Skip sidebar navigation

Government

Government Affairs

The Office of Government Affairs works closely with the Mayor, City Council, and City leaders to promote and address Gresham’s needs and priorities.

  • Goals
  • Legislative Strategies
  • Contact
Goals

Government Affairs shapes policies and secures resources that enhance the community’s safety, sustainability, and quality of life. Our goals are to:

  • Serve as the primary liaison between the City and its local, regional, state, and federal partners. 
  • Manage, strengthen and promote the City’s legislative and policy priorities.
  • Advocate for our community to ensure Gresham’s voice is heard at every level of government.
Legislative Strategies

Policy development

Collaborate with City departments to identify key legislative and regulatory issues impacting Gresham’s residents, businesses, and services.

Intergovernmental relations

Building and maintaining strong partnerships with local, regional, and state agencies, as well as federal representatives, to foster collaboration and secure resources for the City.

Community engagement

Ensuring residents and stakeholders are informed and engaged in the legislative process, providing opportunities for input on key policy issues.

Contact

To learn more about Gresham's priorities or to get involved in advocating for the City, please contact:  

Larry Morgan, Chief of Staff
Larry.Morgan@GreshamOregon.gov

Chris Fick, Senior Policy Advisor
Chris.Fick@GreshamOregon.gov

Legislative priorities 

State Priorities

Funding requests

Gresham Youth Services: $6 million 

Funding to continue and expand the East Multomah Outreach Prevention Intervention (EMOPI) program. EMOPI provides critical services for youth violence prevention to improve public safety and improve outcomes for at-risk youth.  

Gresham Fire Department: $10 million 

Gresham’s fire stations are outdated and in need of replacement. State funding would go towards the replacement of Fire Station #74, which serves large industrial and residential areas of north Gresham.

Transportation and utility infrastructure: $10 million 

Pleasant Valley is expected to be home to more than 4,000 housing units over the next 20 years. To accommodate the development, upgrades are needed for roads and utility services. 

Legislative policy and funding priorities

  • Financial sustainability
  • Community well-being
  • Housing and community development
  • Public safety
  • Transportation
  • Thriving economy and land use

Read the 2025 legislative agenda.

Federal Priorities

Funding requests

Wastewater treatment nitrifications project: $5 million

  • Construct a nitrification (conversion) system at Gresham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to remove ammonia from semiconductor manufacturing waste streams.
  • Fund Phase II construction, completing the project to meet industry and environmental standards.
  • Support semiconductor industry expansion by providing critical wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Read the request and project description.

Pleasant Valley Corridor Transportation Improvements: $3.6 million

  • Design and planning of a transportation roundabout to address safety and traffic issues.
  • Environmental analysis to ensure compliance and sustainable development practices.
  • Acquisition of right-of-way for necessary infrastructure improvements.
  • Mitigation of wetlands impacted by the project.

Read the request and project description.

Main City Park Revitalization Project: $2 million

  • Construction of the City's first fully inclusive and accessible park.
  • Create more equitable park access for an increasingly diverse, young, and economically challenged population. 

Read the request and project description.