Learn more about the City of Portland’s efforts to enhance Advisory Bodies, Boards, Committees and Commissions and align the program with the city’s new form of government including its new checks and balances and district-based representation.
Project Background & Goals
In November 2022, Portland voters approved significant charter reforms changing the City’s form of government and elections system. These changes raised questions about what the changes meant for the advisory body program at the City and the need for clarity and coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government in ABC processes. The term “ABCs” includes all appointed boards, commissions, committees, teams, forums, and groups.
On March 31, 2025, the new Engagement Officer presented an outline of a project to review and enhance the advisory body program to council’s Governance Committee. The Governance Committee approved the project moving ahead.
The goals of this project are to:
- Align the ABC program with Portland’s new form of government including its new checks and balances and district-based representation
- Create a shared understanding of the overall goal and intent of advisory bodies
- Standardize equity-centered practices for appointments, operations, and volunteer experience
- Promote better resourced and more empowered, meaningful, and integrated ABCs
- Ensure existing ABCs are continuing to address an identified need or goal of the City and ensure meaningful participation by those serving
- Expand the availability of information about ABCs so Portlanders know how to find and engage with their work
Status Update #2 & Draft Enhancements
In August 2025, the project team issued their second status update:
Download PDF fileStatus Update #2: Advisory Bodies Enhancement Project (Aug. 21, 2025) 623.05 KB
Comments are welcome, and please enter them into our project feedback form. Here are the draft improvements available for feedback.
- Foundational work
- Lifecycle of ABCs
- Composition of ABCs
You can read the first status update, published July 2025, here:
Download PDF fileStatus Update #1: Advisory Bodies Enhancement Project (July 22, 2025) 565.49 KB
Community Input Sessions
The City will host two identical virtual community input sessions for Portlanders to provide feedback on the proposed improvements:
- Thursday, October 9 from 6 to 7:30pm. Please register here.
- Tuesday, October 14 from 6 to 7:30pm. Please register here.
Project Timeline
Here is a visual that shows our timeline and opportunities for future feedback. Please visit our most recent status update for more details on our timeline and deliverables.
The project team will inform Portlanders of our progress using this website and the citywide newsletter for perodic updates. Portlanders are invited to offer feedback on our work, including those who served on and staffed advisory bodies.
Future status updates will include the project team’s most current and upcoming work activities and showcase our progress. Additional status updates are slated for August and September 2025. A final report will be issued when the project is completed at the end of the year.
Where Can I Send Questions and Comments?
Comments can be submitted using the project feedback form. Please send questions about the project to AdvisoryBodies@portlandoregon.g….