2025-283

July 21, 2025

As Mayor, in consultation with Portland Utility Board members and the Deputy City Administrators for City Operations and Public Works Service Area, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Portland Utility Board:
 

Respectfully submitted,

Keith Wilson

Mayor

Biographies and Interest Statements for Appointees:

Voting Member – Reappointments

Alexis Rife is an interdisciplinary and systems thinker. She supports partners to solve complex problems in the environmental sector. Her focus areas are natural resource management, oceans, food systems, and water - and often at the intersection of these issues. Alexis brings deep experience in designing and facilitating collaborative processes and strategic planning. She holds a firm commitment to advancing equity and environmental justice in our community and world. Alexis volunteers with a range of local organizations, especially those in North Portland where she lives. 

Statement of Interest – Alexis Rife: 

I am excited about the PUB as an opportunity to bring my skillsets and passion to advance the work of the City Council and utility bureaus in my own community. I care deeply about ensuring that all communities have equitable access to clean water, air, and green spaces and serving on the PUB would allow me to directly have a positive impact on my city. I am also deeply committed to incorporating anti-racist principles into city government and am eager to contribute in a positive and meaningful way to this effort. I believe strongly in community, collaboration, and environmental justice and equity and see the work of the PUB as a key way to advance these values - especially in our new form of government. If selected to serve, during my service I hope to advance the Bureau’s efforts to climate-resilient and just water management, both now and in the future. These are inter-related goals, and I think some of the most urgent issues facing our city and world.

Appointed in 2022, Alexis has completed her first term on the Board and has continued to serve during transition. This would be her second and final 3-year term.

Lorraine Wilson is an immigrant from the beautiful twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, who moved to the United States 21+ years ago.  Coming from a family of educators and humanitarians, she resisted the natural path to becoming an educator.  However, over the years she has embraced her natural leaning towards learning, coaching and authentic communication and have continued her calling to speak up and act against injustices and inhumanity.

Her field of study is in Organizational Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Behavior (Culture Change), with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and BSc. in Business Management (emphasis on Organizational Behavior).

Lorraine’s upbringing was grounded in racial justice and as such she volunteered in various areas to drive those conversations and changes.  She served as a Commissioner on the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs (OCBA) from 2010 -2013 serving as Vice Chair. There she championed racial equity and challenged the state to focus on hate crimes during the “Post Racial” period (2008-2016).  She was a member of the Eugene 4J School District Equity Committee with a focus on closing the achievement/opportunity gap, United Coalition of Color (working on the Disproportionate Minority contact at Lane County Department of Youth Services).  She is also a member of Blacks In Government (BIG) - Eugene/Springfield Branch, having served as the membership chair and National Legislative representative for Region 10.  She is currently serving on the Board of Resolution Northwest. (RNW) and a Board Aunty of Brown Girls Rise. Lorraine also served on the Portland Harbor Community Grant Review Committee and advocated successfully for increased funding for community groups, Children Levy fund reviewer and Oregon Community Fund Grant Reviewer.

Lorraine has facilitated inclusive Strategic Planning with Brown Girls Rise, Co-Facilitated - American Association of University Women (AAUW) Washington Online Branch – Diversity and Inclusion Online Training and as a Board member at RNW, part of the strategic focus on dismantling white supremacy within the organization, and have contributed to conversations challenging the status quo.

What you are guaranteed to get is honest, thoughtful, humane consideration.  Lorraine considers herself a thought leader in dissecting systemic racism and anti-blackness

Statement of Interest – Lorraine Wilson: 

What excites me is the opportunity to advocate resulting in better outcomes and greater impact. Having the opportunity to take the challenges and barriers that I and others have experienced, and raising them within the spaces that creates them, to develop better policies, procedures and practices that results in timely, matter of fact changes informed by community. The opportunity to work with others collaboratively to create empowered communities that are confident advocating for themselves. The opportunity to work within the system to create positive change. If I am selected and appointed to serve, I would firstly spend time learning about what the Board has accomplished before my time and how successful it has been in creating change. This would provide a better understanding of the foundation that is already there. This would guide me in determining, how I can move forward with ensuring that the board centers equity in all its work. I would take the time to learn about the City’s funding mechanisms through utility rate charges applied to residents; and how those monies are spent. Ultimately, what I would plan to accomplish during my service would be to ensure that the City provides reliable services that are cost efficient and affordable to all residents, understanding the customers’ needs intimately so that it is reflected in the water and sewer rates they are charged.

Appointed in 2022, Lorraine has completed her first term on the Board and has continued to serve during transition. This would be her second and final 3-year term.

Voting Members – New Appointees

Bruk Berhanu is a water resources engineer and new resident of Portland, moving here in Spring of 2024 after 11 years in Austin, TX.  He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of Texas at Austin researching strategies for cities to support water resilience through “one water” strategies such as greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting. After graduating, Bruk spent five years working in Austin’s water and wastewater utility supporting cross-functional efforts to develop and implement the city’s 100-year integrated water resources plan while integrating an equity lens into utility decision-making processes.  He is now a senior research specialist with the Pacific Institute, a global water resources think tank, where he leads water efficiency and reuse research projects to support long-term water resilience across the country. Originally from Cleveland, OH and completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Bruk has developed his passion for understanding the intersection of water, infrastructure, and society through his academic and life experiences. He now works to use his expertise and experience to build that passion in others and work toward a just and sustainable water future for all.

Statement of Interest – Bruk Berhanu:

Portland’s water and wastewater utilities are at a crossroads, dealing with the effects of previous decade’s decisions while working to ensure safe and sustainable drinking water and protecting the natural assets of this beautiful city. While the challenge is daunting, I’m excited for the opportunity to support and serve my new home in the best way I know how to. My career has focused on environmental and social impacts, and unintended consequences, of conventional decision-making by water and wastewater utilities. I’ve seen first hand how some approaches leave the most vulnerable of us to fall through the cracks and erode public trust while prioritizing concerns of well-resourced interests over the broader community.  Ultimately, water and wastewater utilities are responsible for public and environmental health, and I hope to bring my experiences and perspective to the PUB to help ensure that the Portland Water Bureau and Bureau of Environmental Services are making decisions that stay true to Portland’s stated values of Anti-racism, Equity, Transparency, Communication, Collaboration, and Fiscal Responsibility. This value-driven work is the key to public trust and support, especially at a time where trust in our institutions are at their lowest, and I look forward to supporting this work to face some of the most pressing issues in our city.

Cormac Burke Cormac has been a Portland resident since 1990 and has recently retired from a 40 year career in Information Technology. In his role as an IT Analyst/Architect/Director he worked across numerous organizations and industries to deliver enterprise IT Solutions. Roughly 15 years of his career were spent at a large electric utility based in Portland where he was involved in the implementation and support of Corporate Systems (Financial/HR/Regulatory) as well as Power Delivery and Transmissions systems. In that role he developed a strong appreciation and awareness of both the criticality and nuance of utilities in general, as well as how Investor owned utilities differ from public utilities. He led and collaborated with numerous groups, organizations and vendors in his roles, and built up a strong reputation as an open, supportive and collaborative leader who worked well with people across multiple different cultures. 

He has served in volunteer positions in a variety of areas, including the Multnomah County Citizens Advisory Board, the PCC Information Systems Advisory Committee, and an informal advisory board that was established to provide input and guidance to the City of Portland around their initial implementation of the SAP software suite.

Statement of Interest - Bruk Berhanu: 

As a long time resident of Portland I have a strong interest in helping the city of Portland be the best it can be. Since retiring from the private sector I’ve been looking for opportunities to bring value to my community, and the PBO feels like an excellent opportunity to do so. My background in utilities coupled with my organizational and collaboration skills feel like an appropriate background to bring to the position. I believe this position has a number of interesting challenges, particularly around how to ensure and manage equity across Portland’s diverse communities. The impact that Utilities have on the citizens of Portland is significant, and ensuring that costs, communication, cultural awareness, and awareness of blinders and biases is essential to managing our utilities and ensuring that citizens are treated with respect, equity, and reasonableness.

Darrel Bobb is an infrastructure and energy systems professional with a background in public works, clean energy, and military service. He currently serves as a utility locator for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) and is a U.S. Navy veteran who specialized in weapons systems safety and emergency response aboard submarines. A former wind turbine technician and quality assurance specialist, Darrel is committed to technical excellence and ensuring that frontline experience informs public infrastructure decisions.

Statement of interest - Darrel Bobb:

Hi, I’m Darrel Bobb. I’m honored to be considered for the Portland Utility Board. I’m excited about this opportunity because I believe public infrastructure decisions should be shaped by real-world experience and grounded in community needs. I’m especially interested in how the Board can strengthen transparency, elevate frontline insight, and help guide investments that are thoughtful, inclusive, and built to serve all Portlanders—now and into the future.

Jennifer O’Connor has dedicated her life to public service through her work as a civil servant and her volunteer work with underrepresented communities. A licensed landscape architect with over 20 years of experience, she managed public infrastructure projects with a long-range perspective, including the environmental review and design phases of San Francisco’s Embarcadero Freeway Replacement which was damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. She also participated in San Francisco’s Public Utility Commission’s pilot program testing a tertiary treated water system. Jennifer has an understanding about how natural resource systems and water infrastructure could work together to support environmental and community health, and she brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to complex challenges. Her volunteer service on the City of Portland’s CEI Hub Policy Project and Water Bureau’s budget review committee reflect her commitment to ensure the public sector meets community needs and equity goals. Jennifer supports Portland’s One Water Initiative and is ready to step up and assist the city in tackling the growing challenges of its water systems.

Statement of Interest - Jennifer O'Connor:

I am honored to submit my interest in serving on the Portland Utility Board. I’m driven by a strong sense of public service and welcome the opportunity to be part of an advisory group which has similar values as mine. As Portland advances its One Water Initiative, I am dedicated to supporting the goals of the city; that our water, sewer, and stormwater systems remain dependable, affordable, and resilient while supporting public and watershed health in this time of climate crisis.

As a licensed landscape architect with over 20 years of experience managing complex public infrastructure projects, I have an idea of how water and natural resource systems could work together to build community and environmental resilience. My volunteer service with the CEI Hub Policy Project and the Water Bureau’s citizen / employee budget review committee demonstrate my commitment to ensuring that the public sector responds to community needs and will advance equity and environmental justice. I value collaboration, transparency, and accountability in decision-making and will bring these values to the Board to help shape a sustainable water future.

Dr. Myra Khushbakht is an emergency medicine resident physician at Oregon Health and Science University, where she works to help meet the needs of patients in the emergency department—often deemed the social safety net of the hospital. Here in Portland, she has seen the diversity of our community right in the emergency department both at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and Oregon Health and Science University. Her working experience further motivates and empowers her in seeking to create inclusive environments and explore ways to participate in supporting infrastructure that help meet people’s social drivers of health and basic needs. She is interested in discussing sustainable recommendations for water infrastructure that helps support our environments and communities. In terms of her career, she specializes in emergency medicine with an interest in medical toxicology, particularly environmental toxicology. Outside the duties of residency, she enjoys learning new languages, tending to her plants, and swimming.

Statement of Interest – Dr. Myra Khushbakht:

I am excited to share my perspective on social determinants of health for hearings and recommendations with the Portland Utility Board. How our environment is shaped strongly contributes to our quality of life and health. Studies have shown that the neighborhoods we live in can strongly impact our access to improving our health. I have a great interest in environmental health, and I have spent some time in both medical school and residency learning about how water waste and runoff impacts people from a toxicological perspective. With my background in working in historically marginalized communities as well as the emergency room, I think it is so important to advocate for inclusive policies that help shape our built environment, especially with how our water use planning impacts how we interact with our environment and affects our health. Advocating for inclusive and sustainable water policies ensures a healthier and more equitable future not only for our communities today, but for generations to come.

I am so excited to learn and share different perspectives with all of the members of the Portland Utility Board as well as various communities within the City of Portland to contribute to creating inclusive, sustainable, and innovative urban solutions for water infrastructure.