Jodie Inman, the chief engineer for the Portland Water Bureau, resigned from her position last month after nearly two decades of service to the city.
Inman stepped down on April 18 amid ongoing legal challenges that have halted construction of the $2 billion Bull Run water filtration facility, which is currently the priciest public works project in Portland’s history.
Since 2021, Inman has held the chief engineer role with an annual salary of $228,000.
Following her departure, Ken Ackerman, who previously managed the bureau’s engineering design team, has been appointed interim chief engineer.
The resignation represents another challenge for the filtration plant, which has garnered controversy due to its escalating costs, impacting utility rates for Portland residents.
Inman’s exit also coincides with a wave of departures within the city’s infrastructure agencies as Portland continues to face significant financial struggles and undergoes restructuring.
Having joined the city in 2008, Inman attributed her decision to resign to a lack of communication and engagement following the appointment of City Administrator Michael Jordan and his new team last summer.
She expressed concern over a growing divide between city leadership and bureau staff, stating, “There was no conversation, no interest, no engagement. If you weren’t in their leadership circle, then they weren’t interested in hearing from you.”
Inman mentioned that her only interaction with Jordan was to inform him of her departure, emphasizing that her decision was unrelated to the current status of the filtration project.
“I still 100% fully support that project and advocate for it and think it is absolutely the right decision,” Inman stated.
Priya Dhanapal, Portland’s deputy administrator of public works, expressed regret over Inman’s resignation and commended her contributions throughout her 17 years with the Water Bureau.
In a statement, Dhanapal acknowledged the impact of Inman’s absence, appreciating her leadership and commitment to the city’s water infrastructure.
“As the city transitions to a new voter-mandated form of government, it’s natural for change to bring both challenge and adaptation,” Dhanapal remarked.
She also noted the importance of listening to and supporting staff amid the changes.
Jordan, through a spokesperson, refrained from commenting and directed inquiries to Dhanapal’s statement.
During her tenure as chief engineer, Inman led major projects for the Water Bureau, including the Washington Park reservoir and a new water pipeline under the Willamette River.
However, this pipeline project has faced delays, and the filtration plant, which broke ground last year on a site near Oxbow Regional Park, has encountered fierce opposition and multiple setbacks.
Originally approved in 2017 at an estimated cost of $500 million, the price of the filtration plant has skyrocketed to approximately $2.1 billion due to various complications.
Earlier this year, a state agency sided with project opponents, revoking part of a necessary conditional land-use permit.
Consequently, Portland officials paused construction while awaiting the conclusion of a county review expected by the end of June.
In the aftermath of Inman’s departure, Edward Campbell, the interim director of the Water Bureau, also resigned just weeks following the halt of construction.
Campbell had taken over the position less than a year prior, following the removal of longtime Water Bureau head Gabriel Solmer under undisclosed circumstances.
Soon after Campbell’s resignation, Dawn Uchiyama, Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services, stepped down after two years in her role.
Both Campbell and Uchiyama had been with Portland city government for around 25 years, highlighting a significant shift within the city’s infrastructure leadership.
The Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services together account for approximately 18% of Portland’s 7,500-person workforce and more than 40% of the city’s fiscal budget for the current year, which stands at $8.2 billion.
As Portland navigates these leadership changes and financial challenges, the impact on essential infrastructure projects and city services remains to be seen.
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