Milwaukie council meets new urban-forest and emergency-management staff

At the study session, councilors held an informal meet-and-greet with two new staff members whose positions are likely to come before council in the coming years.

Martha Pittini introduced herself as an architect by training with experience in emergency architecture, tiny-home village design and community engagement through Portland State University's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative. She said the role intersects emergency management, equity in the built environment and community engagement. "This position was just really exciting because it was at the intersection of a lot of my interests and passions," Pittini said.

Alfred Mosali, the city's urban-forest field staff, described prior work with citywide inventories, risk assessment and utility-contract audits and said he's "excited to work with Milwaukie because it's a smaller city" where staff can see local impact. Councilors welcomed both hires and discussed how their work will connect to council goals for economic development, affordability and parks & green space.

Council president Will and other councilors encouraged the new staff to share high-level priorities and signaled support for coordination with the mayor, county emergency partners and CERT. The session was informal and intended to provide councilors and staff a chance to ask questions and learn who will be involved in future policy and project discussions.

Next steps: staff will continue onboarding and return to council on matters that warrant formal action or future discussion.