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(He/Him) councilor.dunphy@portlandoregon.gov

Bluesky @councilordunphy Instagram @councilorjamiedunphy

A Message from Councilor Dunphy:

Hi Friend,

We officially have an adopted budget. This was our first budget under Portland’s new form of government, and yeah, it felt different. That’s because it is different. When people say things feel messy, just remember: democracy is messy when it’s working. What you’re seeing isn’t chaos, it’s what happens when more Portlanders have a voice at the table. For too long, a small group made most of Portland’s decisions. Almost none of those people were from District 1, and the city operated to serve the interests of the few at-large Commissioners and their donor networks. Now, 12 people from across the city are weighing in and that is exactly the change voters asked for.

Conflict is not dysfunction. It’s democracy. Representation means more perspectives, more debate, and more ideas in the room. That’s what this new council structure was designed to deliver. If it looks unfamiliar, that’s because we’re challenging the old norms, as we should be. Normal wasn’t working for everyone. It wasn’t working for the community I fought to serve, my neighbors in District 1. We’re here to build something new. Of course change feels uncomfortable.

Voters passed charter reform to make our City government more representative, more accountable, and more transparent. That’s what Portland was promised. Our budget process wasn’t perfect, but it was progress. We brought new priorities to the table, fought for our districts, and made it clear that a new set of values is driving this Council. Let’s stay engaged and shape what comes next. Portlanders deserve nothing less.

Budget Wins for District 1:

There’s no doubt that this year’s budget process was rushed. In the two weeks between the Mayor’s Proposed Budget and Council’s opportunity to amend and adopt the final budget, there was a healthy tension born of democracy in action. I look forward to a future process that better reflects our new form of government and a less siloed Portland, but I’m proud to report that we secured real, tangible investments in East Portland and across the city; investments that reflect our values and move us closer to a more livable, equitable Portland.

Budget Note on East Portland Equity:

One of my biggest wins in this budget was to get a budget note that directs PBOT and Parks to conduct a full equity analysis of how discretionary funds are allocated across the city. The goal? Accountability and transparency and making sure East Portland gets its fair share of public investment. The report is due to Council by November 1, 2025.

Arts & Economic Development Funding:

With support of Councilor Green’s Omnibus package, I successfully secured $315,000 in one-time General Fund discretionary resources to boost local arts and economic development through the Arts Office in the Community and Economic Development service area. These investments include:

• $190,000 to hire a staff member focused on activating vacant commercial spaces.
• $25,000 to build a new online portal that helps local artists find space to work and perform.
• $50,000 to support five new storefront art activations across the city.
• $50,000 for Community Event Grants ($1,000-$5,000 per grant)

In addition to this arts funding, we mandated that Prosper Portland fully fund The Film and Events Office, Summerworks, and Repair and Restore Grants using their Strategic Investment Fund. These efforts will help bring life back to our business corridors and center the arts in Portland’s economic recovery.

Support for East Portland’s Leach Botanical Garden:

Leach Botanical Garden: our only community garden partner in East Portland, received $100,000 in transitional funding to ensure their vital programs continue while they transition to long-term financial independence. 

Investing in Our Parks:

A broad coalition collaborated on equitably increasing Golf Tee Fees, generating an estimated $1.25 million in new revenue that will go directly toward maintaining and improving our beloved Parks system. I also helped:

• Redirect $1.9 million in proposed police funding to support parks maintenance.
• Move $1 million from golf fund contingency for parks maintenance. 
• $265,000 to restore Recreation Center Hours.
• $2 million redirect from urban forestry to maintenance. 
• $460,000 specifically for bathroom facility repair. 

Together, we worked to almost completely close the parks maintenance gap and keep our cities natural treasures from falling into disrepair.

Public Safety Improvements: 

• Roll over $2.2 million in unspent police overtime from this year to a dedicated recruitment fund for all of public safety. This will allow us to reduce the dependence on overtime, and secure important special program investments in East Portland like human trafficking and theft ring investigations. 
• $450,000 for 2 FTE for the Bureau of Emergency Management
• $1 million of Asset Forfeiture Funding directed towards data driven evaluation of policing programs.
• $170,000 for Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Working Group
• $1.2 Million from Opioid Fund to support Fora Health addiction recovery housing.

Restoring the Noise Office:

I fought to restore a Coordinator I position in the Noise Office, a critical role that supports our city’s music venues and nighttime economy. This $146,000 investment ensures that we maintain regulatory capacity while fostering a vibrant city that embraces music and nightlife.

TNC Fee Reform and Vision Zero:

In coalition with Councilor Novick and others, I helped raise TNC (like Uber and Lyft) fees to better align with our infrastructure needs. These increases will bring $5 million annually to the Portland Bureau of Transportation to repair roads and address long-overdue infrastructure maintenance. In addition, I collaborated with Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane to restore $677,000 in Vision Zero funding to continue our city’s critical work toward eliminating traffic deaths. Thank you Councilor Koyama Lane for your leadership and dedication to Vision Zero.

These wins reflect my commitment to delivering responsive, community-driven governance. We started with a strong and thoughtful budget proposal from the mayor-and we ended with real victories for East Portland and the entire city. Together, we’ve closed critical gaps in parks, supported the arts, prioritized basic services, and protected our most vulnerable. And we did it with optimism, collaboration, and a deep belief in what Portland can be.

New Members of Team Dunphy:

Team Dunphy has grown! I am proud to introduce our new part time team members to all of you:

Eben Hoffer: (he/him)

Eben Joondeph Hoffer is a Portland native and PPS graduate and is joining Team Dunphy as our Music and Arts Policy Advisor. Eben is a founding member of the Music Policy Council, former board chair of MusicOregon, and former policy lead for the Mental Health Association of Portland. A working artist since 2010, Eben's path has included roles as Production Manager for esperanza spalding, Technical Director of Live Wire Radio, Technical Director of The Old Church, Teaching Artist for Friends of Noise, and Audio/Exhibitions Supervisor for The Kitchen in NYC. He is proud to have co-recorded esperanza spalding's GRAMMY-winning record Songwrights Apothecary Lab, and to have won two BESSIE NY Dance and Performance awards for his designs with Advanced Beginner Group and Royal Osiris Karaoke Ensemble.

Ava Atwood: (she/her)

Ava Atwood is a writer and project strategist with a background in data analysis, currently serving as a Policy Research Intern for Councilor Jamie Dunphy. With a foundation in grassroots environmental advocacy, she focuses on advancing equitable, evidence-based policy that reflects the needs of Portland’s diverse communities.

Luci Moody (she/they):

Luci Moody is our Communications and Outreach Support Intern and a current student at Portland Community College, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. In her recently completed role as legislative intern for Senator Kathleen Taylor, she enjoyed assisting with constituent communication and support. She is excited to help with Team Dunphy's outreach efforts and to connect with the community!

Opportunities of the Month:

The Noise Office is inviting all Community members in District 1 Neighborhoods to join our upcoming Virtual Meeting for an open discussion about Noise and improvements to the Noise Code.  City Staff from the Noise Program want to hear from you and about your experiences, thoughts, and opinions regarding the current Noise Code.  Your input is vital to the success of this project.

Meeting Date: August 12, 2025

Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Location: Zoom - online virtual meeting

How to Attend:  You will need to register in advance online here:  https://forms.office.com/g/vjPsZ0aE9y . After you have registered, within a few days, you will receive a zoom link and instructions for joining the meeting in August.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may also share your insights by taking our survey here.

Examples of community feedback that would be beneficial could include:

• Do you perceive noise as a significant issue in our city, and in what ways do you believe the Noise Code has succeeded or fallen short in addressing noise impacts?

• What specific measures or amendments would you suggest to better regulate and mitigate noise disturbances, ensuring a quieter and more harmonious urban environment for all residents?

• Are there specific challenges or frustrations you have encountered in complying with the Noise Code? If so, what are they, and how did they affect your experience?

If you would like to review the entire code or sections of the Title 18 Noise Code, you can access it here: Title 18 Noise Control | Portland.gov.   For more information or to follow the progress of this project to amend the Noise Code, please visit our webpage Noise Control Code amendment project | Portland.gov.  You may also join our Noise Review Board distribution list to receive email notifications from this webpage.

Hope & Bread Seeks Summer Arts in the Park Facilitator

Hope & Bread City Mission, a street church for people of any faith or none, serves dinner to 30-40 unsheltered East Portlanders every Sunday evening at 5pm. Thanks to a grant from SE Uplift, we are offering “Arts in the Park” and seeking a teaching artist/art facilitator who will be with us on summer Sundays between July 13 and September 7, as well as curate and hang an October show at a nearby non-profit. Hope & Bread provides art supplies, storage, and set-up help. You bring your creative gifts and your enthusiasm for bringing out the creativity in others. For a more detailed description of this terrific opportunity plus application dates and instructions, find the link on the Hope and Bread home page.

Keep Our Parks Green: Tree Replacement Program

Did you know Portland Parks & Recreation will replace trees removed from public parks at no extra cost? The catch: it must be requested through this form. This General Fund–supported program is a great tool to maintain and grow our tree canopy in East Portland. If you know a public park that could benefit from additional trees, make sure to submit a request! 

Free Street Trees for Selected Neighborhoods

Live in District 1? You might be eligible for free street trees in front of your home! PP&R’s Trees for Residential Streets program is accepting sign-ups through October 31. Trees are funded through TPPF and PCEF and maintained for three years by Urban Forestry. Trees must be planted along the street- not in yards- so check your eligibility here.

Free Yard Tree Giveaway

Starting in September, Portland residents can sign up for a free tree for your yard, front or back! Through the Yard Tree Giveaway, you’ll get a tree planted for you, with funding from TPPF and PCEF. It’s a simple way to add shade, beauty, and climate resilience to your home. Keep an eye on this page for sign-ups!

Explore Portland’s Tree Canopy — Or Lack of One

The Tree Canopy Explorer is an interactive map showing where trees are, and aren’t, across Portland. Unsurprisingly, D1 has some of the lowest canopy coverage in the city. The tool includes maps and infographics, like tree canopy by Council district and urban heat hotspots. Explore the map here.