3.123.020 Scope
The Board shall perform the following functions:
A. Participation in the financial planning process. The Bureau of Water
Works, the Office of Sustainable Development and the Bureau of Environmental
Services use multi-year financial planning to prioritize programs and to project
operating and capital costs associated with policies and programs, and to
estimate overall rate impacts. The bureaus update their financial plans
throughout the year to reflect significant changes in revenues or requirements,
and re-do the plans annually. The Board will review the proposed financial plans
and revisions, and submit its findings and recommendations to the Council as
part of the City's annual financial planning process.
B. Participation in the rate design process. The Board will make
recommendations to the Council on the equitable distribution of rate adjustments
among customer classes, as determined in the rate design process. The Board will
report on proposed rate changes to the Council during the annual budget hearings
and development processes for water, sanitary sewer, stormwater and solid waste
rates. The Board will also participate in the periodic review and analysis of
alternative rate designs proposed by Council. The Board shall report on other
city activities or proposed policies with significant impacts to water, sewer
and solid waste rates.
C. Relationship to other citizen advisory groups. The Council and the
bureaus may form other groups, as necessary, to advise on utility matters. The
Board and its staff will exchange information with these other advisory groups
to coordinate policy advice to the Council and the bureaus.
D. Relationship to other interested parties. The Board’s primary
responsibility and duties are to advise the Council, and its deliberations and
recommendations shall be directed to Council accordingly. The Board may also
share the results of its deliberations and recommendations delivered to Council
with interested individuals and groups including neighborhoods, business
associations, and public interest groups.
3.123.040 Appointments - Composition.
A. General Criteria. All members must reside in or work predominantly in
the City of Portland and have an interest in sewer, water and solid waste
issues, such as system development and maintenance, service delivery, service
costs and impacts on low-income households, economic development, conservation
or environmental concerns. In making appointments, the Mayor and City Council
will attempt to have a range of professional and academic expertise, and
volunteer experience, represented on the Board in disciplines such as
accounting, civil engineering, conservation, environmental sciences, health
sciences, public administration, urban planning, or utility economics. In making
Board appointments, the Mayor and Council shall strive to have a Board which
reflects the diversity of the Portland community, especially regarding customer
classes, income levels, cultural and ethnic identity, geographic location, age
and gender.
B. Restrictions. No individual with any direct financial interest in a
city utility or solid waste franchises, whether by ownership, employment,
contract or otherwise, shall be appointed to or serve on the Board.
C. Board Appointments. Board members shall be appointed by the Mayor
and confirmed by the Council. Any Council member may submit recommendations to
the Mayor on potential appointments to the board. Nominations shall reflect four
general categories:
1.
Residential Geographic Representation. The Mayor will seek
nominations from neighborhood associations, district coalitions and
residential customers (renters and land owners) in various City neighborhoods.
Three seats shall be filled from residential geographic nominations.
The Mayor will appoint members representing residential customers from each
of three geographic areas within the City comprised of:
a. West Portland - the area west of the Willamette River,
b. Northeast/Southeast Portland - the area east of the Willamette
River and west of Interstate 205, and
c. East Portland - the area east of Interstate
205.
2.
Public Interest Advocacy. The Mayor will seek nominations from
organizations working to support low and moderate income issues, environmental
concerns, senior, fixed income and special needs populations. Two seats shall
be filled from public interest advocacy nominations. The council will strive
to create diversity in making nominations for these two seats.
3. Large Commercial/Industrial Businesses: The Mayor will seek
nominations from businesses which have a current industrial discharge permit,
discharge at least 10,000 gallons per day of waste-water to the sewer system,
or use 10,000 cubic feet of water per month. One seat shall be filled from
commercial/industrial business nominations.
4. Local Businesses: The Mayor will seek nominations from businesses
headquartered in the City that predominantly serve Portland-area residents.
Retail, service or neighborhood businesses, and those not otherwise meeting
the Large Commercial/Industrial category criteria, are eligible for inclusion
in this category. One seat shall be filled from local business
nominations.
5. At-Large: To provide flexibility in meeting the Board's goal of
membership diversity, the Mayor will appoint one member from applications
received "at-large." Any individual or any group interested in participating
on the Board may submit nominations in this category. Two seats shall be
filled from At-Large nominations.
D. Council Liaisons. Each member of the City Council may appoint one
member of their staff to serve as a representative of their office to the Board.
These representatives shall serve as communications contacts and shall not have
voting privileges.
3.123.050 Recruitment Process.
A. Board positions and vacancies will be announced to local media
publications and broadcasts, including local neighborhood newspapers, cable
stations and radio, with a goal of widespread outreach. Nomination requests will
also be sent to the city's Neighborhood Associations and District Coalition
Boards, to consumer advocacy and environmental interest groups, and to Business
District associations. The City's standard Boards and Commissions application
form shall be used, with all nominations to be submitted to the Mayor's
office.
B. The City’s staff to the Board shall develop and keep current a list
of publications to meet the requirements described in Subsection A. of this
Section.
C. City Council members shall also seek nominations for the Board
through publications or communications generated in their
offices.
3.123.060 Terms.
A. Board members will serve, without compensation, for a term of two
years. The terms of each member shall run from the date of the City Council's
confirmation of the member's appointment, or such other date as the Council may
establish.
B. No member may serve on the Board for more than six consecutive
years. The Board shall develop a brief process and/or form for recommendations
to the Mayor in regard to members desiring reappointment.
C. If any member of the Board is absent more than three regularly
scheduled meetings of the Board during any twelve-month period, without having
notified the Chair in advance of such absence, such member shall be deemed to
have resigned from the Board. The member's position shall thereafter be vacant
and subject to appointment by the Mayor.
D. The Mayor may remove any member of the Board at his or
her discretion for due cause, including but not limited to malfeasance or
neglect of duties.
3.123.070 Standing Committees.
A. The Board may at any time establish standing committees of at least
three individuals to address specific issues related to the Board’s purpose.
B. The Board Chair, one other member of the Board, as approved by a
majority vote of all Board members, and any Council liaisons to the Board will
serve as the Board Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will facilitate
on-going communication between the Board, the City Council, the Board staff, and
the bureaus.
C. The Board may designate more specific roles and responsibilities for
the Executive Committee and any standing committee in the Board
by-laws.
