passed ordinance

*Authorize Intergovernmental Agreement with Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to facilitate the Multnomah County Access Attorney Program

public safety
equity
iga

Department: Police
Introduced by: Former Mayor Ted Wheeler
Status: Passed

Impact statement

Purpose & background

Multnomah County District Attorney (MCDA) saw an opportunity to better connect vulnerable communities with services that assist victims and community members to navigate the legal system in Multnomah County. MCDA has introduced a pilot program, the Multnomah County Access Attorney Program in the Portland area (MAAP). It provides legal facilitation services to vulnerable communities within Multnomah County. This program provides access to the deputy district attorneys, provides a hands-on resource for neighbors and businesses to address local safety concerns including but not limited to gun violence, prioritizes work in conjunction with community-based partners, especially for people of color, and hosts local events to identify issues and priorities in the pilot districts. MAAP will provide crime victims with introductions to victim advocates who can assist with processing trauma, navigating the rights they may have as a victim, and who can help with procuring restraining orders. The participating Deputy District Attorneys also help victims report to police or an investigator purported crimes that occurred and help with inquiries on case-specific information. For others in the community, they help find information on how to address prior convictions or court fines through expungement, SB 819 applications, and through an event called Legal Services Day. MAAP provides services that align with the City’s core values of Anti-Racism, Equity, Communication and Collaboration, and the Mayor’s Emergency Declaration on gun violence interventions.

Financial impacts

City agrees to reimburse County for its expenses incurred in a value not-to-exceed $125,500.00 from the effective date of the Agreement through June 30, 2023. City agrees to reimburse County for its expenses incurred in an amount not-to-exceed $137,000.00 from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. For each renewal term of the Agreement, City shall reimburse County in an amount not to exceed $137,000 adjusted by the COLA as specified herein for each year hereafter up to an additional five years as approved by amendment.

Community impacts

MCDA will provide a deputy district attorney to work with local community members, stakeholders, and law enforcement to identify and address local crime, as well as to build relationships with the residents, business, and other agencies in the area by hosting and attending meetings and events relevant to the work and the community’s requests.

▸ Full text (the legislation as adopted)

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: Multnomah County District Attorney (MCDA) has introduced a pilot program, the Multnomah County Access Attorney Program in the Portland area (MAAP), to provide legal facilitation services to vulnerable communities within Multnomah County; MAAP was created to make attorneys accessible to the community, to provide a hands-on resource for neighbors and businesses to address local safety concerns including but not limited to gun violence, to prioritize work closely with community-based partners, especially those by and for people of color, and to host and attend local events to identify issues and priorities in the district they serve; This pilot program will specifically introduce crime victims to a victim advocate who can assist with processing trauma, navigating the rights they may have as a victim, and help with procuring restraining orders. The participating Deputy District Attorneys also help victims report to police or an investigator purported crimes that occurred, help with inquiries on case-specific information, and help find information on how to address prior convictions or court fines through expungement, SB 819 applications, and Legal Services Day; Because MAAP provides legal facilitation and access of information to vulnerable communities within the City of Portland, reinforces the City’s core values of Anti-Racism, Equity, Communication and Collaboration, and aligns with the Mayor’s Emergency Declaration on gun violence interventions, it is important to support MCDA’s efforts with this program; The City of Portland, through its Police Bureau, is prepared to provide funding for the MAAP; and ORS 190.110 provides that a unit of local government may enter into a written agreement with another unit of local government for the performance of any or all functions and activities that a party to the agreement has the authority to perform. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: That the Chief of Police is authorized to execute an agreement between the City and Multnomah County as outlined in a form similar to the Agreement attached as Exhibit A, at an initial cost of $262,500. The Chief of Police is authorized to execute amendments to the Agreement to renew at an annual amount of $137,000 adjusted by annual increases for cost of living for a period to not exceed six years. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because delay may cause a lapse in service; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

Tally

5 yea 0 nay