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Label:
Report
Appoint Omar K. Salomon to the Steering and Oversight Committee for the Homelessness Response System for a one-year term to expire September 30, 2027
Accepted
TO THE COUNCIL:
As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the Omar K. Salomon to the Steering and Oversight Committee meetings for the Homelessness Response System for a one-year term.
| Appointment | Term End Date |
|---|---|
| Omar K. Salomon | September 30, 2027 |
Biography
As founder and CEO, Omar oversees the day-to-day operations for XoCOTL, a from-scratch juice and smoothie bar with two locations in Portland, Oregon. He oversees the business plan, marketing and sales strategy and is responsible for coordinating and training staff, maintaining inventories, adhering to food safety regulations, allocating resources, administering payroll, doing all bookkeeping, overseeing the Point of Sale (POS) systems and ensuring customer satisfaction. Omar and his family opened XoCOTL at the Portland Mercado in the Mt. Scott neighborhood, but moved to SE Division neighborhood (Richmond) after the fire that leveled the Mercado. He is very skilled in cultivating and maintaining relationships with other businesses and business owners and has expanded his network to the Brooklyn neighborhood, the location of his newest shop at the Brooklyn Carreta.
Omar worked as a regional business developer for the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and was responsible for providing bilingual (English/Spanish) one-on-one technical assistance to small businesses in business strategy, marketing, operations, human resources, and financial planning. He brings a deep understanding of housing and homelessness from his time working for Northwest Housing Alternatives and 211info. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors and treasurer for Hacienda Community Development. Omar and his wife, who are originally from La Ciudad de México, have lived in the Portland area for 22years. They have one son who is headed to college this year!
Statement of Interest
As a business owner in the SE Portland area, I have seen and experienced situations that affect businesses. Also as a former employee from a non-profit organization dedicated to developing affordable housing I have knowledge of the complex issues that people face when they are experiencing homelessness. I am interested in contributing to a process that will help address these problems.
Respectfully submitted,
Keith Wilson, Mayor
Exhibits and attachments
Impact Statement
Purpose of proposed legislation and background information
On June 26, 2024, the Portland City Council passed an amendment to the three-year Homelessness Response System Intergovernmental Agreement with Multnomah County adding non-voting community members to the Steering and Oversight Committee which was incorporated into the final Agreement which was passed as amended by City Council on July 3, 2024.
As outlined in the Intergovernmental Agreement between Multnomah County and the City of Portland, the Homelessness Response System (HRS) will be governed by a three committee structure that will be led by the Steering and Oversight Committee (SOC).
The SOC is responsible for the following: setting strategy and key performance indicators (KPIs); monitoring progress and performance towards the KPIs; ensuring alignment of jurisdictional investments toward strategies and system performance; adjusting goals as needed; and reviewing audits of the various components of the HRS.
The SOC is composed of ten members: five elected officials who are voting members – the County Chair, the City Mayor, one County Commissioner, one member of City Council, and an east Multnomah County city elected Mayor. The SOC also seats five non-voting members: one business sector representative (nominated by any business chamber of commerce located in Multnomah County), one behavioral health expert that is not a current provider with the Parties (nominated by the County), a Supportive Housing Services (SHS) taxpayer (who is a non-Portland resident), the CEO of Health Share Oregon, and the CEO of Home Forward.
The Chair and the Mayor have jointly approved the business sector representative, Omar K. Salomon. This item is to confirm the appointment of a community member for the business sector representative who has been nominated by a local chamber of commerce.
Financial and budgetary impacts
Not applicable.
Economic and real estate development impacts
Not applicable.
Community impacts and community involvement
This position was recruited through outreach to local business groups through an open process. The position brings the experience and needs of the business community as a partner in addressing homelessness and expanding housing stock, among other goals for the City of Portland, Multnomah County and neighboring jurisdictions. The business representative connects with different business groups, when needed or requested, but the candidate is very connected through their work with the in the across the Portland, the County and the region through his work with the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber.
100% renewable goal
Not applicable.
Economic and real estate development analysis
Analysis provided by Prosper Portland
An Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis was not submitted for this proposed action. Pursuant to City Council Resolution 37664, Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the action and agree that it does not require an Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis.
Document history
Document number: 2026-310
President's referral: Finance and Governance Committee of the Whole