

The City Council has final say over the recommendation. It is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the issue in September.

— Gordon R. Friedman

GFriedman@Oregonian.com