Oregon Public Broadcasting

January may sound a long ways away, but Oregon’s cities are already planning for the January meeting of the state legislature.

The weak economy has underscored the interdependence of cities and the state. Leaders are nervous about the economy, as are many ordinary Oregonians. 

April Baer  reports on some of the strategizing behind closed doors.

What Oregon cities are doing right now is a little like writing a letter to Santa.

That is, if Santa were working on a incredibly tight budget, and running his shop under the scrutiny of very watchful constituents, who'd be only too ready to vote some other jolly old elf into office.

Portland, Bend, and other cities are preparing for a legislative session that might offer tools to help citizens through the recession.

During a meeting Tuesday at Portland City Hall, Government Relations Director Dan Bates briefed  city commissioners. He said that state leaders share many of their concerns, like health care, green industry, transportation, and public safety.

Dan Bates: "There are real opportunities this next session, on a number of these priorities."

Bates listened as the Council talked about what it would like to work on at the state level. Commissioner Dan Saltzman was thinking about strength in numbers.

Dan Saltman: "I think in 2007, we had a more detailed rural agenda, I'd like to see that again, I think it was well-received."

He asked for a specific list of issues Portland shares with rural areas, in hopes of forming new partnerships.

Commissioner Nick Fish said he'd like to see the legislature address the new ethics rules for city governments. These rules infuriated some rural leaders, who found them too invasive. Fish said he, too, can imagine improvements.

Nick Fish: "I think the message should be very clear--this council cares deeply about ethics, so we understand what the rules are. Just having bright lines, whether we agree with them or not, is in the public interest."

Overall, the Portland Council is likely to press for action in four areas: job creation, revenue issues, government efficiency, and liveability.

Those goals  echo concerns in Bend, which has four new city counselors coming on board. Courtney Kleinert is Bend's legislative liaison. 

Courtney Kleinert: "Our current legislative priority list includes revenue challenges, with previous measures that have been passed Measure, Measure 47, Measure 50--that have really reduced the amount of revenue the city can bring in to provide services such as police and fire and street maintenance."

Kleinert says there's also interest in seeing if the city can increase its clout when Urban Growth Boundaries are being redrawn.

Even as cities scramble for attention local officials are keenly aware that expectations must be kept in check.  Later this week a revenue forecast will provide a much clearer picture of how much the state will --and won't-- have to spend on local wish lists.