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Portland City Council appoints five members to the Planning Commission
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City Council confirmed the appointments of five members to Portland’s Planning Commission earlier today, ensuring a fully seated commission with members that reflect a diversity of experiences and perspectives.
The Planning Commission makes recommendations to City Council on an array of long-range land use plans and policies that range from protecting natural resources to ensuring an adequate supply of affordable housing. The Commission holds hearings and deliberates on city plans and policies that guide long term development and infrastructure investment in the city, with the goal of ensuring a prosperous and livable city for all Portlanders. The Commission leads with a climate justice and equity lens and is committed to meaningful community participation.
“We are very excited to welcome these five members to the Planning Commission,” said Patricia Diefenderfer. “Together, these new Commissioners bring a wealth of knowledge related to transportation and transit planning, infrastructure planning, and affordable housing. Portland is lucky to have them.”
The newly appointed members include four new appointments and one reappointment:
| Appointment | Term |
|---|---|
| Rubén Alvarado | July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029 |
| J’reyesha Brannon | July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029 |
| David Knowles | July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029 |
| Eli Spevak | July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029 |
| Lukas Pollack (Youth) | July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027 |
Learn more about the newly appointed members
Rubén Alvarado, Executive Director of the Community Cycling Center
“With lived experience in immigrant and working-class communities, I approach planning with a commitment to inclusion, public service, and collaborative problem-solving.”
J’reyesha Brannon, a civil engineer with a focus on conveyance and wastewater
“I am particularly interested in infrastructure, transportation, environmental policy, and land use issues because they impact the daily life of every Portlander.”
David Knowles, an attorney with four decades of experience in urban planning and transit development
“Success for the Planning Commission should be defined not just by what it does but how it does it.”
Eli Spevak, affordable housing developer and founder of Orange Splot LLC
“As a commissioner, I appreciate the range of perspectives we get to hear from the public, staff and each other.”
Lukas Pollack, youth commissioner and community development major at Portland State University
“I hope to aid my fellow commission members in making Portland, through our goals and decisions, a more connected, community-building, safe, affordable, inclusive, diverse city…”
These members will join four existing Commissioners, filling vacancies on the nine-member Planning Commission. Learn more about all the Planning Commission members.