Accomplishments

As our City Commissioner, Dan Saltzman has helped lead the way on the issues that make Portland a special place – while ensuring that city government is accountable for the money it spends. In Portland’s commission systems of government, Dan is also responsible for the direct management of a portfolio of City bureaus. Here are just some of his accomplishments on the City Council and in the bureaus under his control.

Fiscal Responsibility

Precinct Reconfiguration

Dan cut management and overhead to address the city’s budget cuts while securing the same level officers on the street so citizens did not experience a change in service.

Service Coordination Team

Dan secured funding for a program that assists chronic offenders in finding treatment and housing, helping break the cycle of criminal activity that fund their addictions saving taxpayers millions by having them continue to go through the revolving door of the criminal justice system.

Cable Settlements

While overseeing the office of Cable and Franchise Management, Dan recouped millions of dollars from telecommunication companies that were not paying their fair share to the city in franchise fees.

Payday Lenders

Dan wrote the city ordinance cracking down on predatory lenders that were victimizing financially struggling Portland families.

Pension Reform

Dan led the charge to reform the Fire Police Disability & Retirement system, preventing a financial catastrophe and instituting independently audited system that reduces fraud and abuse.

Major League Soccer

Dan ensured the protection of taxpayers on the stadium deal by requiring that no urban renewal dollars be used, and by ensuring the deal maximizes private investment dollars, limiting the public investment.

A Sustainable Portland

Sustainable Economic Development Initiatives

Supporting small local businesses that are committed to sustainability through programs like PDX Lounge and Business for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Awards.

Portland Recycles Residential Program

Portland’s recycling rate has increased since new blue and green recycling roll carts were introduced in Summer 2008- we are now recycling at 67 percent!

Portland Recycles Commercial Program

Set new 75% target recycling rate for businesses to be reached by 2015.

Established Business Composting Program

Cleaner Air

Won over $2 million in federal funds to reduce diesel emissions in North Portland.

Free Geek Partnership

Used City computers now go to Free Geek, a non-profit that refurbishes the machines and then turns them over to schools and non-profits.

“Treebate” Program

Get up to a $50 rebate on your sewer bill by planting a tree in your backyard.

Greening City Facilities

East Portland Community Center pool is the first Platinum LEED-certified pool in country. Solar bundle for several City roofs.

Funding for Farmers Market Master Plan

More Community Gardens for more Portlanders

Portland’s first Community Garden on private property- Peace Church Community Garden.

First Community Garden East of I-205- Senns Dairy Park development/ Community Garden.

Facilitated Zenger Farm Partnership: Here students and community groups learn valuable urban agriculture skills and build on lessons learned for food security in Portland.

Helping Portland’s Children Succeed

The Portland Children’s Levy

Dan created and renewed the Portland Children’s Levy, the voter-supported fund that serves 16,000 of Portland’s neediest kids each year. Since 2003, 87.7 million dollars have been awarded to 136 children’s programs.

Portland Bridge Meadows

Dan is helping build an intergenerational community where foster children find permanent adoptive families, and seniors play a fulfilling role as foster-grandparents (Breaking ground Spring of 2010).

Engaging Portland’s Kids in our Community Centers

Dan has worked with Council to fund programs that give teens a safe and fun place to be, and to ensure that children in foster care are provided free passes to Community Centers.

Improving parks and facilities for kids

Dan has listed to community concerns and acted fast to make needed improvements. His work has included:

• Lents Little League field upgrade
• A new and sustainable score board for Gabriel Park
• New play structures at Dickenson Park and Couch Park
• Collaborating with City Council to help fund PTA efforts at improving sports facilities

A Safer Portland

The Miracles Club

Dan played a key role in saving this all volunteer African-American led alcohol and drug recovery program, making sure they have a permanent home to offer services. (Breaking ground Spring of 2010).

Domestic Violence

Created a new one-stop center for victims of domestic violence and their children to get the help they need (Opening April 2010).

Child Abuse

As part of his tireless advocacy for children, Dan delivered more resources to preventing, investigating and arresting more child abusers and added positions in the Portland Police Bureau’s Child Abuse Team.

Reducing Gang Violence

Dan tackled gang shootings by restructuring gang violence outreach programs and increasing law enforcement coordination and resources. The result: preventing violence before it happens and reduced gang violence in Portland.

Neighborhood Response Team

Dan protected this valuable community policing program from elimination, keeping neighborhood livability a top public safety priority for public safety.

Enhanced Security downtown/Eastbank Esplanade expansion

Parks for Neighborhoods and People

Commitment to natural areas and public space

Dan increased funding to Parks and Recreation by $2.5 million per year, and has helped Portland acquire 140 acres of additional parks and natural areas. Helped facilitate efforts resulting in the 2008 conveying of Ross Island.

Protecting Portland’s Trees

Led efforts for Citywide Tree Project.

Improving quality of our City Parks

When it comes to needed improvements to our City Parks, Dan has listened to our community. Some noteworthy examples:

• Implementing smoking bank in Pioneer Square/Director Park.
• Working with federal partners to have an entire city block donated for the expansion of the North Park Blocks.
• Expansion of Pesticide Free Park System.

Increasing community access

Dan has worked to ensure all Portlanders can enjoy our city parks. His work has included:

• Prioritizing a project to make the historic and world class rose garden in Peninsula Park accessible to people with disabilities.
• Coordinating with Albertina Kerr to make rental bikes available at Waterfront Park.
• Kept Hillside and Fulton Community Centers open.