Project Summary
The significant charter reforms passed by voters in November 2022 raised questions about what the changes meant for appointed boards, commissions, and committees (ABCs), and the need for clarity and coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government in ABC processes.
On Mar. 31, 2025, the City's new Chief Engagement Officer presented an outline of this project to the City Council's Governance Committee. The Governance Committee approved the project's direction.
Project success looks like:
- The City's ABC Program fits the new mayor-council form of government and district-based representation
- There's a shared understanding about why the City has ABCs and there are shared expectations for staff, members, and recipients of ABC advice
- Practices are equity-centered and standardized across the City's ABCs
- ABCs address a goal or need of the City and the people serving have meaningful experiences
- Portlanders know how to find and engage with the ABCs' work
From April through November 2025, the project team considered previous ABC feedback, existing City materials, Council direction, staff liaison expertise, peer city research and local jurisdictional review, internal workgroup thought partnership, and community feedback through an online survey, email, a community event, community input sessions and public testimony. This work informed a series of recommended Citywide policies and practices for City leadership's consideration.
Final Project Report & Next Steps
The Final Project Report was released in November 2025.
Advisory Bodies Enhancement Project Final Report (Nov. 20, 2025)
The project's recommendations will be carried out through a three-pronged approach: council ordinance adopting code provisions; council adoption of procedures governing its actions related to ABCs; and executive action by the mayor, city administrator, and chief engagement officer.
The project team is scheduled to present to the Council Governance Committee on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. The Governance Committee will consider an ordinance adopting code provisions.
Previous Reports, Council Discussion, and Community Sessions
The project team released status updates throughout the project.
Status Update #3: Advisory Bodies Enhancement Project (Sept. 25, 2025)
The project team presented its latest work to the council Governance Committee on Monday, Oct. 6. You can watch the recording here [timestamp 14:00-1:34:00].
The City hosted two identical virtual community input sessions for Portlanders to provide feedback on the proposed improvements on Oct. 9 and 14. You can review the session slide deck here and read the meeting notes here for Oct. 9 and here for Oct. 14.
Project Timeline
Here is a visual that shows where we are going.
Where Can I Send Questions and Comments?
Please send questions or comments about the project to AdvisoryBodies@portlandoregon.g….