Troutdale survey shows concerns about property crime and patrols; council moves on working-group membership amid contract talks

A Public Safety and Equity Advisory Committee summary of a resident survey and a council discussion about contract strategy for police and fire dominated the Troutdale City Council meeting on Jan. 28.

Shelby Staffenson, speaking for the Public Safety and Equity Advisory Committee, presented the results of a grassroots public-safety survey of 163 respondents, saying the results showed general satisfaction with fire and medical services but notable community concern about property crimes and a desire for more patrols. “We will put the survey results PDF on the city’s website so anyone can see the results,” Staffenson said.

Survey highlights: The committee reported 163 responses citywide. Respondents most frequently named property crime, homelessness and drug-related concerns as contributors to safety issues; speeding and congestion on Bucks and Troutdale Road also emerged as traffic concerns. Multiple respondents recommended increasing patrols or reestablishing a local police department.

Public comments underscored local concerns. Restaurant owner Saul Pompeo described repeated vehicle thefts and break-ins where he works and asked for more visible patrols; he said deputies had sometimes advised callers to file insurance claims rather than pursue investigations.

Working group and contracts: City Manager Ray Young briefed council on the Public Safety Services Delivery Working Group (PSWAG), which has been negotiating terms related to fire and police service delivery. Young said the committee formed under a council resolution and identified two recent vacancies after the November election: one council representative and one PSAC representative. He outlined three ways to fill the vacancies and noted negotiations with Gresham Fire and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office are ongoing.

Young said the county’s negotiating position is driven by fiscal pressures; he said County staff had signaled “a possible 12% reduction next year in the county income and their budgets,” a factor that has influenced the county’s approach to contract talks. Those negotiations include separate discussions with Gresham Fire about their fiscal needs, Young said.

Council action and direction: The council voted to appoint Councilor Carol Allen to the PSWAG as the council representative. The council also expressed support for directing staff to draft a resolution that would modify the working group composition to increase council representation to three members and reduce PSAC seats from three to two; staff said it would return with a formal resolution for council consideration. That direction was raised by the mayor and discussed by multiple council members and PSWAG participants.

Why it matters: The PSWAG’s recommendations will shape the city’s next service contracts for police and fire, potentially affecting response models, visibility of patrols and long-term costs. Councilors and working-group members said the county negotiations, budget pressures and the relative visibility of deputies in neighborhoods have all prompted renewed discussion about whether a local police department should be considered in the future.

Next steps: Staff will bring a draft resolution to modify the working-group membership back to council for formal action at a subsequent meeting. Contract negotiations with the sheriff and Gresham Fire will continue; council members said they expect the working group to finish recommendations before the next contract deadlines.