Photo caption: Top, from left to right: Wade Lange, Steph Routh, Erica Thompson, Michael Alexander; bottom row, from left to right: Eli Spevak, Nikesh Patel, Michael Pouncil, Mary-Rain O'Meara.
On Tuesday, March 14, Portland’s newly-appointed Planning Commission met for the first time on the 7th floor of the new Vanport Building, home of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The commissioners, appointed by City Council on Feb. 22, included three veteran commissioners from the former Planning and Sustainability Commission and five new commissioners. Their experience ranges from land use, planning, architecture and design, to conservation, natural resources, and community development law.
Commissioner Rubio welcomed the new commissioners and thanked them for their service. She stressed City Council’s desire to solve the housing crisis. The commissioners then shared their personal interests in serving on the new commission and their relevant lived experiences. More on that to come.
One position of the nine-member Commission is still vacant. A recruitment for that position will open later this year.