Hello PDOT Employees
Sam Adams
Dear Portland Department of Transportation Colleagues,
I’m excited to work with you all as the department's new Commissioner-in-Charge beginning Friday, July 1, 2005!
Portland has a world-class transportation system largely because of you; I hope to build on that reputation. I have a genuine passion for the mission of PDOT, from better freight mobility to building a “platinum” bicycle and pedestrian system, from smooth streets to green streets, from transit to parking—call me a wonk, but I love this stuff.
Allow me to tell you a little bit about the aspirations I have for myself, staff, and bureau colleagues. I gravitated to public service because my upbringing exposed me to the important role government can play in helping those in need. Sometimes government serves its citizens well, and sometimes it doesn’t. My mission is to always make it work better.
I encourage humor in the workplace (especially about me), but my commitment to public service is something I take very seriously. I strive for real results. I tend to work hard and expect a lot of my colleagues because Portland is truly a great city and its citizens have high expectations. I love my job and I can’t imagine doing anything professionally that is more exhilarating.
Innovation is part of our collective responsibility. Obviously, although I’m the Commissioner-in-Charge it doesn’t always mean I have all the answers, or even all the questions. After nearly 12 years with the City of Portland I know from experience that empowered, solutions-oriented employees can deliver results more often than what we on City Council have traditionally asked for. So, if collectively we’re going to do the very best job we can, I really do need to hear from you. Your experience and expertise can help bring about the best ideas and the most accurate understanding of an issue, so I want and expect you to challenge me to consider perspectives alternative to my own.
Since I’ll ask a lot of you, you should ask a lot of me. Although dollars are in short supply right now, I want to know how my staff or I can improve the quality of your work life – this is a priority.
Good customer service is not a goal but a baseline for me. My commitment to this has led Mayor Tom Potter to appoint me one of the leaders of the Bureau Innovation Project recommendation to develop improved customer service plans citywide. In providing good customer service, there will be times when innovation is needed, when we must approach things differently than we have before.
You will see me at your work site. If your department has a project that would profit from my on-site visit, I would welcome your invitation to observe and to learn from your expertise.
In terms of PDOT management changes, as you know, Mayor Potter has accepted Brant Williams’ resignation. I want to thank him for his good work. Sue Keil has been selected as the interim PDOT bureau manager. She begins her service July 5, 2005. We will ask for your crucial input on selecting a permanent director in the coming months. Tom Miller, my chief of staff, will serve as my primary staff liaison to PDOT.
I especially want to invite you and your colleagues to meet me and my staff in an informal setting at my next monthly ‘First Thursday Open House,’ July 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., in my City Hall office, 1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220. We can share beverages, wine and hors d’oeuvres and view the guest artist’s installation.
In the meantime...I will also post this letter on my website forum, CommissionerSam.com, later today. I invite you to publicly post questions and comments in response to this letter.
Thank you for your continuing service to the residents of Portland. I look forward to working with you all.
With warm regards,
Sam
Posted by Sam Adams on June 23, 2005
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Filed Under Office of Transportation, Transportation
Comments by site visitors
I just attended the PDOT employee briefing. I thought it went well. One issue is your insistence on "protecting front line services" -- This sounds good in the press and reinforces public biases, but is demoralizing for managers who, contrary to popular belief, often produce the products you are promoting. Do you think those of us in management have no value?
Posted by: Name Withheld | Jun 27, 2005 10:48:31 AM
Thanks for the question and the opportunity to answer it.
You and the public have a right to know how I will prioritize the $6.5 million in budget cuts we have to make in PDOT.
Rightfully, I believe, the public expects me to protect from cuts and improve the frontline services they depend on most.
We must always look for ways to do our work better, cheaper and in a more responsive and more accountable manner.
To that end, every PDOT employee will have an opportunity to contribute their ideas.
I will try to save those management positions in PDOT that get results and add real value to the work of the PDOT. I hope this provides you with a sense of my priorities.
Posted by: Sam Adams | Jul 1, 2005 4:51:17 PM
Sam:
This may not be exactly what you're looking for but in case you have an opportunity to explore the options I want to get it out there.
Water, BES, and Transportation do much of their work out in the city. That work is done at a specific time, on a specific piece of the infrastructure and/or project and it has both direct and indirect costs associated with it. I think we could gain some efficiency, both in software development costs, as well as work coordination and partnering if we all used the same electronic systems (work orders, service requests, and GIS).
This may seem a little self-serving because that is what I work on, but in times of tight money, asset management (knowing what you’ve got, what condition it’s in, how much it costs to take care of it, and what are the risks and priorities) is critical to sound decision-making. Electronic systems hold the best hope for doing that type of analysis, particularly across disparate asset types.
Posted by: Rod Yoder | Jul 8, 2005 2:09:25 PM
In regards to Rod Yoder's comments fancy meeting you here (If your my cousin ROD)
Posted by: sherrie | Jul 8, 2005 4:57:38 PM
Sherrie:
I'm not your cousin, sorry. My father’s family settled in Sheridan in about 1944. There is another Rod Yoder who is fire chief in Canby, I think.
Posted by: Rod Yoder | Jul 11, 2005 4:49:56 PM
Rod,
Nice talking to you anyway your half right it's Aurora that's the one I am related to.
Posted by: Sherrie | Jul 11, 2005 7:29:46 PM
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I just attended PDOT meeting. I thought it went well. However, you pledged to "protect front line services" which sounds good in the press, but reinforces the public's belief (yours as well?) that management is unnecessary. This is demoralizing to managers and ignores that managers also often produce important products as well.
Posted by: Name Withheld | Jun 27, 2005 10:44:57 AM