TL;DR (generated · confidence: high)

Portland Parks & Recreation proposes reducing the City Planner II position from 1.0 FTE to 0.5 FTE, saving $81,627 in personnel costs from the General Fund Discretionary budget. The vacancy is actively being recruited. This cut eliminates short-range and long-range planning capacity, reducing the bureau's ability to lead signage protocols, improve Dog Off-Leash Areas, secure grant funding for trails, and facilitate Zone Capital projects. Planning liaison support for advocacy groups like the 40-Mile Loop and North Portland Trail would cease. Equity impacts include reduced service to high-need areas (East Portland, North Portland, Central City), halted accessibility improvements in signage programs, and reduced trail expansion in underserved communities.

Key points (each cites a PDF page):

Proposal reduces City Planner II position from 1.0 FTE to 0.5 FTE, generating $81,627 in personnel cost savings (p. 1651)
Position is currently vacant but actively recruiting (p. 1651)
Short-Range Planning Capacity elimination affects Signage Plan and Protocols and prevents further Dog Off-Leash Area improvements (p. 1651)
Long-Range Planning Capacity reduction decreases grant applications, impacting trails and park projects historically funded by external sources (p. 1651)
Planning liaison support for 40-Mile Loop, North Portland Trail, Northwest Trails Alliance, and SW Trails Alliance would be eliminated (p. 1651)
Zone Capital project facilitation would be reduced for Wilkes Park Master Plan, Willamette Greenway Trail, and Columbia Blvd Bridge and Trail (p. 1651)
Equity impacts include disproportionate effects on East Portland, North Portland, and Central City, which have fewer natural areas and parks (p. 1651)
Signage Program addressing language barriers and disability concerns would be halted or significantly slowed (p. 1651)

💰 $81,627 · 👥 1.0 FTE · 0.5 FTE · 📋 City Planner II Position · Signage Plan · Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) improvements · Short-Range Planning · Long-Range Planning · 40-Mile Loop · 🏛️ Portland Parks & Recreation

23,703

Source: PDF p. 1651 · raw: 1651

Breadcrumb: 7 vs › vc-dps_06-03-2025_16-20 › Package Details › 23,703

23,703 - Cut City Planner II Position to 0.5 FTE Service Area Vibrant Communities DCA Sonia Schmanski Bureau Name Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long Funding Type Name Realignment Status: Recommended Package Desc Expense Recommended Total This proposal reduces the City Planner II position currently budgeted at 1.0 FTE to 0.5 FTE. This Personnel ($81,627) position is vacant but is actively recruiting. ($81,627) Service Impacts Revenue Recommended Total In the FY 2025-26 Budget year, the reduction of the Planning II position will have several immediate General Fund Discretionary ($81,627) effects:

Elimination of the Short-Range Planning Capacity. Leadership of the Bureau-wide Signage Plan ($81,627) and Protocols would be eliminated or need to be reassigned to a non-planning team member, or this work would need to cease until capacity in the planning group resumes. No further Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) improvements at other unfenced DOLAs would be possible.
Elimination or Reduction of Long-Range Planning Capacity. The Bureau would be applying for fewer grant applications, which would reduce our ability to obtain non-City funds to build trail and park projects. In past years, the planning group has secured outside funding for trails. Also, the Planning Team’s capacity for special projects like developing the Equity Measure Tools and performing the Green Gentrification Project research and management would be reduced or eliminated.
Elimination or Reduction in Planning Liaison Capacity. The 40-Mile Loop, North Portland Trail, Northwest Trails Alliance, SW Trails Alliance, and other advocacy groups would need to be told that the same level of support and coordination provided during the past 20 years is no longer available. Additionally, the Planning Team would not have the capacity to help facilitate Zone Capital projects such as Wilkes Park Master Plan, the Willamette Greenway Trail, the Columbia Blvd Bridge and Trail. Equity Impacts Decreased Innovative Park Bureau Strategic Planning. This reduction curtails the Bureau’s ability to implement strategic planning efforts which help our City to be livable, equitable, functional, and beautiful for the community. The Bureau will not be able to thoughtfully, economically plan for future and current needs for park assets. This directly impacts the community – particularly high equity scoring areas of the City which have fewer natural areas, parks and park facilities. The Signage Program that was planning to address language barriers and disability concerns (particularly blind and vison-impaired) in the new sign protocols would be halted or slowed significantly. The reduction in trail building also disproportionately affects equitable outcomes as priority communities are more dependent on non-automobile sources of transportation, and because many unbuilt trail segments are in high BIPOC percentage areas of Portland (in particular East Portland, North Portland, and Central City). The elimination of DOLA improvements that would provide paved, accessible paths to the DOLA areas would impact differently abled users access negatively.

Parent: Package Details · PDF: p. 1651