Initial Audit Response
In August of 2020, Portland's City Auditor released a report citing issues with the City's Enhanced Service Districts (ESD). The most notable items included a lack of oversight and transparency, the need for increased guidelines for district creation and governance and concerns regarding the use of private security to patrol public areas. In response, the City and the three ESDs agreed to jointly fund a new coordinator position to provide oversight, negotiate new contracts, act as a liaison and facilitator between the ESDs and City bureaus and complete a comprehensive response to the audit. This position was filled in August 2021.
Audit Response Process
The overall audit response is expected to take approximately eighteen months from initiation to full implementation. The process will be split into three parts, each of which will last approximately six months in length.
The goal of the Information Stage is to create a source of public information which will act as a foundation of shared knowledge for the next stage. Historically, publicly available information regarding the structure and activities of the ESDs has not been easy to locate. This lack of easily accessible information resulted in unnecessary vagueness. By making information more easily and readily available, the community will be better informed, allowing for a more robust conversation regarding possible reforms. The ESD Coordinator is currently working on this stage.
The goal of the Listening Stage is to engage stakeholders and community members in the development of recommendations for changes to City Code related to the ESDs. By utilizing a combination of Q and A sessions, listening sessions and focus groups, it is the City's goal to ensure that all voices are equally heard and everyone feels that their concerns and needs have been addressed. The exact details of this stage are still being formulated at this time.
The goal of the Implementation Stage is to work with City Council to make recommended changes to City Code, followed by the re-negotiation of existing ESD contracts to apply any such changes. The ESD Coordinator hopes to have all changes in place by March 2023.
Relation to Individual Contract Negotiations
In a perfect world, the City audit response would have occurred prior to the negotiation of any new ESD contracts. However, as the past eighteen months have proven, there is no such thing as a perfect world. The renewal of the Clean & Safe contract occurred prior to the launch of the audit response process, and the renewal of the Central Eastside Industrial District contract will occur in the middle of it. Unfortunately, this has caused a good deal of confusion and consternation throughout the process - and unfortunately, will probably continue to do so.
With regards to the Clean & Safe contract, the City decided to move forward with a new contract, rather than extending the old contract until after the audit response process, in order to allow for the earlier implementation of some reforms. However, even though a five year contract was signed, it should not be viewed as a final outcome. The new contract includes a clause that says anything affected by a change in City Code will be renegotiated upon that change being approved by City Council. A similar strategy will be used for the Central Eastside Industrial District contract.
Generally speaking, if an issue relates solely to a specific ESD, then it is an issue relevant to that specific contract. If an issue relates to City Code or all three ESDs, then it is an issue relevant to the audit response process.
How Can I Get Involved?
For the next six months the audit response will largely be focused on the collection and processing of information in order to make it more accessible for stakeholders and the general public. Because of this, the opportunities for community engagement will be slim until after the new year. However, in the meantime, there are several ways for you to stay informed about the ESDs and their current status.
- Keep an eye on the website, for new and updated information and an announcement of future community engagement opportunities.
- Sign up for regular updates to ensure that you don't miss any website or other updates.
- If you or your organization have detailed information you feel is relevant to the audit response Information Stage, please contact the ESD Coordinator at shawn.campbell@portlandoregon.gov.
We look forward to working with the community to ensure that the City's ESDs fulfill their purpose of enhancing and serving Portlanders.
Biography: Shawn Campbell is the City of Portland’s ESD Coordinator, tasked with providing oversight for the City’s enhanced service districts. Prior to working at the City, Shawn worked in international trade and policy development, public transportation, and food production. When he is not working, he enjoys writing, hiking, running, and sampling the many activities available in Portland.