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City Lights

The Task Force

Revitalizing Portland’s Central City is the State of Oregon’s imperative. This transformative effort will connect federal and state resources with our most challenging local issues.

 

 

The charge: By the end of 2023, the Task Force will articulate a compelling vision and develop a set of near-term, achievable strategies to revitalize the economic future of Portland’s Central City. By bringing together a diverse group of federal, state, and local government leaders, in partnership with private and non-profit stakeholders, we aim to draw upon a wide range of perspectives and expertise to develop concrete recommendations that will address the needs and aspirations of our diverse communities and businesses.

Portland Central City Task Force Members:

  • Governor Tina Kotek, State of Oregon, Co-Chair

  • Dan McMillan, CEO, The Standard, Co-Chair

  • Senator Ron Wyden, US Senate

  • Senator Jeff Merkley, US Senate

  • Senator Kate Lieber, Oregon House District 14, Senate Majority Leader

  • Congressman Earl Blumenauer, U.S. Congressional District 3

  • Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Congressional District 1

  • Representative Janelle Bynum, Oregon House District 39

  • Representative Rob Nosse, Oregon House District 42

  • Representative Tawna Sanchez, Oregon House District 43

  • President Lynn Peterson, Metro

  • Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Multnomah County

  • District Attorney Mike Schmidt, Multnomah County

  • Mayor Ted Wheeler, City of Portland

  • Oscar Arana, Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)

  • Candace Avalos, Verde

  • Kimberly Branam, Prosper Portland

  • Jessie Burke, Society Hotel

  • Kimberly Cooper, Fortuna Group

  • Kathryn Correia, Legacy Health

  • Graciela Cowger, Schwabe

  • Patrick Criteser, Tillamook County Creamery Association

  • Ann Cudd, Portland State University

  • Nicole Davison León, Hispanic Metro Chamber

  • Stacey Dodson, US Bank

  • Brian Ferriso, Portland Art Museum

  • Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda CDC

  • Robert Gootee, Moda Health

  • Erin Graham, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

  • Stephen Green, Business for a Better Portland

  • Dewayne Hankins, Portland Trail Blazers

  • Nkenge Harmon Johnson, The Urban League

  • Andrew Hoan, Portland Metro Chamber

  • Duncan Hwang, Metro Council, and Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon

  • Renée J. James, Ampere Computing

  • Cobi Lewis, Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon

  • Nolan Lienhart, ZGF Architects

  • Jim Mark, Melvin Mark

  • Jan Mason, Mackenzie, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon and Greater Portland Economic Development District, Chair

  • Jeff Miller, Travel Portland

  • Andy Mendenhall, Central City Concern

  • Lance Randall, Black Business Association of Oregon

  • Curtis Robinhold, Port of Portland

  • Lisa Schroeder, Mother’s Bistro

  • Rob Stuart, OnPoint Community Credit Union

  • Vanessa Sturgeon, TMT Development

  • Michelle Weisenbach, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, Greater Portland Inc Chair

  • Charles Wilhoite, Willamette Management

Task Force Committees

Central City Value Proposition

The charge:

Advance a powerful and compelling vision for the future and identify key steps needed to achieve it, with a focus on employment, housing, shops and restaurants, arts and culture, education, and tourism.

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Livable Neighborhoods

The charge:

Outline key steps to restore Portland as one of the cleanest cities in the US, with recommendations to mobilize the state, metro, and local resources to the task. Include measurable clean-up goals, and a budget and staffing plan.

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Community Safety
 

The charge:

Advance an action plan to promptly reduce and prevent crime, specifically those impacting local retailers and restaurants. Assess the level of resources currently available and address the adequacy of the system, including actions to accelerate capacity where we are currently facing shortfalls.

Housing and Homelessness

The charge:

Review work actively underway including efforts from service providers operating in the Central City, Multnomah County’s Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group, and the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS). Identify underlying issues on the ground that must be addressed before meeting ambitious goals to reduce unsheltered homelessness, as well as what programs and services are needed to meet those needs. Explore roles and responsibilities from public and private entities and funding necessary to deliver programs and services.

Taxes and Services
 

The charge:

Assess the impact of recently enacted regional and local tax measures on the provision of critical services and the city’s economic competitiveness. Recommend changes that would improve the public’s perceived value of the post-2019 tax-service environment.

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The
Geographic
Scope

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