City Council Bureau Assignments for the New Year Provide Some Surprising Reshuffles

Mayor Wheeler will retain the Police Bureau, and new City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez will take on the fire bureau.

WINNING TIME: Portland City Council candidate Rene Gonzalez speaks with local journalists at his campaign office during an election night party in Portland on November 8. (Jordan Gale)
By Sophie Peel

Mayor Ted Wheeler this week decided on a major shakeup of city bureaus after the swearing in of the newest city commissioner, Rene Gonzalez.

Wheeler said in November he would reshuffle bureaus to streamline “service areas” while the city transitions to a new form of government over the next two years.

A few key bureau moves to watch for include:

Commissioner Mingus Mapps will take over the Portland Bureau of Transportation from his longtime foe on the City Council, departing Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. That bureau faces long-term funding challenges and is grappling with public safety—2022 saw a record number of traffic fatalities.

Hardesty oversaw a number of meaningful policy changes over the past several years: When the pandemic hit, PBOT closed certain streets to cars so restaurants could allow outdoor seating, a godsend amid social distancing requirements. She also oversaw the city taking over ownership of Southeast 82nd Avenue from the state.

Gonzalez will oversee Portland Fire & Rescue. The firefighters’ union snubbed its former commissioner, Hardesty, and endorsed Gonzalez in the general election.

In perhaps the biggest change, Commissioner Carmen Rubio will take over the Portland Housing Bureau from Commissioner Dan Ryan, while Ryan takes Portland Parks & Recreation from Rubio.

The Housing Bureau is tasked with building affordable housing in a city in desperate need of it. And critically, the bureau has spent down all of the $258 million housing bond approved by Portland voters in 2016. That means a primary funding stream for building new units is approaching its sunset.

Below are the assignments:

Incoming Commissioner Rene Gonzalez: Community safety

Portland Fire & Rescue (includes Portland Street Response), Bureau of Emergency Communications, Portland Bureau of Emergency Management

Commissioner Mingus Mapps: Utilities

Portland Water Bureau, Portland Bureau of Transportation, Bureau of Environmental Services.

Commissioner Carmen Rubio: Economic development

Portland Housing Bureau, Prosper Portland, Bureau of Development Services, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

Commissioner Dan Ryan: Community services

Office of Community & Civic Life, Office of Equity and Human Rights, Portland Parks & Recreation.

Mayor Ted Wheeler: A hodgepodge

Office of Management and Finance, Joint Office of Homeless Services, Portland Police Bureau, City Budget Office.

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