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Strategic Plan 2024 – 2026
The Office of Government Relations has published a Strategic Plan, providing clarity and accountability for our role in City government.
This plan summarizes eight strategic goals over the next three years, including our commitment to equity and our role in the City transition to its new form of government.
Review OGR's Strategic Plan via PDF or in the text below.
In this Plan
From the Director
I am honored to serve as Director of the City of Portland's Office of Government Relations. This role provides a unique opportunity to bolster Portland at a pivotal time in its evolution, and to work with immensely talented staff. They serve Portland with high standards of integrity, collaboration, hard work, and they inspire others to join in promoting Portland's success.
Portland continues to address unprecedented challenges in public safety, addiction, livability, homelessness, climate change, our economy, and much more. But, Portland cannot succeed alone. It is critical that our Federal, State, and local government partners "lean in" and bring their assets and support to implement lasting solutions that benefit our city, region, and state. OGR seeks to provide a unified City voice and advocate for Portland's needs with clear priorities, communication, collaboration, and trusted relationships.
OGR will continue to play a unique and important role in the City's transition to a new form of government. We will promote trust and collaboration, seek a unified approach to our advocacy, and provide the City's new leaders the resources and support they need for success in launching a new structure. There are exciting opportunities ahead, and we are already in motion to make the most of them.
Our strategic goals and priorities will guide OGR's work. Input from partners like you support our continuous improvement. We hope you will stay engaged in our work to co-create a bright future for the City of Portland.
In Service,
Sam Chase
Mission and Values
Mission
The Office of Government Relations advocates for the City of Portland as a unified voice advancing policy and funding solutions through intergovernmental relationships.
Values
We collaborate, achieving consensus whenever possible. We build trust with transparency, honesty, reliability, and a strong work ethic.
We respect all elected and appointed officials regardless of their political perspectives.
We act to make tangible progress toward anti-racism and equity.
We believe welcoming and including all perspectives, people, and cultures makes for better outcomes.
We do our best work as an office in an environment of creativity, warmth, and mutual support.
Program Areas
STATE RELATIONS
The State Relations Program develops and advances a state legislative agenda that reflects the priorities of the City Council and bureaus. The State team provides central coordination and advocacy at the state executive, legislative, and agency level; pursuing funding and policy needs, and defending against efforts to limit local authority.
FEDERAL RELATIONS
The Federal Relations Program develops and advances the City's federal legislative and regulatory priorities with Congress and federal agencies, coordinating efforts to pursue resources and policy improvements, and defending against efforts to limit local authority.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANCEMENT TEAM
The Grant Opportunities and Advancement Team provides grant research, development, and strategic assistance to all bureaus. The program maintains a database of state and federal competitive funding opportunities to increase both the resources available to the City and the efficiency of our application processes.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The International Relations Program works to strengthen Portland's global diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational ties through Sister City partnerships, governmental,
non-profit, and business institutions. This program coordinates the welcoming of international delegations to Portland.
TRIBAL RELATIONS
The Tribal Relations Program promotes culturally grounded, long-term, positive relationships and decision-making processes through government-to-government engagement with sovereign tribes and with the Urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Portland.
REGIONAL RELATIONS
The Regional Relations Program supports the work of City leadership and bureaus in their relationships with neighboring counties, cities, and other governmental entities to further funding and policy solutions.
City Transition
A Voice for Portland's New City Structure
The January 2025 City transition into a new form of government impacts all the relationships that OGR cultivates. Support from the City's external government partners is critical to a successful transition to our new form of government.
As the link between the City and other governments, OGR will act as Portland's primary liaison to educate and inform external government partners on the opportunities, challenges and successes of the City transition to a new structure.
OGR will also support a successful transition internally before, during, and after the new government takes shape.
Actions will include:
Onboarding training and support for new City Council members and their offices about the City's strategic approach to advocacy.
Guidance on how advocacy agendas are established, protocols for issue process and advocacy, and internal decision-making.
Recommendations for elected and appointed officials' roles and responsibilities as City advocates.
Leading with Equity
The Office of Government Relations Racial Equity Plan aligns with the City of Portland's Core Values.
Our top-level strategies include:
- Implement several internal equity-centered policies regarding hiring, onboarding, professional development, and well-being, that seek to continue building internal capacity.
- Elevate equity and anti-racism in the State and Federal legislative agenda-setting process, using internal equity tools and processes.
- Regularly engage in community conversations, collaborating to identify equitable and anti-racist priorities to incorporate into the legislative agenda development process.
- Continue to elevate Tribal Relations work across the City of Portland.
- Increase transparency of the City's legislative process to community-based organizations that center Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQIA2S+, people with disabilities, and other communities that have been systematically excluded, as well tribal nations and Urban American Indian and Alaska native communities in Portland.
OGR Equity Outcomes
All people in Portland have their needs met in the City's advocacy outcomes.
All people in Portland are empowered to intentionally participate and meaningfully influence their government(s).
All people in Portland recognize and honor local Indigenous communities and the sovereignty of Tribal governments.
Goals
Goals At a Glance
Lead as the City's unified voice for external, government-facing communication and advocacy.
Support legislative agenda-setting and advocacy strategy by delivering public policy, regulatory, and budget outcomes that benefit the City and all Portlanders.
Foster close external relationships with elected officials and government leaders through improvements in consistent, responsive, and transparent engagement.
Elevate equity and anti-racism in the State and Federal legislative agenda-setting process.
Align initiatives and advocacy with sovereign tribes and the Urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Portland.
Effectively represent the City with clarity on its scope, program parameters, resources, and relationships.
Strengthen capacity of OGR through equity-centered policies including hiring, onboarding, professional development, and well-being.
Support and retain staff with clear internal operations procedures, systems, and healthy work culture.
Goals: Lead as the City's unified voice for external, government-facing communication and advocacy.
Category: External Relationships, Community Impact
KPI: Council Approval of Legislative Agenda Local Advocacy Agenda
Spring 2024
Establish methods for a consensus-based Council approval for 2025 advocacy agendas.
2024
Establish a first-time regional/local government advocacy agenda.
2025
Update Coordination of Government Relations Administrative Rule to include new activities and account for the new government structure.
2025-26
City Administrator and unified Communications are integrated and supported by OGR.
Goals: Support legislative agenda-setting and advocacy strategy by delivering public policy, regulatory, and budget outcomes that benefit the City and all Portlanders.
Category: External Relationships, Community Impact
KPI: Net Fiscal Impact to the City of Portland
Winter 2024
Design 2025 Legislative Agenda processes that work with the new structure of government.
2024
Complete a transitional legislative agenda-setting process that seeks continuity between transitioning elected officials.
2025
Implement 2025 legislative agenda processes with the new Council and City government structure. Assess, report findings, and provide improvement recommendations.
2025-26
Gather feedback on agenda-setting and advocacy processes. Share learnings with stakeholders.
Goals: Foster close external relationships with elected officials and government leaders through improvements in consistent, responsive, and transparent engagement.
Category: External Relationships, Community Impact
KPI: Annual Number of State, Federal, and Multnomah County Elected Officials Engaged
Winter 2024
Create work plan to offer education, materials, and tools to new and current City electeds and their offices.
Inventory our current tools to determine what is needed to create a comprehensive library.
2024
Closely coordinate with the transition and elections teams to orchestrate at least two informational events during 2024 for incoming City Council candidates that include intergovernmental and legislative agenda content.
Create systems to improve communication efficiency with City and external elected and appointed officials so they have current information on events affecting their constituents.
Winter 2025
Launch education materials to new City electeds and their offices with clear channels for ongoing support.
Launch an annual orientation with electeds, admins, and directors on OGR purpose and role. Launch event-based opportunities to connect people to OGR in person.
2026
Evolve engagement framework for productive dialogue and collaboration with electeds and their offices.
Goals: Elevate equity and anti-racism in the State and Federal legislative agenda-setting process.
Category: External Relationships, Community Impact
KPI: Legislative Equity Evaluation Tool; Community Transparency and Dialogue Opportunities
2024
Working with City Council, provide community conversation sessions on the State and Federal legislative agenda process to community-based organizations that center Black, Indigenous, and communities of color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQIA2S+; people with disabilities; and other communities that have been systematically excluded.
Finalize a tool to assist OGR in assessing equity and anti-racism benefits in proposed legislative agenda items.
Build State and Federal legislative agendas that center community priorities, which will then be advocated for during legislative sessions.
2025
Review efficacy and revise equity and anti-racism tool as needed.
2025-26
Evaluate and improve how community needs and suggestions are reflected in State and Federal agendas, circling back with participants and stakeholders to share results.
Goals: Align initiatives and advocacy with sovereign tribes and the Urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Portland.
Category: External Relationships, Community Impact
KPI: Program Staffing, Work Plan, Events Bureau Tribal Reports
Winter/Spring 2024
Hire and onboard new Tribal Relations Program Manager.
Develop a strategic vision, program work plan, and liaison network.
Preserve the commemoration of the annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous People's Day.
Summer/Fall 2024
Create framework for educating City staff on proper tribal engagement.
Conduct engagement meetings with sovereign tribes in the region.
Engage City and community leaders in the future development of the Tribal Relations Program.
2025
Develop a collaborative framework with service areas to streamline and synthesize tribal engagement.
Educate Council offices on the work and value of the Tribal Relations Program.
Host a City-led event inviting tribal governments to meet with the new City government.
2025-26
Partner on opportunities that align with what Tribes are already prioritizing.
Goals: Effectively represent the City with clarity on its scope, program parameters, resources, and relationships.
Category: City Relationships, Internal Operations, Community Impact
KPI: Program Work Plans Collaborative Advocacy Process
Winter 2024
All six program areas have documented service offerings that clarify what is in and out of scope for OGR core functions.
Documented service offerings are publicly available on OGR website.
2024
Each program completes a work plan that includes program goals.
Each position at OGR has a revised job description such that roles, duties, and responsibilities are clearly outlined for future staff.
2025
Establish a process for decision-making and City priority setting in partnership with
Deputy City Administrators, Mayor's office, and City Council.
2026
Evolve and evaluate process to keep pace with maturity of new City structure.
Goals: Strengthen capacity of OGR through equity-centered policies including hiring, onboarding, professional development, and well-being.
Category: Internal Operations
KPI: Data Reported to the Office of Equity and Human Rights Staff Feedback
Winter 2024
The Office of Government Relations will work with the Bureau of Human Resources to identify further opportunities for improving recruitment and retention, particularly with Black, Indigenous, and people of color; people identifying as LGBTQIA2S+; and people with disabilities.
2024
Onboarding will include resources on Diverse & Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP) and City affinity groups, information regarding benefits and resources available to City employees (i.e., mental health, Path to Leadership, walk/ride bucks, etc.), information on the City Core Values, information from DEEP related to the use of pronouns, and the Inclusive Writing Guide from the Office of Equity and Human Rights.
All new OGR employees will be required to complete a training on Tribal Relations.
2025
Create updated Racial Equity Plan, incorporating considerations for the newly implemented City structure and internal organization.
2026
Implement 2025 Racial Equity Plan and evaluate progress.
Goals: Support and retain staff with clear internal operations procedures, systems, and healthy work culture.
Category: Internal Operations
KPI: Staff Feedback; Staff Retention
Spring 2024
Incorporate a regular "capacity check" and "ask for support" check-in structure into all-staff meetings or another venue.
Identify and prioritize all systems and processes needed based on staff and stakeholder input.
2024
OGR Director hosts one-on-one meetings with staff annually to learn more about how OGR can better support individuals' needs, providing options to ensure employees' ability to share honest and candid feedback.
Complete first wave of tools and processes, prioritizing based on staff needs and empowering the new form of government.
2025
Complete second wave of systems and processes, factoring in additional needs identified through the annual Customer Service Survey.
Director and Deputy Director meet annually with program leads to review, collaborate, and support annual program work plans.
2026
Develop additional operational tools as needed while evaluating and iterating existing tools based on real-world implementation.
Accountability
Accountability Framework
The Strategic Plan provides a guiding framework for creating annual program work plans.
The OGR Director and Deputy Director will support the work while providing the big-picture, holistic perspective on the interaction and interdependencies of goals, advocacy, and accomplishments.
Kickoff:
Publish Strategic Plan
Educate City Employees
Create Program Work Plans
Monthly:
Goal Status Updates
City Council Reporting
City Newsletter
Quarterly:
Goal Status Updates
Adjust for Reality
Annually:
Customer Service Survey
Community Conversations
Legislative Results
Annual Work Plans
KPIs at a Glance
Goal: Lead as the City's unified voice for external, government-facing communication and advocacy.
KPI: Council Approval of Legislative Agenda Local Advocacy Agenda
Goal: Support legislative agenda-setting and advocacy strategy by delivering public policy, regulatory, and budget outcomes that benefit the City and all Portlanders.
KPI: Net Fiscal Impact to the City of Portland
Goal: Foster close external relationships with elected officials and government leaders through improvements in consistent, responsive, and transparent engagement.
KPI: Annual Number of State, Federal, and Multnomah County Elected Officials Engaged
Goal: Elevate equity and anti-racism in the State and Federal legislative agenda-setting process.
KPI: Legislative Equity Evaluation Tool. Community Transparency & Dialogue Opportunities.
Goal: Align initiatives and advocacy with sovereign tribes and the Urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Portland.
KPI: Program Staffing, Work Plan, Events, Bureau Tribal Reports
Goal: OGR empowers its clients and partners with clarity on its scope, program parameters, resources, and relationships.
KPI: Program Work Plans. Collaborative Advocacy Process.
Goal: Continue building OGR capacity by implementing equity-centered policies including hiring, onboarding, professional development, and well-being.
KPI: Data Reported to Office of Equity & Human Rights. Staff Feedback.
Goal: Support and retain staff with clear internal operations procedures, systems, and healthy work culture.
KPI: Staff Feedback. Staff Retention.
Financial Outlook
Financial Context for Plan Implementation
The scope of OGR includes promoting the City's overall financial health, including advocating for funding for
the City of Portland, preventing the loss of outside funds, and protecting the City from unfunded mandates. Similarly, OGR will foster its own financial health in alignment with our Strategic Plan.
- OGR budget is approved on an annual process led by the City Budget Office and the City Administrator Service Area.
- The total annual budget to provide services to the City of Portland is consistent and predictable.
- OGR resources support the activities that increase revenues and reduce liabilities for City of Portland.
City-wide budget realities will create fluctuations in the OGR budget. As conditions may dictate, we will adjust our activities in consultation with City officials in the context of our Strategic Plan.
Plan Credits
Strategic Planning Team
OGR Staff
- Chido Dhliwayo
- Derek Bradley
- Emily Pfeiffer
- Evyn Mitchell
- Haley Tortorella
- Jack Arriaga
- Kari Schlosshauer
- Mila Greisen
- Nils Tillstrom
- Sam Chase
- Susan Dietz
Input Provided By
- Advocacy Partner Organizations
- City of Portland Bureau Directors & Liaisons
- City of Portland Staff
- International Partners
- Tribal Partners
- Mayor Ted Wheeler's
- Office Oregon Governor's Office
- Past Leaders of City of Portland OGR
Consultants
[PREGAME]
- Ciara Pressler
- Lisa Niedermeyer
- Marlo Maroon
- Rahsaan Cruz
For questions about our plan and programs services, please contact govrel@portlandoregon.gov.