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The City of Portland, Oregon

Nick Fish (In Memoriam)

City of Portland Commissioner

phone: 503-823-3589

Email: nick@portlandoregon.gov

1221 S.W. 4th, Room 240, Portland, OR 97204

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2013 Year in Review

2013 was a busy and productive year.

We welcomed a new Mayor and Commissioner, closed a significant budget deficit, and took on new bureau assignments.

I
n June, Mayor Hales asked me to lead the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services — and to serve as Council liaison to Elders in Action, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and Portland’s small business partner, Venture Portland.

I am grateful to the dedicated teams at my former bureaus - Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Housing Bureau - and proud of what we accomplished during challenging times.

Facing a $21 million deficit, we made tough choices: cutting budgets and laying off employees. But we also prioritized funding for the Safety Net, invested in job creation and small businesses, and protected vital programs for families, children, and older adults.

Here are three more highlights:

Most Inspiring Moment:

Touring the visionary Bull Run Watershed with Water Bureau employee (and Spirit of Portland award-winner) Briggy Thomas.

Proudest Achievement:

Working with our public and private partners on Operation 305— a community-wide effort to find homes for over 300 homeless veterans.

Unsung Heroes:

During an extended cold snap in December, water mains broke in neighborhoods across Portland. The challenge of quickly responding to these breaks (at all hours of the day and night) brought out the very best in our City employees.

As always, it is an honor to serve you on the City Council — and to work with the talented professionals in my bureaus and my City Hall office.

Thank you for all that you do to make Portland a special place.


Operation 305 Section 8 Reform

Age-Friendly Cities Bull Run Watershed
11 x 13: Preservation Chief Financial Officer
Supporting Small Businesses Foster Floodplain Natural Area
Spirit of Portland Completing E205
Private Parking Grant Field

50th Anniversary:

March on Washington

The Fields

 

2013 Mid-Year Report

The first six months of 2013 have been marked by big changes, new challenges, and much to celebrate.

First, the big news: Mayor Hales has asked me to lead two new bureaus – the Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services. He has also asked me to serve as Council liaison to Venture Portland, Elders in Action, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

Last month, the Council approved a balanced budget that reflects our community's best values: preserving the safety net, investing in strong neighborhoods and healthy small businesses, supporting older adults and youth, collaborating with our public and private partners, and preserving our fire stations and patrol officers.

As I move to my new assignments, I’d like to thank our stellar community partners and the talented teams at the Portland Housing Bureau and Portland Parks & Recreation for five great years.

It is an honor to serve as your City Commissioner. As always, thanks for all you do to make Portland a better place.
 
Happy Independence Day!

 

                Sophia Kecskes

                      The Fields

          Lamplighter of the Year

                American Winter

               Mt. Tabor Garden

                      11 x 13

                 Operation 305

                    Park Rangers

             Summer Free For All

            Parking Requirements

                          E205

                      The Yards


                 Village Market

             Kah San Chako Haws

2012 Year in Review

Thank you, once again, for the honor of serving on the Portland City Council.
 
2012 was another challenging and productive year.
 
The Council crafted a balanced budget - focusing on job creation, public safety, education, and the safety net. We approved an Office of Equity, took steps to improve community policing, and invested in neighborhood prosperity.
 
We also had principled disagreements. I continued to oppose risky public funding plans for the Oregon Sustainability Center. And, over significant objections, I created a new Park Rangers program to keep our public parks safe, and strengthen community engagement.
 
As we close the year, I want to thank all of our partners—faith, business, non-profit, and government. We have much to celebrate.
 
Favorite quote:
“We are all in this together.” - Bill Clinton
 
Most Inspiring Moments:
Joining Harper Goldberg at the opening of her new fully-accessible playground, and honoring Charles Jordan for his lifetime of service.
 
Proudest Achievements:
Reaching our 1,000 Gardens goal, protecting the safety net during a tough budget cycle and welcoming our veterans home to Gray’s Landing.
 
Unsung Heroes:
Our partners who brought the new Blanchet House to life, built a new home for the City’s historic locomotives at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, and fought to protect funding for Leach Botanical Garden.
 
Unsung Heroes II:
My Parks team for completing ten more E205 park improvements in East Portland, and my Housing team for preserving more than 300 homes for older adults and people with disabilities.
 
I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of the professionals at the Portland Housing Bureau, Portland Parks & Recreation, and in my City Hall office.
 
Thanks to Sam and Randy for their many years of service to our city, and welcome to Mayor-elect Charlie Hales and Commissioner-elect Steve Novick.
 
And finally—thanks for all that you do to make Portland a better place.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nick
 

2012 Mid-Year Report

It is an honor to serve on the Portland City Council, and to lead the professional teams at Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Housing Bureau.
 
In spite of a difficult budget season and tough times, we are making steady progress.
 
We secured full funding for the “Safety Net," opened new community gardens, revitalized and preserved affordable homes, honored Charles Jordan, strengthened key partnerships, and celebrated the success of Bud Clark Commons.
 
Thanks for all that you do to support our community. Enjoy your summer.
 

2011 Year in Review

Dear Friends,

It is an honor to serve on the Portland City Council - and to work with my dedicated teams at Portland Parks & Recreation, the Portland Housing Bureau, and in City Hall.

During challenging times, we made progress on many fronts:

Expanding opportunity for all.

Protecting our most vulnerable.

Investing in parks, trails, and natural areas.

Promoting healthy living.

Strengthening our public-private partnerships.

Thank you for all that you do to support our community.

Happy Holidays, and best wishes for the New Year.

 

New Leaders

 

E205: Parklane Park

 

Village Market

 

11x13: Uptown Tower

 

1,000 Gardens

 

Gold Medal for Parks

 

Fair Housing Action Plan

 

Buckman Field

 

Fund for the Historic Squares

 

The Rockwood

 

Summer Free for All

 

  Bud Clark Commons

 

Riverview

 

 $1.4 Million in HOPWA Funds