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From Councilor Ryan’s desk: Mar. 13, 2026

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City Council Priorities Setting Session on March 7, 2026. View full size image
Photo: Councilors Dan Ryan and Mitch Green discuss economic priorities surfaced by City Councilors at the March 7 session discussed in this article. Particularly, perspectives on the role of economic development in Portland vary across the council.
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What's been on my mind this week

Connecting with my fellow City Councilors at our recent priorities setting session

City Council Priorities Setting Session on 3/7/2026 View full size image
City Councilors participating in collaborative discussions as part of the City Council Priorities Setting Session held on March 7, 2026.

My fellow Portland City Councilors and I took a bold step forward together recently at our first-ever City Council Priorities Setting Session—which, moving forward, will be an annual conversation to increase transparency and alignment ahead of diving into the full, formal development of our yearly budget. I'm proud to have sponsored and driven the legislation that created this annual convening; something that felt essential after last year's difficult budget discussion—our first in the new form of government with 12 City Councilors. 

During this discussion, facilitators guided us through exercises centered on defining our highest priorities with each other. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some of the key topics raised across all of the councilors include public & community safety, housing, parks, and transportation and safe streets. I learned a lot about where my colleagues are at and where they're coming from, and I shared my perspectives freely, too. 

Were there disagreements at times? Of course! This is democracy, and critical thinking can lead to what I call "positive tension." It was an essential we go through this experience prior to this year's budget conversations. Increased transparency can lead to greater alignment and understanding, and that's important as City Administrator Lee and Mayor Wilson prepare to release the Proposed Budget in April.

I appreciate my colleagues showing up on a Saturday to do this work in earnest together. It sends a positive message to the community that we are serious in working toward solutions.

Service Area Budget Overviews & Discussion (1 of 2): Public Safety and Community & Economic Development will provide introductory presentations on their current service level budgets, resource gaps and tradeoffs.

Hosting a District 2 Budget Conversation on Saturday, March 14 with City Administrator Raymond Lee and D2 councilors

Councilor Dan Ryan, Mayor Keith Wilson, Councilor Sameer Kanal, Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney, and City Administrator Raymond Lee (L-R) at the March 14 D2 budget conversation. View full size image
Councilor Dan Ryan, Mayor Keith Wilson, Councilor Sameer Kanal, Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney, and City Administrator Raymond Lee (L-R) at the March 14 D2 budget conversation.

This past Saturday, March 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, roughly 50 constituents from around the district joined Mayor Wilson, City Administrator Lee, and your D2 City Councilors for a discussion about the 2026-27 budget. Many thanks to everyone who came out on a sunny Saturday afternoon to ask some really insightful and important questions about the City's budget.

Topics discussed and questions asked ranged from how Parks Levy revenues will be allocated and current thinking as it relates to the Moda Center and Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) dollars to budget plans for public safety, transportation, homelessness services, supporting Native communities, and more.

These types of conversations are vital. It's great to have this dialogue in the district prior to the release of the Mayor's budget in April. Couldn't make it? There will be additional opportunities to provide input on the budget before it's final, so stay tuned. You can also read up on the 2026-27 budget preparation process, which starts with guidance from the Mayor's priorities and forecasts from the City's Budget Office.

Celebrating Women's History Month—from my family and my office to women's sports 

Kelly Knickerbocker, Kezia Wanner, and Edna Aguirre Velazquez (L-R), all members of Councilor Ryan's team. View full size image
Kelly Knickerbocker, Kezia Wanner, and Edna Aguirre Velazquez (L-R), all members of Councilor Ryan's team.

If you know me, you know that I've been surrounded by strong, inspiring women my entire life. Who I am and what I stand for has been greatly impacted by the women in my life, and for that, I'm so thankful. When I think of Women's History Month, I think about my mom—Dona Jean Ryan. She had a dozen different guardians before she landed with her dad in high school. The challenges she faced and the harm she experienced is something I'll never fully know. But I do know that she wanted to have a big family and have it be full of love, and she accomplished that. She went back to college when I was in middle school, after raising eight children, and received her degree from the University of Portland in 1977. She was always service-minded, and I learned my service-first commitment from her. Professionally, I have been mentored by countless women and the majority of my senior-level reports have been women. You know who you are, and I am most grateful! 

I also think about the dedicated civil servants who comprise my team. Chief of Staff Kezia Wanner is brilliant—there's no other way to put it. She provides strategic direction, oversees policy agenda, manages daily operations, and supports my office's entire body of work. While I define and drive my policy priorities, Kezia knows the best levers to pull and when to pull them—it's why we call her "coach". Council Aide Edna Aguirre Velazquez is indispensable, organized, and detail oriented. She puzzles my schedule into something that successfully balances council meetings, constituent meetings, in-district time, and more. If you're a community member who has reached out to my office before, Edna is receiving those messages and working to get you the information you need. And lastly, there's my Communications Manager Kelly Knickerbocker. Prior to starting in my office in February, Kelly most recently managed communications for Portland's Office of Arts & Culture. I've been impressed by the immediate improvements she's made to my office's communications function and by her ability to clearly articulate my perspectives and priorities to community members.

Related to this month's celebration of women's history and women more broadly, I'm glad to see women's sports at the forefront—right now feels like an especially exciting time for the athletes and fans alike. We're fresh off the US women winning 17 medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Closer to home, Portland is one of the nation's premier cities for women's sports. Buoyed by the NWSL's Portland Thorns, 2026 will be the inaugural year for two new Portland-based women's sports teams—the WNBA's Portland Fire and the Cherry Bombs FC. Women's sports have historically been ignored by TV and have received less media coverage, but the demand is there, the talent is there, the fans are there, and the tide seems to be shifting. I can't wait to catch some games this season at my favorite woman-owned sports bar and District 2 gem, The Sports Bra. 

Looking at next week

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