Civic Life Updates

How Do City Budgets Serve You?

Civic Life often hears this great question: “Where do my taxpayer dollars go?” Allow us to explain how your taxpayer dollars are methodically and intentionally considered every fiscal year.

Beginning in late fall, each bureau receives guidance from the Mayor's Office and the City Budget Office to inform the development of a requested budget for City Council to consider. With the guidance of their bureau advisory committee, data, community, and Council discussions throughout the year, the requested budget is posted publicly to provide transparency on programming costs and staffing support.

The proposed budget is also an opportunity for bureaus to project how their programs can effectively respond to the current and emerging community needs. As an example, Civic Life’s FY 2021-22 Budget requests approval for creating an emergency fund for Cannabis businesses — an industry not eligible for federal aid — that have been disproportionately impacted by multiple emergencies including an uptick in armed robberies, the pandemic, and wildfires. In addition, we’ve doubled the ask for funding to help our Graffiti Program respond to the overwhelming graffiti cleanup efforts across our city with new Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business contractors.

“Civic Life’s annual budget reflects the strategic steps we are taking in any given year toward a long-term strategy to promote a culture of civic engagement and support all Portlanders to build inclusive, safe, and more equitable neighborhoods and communities,” said Civic Life Director Suk Rhee. “We’re focused on anti-racism, equity, and COVID-19 recovery for BIPOC, disability, unhoused, immigrant and refugee, youth, and other communities most negatively impacted by the pandemic. This approach allows us to improve systems that end up benefiting all of us.”

Civic Life thanks its Bureau Advisory Committee (BAC) for providing early input and feedback. This collaboration helped us identify the areas that require the most attention in our requested budget.

All budget requests are reviewed by the mayor and commissioners, a citywide Budget Advisory Committee, Office of Equity and Human Rights, and City Budget Office. Community feedback is solicited through budget forums and through online comments. Budgets will be formally approved this spring and adopted and approved by Council in June.

If you are interested in working for government transparency and volunteering your experience for the common good, please consider joining one of the city's advisory bodies. Every Civic Life Update we list open recruitments for advisory bodies at the end of our email. Please check below to find current opportunities!

Advancing Equitable Cannabis Policy into Law

Repairing the harm caused by decades of inequity from the War on Drugs and cannabis prohibition is the goal of the Cannabis Social Equity Act introduced in early February by a coalition of legislators in the Oregon State Legislature.

HB 3112 is the culmination of months of work led by former State Rep. Akasha Lawrence Spencer including numerous cannabis companies, the Oregon Cannabis Association, the Oregon Retailers of Cannabis Association, the City of Portland, Urban League, and law students from Willamette University.

In addition to their support of HB 3112, the Office of Community & Civic Life proposed adding $900,000 in one‐time cannabis tax allocation for a Cannabis Emergency Relief Fund in their budget request for FY2021-22 to support cannabis businesses impacted by the aftermath of COVID-19 and Oregon wildfires. This support is critical because unlike other businesses, the cannabis industry is not eligible for federal relief.

Later this spring, the Office of Community & Civic Life will announce the recipients of the Social Equity & Educational Development (SEED) Grant initiatives. The annual program will award $800,000 in community and business grants to fund dozens of local businesses and nonprofit organizations working toward advancing education, entrepreneurship, and criminal record expungement – including criminal justice reform, legal services, case management and re-entry housing support and services.

Let's Fix It!

Our local businesses have been greatly affected by necessary COVID-19 safety protocols, like limiting the number of customers allowed in-store, and we want to do what we can to help them survive, thrive, and come back stronger! Join us on March 3, for our next Fix-It Fair event with helpful information for businesses on how to build community with neighboring businesses and residential groups like:

Utilizing lighting and landscaping to increase positive community engagement at your business

How to ask customers to wear masks properly in your store or office to protect the health and safety of others

Gaining confidence to stand up for your safety

Learning tips on how to de-escalate situations that feel unsafe

The City of Portland offers Fix-It Fairs through the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to connect Portlanders with experts – and each other – to learn simple, low or no-cost ways to save money and be healthy all year long.

Fix-It Fairs offer our communities resources, presentations, workshops, and skill-sharing opportunities on:

Repairing your own goods like clothes, appliances or bikes

Water and energy savings

Weatherizing and insulating your home

Gardening and growing your own food

And more

For more information or if you have any questions, call us at 503-313-3318 or send an email to fixitfair@portlandoregon.gov, and be sure to follow us on Facebook!

Join an Advisory Body!

Joining an advisory body is a way for Portlanders to lend their expertise and personal or professional experience to the City of Portland. As an advisory body member, you will work closely with community members and City of Portland liaisons to impact policies and programs.

Development Review Advisory Committee – Closes Feb. 26
The Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) advocates for and supports the consistent and fair application and implementation of regulations that affect development proposals, from office towers to kitchen remodels. The committee is actively seeking individuals who have experience with or can share their perspectives of seven distinct stakeholder groups relevant to the committee’s work, such as Neighborhood Coalition Land Use Committees and Low-Income Housing Developers. Apply here.

Lower SE Advisory Committee – Closes March 5
The City of Portland, through the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Portland Bureau of Transportation, is seeking interested persons to serve in one of twenty positions, each for an 18-month Lower Southeast Rising Area Plan project, on the Project Advisory Committee. Persons of color and/or with disabilities and experience within the Lower SE area (Brentwood-Darlington, Lents, Mt Scott-Arleta, Woodstock) are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply here.

Transportation Parking Advisory Committee – Closes March 7
The mission of the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee (TPAC) is to support and promote the economic vitality, employment, and safety of the Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID) through cooperative, business-supported programs promoting efficient, balanced transportation, parking systems, and land use patterns. If you have a connection to the Central Eastside Industrial District and care about off-street parking usage. Apply here.

Noise Review Board – Closes March 15
The Noise Review Board works to improve neighborhood livability by striking a balance between sound-generating activities related to construction, special events, and other issues, and the desire for livable communities. The Noise Review Board has an opening for an acoustics professional beginning April 1. Apply here.

Rethink Portland Police Accountability – March 15
Are you passionate about police reform and accountability? Are you innovative, collaborative and equity-focused? Do you want to have an impact on future policy and practice related to police reform? Does the idea of building something from scratch excite you? Please help us shape the soon-to-be-formed police oversight committee. Last November, an overwhelming 82% of Portland voters supported proposed changes to the City of Portland’s Charter. This is your opportunity to help the City of Portland create rethink police accountability. Apply here.

Portland Parks & Recreation Levy Oversight Committee – March 15
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) seeks community members for their Levy Oversight Committee! This 5-year operating levy, passed in November 2020, provides crucial funding for the City of Portland’s park and recreation system and will center equity in the delivery of PP&R’s programs and services, ensuring that cost is no longer a barrier for accessing recreation programs. The Levy Oversight Committee will meet quarterly to review annual proposed expenditures and report annually to City Council on the Levy’s progress. You will be provided training and onboarding. Committee members will serve two-year terms. Learn more and apply here!