Portland City Council Considers New Advocate Role for CUB
Posted on January 2, 2014 by Jeff Bissonnette
Tags, Consumers and Utility Customers, Legislative & Political, Portland Water, Sewer and Wastewater
Here’s some big news to start the New Year!
Today, Commissioners Nick Fish and Steve Novick filed a resolution proposing that the Portland City Council designate CUB as the residential ratepayer advocate for customers of water, sewer, and wastewater services. The City Council will vote on the resolution on January 8, 2014 at their regular meeting. (You can read The Oregonian’s coverage of the resolution filing here.)
Since many of our members have urged us over the years to get involved with the City of Portland to address water and sewer issues, CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks opened a conversation with City Commissioner Steve Novick just as the commissioner was ending a short time as the commissioner-in-charge of the water bureau. When City Commissioner Nick Fish was assigned both bureaus that covered water and sewer issues this spring, the conversations continued with him and his staff and were ongoing throughout the summer. From the start, Commissioner Fish was interested in having more consumer representation for city ratepayers which led to the resolution filed today.
CUB will not be receiving any funding from the city for our advocacy work. We will fund the new activity by increasing our membership through inserts in Portlanders’ water and sewer bills. CUB Executive Director Bob Jenks expressed confidence in the benefits of funding the new program in this way: “Ratepayers can fund their own advocacy if given a chance to do so. That way, Portlanders can be assured that CUB is completely independent and working for their best interests.”
While we are pretty sure that council members will vote in support of the resolution, some grassroots support wouldn’t hurt. Please make a quick call or send a short e-mail asking the City Council to make CUB the residential ratepayer advocate for water and sewer services in the City of Portland. Here is the contact information for each of the City Council members:
Mayor Charlie Hales: (503)823-4120; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Commissioner Nick Fish: (503)823-3589; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Commissioner Amanda Fritz: (503)823-3008; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Commissioner Steve Novick: (503)823-4682; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Commissioner Dan Saltzman: (503)823-4151; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The resolution will be voted on at the council meeting on January 8 at City Hall. The item is scheduled for 10:15 am but may be taken up later than that. Please attend the council meeting to show your support if you are able.
But even if you’re not able to attend, remember to send an e-mail or make a call to council members urging them to vote yes. Thanks very much for your support!
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
04/05/17 | 0 Comments | Portland City Council Considers New Advocate Role for CUB