Saltzman was first elected to Portland’s City Council in November 1998, defeating former Multnomah County Commission colleague Tanya Collier,[3] and was sworn in on January 4, 1999.

[4] He won on a platform that included domestic violence and child abuse, issues that were generally in the purview of the Multnomah County Commission.

[6] Saltzman has established two bureaus during his service with the City of Portland: the Office of Sustainable Development in 2000[7] and the Children’s Investment Fund in 2002.

[9] As assigned to him by Katz's successor as mayor, Sam Adams, Saltzman oversaw the following City of Portland bureaus, funds and systems: the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), the Portland Children's Levy, the Gateway Center for Domestic Violence, and the Fire & Police Disability & Retirement (FPDR) system.

On May 12, 2010, a week before Portland voters would decide whether or not to re-elect Saltzman for a fourth term, Adams reassigned the Police Bureau back to the mayor's office and simultaneously fired Chief Rosie Sizer, installing East Precinct Commander Mike Reese as the new Chief of Police.