Posted
For Immediate Release: Monday, September 27, 2021
Board of County Commissioners seeking volunteers for advisory boards and commissions
Various boards, committees and commissions advise the Board of Commissioners on matters of interest to people who live and work in Washington County. Commission members are volunteers appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. Committees themselves do not pass ordinances to establish policy; their purpose is to study issues and make recommendations. In many cases, members must be residents of Washington County. Serving on an appointed board or commission is an opportunity for Washington County residents to participate in decisions that affect them and to learn more about how local government works.
Per Board of Commissioners procedures, the County Administrative Office will solicit applications from individuals for a six-week period. Staff will keep the Commissioners apprised of applications received and approaching deadlines. As specified in the revised Recruitment, Selection and Appointment Process, there will be an opportunity for the Board to discuss appointments at a work session prior to scheduling any formal action.
Aging and Veteran Services Advisory Council – 12 positions available now
Description: Planning for future services and reviewing current programs are two key roles for these 19 volunteers (13 regular and 6 alternate members). Their community ties and personal or professional familiarity with issues facing seniors and veterans make them an invaluable resource for Washington County Disability, Aging & Veterans' Services and the Board of Commissioners. The Council advises the department on policy, programs, and actions affecting the delivery of services and generally serves as an advocate for veterans and the elderly.
Member Description: Nineteen members (13 regular and 6 alternate) including: consumers over age 60, Minority, an elected official, Veterans Healthcare Provider, Veterans Provider, General Public, under 60 veteran and Rural
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 5 to 10 hours per month
Meetings: Usually the third Thursday of every other month, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Contact: Janet Long, 503-846-3081
Audit Committee – 1 position available now
Description: Independent oversight is critical to the effectiveness of financial statement audits. The Audit Committee monitors audits of the County's finances, in the belief that access to knowledgeable individuals help prevent an excessive reliance on the expertise of the external auditor.
Member Description: Five members who are knowledgeable of accounting and auditing as demonstrated by professional employment in accounting, auditing, or finance, including one appointee from the membership of the Board of County Commissioners.
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: The two meetings are scheduled for 90-minutes each and can run shorter (most likely) or longer (less likely). So total time commitment is three hours.
Meetings: One meeting after the start of the fiscal year (July) and prior to the start of field work (October). The second meeting is in January after the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is issued and prior to the Board accepting the financial statements at their first meeting in February.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756
Behavioral Health Council – 5 positions available now
Description: Identifies community needs, recommends funding priorities, and helps select and evaluate service providers. The County's emphasis on contracting with community agencies for social services makes the work of this volunteer advisory council critical.
Member Description: Comprised of nineteen members including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens. Members are residents of the county or have work interests in the county.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month
Meetings: Fourth Wednesday, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Contact: Aika Fallstrom, 503-846-4576
Civil Service Commission – 1 position available now
Description: The Civil Service Commission is comprised of five volunteers, one from each of the Commissioner districts, who provide a third-party review of the County's employment practices. The Civil Service Commission is the appeal board for Washington County employees and candidates for employment. Employees and candidates for employment may appeal to the Civil Service Commission adverse personnel management decisions such as appointments, disciplinary actions and classification allocations. The Commission hears and decides appeals by employees and candidates for employment.
Member Description: Five members who are registered voters within the county. No member of the Commission shall be a member of the governing body or an employee of the County or Clean Water Services except that any Commissioner may serve as a member of any other civil service commission.
Term: 2 years
Time Commitment: Quarterly meetings, others as necessary
Meetings: TBA
Contact: Eva LaBonte, 503-846-4476
Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) – 2 positions available now
Description: The Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) is a private non-profit organization established to assist in diversifying and strengthening the economy and livability of Northwest Oregon. The District covers all of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties and the western part of Washington County (including Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Gaston, and North Plains).
Col-Pac’s mission is to promote and sustain healthy communities in the district through retention, diversification and expansion of the economic base. The goal is healthy and thriving communities. A strong and diversified economic base that provides family-wage jobs is a significant component and contributor to healthy communities. Col-Pac's economic development activities focus on blending the natural resource-based industries in the region with new economic development opportunities that historically have not been part of the area's economy.
As an economic development district, Col-Pac provides capacity building, coordination and establishment of basic economic development foundation building tools for NW Oregon.
Member Description: Governed by a 17-member volunteer Board of Directors, Col-Pac consists of local public and private leaders including representatives from county commissions, cities, ports, the private sector, workforce, and the minority community. Col-Pac also has a seven member Loan Administration Board that oversees the District's Revolving Loan Fund.
Term: 2 years
Meetings: March of each year
Contact: Matt Craigie, 503-846-8295
Enhanced Sheriff Patrol District/Urban Road Maintenance District Budget Committee (ESPD/URMD) – 2 positions available now
Description: Reviews the proposed budget developed for the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District in unincorporated Washington County.
Member Description: Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. Each County Commissioner appoints one member. The five residents must live within the ESPD boundaries.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: Approximately two three-hour meetings every May that total 6 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour evening meeting the second week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the Sheriff's Office and Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening two weeks after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756
Fair Board – 2 positions available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: The Fair Board’s primary function is to oversee the planning, preparation and production of the County Fair. The Fair Board will develop both short- and long-term plans for the promotion and production of the County Fair and provide input to the County’s Facilities Maintenance Plan of the Fairgrounds.
Member Description: The Fair Board is comprised of seven members that are selected from a variety of interests determined by the Board of Commissioners, including, but not limited to: Agriculture, Livestock, Youth/Education, Exhibitors/Vendors, Urban Agriculture. In lieu of a citizen representative, one member may be from the Board of Commissioners.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month
Meetings: First Wednesday of every other month, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Contact: Leah Perkins-Hagele, 503-846-2212
Fairgrounds Advisory Committee – 1 position available now and 2 positions available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: The Fairgrounds Advisory Committee provides input on the priorities and development of the Fairgrounds Master Plan, and other plans including capital projects, maintenance, non-fair marketing and other strategic initiatives. As advocates, this committee works with local partners and the community at-large to communicate and encourage participation in Fairground developments.
Member Description: Nine members who represent the county geographically and in fields of interest or occupation. Two members are ex officio: a member of the Board of Commissioners and the President of the Fair Board (or designee)
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: TBD
Meetings: TBD
Contact: Leah Perkins-Hagele, 503-846-2212
Homeless Plan Advisory Committee (HPAC) – 5 positions available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: The Homeless Plan Advisory Committee is comprised of members who have authority within their agency/jurisdiction to make policy and budget decisions that impact the community’s housing and supportive services system. The Committee provides high-level oversight to the implementation of A Road Home: Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, encourages collaborative partnership building, provides guidance to the annual work plan, works to create resources and funding, and promotes and sustains the vision and leadership of the Plan. The Committee advises the county Homeless Program Manager, the Director of Housing Services, the County Administrator, and the Board of County Commissioners.
Member Description: The 17-member committee includes a representative from each of the following categories: Washington County Commissioner official, a mayor or city councilor, philanthropy, business, Housing Authority of Washington County, a nonprofit housing provider, a nonprofit service provider, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Community Corrections, state or federal entitlement/mainstream resource programs, a representative from the two major hospitals, a representative from the faith community, 3 citizens at-large and a homeless/formerly homeless consumer.
Term: 3 years
Contact: Annette Evans, 503-846-4760
Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) – 1 position available now
Description: Providing affordable housing in Washington County is a formidable job. It is the mission of the HAC to advise the Housing Authority Board of Directors on housing goals policies, to review and recommend actions on the budgets of the Housing Authority, to advise regarding the community’s needs for low-income housing, and to recommend resources and programs available to address those needs.
Member Description: Fifteen members representing various groups, to include:
• Two (2) Members being assisted by the Housing Authority;
• One (1) Member involved in the Finance profession;
• One (1) Member representative of the Elderly;
• One (1) Member representative of Minority Groups;
• One (1) Member drawn from officials of Social Service organizations;
• One (1) Member drawn from either Design/Architectural/Engineer professions;
• One (1) Member drawn from Real Estate/Development/Construction;
• One (1) Member involved in Urban and Regional Planning;
• One (1) Member involved in Property Management;
• One (1) Member representing Veterans; and
• Four (4) Members at large.
Bylaws: https://www.co.washington.or.us/Housing/CommitteesPartners/upload/7-HAC-Bylaws-6-6-17.pdf
Term: 4 Years
Time Commitment: 2 hours (minimum) each month
Meetings: Fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Contacts: Jacob Boyett, 971-392-5579 and Melissa Sonsalla, 503-268-3215
Metzger Park Local Improvement District Advisory Board – 6 positions available now
Description: Maintains a proud tradition of overseeing the only park in the County supported through a Local Improvement District. The Board plans and helps with park maintenance needs, deals with the administrative issues involved in running an active urban park.
Member Description: Nine members (seven regular and two alternates) who own property within the Metzger Park Local Improvement District.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month, 4 times per year
Meetings: Fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer, 503-846-7001
North Bethany County Service District for Roads Budget Committee – 2 positions available now
Description: Reviews the proposed budget developed for the North Bethany County Service District for Roads in unincorporated Washington County.
Member Description: The Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. The five residents must live in the North Bethany CSDR.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: Approximately two three-hour meetings every May that total 6 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour evening meeting the second week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the Sheriff's Office and Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening two weeks after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756
Northwest Area Commission on Transportation (NWACT) – 2 positions available now
Description: NWACT is an advisory body chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission. NWACT addresses all aspects of transportation (surface, marine, air, and transportation safety) with primary focus on the state transportation system. NWACT considers regional and local transportation issues in northwest Oregon that affect the state system.
NWACT plays a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which schedules funded transportation projects. NWACT establishes a public process for area project selection priorities for the STIP. Through that process, they prioritize transportation problems and solutions and recommend projects in their area to be included in the STIP.
Boundaries include: The entirety of Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties and the western portion of Washington County including the cities of Banks and Gaston. The Washington County area includes Highway 47 to the southern city limits of Gaston excluding the city of Forest Grove, the east on US 26 and including the Dersham Rd interchange.
Member Description: Two Citizen-At-Large representing western Washington County (including Banks and Gaston), selected by the county’s commissioners. Members are non-elected citizens selected from private interests including but not limited to freight, trucking, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation system, public interest advocacy groups, environmental, land use, local citizens, business, education, minority organizations, public safety providers, non-profit organizations, etc.
Term: 2 years
Time Commitment: 1 to 2 hours per month
Meetings: Fourth Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Christina Deffebach, 503-846-3406
Park and Recreation Advisory Board – 1 position available now
Description: Provides advice on the maintenance, operations, and capital development needs of County parks, including Scoggins Valley Park/Henry Hagg Lake.
Member Description: Nine members who are residents of the county. Traditionally members appointed from all Commissioner districts.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours, 6 times per year
Meetings: Third Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer, 503-846-7001
Planning Commission – 1 position available now and 2 positions available after Jan. 31, 2022
Description: These nine appointed volunteers advise the Board of County Commissioners on land use and transportation planning issues. They conduct public hearings, make final decisions on some changes to land use plans, and convey recommendations to the Board on comprehensive plan and community development ordinances.
Member Description: Nine members who are residents of the county. Generally, two members are appointed by each Commissioner, and one by the Board Chair as an At-large appointment. No more than two members can be engaged principally in the buying, selling, or development of real estate. No more than two members can be engaged in the same occupation.
Term: 4 years
Time Commitment: 5 to 10 hours per month
Meetings: First Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Todd Borkowitz, 503-846-3593
Public Health Advisory Council – 1 position available now and 4 positions available after Jan. 31, 2022
Description: The Washington County Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC) has been appointed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to fulfill any federal and state-mandated responsibilities and to advise the Board of Commissioners in its role as the Board of Health for Washington County. The Washington County Public Health Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and the Public Health Division Manager to improve the health and well-being of everyone in Washington County.
Member Description: The Council shall consist of a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 17 members representing many dimensions of the community and one non-appointed, non-voting position from the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The Public Health Advisory Council membership will seek to represent the whole community; members of communities that experience health and social inequities will be given preference for membership on the Council.
Term: 4 years
Time Commitment: 2 hours monthly
Meetings: At least 10 times annually; on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:30
Contact: Vivianna Lindley, 503-846-8246
Public Safety Coordinating Council – 1 position available now and 2 available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: The Public Safety Coordinating Council is a statutorily mandated committee convened by the Washington County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of developing and recommending plans for the use of state resources respective to the coordination of local criminal justice and juvenile justice policy. Collaborative planning provides a countywide approach to enhancing communication and partnership among law enforcement, public safety, criminal justice agencies and the residents of the Washington County community. The developed plans include strategies to address prevention, treatment, education, employment resources and intervention services. The Public Safety Coordinating Council supports an overarching coordinated approach to public safety by reviewing emerging and best practices in policy development, restorative justice, racial and ethnic disparities in the system and community collaboration programs that maximize resources and minimize duplication. The plans supported by the Public Safety Coordinating Council are referred to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
Member Description: The Public Safety Coordinating Council is made up of 15 members required by statute, two of which are non-voting members. Three of the 15 positions are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Additional positions include the County Administrator and a member of the Bar Association, appointed by the presiding judge; and four additional lay community members preferably representatives from agencies that provide culturally specific services and/or members of communities of color, appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Please see Membership Matrix for members and their represented positions.
Term: 2 years
Time Commitment: 4 hours or less per month; slightly more when involved with subcommittees
Meetings: The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets six times per year; bimonthly beginning in January on the third Friday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM.
Meetings: The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets six times per year; bimonthly beginning in January on the third Friday of the month from 1:00-3:00 PM. Meetings will now be held virtually and in-person. 2021 Meeting Schedule: July 16, 2021, September 17, 2021, November 19, 2021.
Contact: Erin Calvert (503) 846-8685
Rural Roads Operations and Maintenance Advisory Committee (RROMAC) – 1 position available now and 3 positions available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: RROMAC studies rural road operations and maintenance concerns in Washington County, works with County staff to develop program and funding alternatives and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
Member Description: Twelve members who reside or have business interests in the county, all of whom serve as regular members and are appointed by the Board of Commissioners. In addition, there are two ex-officio members: one Commissioner appointed by the Board of Commissioners, and the LUT Operations Division Manager. Members represent different groups with an interest in rural roads.
Term: 4 years
Time Commitment: Two hours per month
Meetings: Second Thursday, 7:30 a.m.
Contact: Sherri McFall, 503-846-7615
Urban Road Maintenance District Advisory Committee (URMDAC) – 2 positions available after Dec 31, 2021
Description: URMDAC advises the Board and staff on matters related to road maintenance provided by the Urban Road Maintenance District (URMD). URMDAC reviews and makes recommendations regarding URMD's level of service and annual work program, assists in evaluating the cost effectiveness and efficiency of URMD, assists in informing URMD activities and advises on continuation of URMD and/or other long-range funding opportunities for road maintenance.
Member Description: URMDAC is comprised of ten (10) residents of the Urban Road Maintenance District, all of whom serve as regular members and are appointed by the Board. In addition, there are two ex-officio members: one Commissioner appointed by the Board of Commissioners, and the LUT Operations Division Manager. Members represent different groups with an interest in roads within the Urban Road Maintenance District.
Term: 4 Years
Time Commitment: Two hours per month
Meetings: Third Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Contact: Sherri McFall, 503-846-7615
Washington County and SDL No.1 Budget Committee – 2 positions available now
Description: Reviews the proposed County budget submitted by the budget officer each fiscal year.
Member Description: Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. Each Commissioner/district is allocated an appointment, however the representative does not need to reside in the Commissioner's district.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: Approximately two three-hour meetings every May that total 6 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour evening meeting the second week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the Sheriff's Office and Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening two weeks after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Jack Liang, 503-846-8756
The application deadline for all positions is November 2, 2021, or open until filled. Applications may be obtained by visiting the Boards and Commissions website.
Media Contact:
Tricia Kennedy, Senior Administrative Specialist503-846-6288
[email protected]