TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

The Office of Government Relations advocates for Portland's priorities across federal, state, tribal, regional, and international arenas. The bureau's FY 2025-26 budget is $3.04M (down 12% from prior year) with 10 authorized FTE positions (reduced by one). Led by Director Sam Chase and Deputy Director Nils Tillstrom, the office coordinates policy and funding advocacy during a transition to the city's new governmental structure while managing multiple intergovernmental relationships.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

Total operating budget of $3,039,316 for FY 2025-26, representing a $421,202 (12%) decrease from FY 2024-25 (p. 33)
Authorized positions reduced from 11.00 FTE in FY 2024-25 to 10.00 FTE in FY 2025-26, a loss of 1.00 FTE position (p. 33)
Personnel Services comprise $2,119,860 of the total budget; External Materials and Services budgeted at $466,616; Internal Materials and Services at $452,840 (p. 40)
Largest program allocation is State Relations at $1,082,232, followed by International Relations at $440,505 and Tribal Relations at $594,270 (p. 40)
Secured federal funding for major projects including $480M+ for Lower Albina and $2B+ for I-5 Bridge Replacement, plus $7.65M in congressional appropriations (p. 36)
Office organized into five major work groups: State Relations (35.6% of bureau), Federal Relations (21.2%), Tribal Relations (19.6%), International Relations (14.5%), and Regional Relations (9.1%) (p. 33)
Analyst III position (1.0 FTE) eliminated in the No DP scenario; all other full-time positions retained at current staffing levels (p. 41)

💰 $3,039,316 · $3,460,518 · $421,202 · $2,119,860 · $466,616 · $452,840 · $1,082,232 · $645,551 · 👥 10.00 FTE · 11.00 FTE · 1.00 FTE · 📋 Office of Government Relations · State Relations · Federal Relations · Tribal Relations · International Relations · Regional Relations · 🏛️ Office of Government Relations · Office of the City Administrator

Office of Government Relations

Source: PDF pp. 33-41 · raw: 33 · 34 · 35 · 36 · 37 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41

Breadcrumb: 1 City Administrator › City-Administrator---Volume-1 › Office of Government Relations

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Office of Government Relations Mike Jordan, City Administrator Sam Chase, Director Office of Government Relations 0.0% City Budget 100.0% Tribal Relations 19.6% Federal Relations 21.2% International Relations 14.5% State Relations 35.6% Regional Relations 9.1% Bureau Overview Requested Revised Total Change from Percent Requirements FY 2024-25 2025-26 Prior Year Change Operating $3,460,518 $3,039,316 $(421,202) (12)% Capital Total $3,460,518 $3,039,316 $(421,202) (12)% Authorized Positions 11.00 10.00 (1.00) (9.09)% 2 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget 3

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Office of Government Relations Bureau Mission Advocate for the City of Portland as a unified voice advancing policy and funding solutions through intergovernmental relationships. Bureau Overview The Office of Government Relations serves The City of Portland’s Municipal Government, including the Mayor, City Leadership Team, bureaus, and City Council to advocate the City’s priorities with a unified and collective voice. In short, we are the City’s lobbyists and the primary point of contact to external elected and appointed government bodies. Executive Leadership The Office of Government Relations will play a unique and important role in the City’s transition to a new form of government. It will promote trust and collaboration, seek a unified approach to advocacy, and provide the city’s new leaders the resources and support they need for success in launching a new city structure. The Office of Government Relations is led by: Director, Sam Chase Deputy Director, Nils Tillstrom Major Work GroupsRegional Relations  Supports the work of City Leadership Team and bureaus in their relationships with neighboring counties, cities, and other governmental entities to further the City’s funding and policy objectives.State Relations  Develops and advances a state legislative agenda that reflects the City’s priorities. Provides central coordination and advocacy at the state executive, legislative, and agency level; pursuing funding and policy needs, and defending against efforts to limit local authority. Federal Relations  Develops and advances the City’s legislative and regulatory priorities with Congress and federal agencies coordinate efforts to pursue resources and policy improvements, secure funding for appropriations, and protect local authority. Tribal Relations  Fosters government-to-government relations between sovereign tribes and Portland’s elected and executive leaders, subject matter experts, and city staff. Supports and engages city leaders and staff to coordinate and consult with sovereign tribes. International Relations  Strengthens Portland’s global diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational opportunities through diplomacy, best-practice learning, international collaboration, and sister city partnerships. This program coordinates welcoming international delegations to Portland. 4 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Recent Accomplishments  Successfully advocated in Salem for expanded tools for law enforcement to address street racing and public consumption of controlled substances.  Secured funding and intergovernmental support for the Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites from Multnomah County.  Secured state funding at the Oregon Legislature for city-operated shelters, housing developments at Broadway Corridor and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), litter and graffiti clean-up on state property in Portland, and creation of a 24/7 behavioral health drop-off center in Multnomah County.  Protected City of Portland from threats of burdensome and costly state regulations and new tax obligations.  Collaborated with government and community organizations and leaders to secure federal funding for priority projects, including $480M+ for Lower Albina and $2B+ for the I-5 Bridge Replacement program, in addition to $7.65M in city funding requests from the congressional appropriations process.  Advocated regional collaboration to revise Metro Supportive Housing Services funding measure to support Portland’s priorities for homeless services and affordable housing investment.  Reinitiated the City’s relationships with the nine sovereign Tribes in Oregon, and Native and Indigenous people living in Portland.  Coordinated city involvement in international conferences and trade events and hosted high-level diplomatic delegations.  Supported city delegation travel to sister cities in Sapporo, Japan; Suzhou, China; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  Adopted a three-year strategic plan to drive the Office of Government Relations’ actions towards the best outcomes.  Developed 2025 advocacy agendas with City of Portland’s newly elected leadership. City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget 5

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Challenges & Opportunities  Orient new mayor and city council to the value of each program within the Office of Government Relations.  Develop and implement advocacy agendas for the federal, state, and regional levels that reflect the priorities of the incoming mayor, city council, and administration.  Engage the mayor, city council, and city staff to build relationships and trust with Tribal governments and Indigenous communities.  Secure regulatory and policy improvements and resources by engaging the city’s mayor, council, staff, and subject matter experts to advocate for the city’s collective agenda with other governments.  Ensure the city’s federal, state, and regional, advocacy agenda to reflect the priorities of the incoming mayor and council.  Ensure program success during the 2025 state legislative session through intergovernmental collaboration, strong communication channels, and a unified voice.  Lead advocacy on city federal priorities through delegation visits and promote productive relationships with federal lawmakers.  Ensure city priorities for homeless services is reflected in Metro’s Support Housing Services measure.  Facilitate relationships for the new mayor, city administrator, and council with local and regional partners.  Establish relationships and trust with Oregon’s nine sovereign Tribes and Portland’s Indigenous Native communities.  Ensure mayor and council are represented on boards and commissions to advance the city’s collective agenda through engagement in intergovernmental policy decisions.  Foster relations with Portland’s sister cities and global trade partners that cultivate economic, cultural, and educational opportunities for Portland. Coming to City Council Here is how City Council might be involved in the budget process: The Tribal Relations Program will facilitate government-to-government relations through hosted elected-to-elected discussions and complete a needs assessment to inform Council on opportunities to coordinate and collaborate with Tribal nations and urban native communities. The International Relations Program will lead events and engagement opportunities to build city relations to support trade, education, and cultural exchange with our international partners. 6 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator The State and Federal Relations Programs will work with the mayor and council president to establish ongoing communication and decision-making processes related to legislative activities, including ongoing coordination with, and reporting to, Council members and committees. City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget 7

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Performance Measures Actuals Actuals Target Target Strategic Performance FY2022-23 FY2023-24 FY2024-25 FY2025-26 Target Outcome Percentage of Respondents Rating Government Relations either Very 100% 9,600% 100% 100% 0% Responsive or Responsive Percentage of Respondents Rating Services as Excellent or Very Good 85% 7,700% 95% 95% 0% Percentage of respondents reporting progress made on State, Federal, or 84% 8,600% 75% 85% 0% Intergovernmental issues Output International Delegations Received 15 20 70 25 0 Percentage of targeted legislators contacted 100% 100% 90% 100% 0% 8 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator Summary of Bureau Budget Requested Requested Actuals Actuals Revised No DP Total FY2022-23 FY2023-24 FY 2024-25 2025-26 2025-26 Resources External Revenues Charges for Services 40,000 40,000 0 0 0 Intergovernmental 240,494 297,030 225,943 40,000 40,000 Miscellaneous 1,052 (80) 0 0 0 External Revenues Total 281,546 336,950 225,943 40,000 40,000 Internal Revenues General Fund Discretionary 699,203 0 1,328,111 1,298,157 1,060,477 General Fund Overhead 1,607,753 0 1,640,464 1,672,839 1,672,839 Interagency Revenue 266,000 266,000 266,000 266,000 266,000 Internal Revenues Total 2,572,956 266,000 3,234,575 3,236,996 2,999,316 Beginning Fund Balance Resources Total 2,854,502 602,950 3,460,518 3,276,996 3,039,316 Requirements Bureau Expenditures Personnel Services 2,151,453 2,190,601 2,427,310 2,320,970 2,119,860 External Materials and Services 449,384 545,915 687,487 603,186 466,616 Internal Materials and Services 312,073 315,294 345,721 352,840 452,840 Bureau Expenditures Total 2,912,911 3,051,810 3,460,518 3,276,996 3,039,316 Ending Fund Balance (58,410) 0 0 0 0 Requirements Total 2,854,502 3,051,810 3,460,518 3,276,996 3,039,316 Programs Federal Relations 945,688 997,988 867,584 691,187 645,551 Government Relations 20,889 9,888 — — — International Relations 334,906 429,949 490,858 490,141 440,505 Regional Relations 171,784 282,496 304,780 322,394 276,758 State Relations 727,956 968,323 1,125,028 1,134,618 1,082,232 Tribal Relations 711,688 363,165 672,268 638,656 594,270 Total Programs 2,912,911 3,051,810 3,460,518 3,276,996 3,039,316 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget 9

Office of Government Relations Office of the City Administrator FTE Summary Requested Requested Revised No DP Total Salary Range FY 2024-25 2025-26 2025-26 Class Title Min Max No. Amount No. Amount No. Amount 30003977 Administrative Specialist III - 83,221 118,768 1.00 94,995 1.00 94,995 1.00 94,995 CPPW 30003980 Analyst III - CPPW 107,266 151,882 1.00 127,370 1.00 127,370 0.00 0 30003034 Deputy Director I 129,771 183,082 1.00 183,082 1.00 183,082 1.00 183,082 30003037 Director I 157,019 228,259 1.00 183,895 1.00 183,895 1.00 183,895 30003525 Government Relations Specialist I 97,510 126,693 2.00 218,390 2.00 218,390 2.00 218,390 30003061 Government Relations Specialist 107,266 151,882 3.00 389,022 3.00 389,022 3.00 389,022 II 30003062 Government Relations Specialist 117,957 168,709 2.00 307,320 2.00 307,320 2.00 307,320 III Total Full-Time Positions 11.00 1,504,074 11.00 1,504,074 10.00 1,376,704 30003979 Analyst II - CPPW 97,510 126,693 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 30003980 Analyst III - CPPW 107,266 151,882 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 30003061 Government Relations Specialist 107,266 151,882 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 II Total Limited Term Positions 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 Grand Total 11.00 1,504,074 11.00 1,504,074 10.00 1,376,704 10 City of Portland, Oregon - FY 2025-26 Requested Budget

Parent: City-Administrator---Volume-1 · PDF: pp. 33-41