Council recommends volunteers to fill Troutdale advisory committees; public-safety, parks and citizens-advisory picks highlighted

Troutdale city councilors interviewed a slate of local volunteers and, by consensus, recommended appointments to several advisory committees on matters including parks, public safety and the citizens advisory committee.

Shelby Staffson, an applicant for the Public Safety and Equity Advisory Committee, said she has lived in Troutdale about 12 years and has “volunteered at church, my kids’ schools and different fundraising efforts,” adding she is “passionate about public safety” and helped lead a community survey for the committee. Staffson told the panel she would like to continue work on negotiated police and fire district matters and pursue neighborhood-watch initiatives.

Victoria Roso, identified as a committee vice chair and former chair, said her background as a paramedic and nurse gives her public-safety experience and urged a volunteer search or emergency-response program to check on neighbors after catastrophes. “I want to get safety information out to the community,” Roso said.

Other applicants emphasized long-term volunteer service and specific technical experience. Adrien Kester described prior roles on the Citizens Advisory Committee, Historic Landmarks and the Town Center Advisory Board and cited recent participation on a Second Street bridge design ad hoc. Will Knight, a long-serving CAC chair, said he wants continuity on the Confluence property outreach and the economic-opportunities analysis. Jeremy Winrob, who works in hospital supply-chain contracting and volunteers on horticulture projects, offered contract-management experience useful for park capital work.

Councilors discussed eligibility rules for certain committees, clarifying that some advisory positions allow business owners who are not residents to serve and noting that committee chairs should limit participation in appointment recommendations to their own committees. Council members also confirmed meeting schedules and the expectation that appointees can attend night meetings.

At the meeting’s close, council members read back recommended placements for the advisory bodies and agreed to forward those recommendations for formal action. The chair said he would appoint as decided and thanked all volunteers for their service. The recommendations will be submitted to the council for formal approval at a subsequent meeting.