[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6381761,"mediaKeyId","2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878","parentId",2127969,"title","Portland highlights park rangers, community partnerships and access programs; council presses on staffing and accountability","audioSeconds",6150,"startMs",1507000,"endMs",7657000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878&start=1507&end=7657","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878/thumbnail_1507000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381761/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-highlights-park-rangers-community-partnerships-and-access-programs-council-presses-on-staffing-and-accountability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381761-8275ca88ab82ffdc72ea1042c4616fea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183554&Signature=iceRv~y1LYKc6sjxYJxCD-DmzkKhn9SVk8YIvil1GxHiLOpTZRGWLub7obdyFwIyBUmbOk5d3ikAtYzbIng47hyDiqJP9mKcC7~ful1zFms4P7XveH769my3h2C15ncYU2H38~ary6hSiMWJuXlKaQg~Ojv~q5XXTAyJFJcIsd3RoJadyKhKICVErnqB6ImhSrTN0zAoXCT~92Kt8X8s~hj0m1wr9T18FCjMtzPT-bwN58X6kkd-eW4uzdBW5gJc2PUjTDkrTHn2YzBSHvY-od1gPsTOTyQaaJeVkXskq50zWahjZh57KfrwPi4OJvHPWUw56ubxf5Pf48F00g4idA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-01-17T08:26:11Z","article","City staff and community partners briefed City Council on Jan. 16 about how Portland Parks & Recreation and partner organizations deliver recreation, meals, swim lessons and other services across neighborhoods.

Deputy Director Todd Lofgren described space planning and partnerships that allow more than 965 community partnerships, free meals programs and the bureau’s space‑grant model that waives fees when partners fill service gaps. Staff said partners extended the bureau’s reach and that grants and partner investments totaled more than $43 million in the previous year.

Community partners detailed program delivery. Alicia Blakely, program manager at Home Forward, described summer meal and youth programming partnerships at housing sites. Prentiss Onoyemi of Friends of Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center described a federally funded artist residency program and a forthcoming capital feasibility study. Morgan Spriggs of the Black Swimming Initiative said the group used Parks facilities and staff to provide about 200 lessons in the last calendar year and about 1,000 lessons over five years, and that the group serves as an advisory partner for the new North Portland Aquatic Center.

Portland Parks staff outlined recreation access programs: the access pass provides discounts up to 90%, and staff reported roughly $4.1 million in financial assistance provided through the program. Parks also reported nearly 11,000 unique participants in swim programs last fiscal year and adaptive recreation and lifelong recreation offerings for older adults and people with disabilities.

Councilors pressed on operational questions: Councillor Dan Ryan and others asked whether insurance requirements for friends groups and sponsors were new obstacles to using park space; staff said insurance levels are advised by the city attorney’s office and risk management and are applied by bureaus, and that directors can waive insurance on a case‑by‑case basis. Councilors also asked about ranger staffing: program manager Vicente Harrison said the bureau is assessing ranger alignment and currently aligns ranger coverage with police precincts and land stewardship divisions to improve efficiency and will provide a written response on staffing models.

On safety and outreach, staff said park rangers are not law‑enforcement officers but serve as goodwill ambassadors and first responders for outreach, including administering naloxone and coordinating referrals to shelter and social services. Staff reported that over 98% of ranger contacts and calls for service were resolved without escalation to Portland Police or Fire; in about 2% of cases rangers escalated to other public safety agencies.

Councilors asked for additional follow‑up on community center hours, the cost of expanding free drop‑in access, and on a recent media report about unfilled season‑to‑season positions. Parks staff said some seasonal positions are budgeted only for summer months and that hiring lags are affected by a citywide recruitment timeline averaging about 100 days.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council Work Session - Vibrant Communities 01/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","City and community partners described how park rangers, space grants, free meal programs, swim lessons and nonprofit partnerships extend city services. Councilors questioned ranger staffing, contractor insurance requirements and accountability for partner grants and spaces.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381765,"Office of Arts & Culture outlines new grant role, flags arts‑tax erosion and public‑art maintenance gap",8106,746000,8852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878&start=746&end=8852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878/thumbnail_746000.jpg","/articles/6381765/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Office-of-Arts-Culture-outlines-new-grant-role-flags-artstax-erosion-and-publicart-maintenance-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381765-d34123ec1b6ad9619341ac2bfe4d5ae0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183554&Signature=FMv0kmS2OuKhmNCxJZgAaXFwMDpO04gVQcUlsWZ-NeT6l2y4SDFwBsme2P8R~kwHMbEQrmJZLwtqZBJ8kXiy8OMbI3eoGKvybZGiGYfJvXLJVPJpFrDpNKRwGzshNVDYSheKI64817tU-lR9mZ0Sp3kyvWz7VXw0XuU4z6KscS3j7NNMB4hoeYGdWEi3fInm7BPiDPQENPqpRSLXCR2HstUm92837jaPTBwxrGn~VEYw6S-fvUK~~VV4nI6MWVZjn6gz9RF2VDAgrDYpy1AGEd03UNA~78zJ74cAOrjwlU6PGAOzLPjzPZpqKR390K-Lg3z0d2Zz3ZsNeJotb6TOig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charity Montes, director of the Office of Arts & Culture, told council on Jan. 16 that her office has moved general operating support grant administration in‑house and is implementing a Portland action plan following the regional ten‑year cultural plan, “Our Creative Future.” Montes said the office held a convening with 80 nonprofit arts organizations that receive city restricted grants to begin building a shared operating culture.

Montes described the office’s workstreams: managing five city arts centers and venues, administering the percent‑for‑art program and public art collection, and new direct investments in independent musicians. She noted the office operates with six full‑time staff and that arts‑related economic activity in 2022 in Portland was about $405,100,000, per a staff slide.

Staff described two budget challenges for the arts portfolio. First, the city’s Arts Access Fund (the arts tax) is a fixed $35 tax that has not been indexed to inflation; staff said its purchasing power has declined. Second, the percent‑for‑art program and many city‑owned public art pieces do not have dedicated maintenance funds in the current budget; maintenance obligations historically have been managed through capital bureaus or third‑party service providers and staff said those accounting transitions are underway.

Montes and Todd Lofgren said the city and the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) are in a multi‑year transition to clarify a city vision for arts and a revised relationship with RACC. Montes said the office launched in‑house general operating support grantmaking after the prior RACC contract expired, and staff are building a Portland‑specific action plan tied to regional work adopted by the previous council in May 2024.

Councilors asked about accountability and outcomes for the city’s grant spending. Montes said the office is aligning grantmaking with the new citywide grants policy and working with grants management to define outcomes and performance expectations for grantees. Claudio Camposano noted the current arts budget reflects one‑time PCEF funding for specific capital work — for example, a $1,000,000 contribution toward Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall roof and cooling tower work — and that the percent‑for‑art budget is being transitioned into the office for future updates.

Staff said council will see an arts action plan, an Arts Access Fund oversight committee appointment and an annual impact report this year.","Charity Montes and staff briefed council on Jan. 16 about the Office of Arts & Culture’s new in‑house grant-making role, the relationship transition with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the shrinking buying power of the $35 arts tax. Staff also noted that most city‑owned public art lacks dedicated maintenance funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381770,"Portland Children’s Levy launches funding round and aligns with county ‘Preschool for All’ slots",1804,894000,2698000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878&start=894&end=2698","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878/thumbnail_894000.jpg","/articles/6381770/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-Childrens-Levy-launches-funding-round-and-aligns-with-county-Preschool-for-All-slots","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381770-df609020ae578aca3249ce238f283bf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183554&Signature=KTgQ58iJYYeIHdyNORrzeB0pf2H~qkSRYd2-WjBJCZGpF-DSPClEe-8JfbcTALv8jAEBYkhIXKOIcCPglLJ15ED2FEinelPJC2hyOAkuDAsFuxU-J~7vNmWuTZrwB4E01pJe-03ZILqV~6G-aOmHd3acIpORISH36fUNlRU6QhSwv5ZyC6WJOi7Q0ReahDx27FT5OYz0iCQjwvk0rZIPiUFefCnyn9cwlRS8JT6lVdQ8L-2ItagfdoFg-lzrXPK9BDn3HELZLDpnOCn0nnJ5UOVFYUQWrFklaaOdX5kHwjDwabUl2DW2V9TNNMRxTxAVFKbixiQfENzKAIla-~6EOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lisa Pellegrino, director of the Portland Children’s Levy, briefed City Council on Jan. 16 about the levy’s work, its current funding round and a new relationship with Multnomah County’s Preschool for All initiative.

Pellegrino said the levy is a voter‑approved local option first passed in 2002 and renewed by voters multiple times; staff budgeted about $23.7 million in tax receipts for the current fiscal year and had roughly $10 million in carryover to cover grant obligations. The levy funds about 50 community organizations and 86 programs that support school readiness, after‑school engagement, mentoring, hunger relief and family stability.

Pellegrino described a recent funding process: before soliciting large grants for the new levy period, the levy convened a 13‑member community council to provide ongoing input and ran outreach that reached more than 750 people in 25 languages. The current large‑grant competitive round is underway and staff expect to finalize awards by the end of the fiscal year.

Councilor Novick asked about alignment with Multnomah County’s Preschool for All initiative. Pellegrino and Parks Director Adina Long said the two agencies coordinated: county‑funded preschool slots will run at some community centers and the levy has transitioned providers into the county program when applicable. Long told council that Parks was approved to operate Preschool for All slots and will accept three‑ and four‑year‑olds in nine community centers for the 2025–26 school year.

Pellegrino also noted a small‑grants program launched in 2020 to lower barriers to applying for government funding; many small‑grant recipients have since been competitive in the large‑grant process.

Staff said they will return to council with the formal slate of grant awards and the allocation committee’s recommendations. Councilors asked for continuing updates about how levy funds align with county preschool expansion and how levy investments might change to support increased early‑childhood access.","Director Lisa Pellegrino told council the levy — approved repeatedly by voters since 2002 — funds dozens of community organizations and is running a competitive funding round for the new levy period. Parks will operate a Multnomah County Preschool for All program at nine community centers next year, staff said.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381775,"City forester: storm damage affected a small share of Portland’s trees; new program to help private‑property tree care funded by PCEF",4150,2266000,6416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878&start=2266&end=6416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878/thumbnail_2266000.jpg","/articles/6381775/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/City-forester-storm-damage-affected-a-small-share-of-Portlands-trees-new-program-to-help-privateproperty-tree-care-funded-by-PCEF","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381775-01bf6545678450ddeb1b6aca0d434791/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183554&Signature=kl9-hk9He07rt91TJfjVtmh6E89IpbwZMQlde9OjZukxbW13ASxlEy6K-UEHFT6mkmvK8ou7pRn5U0L-wV3rVjgk9gKmRJ7lAO3aRIUuYlx4t2iL4jPiPqSe~udQpjCcA6SzH6ANdin~7UrXdy6-PcAROXLsi~bywVaISA8Vp-sEf0haHeqWrOo3G~GlVsQOwH7u8-sFErMI~PhdunuTO9z3f7qmgtAUHsHNPmBRzowmaDljKz5c-YvwSrUpJZYtgdzlnBUEmtin8fgZ8IhE9BKE6Up2zma9PmqGsK6UcP-Qqev1gx54QWdH4SJfGSi7~byJOtSOXDTk7y3N-NMMwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland’s city forester told City Council on Jan. 16 that last winter’s storm produced “remarkable” impacts but affected roughly 0.02% of the city’s estimated 4.2 million trees. Jen Cairo said the bureau inspects trees and permits removals when a tree is dead, dying or dangerous.

Cairo said permit fees for retroactive storm permits were waived under the city’s storm emergency declaration and that bureau staff are reviewing permit fees annually. She told council that fee cost has been a barrier for some property owners and that Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) allocations now allow the bureau to waive some non‑development fees and to develop a private‑property tree care support program to help residents pay for professional tree maintenance.

Councillors raised reports that homeowners had been denied permits to remove trees that later fell on homes. Cairo said she was not aware of specific, confirmed cases in which a tree denied removal later fell on a house, but she acknowledged the concern, noted the bureau handles about 11,000 permit cases per year and offered to follow up. She explained that a permit decision reflects a tree’s condition at the time of inspection and that conditions can change between inspection and a later storm event.

Cairo emphasized the bureau’s prevention focus: proactive care and maintenance reduce risk and the new private‑property tree care support program should make professional, preventative work more affordable for homeowners. Claudio Camposano said the service area also received five‑year PCEF allocations that will be drawn down over multiple years rather than spent entirely in a single fiscal year.

Councilors asked for follow‑up briefings on specific media reports and case details. Cairo said staff will return with more information on permit fee policy, the private‑property support program, and any confirmed cases connecting permit denials and subsequent damage.

Staff also flagged the broader equity aim of tree programs: west-of‑Willamette canopy coverage is higher (about 56%) than many east‑side neighborhoods (about 21%), and several programs focus tree planting and maintenance in East Portland.","In a Jan. 16 council briefing Portland’s city forester said last winter’s storm damaged a very small share of the city’s 4.2 million trees and outlined fee changes, permit waivers for the storm emergency and a new private‑property tree care support program funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6381779,"Portland leaders outline Vibrant Communities portfolio, warn of $600 million parks maintenance backlog",8794,361000,9155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878&start=361&end=9155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127969-f2486054d1a2c7f43e0177dd0fbe3878/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6381779/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-leaders-outline-Vibrant-Communities-portfolio-warn-of-600-million-parks-maintenance-backlog","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381779-7622f1d675e1a6f98945cc020f406880/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183554&Signature=KeDQ62GZmqPZTIvyy4Inl76EhcglULBWfqrInyU6XBwhP8nJGro45LejZbfiu6IgOfLI30gCEFPqaHXS1WiA35b0X8VQfozHgDbgx43fZtITkqgF38eyMIPenrNyWNEie-22Jcg8trdCUEJHFMkyXQlkGluhjXSxuQBOdozGPE32WKF5~bm-DATy~vDtZZ4Z2ristKzCXJeCzNWkRGeZaB4vzmsn11ZKlnqN31qBif-R7ilbNXnJEvub6n5q8UmIj8oMzexAj93b-pWO714U1A4ZsmB5QT1l69DP8BwTP39Im~xwP~ZCrUoodve5tM63~IKiPs5fZVPFNlAQy8w7jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland officials presented an overview of the Vibrant Communities service area to City Council on Jan. 16, describing the scope of work covered by Portland Parks & Recreation, the Office of Arts & Culture, and the Portland Children’s Levy and outlining an operating and capital budget picture for fiscal year 2024–25.

The presentation, delivered by Interim Deputy City Administrator Sonia Chimanski and finance manager Claudio Camposano, described the service area as responsible for parks, public art, recreation, cultural venues and levy-funded children’s services. Chimanski said the teams aim to “do more better” by aligning staffing, grants and administrative functions across the three bureaus.

Why this matters: staff told council that Portland’s parks and recreation capital stock is large and aging; the bureau estimates a roughly $600,000,000 major-maintenance backlog for parks assets. Claudio Camposano said the bureau receives roughly $5 million per year from the general fund for major maintenance while the long‑term need is much larger. The shortfall, staff warned, risks closures or reduced access to park buildings and facilities over time.

Key budget points in the presentation included: parks and recreation draws revenue from nine different funds, including a voter-approved parks levy (collections began in 2021 and the current levy term ends with the next fiscal year), general fund discretionary transfers, a mix of grants and fees, and Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) allocations. Camposano highlighted that system development charges (SDCs), historically a major capital funding source, have fallen sharply — collecting more than $40 million annually in a prior development cycle but less than $2 million collected to date in the current year — and that this decline reduces near‑term capital project revenue.

Chimanski and Todd Lofgren, deputy director of Vibrant Community Support Services, said the service area now tracks nearly 200 metrics and has published an interactive dashboard. Staff reported attendance and service figures for fiscal year 2023–24: about 3.7 million total visits to cultural venues and PPR programs, more than 63,000 children served by levy-funded programs, and nearly 2,600,000 free meals served across programs. Grants and partner funding exceeded $43,000,000 in the prior year, staff said.

Council members asked for more detail about how multiyear grant balances are displayed and how PCEF and other multi‑year allocations appear in current-year fund balances. Camposano said council would see large carryover balances because the bureau has received multi‑year allocations and will draw those funds down over several years, and he agreed to produce clearer graphics showing actual expected spend in each fiscal year.

Staff also flagged other system issues: the parks ADA transition plan lists more than 17,000 accessibility barriers; Portland manages roughly 4.2 million trees citywide and about 8,000 acres of natural areas; and the public art collection includes roughly 1,700 works valued at about $18.5 million. Chimanski said the service-area approach has produced operational efficiencies in communications, grants and constituent relations and will continue to mature.

Looking ahead, staff said council will see proposals this year related to a parks ballot referral, an Urban Forest plan and code updates, an arts action plan, SDC methodology updates required by state statute, and the next round of Portland Children’s Levy grants.","City staff told the Portland City Council on Jan. 16 that the newly formed Vibrant Communities service area — combining arts, parks and the children’s levy work — oversees major programs and faces a $600 million deferred-maintenance backlog, falling SDC revenue and multi-year grant commitments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Portland highlights park rangers, community partnerships and access programs; council presses on staffing and accountability

Office of Arts & Culture outlines new grant role, flags arts‑tax erosion and public‑art maintenance gap

Portland Children’s Levy launches funding round and aligns with county ‘Preschool for All’ slots

City forester: storm damage affected a small share of Portland’s trees; new program to help private‑property tree care funded by PCEF

Portland leaders outline Vibrant Communities portfolio, warn of $600 million parks maintenance backlog