Portland is a Sanctuary City

Learn more.

Reports

Displaying 1 - 20 of 29

2025 Ombudsman Annual Report

Ombudsman
Report
We're here to make sure City government treats residents and businesses fairly. See what we were up to in 2025.

Accessory Short-Term Rentals: Changes in City rules and enforcement methods needed to increase equity and effectiveness

Ombudsman
Report
Portland’s enforcement of accessory short-term rental rules is more punitive than in other cities and may have inequitable impacts. The City’s rules and enforcement methods are flawed. Our investigation recommends changes to reduce harm and increase equity and effectiveness.

Owners of disabled vehicles can face widely disparate charges when Portland Police call for a private request tow

Ombudsman
Report
Police can make a vehicle breakdown or accident less stressful for vehicle owners when they order a private request tow under the Police Directive on towing. However, this option can also leave motorists unfairly exposed to widely disparate rates. The City’s tow contract does not cover these tows.

Fire safety concerns at the Cherry Blossom Townhomes

Ombudsman
Report
An Ombudsman investigation found that the Fire Bureau’s poor communication left residents of an East Portland affordable housing community concerned about their safety. We also found that parking practices at the property could impede Fire vehicle access.

2024 Ombudsman Annual Report

Ombudsman
Report
We're here to make sure City government treats residents and businesses fairly. See what we were up to in 2024.

Ombudsman’s review finds City has partly implemented recommendations to reduce harm of complaint-driven property maintenance enforcement system

Ombudsman
Report
The City has taken steps to address the inequitable impacts of property maintenance enforcement, but the complaint-based system continues to harm vulnerable homeowners.

Ombudsman investigation finds predatory towing harmed residents of low-income housing complexes

Ombudsman
Report
An Ombudsman investigation found that predatory towing at a cluster of low-income apartment complexes in the Cully neighborhood caused significant financial and emotional injuries to vulnerable, mostly Latino community members.

Ombudsman recommends streamlined enforcement of tour bus safety regulations

Ombudsman
Report
An Ombudsman review found that numerous tour companies do not comply with City regulations designed to ensure public safety. We recommended the Bureau of Transportation streamline enforcement to bring unpermitted companies into compliance.

2023 Ombudsman Annual Report

Ombudsman
Report
Updated
We're here to make sure City government treats residents and businesses fairly. See what we were up to in 2023.

Ombudsman finds Water Bureau overcharged for past returned payment fees, recommends removing such fees going forward

Ombudsman
Report
After a complaint, the Ombudsman investigated the Water Bureau’s practice of charging fees for returned payments. The Ombudsman recommended the Bureau notify customers impacted by a past overcharge that they are entitled to a refund, and that the Bureau remove returned payment fees going forward.

City has committed to implementing recommendations from 2023 Ombudsman report on U visas

Ombudsman
Report
We have reviewed the status of the four recommendations from our report and found that the Police Bureau has committed to implementing them. One recommendation has been partly implemented and three are in progress.

City has not implemented most of Ombudsman’s recommendations on emergency board-ups

Ombudsman
Report
In July 2023, the Ombudsman's Office released a report that highlighted evidence of misconduct by the City’s emergency board-up contractor and pointed to gaps in the City’s oversight of the contract. On May 20, 2024, the Ombudsman sent a follow-up letter to Community Safety Division Director Myers.

Ombudsman recommends Urban Forestry revisit fees and regulations governing certain development permit reviews

Ombudsman
Report
After a complaint, the Ombudsman investigated how Urban Forestry reviews some development permits for compliance with street tree planting standards. In December, the Ombudsman sent a memo to Parks Director Adena Long identifying concerns with the review fee and the clarity of City Code provisions.

Vessels at Public Docks Unlawfully Seized and Destroyed

Ombudsman
Report
City conduct resulted in unlawful seizure and destruction of Portlanders’ vessels. City should follow proper procedures to better protect vulnerable Portlanders.

Emergency Board-ups

Ombudsman
Report
Lack of oversight leads to contractor wrongfully charging Portlanders

Protecting Undocumented Victims of Crime

Ombudsman
Report
The Portland Police Bureau failed to live up to its responsibilities in handling U visas, which are designed to protect undocumented victims of crime. The City should act with urgency to remedy past harm and make programmatic changes to ensure problems do not resurface. 

2022 Ombudsman Annual Report

Ombudsman
Report
We're your Rose City Watchdog and we're here to make sure City government treats residents and businesses fairly. See what we were up to in 2022.

Ombudsman recommends Revenue Division take uniform approach to waiving penalties for delinquent taxpayers

Ombudsman
Report

Ombudsman submits brief on illegal tow and destruction of boat

Ombudsman
Report
The purpose of the brief was to provide important additional context on a case being considered by the Hearings Office.

Ombudsman recommends ceasing Water Bureau's "first-caller rule" to Commissioner Mapps

Ombudsman
Report
The Ombudsman recommended that the Water Bureau cease the practice of the “first-caller rule,” which allows landlords to commit their renters to pay services without their knowledge or consent.
Subscribe to Reports

Filters

Filter by year

See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.

Back to top