Local Government Services & Resources

The Center for Public Service offers a wide range of on-demand services and resources for Oregon’s local governments. Take advantage of interactive training or custom consulting assistance in any of these areas:

Applied Research Services

Surveys for community service evaluations, policy priorities, and public opinion
Organizational surveys for employee and stakeholder insights
Data science tools for decisions: analysis of large and complex datasets
Geospatial analysis
In-depth interviews and focus group research
Comparativ

Community-Building and Community Engagement

Techniques for community-building sessions to deal with difficult challenges
Establishment of citizen involvement plans
Encouraging input and involvement by hard-to-reach communities
Developing a Citizens Academy
Getting things done through collaboration and partnerships

group of people in a conference looking at the speaker

Governing Board Effectiveness

Owning and implementing the board’s policy agenda
Strategic planning and goal-setting
Effective team and interpersonal relationships

Image of gears as a symbol of partnerships

Service Delivery and Governance

Intergovernmental agreements; consolidation, and contracting
Annexation; extension of municipal services
Creation/modification of regional agencies and cooperative agreements

person writing a sticky note to put on a board of organized notes

Managing the Organization

Customized program analysis research and consulting
Process improvement
Development of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plans
Cultural competence training
Managing cybersecurity risks
Municipal code updating (removal of bias, elimination of outdated sections, improving clarity of language)

Human Resources

Compensation studies; updating compensation and classification systems
Addressing pay equity
Updated and useful job descriptions
Recruiting top talent
Alternatives to the traditional annual review process
Advanced topics in HR

Compensation Studies

calculator and a pen laying on top of finance documents

Budget and Finance

Development of general fund forecasting models for strategic financial planning
Implementation of Expenditure Control Budgeting and other alternatives to top-down budget management

woman standing next to a pile of trash that was picked up

Environmental Services

Solid waste reduction and recycling

Technical assistance on meeting Recycling Contamination Reduction Statewide Goals, including:

• Container Labeling

• Signage and Outreach Materials

• Cart Tags and Feedback Tools

• Inspections and Audits

• Customized Education and Project

Useful Links

Other Centers

CPS services Complements

CPS Consulting Services

Public Service Fellowships

Executive Master of Public Administration

Professional Certificate Programs

Collaborative Governance

CPS Centers and Units

Mark O. Hatfield Center for Cybersecurity

Community Environment Services (solid waste research, climate action plans)

National Policy Consensus Center

Oregon Solutions

PSU Population Research Center

Center for Women's Leadership

Institute on Aging

Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative

The League of Oregon Cities

The Association of Oregon Counties

The Special Districts Association of Oregon

SDAO and LOC have entered into "umbrella agreements" with PSU that allow their members to contract for work by the Center for Public Service through a simplified process.

For more information on the services and programs of the Center for Public Service, please contact:

Sara Saltzberg, Director, Center for Public Service, ssaltz@pdx.edu