Thanks to Jimmy Brown of the Portland Water Bureau for much of the following information.
The Portland Utility Review Board (PURB) will have three open positions by June 30. The Board’s purpose is to advise the City Council, on behalf of and for the benefit of the citizens of Portland, on water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste financial plans and rates. The Board advises Council on the establishment of fair and equitable rates, consistent with customer needs, legal mandates, existing public policies, operational requirements, and the long-term financial stability and viability of the utilities. The City bureaus involved are the Water Bureau, Bureau of Environmental Services, and Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's Solid Waste and Recycling program.
The Board is comprised of nine (9) permanent members, representing designated interests. Any Commissioner may nominate individuals to the Board. The Mayor appoints the members as well as the Chair of the Board.
The vacancies are:
1) West Portland representative;
2) Large Commercial/Industrial representative; and
3) Public Interest Advocacy representative.
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 attempts 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 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.
For more information about the PURB, see here,or contact Bob Tomlinson, staff, at 503-283-6960.
If you are interested in appointment to one of the specified positions, please complete and return the Application Form to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement. You are welcome to contact me or Patti Howard on my staff with questions or to help with your application.
