DRAFT Strategy to Support Riverfest City Budget Request

I. Helm

1. Letters

Each member of Helm (except City rep’s) should write a letter to each Commissioner and/or the auditor. We should consider 2 rounds of letters—early and late.

The early (Feb) letter should introduce the Riverfest concept and highlight organizational commitment. The later (April) letter should remind the Commissioner’s about Riverfest, note how interest has sky-rocketed in the previous two months (if true—and it should be), and express thanks for keeping Riverfest in-mind during the budget process.

Letters documenting why an organization supports Riverfest and how it plans to be involved should be sent to each Commissioner and the Auditor, as well as cc’d to Gil Kelly, Bureau of Planning Director, and Michael Montgomery, River Renaissance. (see contacts below).

Letters that specify the supporting organization’s level of commitment (cash or in-kind) are especially valuable, as they demonstrate the City’s contribution will be well-leveraged. Letters that have this sort of commitment, in addition to being sent to the Commissioners and auditor, should also be cc’d to the City’s Financial Planning Division.

(addresses and sample letter outlines provided below)

2. Budget Forums

Each member of Helm (except City rep’s) should plan on attending a community budget forum. First-approximation of coverage could look like this (duties to be swapped/adjusted based on individual schedules and preferences):

3. Visits with Commissioners

We should try to visit with each Commissioner, but especially with Saltzman and Leonard, as they constitute the Bureau of Planning’s budget review team.

a. Adams

Given their familiarity with staff and previous experience with the Commissioner, perhaps Jeff, Ken, and Amy could arrange a visit with Adam’s office. (Stephanie suggest we might contact “Maria Lynn Lim, marialynnlim@ci.portland.or.us, 503-823-1121 **EMAIL ONLY** -- she takes forever so a weekly reminder is nice.”)

Suggested Lead: Jeff

b. Saltzman

NEED GOOD CONNECTION—otherwise we’ll need to line-up a cold-call visit. (Stephanie suggest we might contact “Lyne Martin, lmartin@ci.portland.or.us, 503-823-3026 **email only – a reminder only if a week has passed”)

c. Leonard

NEED GOOD CONNECTION—otherwise we’ll need to line-up a cold-call visit. (Stephanie suggest we might contact “Anna DiBenedetto, adibenedetto@ci.portland.or.us, 503-823-3001 **very quick – phone or email*.”)

d. Sten

Given the uncertainties around the May election, perhaps a chat with Jim Middaugh would work best. (Stephanie suggest we might contact “Cindy Gaulke, cgaulke@ci.portland.or.us, 503-823-3605 **phone, email works too – do not pressure her or remind her”)

e. Mayor

We will have the good offices of Gil Kelley as an advocate in his regular contacts with the Mayor. However, we should also line-up at least one visit from a Riverfest delegation.

4. Budget Hearing Testimony

A delegate (or two) from Helm should give brief testimony at the hearing (date TBA).

Suggested Lead: Jeff.

II. Core

Jeff should send a message to Core encouraging letters and attendance at the two community budget forums. This should be accompanied with a Riverfest brochure or fact-sheet. In addition, RR could print the logo on name badge stickers to make support more visible.

Contacts:

Office of Mayor Tom Potter

1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340

Portland, Oregon 97204

503-823-4120

Office of City Commissioner Sam Adams

1221 SW Fourth Avenue, Room 220

Portland, OR 97204

Phone: (503) 823-3008

Office of City Commissioner Randy Leonard

1221 S.W. Fourth Ave., Room 210

Portland OR 97204

503-823-4682

Office of City Commissioner Dan Saltzman

1221 SW 4th Ave. Room 230

Portland, Oregon 97204

503-823-4151

Office of City Commissioner Erik Sten

City of Portland

1221 SW 4th Avenue, Rm. 240

Portland, OR 97204-1998

503-823-3589

Auditor Gary Blackmer

1221 SW 4th Ave Room 140

Portland, OR 97204

503-823-4078

Financial Planning Division

1120 SW 5th Ave., Room 1250

Portland, Oregon 97204-1912

(503) 823-5707

Gil Kelley

Director, Portland Bureau of Planning

1900 SW Fourth Ave., Suite 7100

Portland, Oregon 97201

503-823-7701

Michael Montgomery

River Renaissance

1900 SW Fourth Ave., Suite 7100

Portland, Oregon 97201

503-823-1103

Possible support letter ingredients…

Specifics:

“I am writing to ask your support for the Riverfest decision package in the Bureau of Planning budget request (Decision Package 12).”

Riverfest:

Overall: a new Portland signature event to celebrate the Willamette River and inspire residents to deepen their connection to, and understanding of this working river.

Purpose and character:

•  exciting new event

•  designed to re-connect people with the Willamette

•  family-friendly

•  inclusive—all sorts of people doing all sorts of river-things

•  designed to build a new sense of community along the Willamette

•  growing commitment to a better Willamette through fun and informative experiences

•  enlarge people’s River experience

•  equip people with new understanding of river history, economy, and ecology

•  increase informed participation by citizens in future river issues and activities.

Features:

Note that these date-listings are tentative, but events are growing:

•  Oregon Symphony’s Free Waterfront Concert (Thursday, August 28)

•  Oregon Trout 2nd Annual City of Portland Triathlon (Sunday, August 31)

•  Riverfest Grand Opening (Sunday, August 31)

•  Willamette River Community Fair (Sunday, August 31)

•  Willamette Boat Parade (Sunday, August 31)

•  River Tours (both weekends)

•  Field Trips and citizen seminars (week of Sept. 2)

•  Celebrate the River! gala event (Friday, September 5)

•  Portland Paddle (Saturday, September 6)

•  Portland Adventure Race (Saturday, September 6)

•  Bridge Walks and Tours (Saturday, September 6)

•  Dragonboat Races (Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7)

•  Live music, Good Food

Organizational perspectives

•  “My organization supports Riverfest because (lines up with mission, fills a critical need in City, it’s fun…)”

•  This is more than moral support—“My organization will be responsible for a key Riverfest event [e.g. triathlon, paddle, etc.], which we expect to represent a contribution of approximately ($X or time).”

o  AND/OR “My organization is contributing $X in cash to defray the costs of this unique event.”

Closing:

•  This is a unique event well-worth support by the City. City partnership in the form of direct donation and staff time is essential to the success of Riverfest. The City’s contribution will be leveraged many times over.

•  Thanks for your consideration.