PORTLAND, Ore. -- Another high-ranking official is leaving the city of Portland.
Portland Parks and Recreation Director Mike Abbaté resigned on Monday, the parks department confirmed. In his letter of resignation, Abbaté said he is stepping down "to pursue other opportunities."
His choice may not have been voluntary. A memo obtained by the Oregonian shows Commissioner Amanda Fritz was looking for new leadership at the department.
Abbaté will receive approximately $100,000 in severance, Fritz's office confirmed. The severance equals 6 1/2 months of Abbaté's $185,000 annual salary.
Big payouts to outgoing directors are fairly standard for the city. Recently ousted housing bureau director received nearly $100,000 when he left office last winter.
Abbaté's last day will be May 15. He thanked Commissioner Nick Fish for appointing him to the parks department and to Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who has been the parks commissioner for the past five years.
"As I look ahead to the fourth quarter of my career, I also look back to my professional training as a landscape architect and miss the days of designing and implementing projects on the ground. I have realized that now, while the economy is strong, is the very best time to go back to my roots," he said.
Fritz said the city will conduct a national search for Abbaté's replacement.
Portland Parks and Recreation is facing big funding cuts under Mayor Ted Wheeler's proposed 2018-19 budget -- $8 million less than last year and $31 million less than Fritz's office requested for the upcoming fiscal year.
Abbaté's resignation marks yet another leadership change in Portland's city bureaus since Wheeler took office in January 2017. Eight other bureau directors resigned, retired or were fired last year. That included Housing Director Kurt Creager, who was let go by Wheeler in December, and Director of the Office of Equity and Human Rights, Dante James, who resigned in December so he could move to Denver and be with his family.
Police Bureau Chief Mike Marshman was replaced when Wheeler brought in new chief Danielle Outlaw.
