578-2022

Report

Appoint members to the Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee for three year terms

Accepted

Office of Mayor Ted Wheeler

City of Portland

June 6, 2022

As Mayor and Commissioner of Finance & Administration, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee:

AppointmentPositionTerm
Dan LenzenRiding Public RepresentativeThree Years
Guy AukerTNC Driver RepresentativeThree Years
Jen ArmbrusterRepresentative of People with DisabilitiesThree Years
Allison FordTNC Company RepresentativeThree Years

Respectfully submitted,

Mayor Ted Wheeler


Dan Lenzen

Dan Lenzen (he/him) has lived and worked in Portland for many years and is very familiar with the Old Town/Entertainment District, where he owns the famous Dixie Tavern. Dan is the co-owner of Venture Hospitality and Real Estate and has over 30 years of experience owning and operating multiple businesses related to the food, beverage, hospitality, and entertainment industry. The hands-on skill set has helped set a high level of performance expectation in all the venues he has developed, from concept creation to implementation and training. As a licensed contractor, he has developed extensive experience in property ownership, development, and maintenance.

Dan has been very active in Portland and shaped policy on various committees. A founder of the Old Town Hospitality Group in Portland, Dan is deeply involved in developing and operating a thriving hospitality zone. He is very experienced in lending his voice to building a better Portland, including the transportation industry. He has a respected working relationship with authorities and agencies in each municipality he has worked.

Statement of Interest

Dan is interested in joining both the Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee as a Representative of the Riding Public. His excitement for Portland, making for-hire transportation safe, efficient, and inclusive, is evident in the various committees and roles he participates in throughout Portland. Dan has over thirty years of experience serving on boards and advisory bodies. These include the City of Portland Private for-Hire Innovation Task Force, the Portland Public Safety Coalition, the Downtown Safety Committee, the Old Town Community Association, and the Portland Rose Festival, where he serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.  

Dan has been a successful entrepreneur for the past 35 years opening businesses in four western states. His business experience allows a unique perspective; he has seen the benefits and challenges of dealing with various cities' development and compliance. He understands the statutory requirements for public meetings, has the time to prepare for discussions that will allow him to participate fully and provide valuable insight, understands the importance of ethics and integrity, and knows how vital these committees are in today's environment. He values listening to the opinions of others and will make informed statements, always advocating for historically underrepresented communities.  

Dan has volunteered his entire life for many worthwhile things, and the involvement has allowed him to understand how he can make a difference by being a vested volunteer. He is very excited about helping shape the for-hire transportation industry, and the committees will benefit from his experience of being a professional in Portland. 


Guy Auker

Guy Auker (he/him) grew up in Portland and became affiliated with the private for-hire transportation industry in the mid 90’s when he began working as a driver for Classic Chauffeur.  He became a TNC driver when Uber and Lyft came to Portland and continues to drive for them part time when he is not working as a flight attendant for Horizon Air.  He knows Portland well and is passionate about the for-hire transportation industry and customer service. 

Statement of Interest

Guy is interested in serving on the Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee as a TNC Driver Representative.  He was one of the first drivers to sign up to drive for Uber and Lyft in Portland seven years ago and he continues to do so today.  As a TNC driver, Guy has fresh eyes on what is going well, and what could be changed in Portland to make for-hire transportation better.  He wants to share his ideas and solutions and will have an open-door policy for other for-hire drivers to share their perspective and ideas with him. Guy will work hard to ensure he is representing the drivers fairly and will be an advocate for change.   


Jen Armbruster

Jen Armbruster (she/her) is a totally blind woman with a seeing eye dog who accompanies her when traveling in Portland. She is passionate about everyone having access to transportation and realizes that many people from marginalized groups have obstacles to transportation.  Jen is the Inclusive Rec and Fitness Center Coordinator for Portland State University (PSU) where she supports students from a variety of backgrounds to not only access recreational avenues but also to navigate student life and traveling in Portland despite many obstacles. 

Jen is a Paralympian in the sport of Goalball. She is a mom to four kids from her blended family.  Jen loves being involved with her family, and she lives with her partner and her two youngest children, 10 and 16, as well as a 20-year-old nephew.  Unfortunately, she and her partner recently lost their 20-year-old daughter in a car accident.  Jen has been blind and a guide dog user for 30 years.  She had good vision until the age of 14, then spent 3 years with low vision before going totally blind.  She loves sports and spending time with her family. She is passionate about inclusive work and wants to see everyone have equal access.

Statement of Interest

Jen is passionate about joining the Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee as a Representative of People with Disabilities because she faces obstacles in transportation herself, being a female with a disability who is also a part of the LBGQT community.  Jen’s education background is in Criminal Justice Administration, and she understands the importance of advocating for people who are under-represented.  She knows that access to justice and fairness is not always equal, and she wants to help change that in Portland.

Jen works with many groups to make changes at PSU and is also involved with non-profits such as Adaptive Sports NW and ALSO, a disability support services provider committed to full community inclusion and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Jen looks forward to reducing obstacles for people, educating for-hire drivers about working with the public and individuals with disabilities, and making changes to improve equity and inclusion.   Jen is a good listener and takes in everyone’s ideas, beliefs and thoughts. She is patient with listening and takes a breath before responding as she believes the listening piece is huge.


Allison Ford

Allison Ford serves as Manager of Public Affairs and Policy for the Pacific Northwest for Uber Technologies, Inc.  Allison has more than 15 years of experience working at the intersection of global and domestic public policy, community organizing, government affairs, and technology.  Before joining Uber in 2021, Allison led Lyft’s recruitment and community engagement to expand the company’s social impact and racial justice programs in Washington state after working for United Technologies Corporation for ten years on international and global government relations.  Allison started her career in politics and policy on the John Kerry for President campaign as the Deputy Volunteer Coordinator, which included organizing more than 100 volunteers daily as part of the “Road to Victory” program. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Allison earned her bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University in History and a master’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University.

Statement of Interest:

My name is Allison Ford, and I am interested in serving on the City of Portland’s Private For-Hire Transportation Advisory Committee on behalf of the Transportation Network Companies (TNC).  As detailed in my brief professional biography, I work for Uber Technologies, Inc., but my interest in this committee extends beyond that role. I have a background in public policy at the national and international levels, where I enjoy working with others to address problems and deliver working solutions. I am collaborative in my approach and start with understanding the issue so we can put our experiences and minds together to offer workable solutions aligned with shared goals and values. As TNCs become more intricate parts of all transportation systems, I hope to provide ways for Uber and other transportation companies to contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and accessible network that benefits all residents and visitors of Portland.

Impact Statement

Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information

The purpose of this Council action is to appoint four new members to replace expired member positions to the Private For-Hire Transportation (PFHT) Advisory Committee. The PFHT Advisory Committee was established by Portland City Council in December of 2015 to provide expertise and feedback to the public, PBOT Director, and City Council on Portland’s PFHT market, regulations, and policies, taking into consideration the full range of City goals and objectives. The Committee consists of nineteen diverse members with expertise, knowledge, and interest in for-hire transportation in the City of Portland. Advisory Committee members are nominated by the Transportation Commissioner and appointed by Council.

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

There is no financial impact related to these appointments.

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

The PFHT Advisory Committee was established by Portland City Council with the specific purpose of engaging the community and PFHT stakeholders to provide expertise and feedback regarding Portland’s PFHT market, regulations, and policies, taking into consideration the full range of City goals and objectives. Those with expertise, knowledge, and interest in for-hire transportation were encouraged to submit an application for one of the open membership positions on the PFHT Advisory Committee, and outreach was conducted to PFHT stakeholders and permittees.

In addition to a non-voting representative from the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Committee membership also includes representatives from the following: the tourism industry, representation for people with disabilities, the riding public, the Port of Portland, TriMet, a taxi driver, a Transportation Network Company (TNC), a TNC driver, an executive town car company, a shuttle company, a limousine or party bus company, a tour company, a pedicab company, and a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) company. Committee members serve three-year terms.

Budget Office Financial Impact Analysis

No fiscal impact

Agenda Items

Confirmed

Motion to accept the report: Moved by Mapps and seconded by Ryan.
  • Commissioner Dan Ryan Yea
  • Former Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty Absent
  • Commissioner Mingus Mapps Yea
  • Commissioner Carmen Rubio Yea
  • Mayor Ted Wheeler Yea

Contact

Christy Keller

Regulatory Program Administrator

Requested Agenda Type

Time Certain

Date and Time Information

Requested Council Date
Requested Start Time
9:45 am
Time Requested
15 minutes
Confirmed Time Certain