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Transportation committee recommends seven appointments to Portland Utility Board
Summary
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to send five new appointments and two reappointments to the Portland Utility Board (PUB) to full council with a recommendation for confirmation, after nominees introduced themselves and committee members praised the slate.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted July 21 to send to full council the appointment of five new members and the reappointment of two members to the Portland Utility Board with a recommendation that the council confirm them.
The committee moved the appointments after staff from the Mayor’s office and the Public Works service area presented the nominees and the PUB coordinator described the board’s recruitment process. Donna Paul, Deputy City Administrator for Public Works, urged support, saying the nominations “reflect a strong mix of technical expertise, lived experience, and community perspective.”
The slate includes five new appointees — Cormac Burke, Myra Cushbout, Daryl Bobb, Jennifer O’Connor and Brooke Berhanu — and the reappointments of Alexis Reif and Lorraine Wilson. Several nominees spoke to the committee about their backgrounds and reasons for seeking the volunteer posts: Alexis Reif highlighted her experience in natural resource management and water policy and said, “I am very excited at the opportunity to continue this work with the city.” Myra Cushbout described her clinical work and environmental toxicology focus; Daryl Bobb said his field work for Portland Bureau of Transportation gives him a frontline view of infrastructure impacts; Jennifer O’Connor cited experience with landscape architecture and reclaimed water projects; Brooke Berhanu noted a background in water resources engineering and reuse strategies; Lorraine Wilson emphasized equity and community advocacy; and Cormac Burke described a 35‑year Portland residency and information‑technology experience in investor‑owned utilities.
Committee members praised the nominees’ diversity of skills and perspectives. Councilor Burrios said he was “so grateful” for the nominees’ willingness to serve and singled out Wilson’s personal story. Councilor Green warned the board faces “increasingly challenging” decisions about delivering services at equitable rates and thanked the nominees for volunteering.
The committee vote was taken by roll call. Koyama Lane, Borio, Green and Chair Clark voted aye, and the clerk announced that with four ayes the motion carried. The appointments and reappointments will go to full council with the committee’s recommendation that they be confirmed.
The PUB is an 11‑member community advisory board with three ex officio members that advises the council and bureau leadership on the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Environmental Services on budgets, programs and planning. According to staff, the board’s criteria for appointment are set out in city code (noted in recruitment materials as Code 3.123) and the permanent voting members serve three‑year staggered terms. Staff said the current recruitment filled vacancies created by the recent death of a member and other departures; an open application process produced 11 applicants and the PUB subcommittee interviewed candidates before making recommendations.
Next steps: the item will appear on the full council docket for confirmation action; committee members and staff said they appreciate the volunteers’ time and expected full council consideration in a future meeting.
