*Accept and appropriate grant for $400,000 from the State of Oregon Criminal Justice Commission and authorize subrecipient grant agreement with Clean & Safe, Inc. for enhanced public safety in Downtown Portland

This ordinance allows the Portland Police Bureau to appropriate $400,000 from the FY21 JAG award (See Exhibit A) from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to act as a fiscal passthrough for the non-profit Clean & Safe, Inc. The primary objective of the funding is to combat the increase in drugs and crime in the downtown business district of Portland and reduce the incidence of negative experiences for members of the public, visitors and tourists, and businesses by providing enhanced and tangible public safety personnel between the priority evening and nighttime hours where personal safety concerns are highest. The Safety Plan will enhance Clean & Safe’s current practice of making proactive contacts and visits with downtown businesses and provide increased personnel to respond to calls for service into the Clean & Safe Dispatch number. This funding will provide up to a minimum of (8) additional Clean & Safe Public Safety Coordinators on two additional and unique shifts focusing on the most impacted business and hospitality areas in the downtown core currently suffering from open-air drug dealing, use and the violence often associated with this criminal activity. The $400,000 grant from the CJC would cover staffing costs from 04/22/2024 to 12/31/2024.

This action will increase the Police Bureau’s Grant Fund appropriation by $400,000 for FY 2024-25. There is no match required by this grant. The grant number is PL000255.

Due to the prolific presence of organized drug dealing operations in downtown Portland, the downtown hospitality and general business community are continually dealing with staff recruiting and attrition challenges, reduced patronage and overall business revenue, and highly negative social media reputation and reviews. With the Portland Police Bureau suffering from severe staffing shortages in the Patrol division, ratepayers and downtown community, notably the hotel and restaurant industry, are asking for a greater and sustained public safety presence from DPCS and law enforcement to improve the sense and reality of personal safety for tourists, business patrons, and staff working in the core downtown Portland area. The addition of 8 Clean & Safe Public Safety Coordinators and increased shift coverage will provide enhanced and tangible additional public safety assets and resources during nighttime hours when personal safety concerns are highest and current law enforcement presence is lowest.