Hello neighborhood leaders,
As a direct result of the advocacy of leaders like you in neighborhood associations and district coalition offices throughout Portland, the city’s transition team has agreed to retain the structure of the Office of Community and Civic Life. Civic Life will now report directly to the Assistant City Administrator, rather than the initial plan to move neighborhood associations and district coalitions to a separate organization containing homeless services.
The most recent city organization draft can be found at: https://www.portland.gov/transition/documents/updated-draft-organization-chart/download. Per T.J. McHugh’s email, the structure will be similar, except the “Community Relations” office under the Assistant City Administrator will now be replaced by the Office of Community and Civic Life. The final proposal will be presented to city council on November 2nd.
This change will hopefully retain the unique position that neighborhood associations have within Portland’s government system, allow better coordination with other city offices through a direct relationship with the future Assistant City Administrator, and maintain city code 3.96 which so many of you advocated for in years past.
We have accomplished much in a short time: convening a forum with neighborhood associations and the Chief Administrative Officer’s transition team; extending the comment period for the reorganization so that we can provide informed feedback on proposed changes; meeting with the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Commissioner Ryan’s Communications Director/Senior Policy Advisor, and the Chief Administrative Officer, and obtaining substantive changes in response to our comments.
Thank you everyone for your efforts and advocacy on this important matter. That being said, there’s always more to do to ensure that neighborhood associations are supported in their daily efforts to make Portland a better place for our neighbors and visitors. Please feel free to reach out anytime with thoughts about the current transition plan as it evolves and is implemented or anything else that would benefit from coordinated advocacy on behalf of neighborhood associations.
Best,
Vadim