Committee forwards mayor’s 20 appointees to new Sustainability and Climate Commission to full council with recommendation for confirmation

The Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee voted unanimously on April 24 to forward the mayor’s appointments and alternates for the new Sustainability and Climate Commission to the full Portland City Council with a recommendation that the council confirm the nominees.

Vivian Satterfield, the city’s chief sustainability officer, and Elaine Viska Livingstone, the commission coordinator, told the committee the commission will advise the mayor, the city administrator and council on climate action, environmental justice and accountability, and will evaluate and help shape the city’s next climate action plan.

Satterfield said the commission framework was developed after the Planning and Sustainability Commission was disbanded and following charter reform and public listening sessions that called for a climate oversight body centered on frontline communities. She said the ordinance establishing the Sustainability and Climate Commission was approved by the prior council in May 2024.

Viska Livingstone described the commission’s structure and duties: 20 active members with at least four designated youth seats (ages 16–24), five alternates, staggered four‑year terms for most members and one‑year youth terms, and at least two members from each council district. The commission’s powers include recommending actions, holding hearings and work sessions, coordinating joint meetings with other advisory bodies, and reporting to the chief sustainability officer, who will set agendas.

City staff described the recruitment process: applications opened in November 2024 for eight weeks and produced 240 applicants, including 39 youth applicants. Staff convened about 30 city staff scorers, conducted panel‑style interviews designed to mimic commission dynamics, and presented top candidates to the chief sustainability officer; the mayor made the final appointments.

Satterfield reviewed applicant demographics gathered from an optional survey: 67% of applicants completed the survey; applicants ranged in age from 16 to 81; the pool skewed toward higher household income and higher educational attainment than the city average; a majority identified as homeowners; and about a quarter of applicants identified as renters. Staff said the nominee pool was intentionally intergenerational and includes community practitioners, academics, business and nonprofit representatives and youth leaders.

Several appointees who attended or joined remotely introduced themselves at the committee meeting. Those who spoke included youth and adult nominees such as Shreeya Janam, a student organizer; Jessica Zahn, a sustainability and communications professional; Vivek Shandas, a Portland State University professor who cited research linking historic redlining to heat exposure; Dana Bissie, a Metro senior climate analyst; Alina Pacharone, a sustainability practitioner with a biotech and supply‑chain background; Galen Whalen, an architect focused on embodied carbon; Dan Trefone, a Multnomah County climate and health program specialist; Garrett Wong, a sustainability associate; Carla Chen and Bea Sloane, both alternate nominees who described their interest in urban heat and implementation goals; and others whose biographies were included in the nomination packet or provided via prerecorded video.

Committee members praised the recruitment process and the level of interest, and several emphasized the importance of ensuring district and demographic representation in future recruitment cycles. Councilor Novick urged commissioners to prioritize the intersection of transportation and climate justice; several nominees indicated willingness to work on those topics. Committee members also raised procedural questions about alternates and how alternates would be confirmed to full membership if vacancies occur; staff said alternates would be expected to attend meetings and be ready to step in but that confirmation of alternates to full seats would return to council for confirmation under current procedures.

A motion to forward the list of appointees and alternates to full council with a recommendation for confirmation was moved by Councilor Knoell and seconded by Councilor Novick. The committee recorded five affirmative votes and the motion carried. Staff said the code updates establishing the commission are expected to be effective June 7, and appointments can be aligned with that schedule.

The committee will transmit the nomination packet and the committee’s recommendation to the full council for final confirmation. Councilors and staff signaled intent to continue engagement with nominees and noted additional follow‑up on recruitment and alternate procedures could occur before the commission’s first regular meetings.