CUB and Blue Ribbon Commission Prepare Final Report to City Council on Portland Utility Oversight
Posted on November 14, 2014 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Outreach and Events, Portland Water, Sewer and Wastewater, Public Involvement and Coalitions
Yesterday (Thursday November 13th), the Utility Oversight Blue Ribbon Commission presented its preliminary recommendations at a work session of the Portland City Council. The work session format provided the opportunity for an engaging discussion between Oversight Commission members and the City Council. Suggestions and ideas from the City Council will inform the Utility Oversight Commission’s final report, as will input received at the group’s third and final public hearing next week.
The Council Work Session draft is available at the Blue Ribbon Commission’s website.
Key elements of the Utility Oversight Blue Ribbon Commission preliminary recommendations include:
- Streamline and strengthen internal utility oversight by forming a new group, tentatively named the Public Utility Board or PUB. The PUB will meet year-round and have its own dedicated staff with utility expertise. Its scope is broad and includes oversight of the big construction projects that are the major drivers of rate increases. The PUB will replace existing ineffective oversight groups including the short-term budget advisory committees controlled by the utility bureaus. This will ensure that the PUB is not “just another bureaucratic layer”.
- The City Council will officially integrate the PUB into all steps of its budget process for the utility bureaus and adopt other procedures to ensure that it listens and responds to recommendations from the PUB.
- CUB will continue in its role as residential ratepayer advocate, providing independent analysis from outside City Hall. CUB is not paid by the city but is given full access to financial and other public utility information so we can advocate for Portlanders. CUB’s work is independent because it relies on membership support.
CUB has played a key role on the Utility Oversight Blue Ribbon Commission. Moving forward, even though that group is winding up its work, CUB remains on the job looking for ways to rein in water, sewage, and stormwater rates for Portland residents.
For more information, contact Janice at 503-227-1984 x24, or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
All Blue Ribbon Commission materials are available at the City of Portland’s Blue Ribbon Commission website.
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
04/24/17 | 0 Comments | CUB and Blue Ribbon Commission Prepare Final Report to City Council on Portland Utility Oversight