How to Apply
The deadline for applications is extended to 9am on Monday, April 26, 2021. Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately after the application due date, and interviews may take place 1-3 weeks after review. To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact Maija Spencer at maija.spencer@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5593.
We welcome you to browse our website to learn more about this work at portland.gov/parks/levy.
Purpose and Background
The Parks Levy Oversight Committee will meet quarterly to review the progress and annual proposed expenditures for the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) levy passed by voters in November 2020. This five-year operating levy will provide crucial funding for the City of Portland’s park and recreation system, including:
- Opening public pools and community centers and offering classes and camps when public health conditions allow.
- Centering equity in the delivery of its programs and services, ensuring that cost is no longer a barrier for Portlanders accessing community centers and public pools.
- Improving access for all Portlanders by making our parks cleaner, safer, and more welcoming.
- Grow nature by restoring natural areas, planting more trees, safeguarding clean water, protecting wildlife, diminishing the effects of climate change, and providing the appropriate care for the 1.2 million trees in our parks system.
Committee will advise the PP&R Director and program staff on:
- Review of levy expenditures and outcomes and an independent audit
- Report to City Council annually.
Who We're Looking For
Total number of advisory seats: 5
Number of seats available: 5
To be eligible for the Levy Committee, members must live, play, worship, go to school, work, or do business in the City of Portland.
We want people from every part of Portland here to share their voice on this committee, especially people who have not been involved before. If you want to serve your community and to help government make better choices, then we want to see your application.
The attributes listed below are what will guide our selection process. We do not expect you to be or have everything listed.
- You believe government is better when community is involved.
- You are an advocate for racial equity: you want positive and long-lasting outcomes for racial and ethnic communities who have been left out before. You can bring discussion about racial and ethnic communities who need it the most.
- You have a perspective on physically navigating the community with a disability.
- You are available to attend all meetings and participate in the discussions.
- You have experience overseeing, providing, or delivering parks and recreation services.
- You have experience in the delivery of culturally specific services.
- You have lived experience of using parks and recreation services.
We Remove Barriers
Let us know if there are barriers to your participation. Dinner will be provided at evening meetings when meetings are held in person. Public transportation, childcare, or parking passes will be available if you need those to fully participate.
Time Commitment
- Quarterly meetings will take place on weekday evenings on Zoom.
- The anticipated time commitment is five hours quarterly.
- Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time and will be provided meeting materials for review.
- Committee Members will serve two-year terms, and may reapply but may not serve more than four consecutive years.
- PP&R can provide interpreters who will translate the conversation in your language during the meeting.
Volunteer Ethics
People who join this committee will become what we call “Public Officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fair and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “Conflict of Interest.” If you tell us about potential Conflicts of Interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with Conflicts of Interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible Conflicts of Interest on the form included in the application.
Voluntary and Confidential Demographic Information
The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Completing the demographic information on the application is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov
Questions
For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body recruitments, please contact AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.