Mayor’s Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Work Group

In 2006, Mayor Tom Potter established the Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Workgroup “to assess citywide problems associated with street disorder and sidewalk nuisances and recommend strategies for problems-solving.”  The City acknowledged our Cofounder Genny Nelson’s long years of work on this issue by inviting her to join the group, where she would go on to help formulate the process’ ideals and recommendations to Mayor Potter (outlined below in Resolution No. 36413).

In the present, post-enforcement phase of SAFE, Genny and Sisters’ Civic Action Group (CAG) have been responsible for and led discussions on much needed community improvements, including: 24-hour restrooms; additional shower space (200 extra showers a week); locker space for people who need to store their belongings during the day to make appointments and interviews; community responsive bench placement; and just enforcement of the sidewalk obstruction ordinance.  One initial result of pressure from Sisters has been the overnight opening of the bathrooms on the first floor of City Hall.

RESOLUTION No. 36413

Adopted by City Council on May 24, 2006.

Establish the Street Access for everyone workgroup to assess citywide problems associated with street disorder and sidewalk nuisances and recommend strategies for problems-solving (Resolution)

WHEREAS, a thriving business environment in the downtown core and neighborhood business districts is important for Portland’s economic success and livability; and

WHEREAS, “street disorder,” including such behaviors as public drinking aggressive panhandling, intimidate or harassment, low level criminal activity, and sidewalk obstruction by persons sleeping and sitting, can have a negative impact on livability and public safety for business patrons, visitors, residents, and vulnerable people in our community; and,

WHEREAS, Portland recognizes the need to address street disorder problems in a way that respects all people in the community, empowers the community to solve problems with assistance from the police if needed, and uses comprehensive solutions developed by stakeholders to address the root causes of these issues; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Portland has efforts currently underway to address some of these problems, including Home Again: The 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, efforts to open more public restrooms, and public safety action committees in downtown and other neighborhoods; and,

WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 178958, amending Portland City Code 14A.50.030 “Obstructions as Nuisance” was adopted by Council December 15, 2004 in order to address concerns about safety of sidewalk users; and,

WHEREAS, businesses, visitors, and residents have expressed increasing concern about the impacts of street disorder on the business, tourism, safety and livability of Portland’s downtown and other neighborhood business districts;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: the SAFE workgroup on street disorder in Portland’s downtown and other neighborhood business districts will be appointed immediately by the mayor, comprised of stakeholders from businesses, neighborhoods, Portland police, crime prevention, civil rights and homeless advocacy groups, and social service agencies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the workgroup will be chaired by the mayor’s public safety liaison and staff from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the workgroup’s charge over the next six months is:


a. To quickly survey and define street disorder problems with input from neighborhood business districts and other key stakeholders,

b. To assess past and existing efforts to address these problems,

c. To gather community input and feedback on possible new or modified strategies, and

d. To recommend to council, in a formal report by November 1, 2006, prevention and intervention strategies to address the key identified problems.  These strategies may include, but are not limited to, coordinating with and expanding work around public restrooms and other livability amenities, neighborhood action plans, partnerships consistent with the 10 year Plan to End Homelessness, and community policing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this workgroup may, in coordination with City Council, implement interim strategies and steps to address public safety and livability concerns as agreed to by stakeholders.



Adopted by Council, May 24, 2006

Mayor Tom Potter
Prepared by Maria Rubio
May 18, 2006