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• Dianne Riley, dianne.riley@portlandoregon.gov
• Suk Rhee, suk.rhee@portlandoregon.gov
• Commissioner Eudaly, Chloe@portlandoregon.gov
• Commissioner Fritz, Amanda@portlandoregon.gov
• Commissioner Hardesty, JoAnn@portlandoregon.gov
• Mayor Wheeler, MayorWheeler@portlandoregon.gov

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• Commissioner Eudaly
• Commissioner Fritz
• Commissioner Hardesty
• Mayor Wheeler

The city has proposed a budgetary reduction in staffing hours at our district coalition, North Portland Neighborhood Services (NPNS). While the overall budget remains steady for this fiscal year, the hours for the NPNS office personnel have been reduced by 20% in order to accommodate the addition of a supervisory position on the grounds that this will improve efficiency. The KNA, along with the many of organizations supported by NPNS, disagree with this position.

This supervisory position is intended to allocate 38% of their time to NPNS and 62% to East Portland Community Office (EPCO). However, this position is currently spending approximately 90% of their hours at EPCO. This creates a situation where NPNS is unfairly being made to subsidize another part of the city. While EPCO needs the additional support because their staff is relatively inexperienced, the funding for that support should be found elsewhere.

As well, because the NPNS office staff is well seasoned, the actual need for supervisory support is minimal, and the community is unsure what duties on behalf of NPNS the supervisor would perform.

The two office staff persons at NPNS work full time for a reason. They provide support services for 18 member non-profit organizations and 11 neighborhood associations as well as many other groups and individuals. Those services include:

• Nurturing the grant-writing process for small organizations to help them grow.

• Managing and administering local grant programs.

• Managing and maintaining liability insurance coverage for organizations under the NPNS, Inc. umbrella.

• Streamlining interactions between city agencies and member organizations.

• Management of city funding for neighborhood association communications budgets.

• Coordinating meetings and events to cross-pollinate ideas and goals between organizations.

• Coaching member organizations on management issues, legal responsibilities for non-profits, and open civic policies.

• Maintaining the Historic Kenton Fire House as a center for community meetings and events, and facilitating numerous trainings and evening meetings and every month, including:

  • District-wide land use committee

  • District-wide transportation network

  • Client organization chairs meetings

• Providing mediation coaching for client organizations.

• Cultivating cross-connections between organizations to encourage a vibrant exchange of skills and ideas.

• Promoting events and announcements for the city, member organizations and others through social media and e-mail.