Press Release: Civic Life Begins 100 Days Transition Plan to SW Neighborhoods

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Daniel McArdle-Jaimes

Daniel.McArdle-Jaimes@portlando… 

(503) 865-6661

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

City of Portland’s Office of Community & Civic Life Begins First 100 Days Transition Plan to Serve Southwest Neighborhoods

PORTLAND, Ore.— City Council formally approved Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty’s first major ordinance as the new commissioner-in-charge of the Office of Community & Civic Life. Ordinance No. 190321 authorizes Civic Life to immediately start the process of hiring two coordinators to directly support neighborhood associations in Southwest Portland and enter into a grant agreement with a nonprofit organization to provide liability insurance coverage for neighborhood associations and place-based community groups in Southwest Portland. On March 3, Commissioner Hardesty presented the ordinance to City Council and received public and written testimony. After a week of reviewing comments and public testimony, City Council approved the ordinance.

“Per Commissioner Hardesty’s direction and City Council’s ordinance approval today, Civic Life will ensure that we are building out services in an intentional, fair, and inclusive way,” said Andrea Williams, Civic Life Partnership Manager. Williams is tasked with carrying out the transition plan until the two coordinators are hired.

Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. will be the third independently operated district coalition organization of seven to end its relationship with the City due to complications at the community level.

 “As City employees and community partners, we have a fiduciary responsibility to steward taxpayer dollars,” said Civic Life Director Suk Rhee. “Commissioner Hardesty, City Council, and many from the Southwest community emphasized the importance of this. We understand the important work happening at the neighborhood level and we want to ensure that the next 100 days are successful in this transition.”

Today marks the start of Civic Life’s 100-day plan to provide a smooth transition for Southwest neighborhood associations, and the plan’s top priorities include:

1. Connecting with Southwest neighborhoods: Civic Life will host two virtual meetings (see virtual meeting details below) for Southwest neighborhood associations to get more details on how this transition of service will work in the next 100 days and into mid-summer.  

2. Insurance coverage: Civic Life will launch a public request for proposals and select a qualified nonprofit organization to provide liability insurance coverage for Southwest neighborhoods by mid-summer.

3. Staffing to support Southwest neighborhoods: Civic Life will hire two coordinators to staff the delivery of services to neighborhoods and other place-based community groups in Southwest Portland. The City’s hiring process typically takes 100 days, and coordinators are expected to start in mid-summer.

4. Needs assessment and updating contact information: Civic Life will contact Southwest neighborhood associations to confirm contact information and help to facilitate ongoing communication with all City bureaus. Civic Life also plans to understand community needs and additional priorities to inform the work plan of the coordinators and program services they will offer.

District coalition offices were established beginning in 1974 to provide important neighborhood services and are funded by Portland taxpayers

  • Civic Life has supported neighborhood associations through this coalition model for 47 years.
  • In FY 2020-21, four district coalition offices are run by independent nonprofit organizations and two district coalition offices are currently run by the Office of Community & Civic Life.
  • District coalition offices serve 95 neighborhood associations in Portland.
  • District coalition offices provide associations (and in some cases, other placed-based community groups) with insurance, fiscal sponsorship, and technical and organizational support. 
  • Financial reports show Civic Life grants the nonprofit district coalitions between 85% to 100% of their total budget.

March 17 Open House Details

Civic Life will host two open house events next week. The meetings will provide additional opportunities for SW neighborhood associations to meet Civic Life staff, hear more about the transition, and ask questions.

Civic Life Open House for SW Portland Communities

Wednesday, March 17 from noon to 1 p.m.

Wednesday, March 17 from 6 to 7 p.m.

VIDEO: https://zoom.us/j/95675292861?pwd=TG1WczkrUXlxZndkclkvOVNmbUpiQT09

PHONE: 888 475 4499 US Toll-free

MEETING ID: 956 7529 2861

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The Office of Community & Civic Life (Civic Life) connects the people of Portland with their City government to promote the common good. Our programs create a culture of collaboration, expanding possibilities for all Portlanders to contribute their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve local problems and make life better in the city we all share. www.portlandoregon.gov/civic/ 

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