A seven-hour “priorities setting” retreat for the Portland City Council, reported in last week’s Murmurs, will cost at least $27,000, according to city staff.
The March 7 retreat, led by a Texas consulting firm, focused little on the city’s upcoming budget deficit of more than $100 million and instead became a session in which councilors expressed their policy hopes and dreams.
The final bill, as it now stands, is $27,422; $12,900 for the consultants, and $14,522 for security, tech and streaming provided by city employees…