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Restoration Projects and Green Streets: Bureau of Environmental Services improved green street monitoring and is making progress on restoration project monitoring

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Restoration Projects and Green Streets: Planning and evaluation needed to confirm success."

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The City needs to make realistic commitments to voters and ensure they are delivered

Portland City Council committed to accountability measures when it asked voters to approve recent taxes and bonds related to the arts, cannabis, affordable housing, and street repair. According to our audit, implementation of some of the accountability protections fell short of what was promised.

Report


Short-Term Rental Regulation: Portland makes progress towards better regulation of short-term rental market

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Short-Term Rental Regulation: Enforcement is lax and effect on housing crisis unknown."

News article


Portland Building Contract: Costs reviewed were consistent with contract, although required cost classification and calculations for final payment need to start now

The City Auditor contracted with construction audit experts, Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting, to audit the City’s compliance with requirements for how the main contractor will be compensated for costs, submit contract changes, and select subcontractors.

Report


Police Overtime: Management is lax despite high overtime use

Portland Police overtime was high by historical standards in 2018. Officers worked nearly 250,000 hours and the Bureau spent $15.7 million on overtime. We found management of overtime for patrol officers could be improved.

Report


Private Stormwater Management - Bureau of Environmental Services slow to act on private stormwater recommendations

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Private Stormwater Management: City reliance on property owners requires review of risks and results."

News article


The City has improved oversight of the Regional Arts and Culture Council

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Regional Arts and Culture Council: Clear City goals aligned with strong Arts Council strategy will improve arts and culture services."

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Streets Improvement Projects - Transportation made some improvements in assessing neighborhood impact

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Streets Improvements Projects: Bureau of Transportation has an inclusive planning process, but should improve assessment of neighborhood impact."

News article


Risk Management slow to implement audit recommendations

This is a two-year follow-up to our 2017 report, "Risk Management: City loss prevention needs a proactive approach."

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Portland Housing Bond: Early implementation results mostly encouraging

In November 2016, voters gave Portland the go-ahead to borrow $258.4 million to invest in affordable housing to address a growing housing crisis. The goal was to build or buy 1,300 housing units. Our audit found bond implementation is off to a solid start.

Report


Portland Building Follow-up: Greater public transparency needed about project costs, trade-offs, and missed equity requirement

We identified risk areas during the project’s initial phase and this report follows up on the recommendations from that audit.

Report


Fixing our Streets: Some accountability commitments not fulfilled

Two years into the program, we assessed how the Bureau of Transportation is delivering on the Fixing our Streets program and accountability commitments.

Report


Portland Parks Golf: Changes needed to ensure long-term sustainability

Portland Parks and Recreation’s golf program is at a crossroads. Intended to be self-supporting, the program required an infusion of $800,000 of taxpayer funds in 2017 to remain solvent. While Parks improved practices on some fronts, financial risks remain.

Report


Police Bureau ended the most active list of gang members and associates

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Gang Crime Investigations: Lack of accountability and transparency reduced the community's trust in police."

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Police Bureau still needs to evaluate the effectiveness of traffic stops

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Gang Enforcement Patrol: The Police Bureau must show that traffic stops are effective."

News article


Recreational Cannabis Tax: Greater transparency and accountability needed

The City should improve the transparency and accountability of the recreational cannabis tax revenue, according to our audit.

Report


No improvement on City Recreation scholarship policies, funding, and communication

This is a one-year follow-up to our 2018 report, "Recreation Scholarships: Conflicting policy direction and communication barriers limit access."

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City action on Americans with Disabilities Act coordination among bureaus is lagging

This is a two-year follow-up to our 2016 report, "Americans with Disabilities Act: Coordinator gaps complicate City response."

News article


Transportation Bureau still has not analyzed service data

This is a two-year follow-up to our 2016 report, "Transportation Network Companies and Taxicabs: Transportation Bureau needs to monitor service, not just safety."

News article


Clean-ups of Homeless Camps: Improved Communications and Data Needed

Portland created a program in 2015 to address some of the impacts of people living in tents and other makeshift shelters on City property. We make recommendations to improve the program’s public information, data, and internal policies.

Report