DUNDEE, Ore. — Courtney Patterson has stepped into her new role as Dundee’s city administrator, bringing a background in military logistics, disaster response, and regional government as the city prepares for a period of significant growth and planning.
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The Dundee City Council voted unanimously Dec. 23 to hire Patterson following a multi-week selection process that included public meet-and-greet events and interviews with staff, residents, business owners, and regional partners. She officially began the job Jan. 12.
Patterson most recently served as the asset and environmental stewardship division director for Metro’s garbage and recycling department, where she oversaw capital projects, safety programs, and asset management. Earlier in her career, she worked in disaster response and emergency planning for the City of Portland, including several years managing operations and emergency preparedness.
Her path into public service began while she was a student at Tulane University, where she attended college before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina.
“Being there at that time really made me ask, ‘What happened here, and what could have been done differently?’” Patterson said. “A lot of my professors were studying disaster response, and that shaped my interest in government.”
After college, Patterson served as a logistics officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, including deployments to Afghanistan and Okinawa, where she trained Marines in disaster response and humanitarian missions. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tulane and a Master of Public Administration from Indiana University.
Dundee Mayor David Ford said Patterson stood out during the hiring process for her leadership style and collaborative approach.
“Throughout the selection process, Courtney demonstrated strong leadership, a collaborative approach, and a deep understanding of how to effectively manage people, complex projects and budgets,” Ford said in a statement. “We’re confident she will be a great fit for Dundee and an outstanding partner to our staff, council, and community.”
As city administrator, Patterson serves as the city’s top executive, overseeing daily operations, staff, and long-range projects while carrying out policy direction set by the City Council.
In her first weeks on the job, Patterson said her focus has been on learning Dundee’s internal systems and getting to know the community.
“My first few weeks in Dundee have been awesome,” she said. “Dundee is a place I’ve visited since I moved to Oregon in 2012, and I couldn’t be more excited to serve this community.”
Looking ahead, Patterson said she is especially enthusiastic about the city’s working relationship with the City Council and the level of community alignment around upcoming development.
“That’s a big opportunity,” she said. “When the council is committed to working well together, and the community is generally aligned about what it wants, you can go far, and you can go fast.”
Among the most visible projects on the horizon are two planned hotels and continued planning in the Riverside District, a large area within Dundee’s urban growth boundary that could eventually accommodate hundreds of new housing units. Patterson said upcoming open houses and planning efforts will focus on aligning transportation plans, land use, and residential development with community priorities.
She also emphasized the importance of balancing growth with Dundee’s small-town identity.
“There’s a strong desire for Dundee to have its own brand and sense of place, and that’s important to honor,” Patterson said.
Patterson said community involvement will be central to Dundee’s next chapter, with openings currently available on several city committees, including the planning commission, budget committee, and tourism committee.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for people to get involved,” she said. “We definitely want that.”
City officials encourage residents interested in serving on a committee or learning more about city projects to contact City Hall or attend upcoming public meetings.
