This week's Portland City Council Agenda is packed, chockablock full, of big issues. If ballots weren't due in 16 days, I would be spending most of today dissecting it for you. But they are. So I can't.

The most important of many important items:

Council to convene as Portland Development Commission Budget Committee

This is important because:

* Due to the Charter change passed by voters last May, the City Council has authority over the Portland Development Commission's budget.

* There are four members of the Portland City Council at this time.

* A 2-2 tie in votes means the motion fails.

* PDC's fiscal year ends June 30.

* If the Council deadlocks and fails to pass a budget for PDC, all work of the agency stops on July 1.

No pressure, gentlemen. Good luck with that.