June 22, 2017
Lester Smith, Event Director
Portland Marathon
c/o Bullard Law
200 SW Market St., Suite 1900
Portland, OR 97201
Dear Mr. Smith,
On June 21, 2017, the City’s lead Portland Marathon planners from the Portland Police Bureau
(PPB), Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) and the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) met to
discuss how to make a successful Portland Marathon under a very compressed timeline. At the
end of the meeting, it was determined that, for the safety and security of the community,
spectators and participants and with consideration to the City’s resources, the following
timelines and meeting requirements must be met:
•

You, or your decision-making representative, must attend all meetings. Believing that
time is of the essence, City Planners are willing to meet in your office and at times that
meet your busy schedule, including early mornings, evenings and weekends.

•

On or before June 30, 2017, the City Planners will provide you and your Course Director
a comprehensive proposal that will include a PF&R approved medical plan and multiple
course options that minimize the impact on City resources while preserving as much as
possible the scenic and iconic features of past Portland Marathons. The proposal will
also include the estimated costs of the PPB and PBOT resources needed to secure the
proposed routes.

•

On or before July 17, 2017, you will accept, in writing, one route option from the
options presented. You may also arrange to meet with City Planners to discuss the route
on or before July 17, 2017. Refinements to the selected route may be made from July
17-31, 2017.

•

On or before July 31, 2017, you and City Planners must agree, in writing, on the final
route and the PF&R approved medical plan without modifications.

 •

On or before July 31, 2017, the Portland Marathon will pay the City the estimated costs
for the PPB and PBOT resources needed to secure the selected route.

The 2017 Portland Marathon does not have a Special Event permit from the City. PBOT denied
the Marathon’s application on June 9, 2017. At the request of an attorney for the Portland
Marathon, PBOT agreed to extend the appeals deadline to June 23, 2017. To allow negotiations
for the event to proceed, PBOT has agreed to temporarily suspend the appeals process for the
June 9 permit denial, and work towards planning an event that can meet the City’s permit
requirements.
Sincerely,

Steve Townsen, City Engineer
Portland Bureau of Transportation

Capt. Michael Crebs, Traffic Division
Portland Police Bureau

Tom Williams, Emergency Operations Division Chief
Portland Fire & Rescue

cc: Berk Nelson
Matt Grumm
Fire Chief Mike Myers
Transportation Director Leah Treat
Police Chief Mike Marshman