Bike Plan for 2030: City's 'Hiring Freeze' Is Melting

On Monday, the City of Portland implemented a new, citywide "hiring freeze" — with one exception. The Portland Police Bureau can fill any vacancies for front-line police officers.

Make that two exceptions.

Later today on Wednesday morning, the City Council will consider a new funding mechanism for the Bicycle Plan for 2030. That plan from Mayor Sam Adams calls for taking $20 million from Commissioner Dan Saltzman's Bureau of Environmental Services to help pay for bike boulevards.

Adams' plan, it seems, also calls for the immediate creation of three new positions within the Bureau of Environmental Services, despite the hiring freeze: a project manager, a map maker and a public outreach specialist.

The city's Office of Management and Finance says Portland's Bureau of Transportation won't hire any more workers right now but will probably seek an unspecified number of new hires in the upcoming budget for the bike plan.