191490

The City of Portland ordains: 

Section 1. The Council finds:

1. Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) is an educational cooperative that provides a wide variety of programs and services on a regional basis to school districts in Multnomah County.
    
2. MESD is responsible for providing education services to students in manner that ensures the safety and wellbeing of students in their care.  MESD also offers supportive services to students experiencing a variety of challenges that affect them and the learning environment. 
    
3. MESD is also obligated to ensure timely and accurate information is provided to parents, guardians, and staff when certain public safety events occur. 
    
4. The Portland Police Bureau is responsible for providing safety throughout Portland, and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children is a priority for the organization and the City as a whole. 
    
5. Maintaining the safety of students requires significant coordination and communication among stakeholders, including law enforcement.  MESD currently partners with PPB through a single School Liaison Officer, who serves as a primary point of contact for MESD related to student safety. 
    
6. This partnership has been beneficial to MESD and it wishes to expand its collaboration with the Portland Police Bureau to add an additional dedicated School Liaison Officer.
    
7. The City values the strong partnership with MESD and is committed to working collaboratively to ensure the successful execution of this agreement, thereby furthering the mutual goal of enhanced safety and wellness for all.
    
8. MESD and the Portland Police Bureau have collaborated on a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement, attached as Exhibit A, which articulates the scope of work and terms of this arrangement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

1. The Chief of the Portland Police Bureau, or designee, is hereby authorized to execute an intergovernmental agreement with MESD, substantially similar to Exhibit A.
2. The Chief of the Portland Police Bureau, or designee, is authorized to execute any subsequent modifications to this intergovernmental agreement, provided such modifications do not increase the City of Portland’s financial obligation or risk. Any modifications that increase the City’s financial obligation or risk must be authorized by the City Council.

Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists due to the expiration of the existing agreement for a single School Liaison Officer on September 30, 2023, and MESD’s important and urgent need to continue this program and ensure the children in MESD’s care are adequately and immediately supported; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.