LPSCC

Portland River Public Safety: More Coordination Needed

On Wednesday October 11,2006 Sam introduced a resolution, which Council approved, to accept reports for Phase 1, and the River Public Safety Charter work of Phase 2, of The Portland and Multnomah County Public Safety Collaboration. Over the past year, the City and County have been developing a framework (phase 1) to improve the systems for planning and budgeting public safety services and to identify immediate and long term opportunities (phase 2) to improve service delivery. The second phase identified River Public Safety as one of four areas in which to develop and implement strategies to improve the results achieved in public safety at the same or a reduced price. The resolution approved by Council on Wednesday approved the reports and identified a list of improvements with implementation timelines. A companion resolution by Multnomah County will be considered on October 19, 2006 with assurance of passage. The River Public Safety Report and Phase 1 Public Safety Collaboration are attached.

We appreciate the many letters we are receiving from you who want the County to continue to fully fund the Sun School Program.  We are looking into the issue and invite thoughts about Sun School programs, as well as ideas about strategically selecting where to make cuts when reductions are required.  We struggle with how our community is to endure tough choices when the resources don’t meet the demands.

The City has fully funded its commitment to the Sun School program; County leaders are struggling among themselves whether to fully fund or cut $1.7 million of the program’s funding.

No one has made a case that the Sun School Program is not valuable, nor has anyone dismissed the importance of the extended-day programming that provides positive safe activities and academic support. 

CITY, COUNTY, And CITIZENS CRIME COMMISSIONER LAUNCH PUBLIC JOINT BUDGETING SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

Introduced by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, City Council approved "a resolution that puts in motion a process to jointly design and budget for our public safety system according to citizenry's priorities. People do not care about whether or not something is a County or a City service. People want to feel and be safe in their homes and community."

Mayor Potter may have said it best: