Continue ongoing efforts to reduce crime, improve livability, and support community in and around Dawson Park
WHEREAS, Council recognizes the rich history and cultural significance Dawson Park and the neighborhood around it holds for the Portland community; and
WHEREAS, Dawson Park and the area around it has experienced challenges over the years, most recently related to gun violence, drug distribution, and other safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, the City of Portland has consistently worked to engage with community and identify solutions for these concerns through a variety of City programs and staff, including Safe Blocks, Public Environment Management Office (PEMO), Portland Solutions, Portland Police Bureau, Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland Bureau of Transportation, and many others; and
WHEREAS, through this consistent engagement the Dawson Park area has benefitted from tree lighting installation to promote safety, numerous community building events to promote access to resources including housing and healthcare, outreach teams navigating unhoused neighbors into the City’s temporary alternative shelter site tiny homes, a pilot project to reduce permitting barriers for community events in Dawson Park, bollards to keep the park free of dangerous vehicles, parking interventions to deter illegal parking that promoted unsafe drug use, on-call cleaning contracts for any and all biohazards in the area, hazardous material pickup (sharps, trash, etc.), power-washing of sidewalks to promote cleanliness, funding to increase and improve the educational art installations in the park, increased police presence at the request of the community to include walking patrols, and above all else recurring forums to provide the community a space to come together and tackle these problems together; and
WHEREAS, Council recognizes this ongoing work and the positive impacts these efforts have brought and also acknowledges that the needs in the area require an ongoing commitment by the City to continue the collaboration among bureaus and community to reach sustainable public safety goals; and
WHEREAS, the City of Portland is in the midst of significant change, both in the form of government and in welcoming a new City Council and Mayor; and
WHEREAS, Council wishes to ensure the ongoing efforts of City bureaus and programs to support the Dawson Park community are sustained through this transitional period in order to protect the progress achieved thus far and ensure the additional progress needed is not stymied.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Administrator and Deputy City Administrators are hereby directed to ensure the City’s efforts to address public safety and livability in and around Dawson Park continue through the transition to a new form of government, new City Council, and new Mayor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City’s efforts to address the needs of the Dawson Park community should continue to occur in collaboration with community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Administrator and Deputy City Administrators are directed to ensure that City bureaus and programs continue to demonstrate agility in identifying solutions to support public safety and livability in and around Dawson Park.
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
- The purpose of this resolution is to demonstrate the City Council's intent to continue ongoing efforts to engage with community and improve public safety and livability in and around Dawson Park.
- This resolution identifies many ways in which the City has engaged with the Dawson Park community and efforts that have been taken to address issues of community concern.
- This resolution does not propose legislation or include changes to specific City policies.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
This resolution does not create any new financial or budgetary impacts.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
Elected officials and City staff from a number of different bureaus have been highly engaged with the community in this area for years. Over the last two years, the City has increased its engagement and worked with the community to identify and implement features, strategies, and techniques from numerous disciplines to address public safety and livability in the area, and looks forward to continuing those efforts in accordance with this resolution.
100% Renewable Goal
This resolution supports the City’s goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy for community-wide needs by 2050 by continuing our ongoing efforts to reduce traffic flow through the area in the park and working to identify strategies that improve the environment and public safety in the park.
Financial and Budget Analysis
This is a resolution and as a legal requirement does not commit any resources in the current fiscal year.