Mayor’s nominees for Portland Clean Energy Fund advisory committee sent to council for confirmation

The Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee on July 24 voted to refer the mayor’s appointments of Anna Allen and Andre Lightsey Walker and the reappointments of Robin Wang and Megan Horst to the full Portland City Council with a recommendation that the appointments be confirmed.

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund committee, a nine-member volunteer body created by the ballot measure that established the fund, advises on the city’s climate investment plan, adopts workforce and contractor equity plans, and recommends amendments to the plan and related code. Sam Brosso, program manager for the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, told the committee the mayor nominated the four people after a recruitment process that produced about 32 applications for two open seats.

Brosso said a subcommittee of staff and committee members scored applications, interviewed four candidates and recommended two for the full committee’s consideration. "In April, the full PCCF committee acted on that and made the recommendations formally to the mayor to appoint the members before you here today," Brosso said.

The nominees and reappointees introduced their backgrounds. Anna Allen identified herself as a member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes and as the regional government affairs director for the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission. "The values and traditions and concerns that I've been really rooted in my entire life are deeply intertwined with the health of our environment," Allen said.

Andre Lightsey Walker, introduced as a senior transportation planner at Metro and a longtime advocate for climate solutions, said he has committed "my entire career to public service" and described a personal connection to Portland as a fourth-generation resident.

Robin Wang, a finance expert and longtime PCCF member who helps launch a statewide community climate investment fund, spoke briefly about completing a term that will "coincide with the wrapping up of the current investment plan." Megan (Meg) Horst, who could not attend in person, submitted a video outlining her experience as an original committee member, former co-chair and an academic with a Ph.D. in urban planning.

Committee members asked how city council can best partner with the PCCF as it begins work on the next climate investment plan. Allen and other appointees urged early engagement and continued public dialogue. "Stay engaged," Allen said, describing the climate investment plan development as a community engagement process. Council members discussed the tension between a larger-than-expected funding pool and community expectations about how the money should be spent; committee members noted the current plan was adapted as receipts exceeded early estimates.

Councilor Carmen Rubio (cochair), Councilor Ryan, Councilor Avalos and Councilor Novick participated in the discussion. After the presentation Councilor Avalos moved and Councilor Novick seconded a motion "to send the appointments of Anna Allen and Andre Lightsey Walker and the reappointments of Robin Wang and Megan Horst to the Portland Clean Energy Fund Committee to the full council with a recommendation that the appointments be confirmed." The clerk called the roll: Ryan — Aye; Novick — Aye; Avalos — Aye; Maria — Aye. The motion to refer report/document number 2025291 to full council with the recommendation that the appointments be confirmed was approved.

Next steps: the appointments will be considered by the full City Council. The PCCF committee will return to the committee later this year with additional appointments as other members’ terms expire.