July Newsletter: Risk Reduction Rescue Plan, EV Charging Standards, Fourth of July, & more

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Hey Portland,

We're officially into the new fiscal year and we made an important budget cycle correction that saved 30 City jobs across Public Safety, Parks, and more.

Let's get into it.

Risk Reduction Rescue Plan Passes

This month, I voted to restore 30 full-time City positions to ensure our core city services in City Operations, Parks & Recreation, Transportation, Portland Fire & Rescue, and the Portland Police Bureau remain funded and staffed.

The Risk Reduction Rescue Plan:

• Preserves 30 essential City positions.
• Restores funding for Public Safety Support Specialists (PS3s), Police Bureau training, and precinct desk clerks.
• Restores three Portland Fire & Rescue units, including support for District 1.
• Maintains 311 customer service staffing and East Portland Parks community engagement.
• Returns $1.75 million to the Business License Tax (BLT) Reserve Fund that was reduced by previous Council action.
• Extends benefits for those City-employees facing layoffs.

One of the restorations I'm especially pleased to see is funding for the Portland Police Bureau's Training Division. These programs give officers the opportunity to train in a controlled environment, make mistakes, learn from them, and build confidence before responding to emergencies in the field.

There were two similar proposals before Council. After reviewing both, I supported the package that best protected our public safety programs while also being the most fiscally responsible, costing the City nearly $10 million less than the alternative.

During discussion, there was some confusion about how this package affects the Office of Community-Based Police Accountability (OCPA). This ordinance draws on General Fund Contingency, which will be restored during the Spring Technical Adjustment Ordinance process by tapping into expected General Fund underspend across the City. While this source may include projected underspend within OCPA along with underspend from other General Fund bureaus, this program remains whole and any temporary use of OCPA dollars will be restored in the next fiscal year as required by the City Charter.

The proposal passed 10-2. I'm proud to support a package that protects the services our communities rely on, restores jobs, and keeps Portland moving in the right direction.

Electric Vehicle Charging Standards Ordinance

My Electric Vehicle Charging Standards Ordinance was approved with unanimous support from all City Councilors present.

The ordinance ensures that electricians working on City-funded EV charging projects, including those supported by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), are properly trained and certified.

By requiring an EVITP-certified electrician to supervise or participate in installations involving electrical work, we're ensuring City-funded infrastructure is built safely and to the highest standards while investing in a skilled local workforce and apprenticeship programs.

As demand for EV charging infrastructure continues to grow, Portland will be ready. Thank you to my colleagues for your support.

Public Input on Proposal to Regulate Surveillance & Personalized Algorithmic Pricing on Retail Goods

I'm working on a proposal to prevent surveillance-based algorithmic pricing, in which businesses use personally identifiable information and algorithms to charge some customers higher prices than others for the same product. And I need your help to shape this proposal.

We're already seeing personalized pricing when we shop online, book flights and hotels, and use rideshare apps. As this practice expands into more parts of our daily lives, I believe Portlanders deserve consumer protections that ensure the price of a product is the same for everyone.

This proposal will not affect grocery store loyalty or rewards programs, subscription memberships, digital coupons, sales, or other standard discounts that help customers save money.

The proposal establishes reasonable consumer protections, preserves loyalty programs and discounts, and allows retailers to remain competitive while preventing exploitative pricing practices.

Have you ever suspected you were charged a different price based on your personal information? Or noticed prices changing in ways that didn't seem fair? I want to hear from you.

Join the City Life Committee on August 11 at 2:00 p.m. to share your experience and help shape this proposal. Registration for public testimony opens August 7.

Bull Run Filtration Facility

This month, Councilor Dan Ryan and I toured Portland's Bull Run Filtration Facility.

The first thing that struck me was the scale. Standing at the edge of the pipeline's excavation and looking down, it felt like the hole disappeared into the center of the earth.

Just as impressive as the giant hole was watching the crew at work. Safety is their top priority, every movement on the construction site is coordinated, and it was clear how much planning goes into a project of this size.

This project also creates opportunities for young adults to gain hands-on experience through pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and journey-level training programs. This is the largest public works project of a generation, and it makes sense that building it should help train and prepare the next generation of skilled workers.

When complete, the Bull Run Filtration Facility will help ensure Portland has clean, safe drinking water for generations to come.

Fourth of July

I spent the Fourth of July exactly where I wanted to be: with family, friends, and community, walking in a local parade before wrapping up the day with a classic hot dog as fireworks lit up the sky.

Some of you may know that, in addition to serving as your Portland City Councilor, I served in the Army and continue to serve in the all-volunteer Oregon Army National Guard. Because of that, celebrating the Fourth of July and our nation's 250th anniversary carried extra special meaning for me this year.

I hope you and your family had a great Fourth of July.

Portland Pride

Three years ago, when Portland Pride moved from June to July, I had my doubts. But I've got to say, celebrating Pride under the sun and a blue sky was the right move.

My Portland Pride celebration kicked off at City Hall, where local drag queen Nicole Onoscopi put on one hell of a performance for City Councilors and staff. Immediately after that, I delivered a proclamation reaffirming Portland's commitment to diversity, equity, and to protecting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you to the community members who came to be part of that moment.

To top it all off, I walked in my first Pride parade as an openly gay elected official, alongside drag queens, local LGBTQ+ businesses, community leaders, elected officials, families, and neighbors. Next year, I hope to make it onto one of the floats!

What is Eric Eating?!?

With a month as busy as July, I needed a little extra fuel. Café Umbria's coffee granita got me through the meetings and the heat. It's mostly frozen, perfectly sweetened, and only available during the summer, so I've been treating myself to one almost every day.

Gotta stay caffeinated.

Until next month,

Councilor Eric Zimmerman