September 29, 2016

Today, City Council accepted the first Portland Utility Board (PUB) annual report.

PUB is a citizen body that provides independent oversight of the City’s two utility bureaus: the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and the Portland Water Bureau (PWB).

In 2014, Nick and Mayor Hales convened a Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) to consider and propose reforms to increase the transparency and accountability of our public utilities. The BRC ultimately recommended a new committee – PUB – to replace the three existing oversight bodies.

In its first year, PUB has done the hard work of establishing bylaws; becoming familiar with the operations, priorities and programs of these complex bureaus, and setting priorities for the next year.

The Board also provided feedback on bureaus’ budgets, and weighed in on policy questions like the proposal to use T1 as a mass homeless shelter.

Thank you to the citizen volunteers who have committed their time and energy to the PUB, and congratulations on a successful first year.