2026-083

TO THE COUNCIL: 

On November 16, 2022, through Ordinance 191071, City Council approved the Cully TIF District Plan (TIF Plan). The Plan includes a Community Governance Charter (Governance Charter) that articulates CLC responsibilities, namely, to advise City of Portland and Prosper Portland staff, Mayor, City Administrator, City Council, and the Prosper Portland Board of Commissioners (Board) on the implementation of the TIF Plan by providing guidance, public recommendations, and oversight of the City's and Prosper Portland's implementation of the TIF Plan. 

As Mayor of the City of Portland, I request City Council confirmation of the following appointment and reappointments to the Cully Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District Community Leadership Committee (CLC): appointment of Vena Rainwater, and the reappointments of Elizabeth De Jesus Lopez, Bella Mata, Jorge Lanri Sanchez Bautista, Julia Tienson, and Laura Campos. 

Biographies & Statements of Interest

Vena Rainwater Bio

Vena Rainwater is a program manager, community organizer, and professional juggler of Zoom calls. She lives with her two kids and a dog named Mila. Vena brings the same energy to equity work that she brings to everything else—relentless optimism mixed with tactical problem-solving. She holds a BA in Community Development from Portland State University and has spent her career proving that you can center marginalized voices and build sustainable partnerships with humor and accountability.

Vena Rainwater Statement of Interest

I'm excited to serve on the Cully TIF Community Leadership Committee. Having been part of the executive leadership team that created this district from 2021-2023, I've seen how much work goes into building protective policy—and I know the real work is in implementation, making sure those protections actually keep families stable and housed.

I want to continue this work because I'm deeply committed to ensuring the Cully TIF becomes the anti-displacement model we envisioned. Through my ongoing involvement with Cully Blvd Alliance and Our42nd, I stay connected to what's happening in the neighborhood and understand the displacement pressures our community continues to face.

Elizabeth De Jesus Lopez Bio

Elizabeth De Jesus Lopez has eight years of experience working with the community as an organizer, as a leader in the community, leading community engagement and advocacy for her community's needs.  She is team-oriented, helpful, respectful, and passionate about serving the community.  She has experience organizing and facilitating meetings, as well as English to Spanish translation.  

Elizabeth led Spanish-speaking community engagement and focus groups for the process to create the Cully TIF District Plan and was part of the Exploration Leadership Committee (ELC).  Her work ensured a diverse set of voices were included in that plan, and she hopes to bring those voices and perspective forward as the plan is implemented. 

Elizabeth De Jesus Lopez Statement of Interest 

"I am excited to represent my Latino community and people of color, and to help all community members be informed about what is going on.  I have been working on the TIF project from the beginning and would like to see where it goes." 

Bella Mata Bio

Bella Mata works as a coordinator for Andando en Bicicletas Y Caminando (ABC) in Cully, a transportation advocacy organization. She volunteers at Faubion Elementary School and works in the social work field with the school community, providing resources to families. She is passionate about identifying the community's essential needs and working together to improve everyone's quality of life. 

Bella Mata Statement of Interest

I really like working with the community and helping to improve the families' wellbeing. This is something that motivates me.

Jorge Sanchez Bautista Bio

Jorge Lanri is a high school student and leader at McDaniel High School.  He is an Equity Representative at the school, a position designed to improve student and teacher relations, as well as a student advisor to the vice principal. He is a community advocate and member of the Cully Association of Neighbors (CAN). Jorge is passionate about safety and community involvement. 

Jorge Sanchez Bautista Statement of Interest

Being able to meet new people, connections, being one of the youngest members on the body meaning being the youth's voice, and hopefully making change.

Julia Tienson Bio

Julia Tienson began volunteering with the Cully Housing Action Team (CHAT) in 2016 when she and her husband bought their first and only home in Cully.  At the time she was pursuing her Master's in Social Work from PSU, which reinforced her enthusiasm and commitment to be involved in Cully's incredible community organizing efforts. She also speaks Spanish and grew up in NE Portland. 

Previously, Julia served as a family service worker at Sacajawea Head Start where she did home visits and met a lot of families living in area mobile home parks and apartment complexes. I later joined CHAT leadership, served as back-up interpreter a number of times, wrote a small grant to support the housing repair team, participated in a demonstration and protest at the Normandy apartments. 

Julia has a three-year-old child who attends a neighborhood preschool and daycare and she works for the University of Oregon from home as a bilingual clinician serving families across the state on federally funded research grants. Julia is committed to social justice and wants to see Cully's families thriving. 

Julia Tienson Statement of Interest

I am thrilled by the idea of getting back to work and being in collaboration and partnership with Cully neighbors. I am invested in our community, and I am curious and excited to learn about what people want to see and imagine for our future. I am excited by the possibility of being one of many voices at the table and getting to share my love for our community, passion for housing access, and commitment to social justice.

Laura Campos Bio

Laura Campos is a long-term volunteer in the Cully neighborhood providing her time at Verde, Cully Gathering Garden, and NAYA. She was also essential in diversifying the curriculum at Portland Community College (PCC), assisting with the design of the long house on the Portland State University Campus, and started the annual Powwow at the PCC Sylvania campus. Prior to her work in the Cully neighborhood, Laura studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, went to law school, wrote a book, worked for the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, and stopped driving in 1973 for environmental reasons. Laura also hopes to keep mentoring youth during her tenure to build up future leaders. 

Laura Campos Statement of Interest

I am optimistic and hopeful of keeping people from being displaced. I want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for improving neighborhoods without displacement. I can't think of anything better to do than keep trying.

Respectfully submitted, 

Mayor Keith Wilson