TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

Portland Parks & Recreation proposes eliminating the 5.0 FTE Utility Worker Crew, saving $567,103 in General Fund Discretionary spending. This citywide crew currently supports maintenance across all 8 developed park zones. Elimination would reduce work capacity, eliminate entry-level employment pathways, and lower maintenance standards in communities experiencing homelessness, vandalism, and dumping. Staff safety benefits from crew presence would also be lost. Funding for this crew was previously consolidated from zone seasonal worker budgets.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

Eliminates 5.0 FTE Utility Worker I positions supporting all 8 developed park zones (p. 1598)
Total savings: $567,103 ($551,767 personnel + $15,336 internal materials/services) (p. 1598)
Funded reduction from General Fund Discretionary (p. 1598)
Crew previously addressed large projects more efficiently than corrections facilities crews (p. 1598)
Elimination eliminates entry-level employment pathway and internal skill development for staff (p. 1598)
Equity impact: crew maintains parks in areas disproportionately impacted by homelessness, vandalism, dumping (p. 1598)
Larger crew size provides staff safety benefits in challenging public environments (p. 1598)

💰 $567,103 · $551,767 · $15,336 · 👥 5.0 FTE · 5.0 FTE Utility Worker I · 📋 Utility Worker Crew · Seasonal Maintenance Worker · 🏛️ Portland Parks & Recreation

23,611

Source: PDF p. 1598 · raw: 1598

Breadcrumb: 7 vs › vc-dps_06-03-2025_16-20 › Package Details › 23,611

23,611 - Eliminate Utility Worker Crew Service Area Vibrant Communities DCA Sonia Schmanski Bureau Name Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long Funding Type Name Reduction Status: Recommended Package Desc Expense Recommended Total This proposal would eliminate the Utility Worker Crew team of 5.0 FTE Utility Worker I positions that Internal Materials and Services ($15,336) work citywide helping to provide support to developed parks. This would reduce support provided to Personnel ($551,767) all eight zones within developed parks and place the burden of work back onto the zone staff alone. ($567,103) Service Impacts Revenue Recommended Total This crew has been incredibly useful and appreciated within developed parks. This group helps accomplish large projects previously addressed with less efficiency by corrections facilities crews. General Fund Discretionary ($567,103) This labor force comes in and assists zones with tasks that require more assistance. Because these ($567,103) are internal crews, we are able to offer fair wages and benefits and invest in the learning and skills of the staff that comprise the crews. The elimination of this team will result in less work accomplished in parks, a reduction in the employment pathway for entry-level staff, and a negative impact on staff morale. Funds were taken from each zone that used to go to Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions so the removal of this labor force will result in a reduction in staffing and ability to accomplish work that is not replaceable. Equity Impacts Because this crew works in all zones, it has helped raise the maintenance level in areas that are more impacted by social challenges like houselessness, vandalism and dumping. This crew of five also is able to assist staff in areas that present safety challenges from the public; having a larger crew size and presence on a site can reduce personal safety risks to individuals who are trying to accomplish work.

Parent: Package Details · PDF: p. 1598