City of Portland Peak Oil Task Force Call for Applications

Submission deadline: 4:30 p.m. on June 12, 2006

The City of Portland is seeking interested community members to participate on the Peak Oil Task Force, a citizen advisory group that will provide recommendations to City Council on appropriate responses to uncertainties in the supply of oil. The intent of the Task Force is to identify key vulnerabilities in public services and the community as a whole and to make recommendations about how best to prepare for likely near-term and long-term impacts.  

City Council adopted a resolution on May 10, 2006 establishing this Task Force, which will include up to 11 members and is expected to complete its work by early 2007. To view the resolution, click here.

Qualifications

In selecting members of the Task Force, preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate the ability to bring a multi-disciplinary, systems approach. Candidates should also have a public policy orientation and a commitment to seeking solutions that benefit the community as a whole.

Collectively, the members of the Task Force are expected to be knowledgeable in the following subjects:

• Transportation
• Land use
• Food system
• Housing
• Building energy use
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Small business
• Retail business
• Economics
• Sociology
• Demographics
• Economically disadvantaged populations, including low income and elderly
• Public services, including police, fire, water, wastewater, transportation and waste
  
  

The Task Force is intended to identify key short-term and long-term vulnerabilities and develop recommendations for addressing these. The product of the Task Force’s work is not expected to be a comprehensive plan but rather a set of options and recommendations to City Council about how Portland can best prepare for constraints on the supply and affordability of oil. The recommendations should also address how to educate the public about this issue.

 

Responsibilities

The Task Force is expected to hold four to six meetings between early July and January 2007, when it will present its recommendations to City Council. In addition, it is likely that the Task Force will establish a number of working groups to explore individual issues in detail. Task Force members are expected to review substantial briefing materials to understand relevant plans and practices that are currently in place. Members are also expected to participate actively in meetings of the full Task Force as well as at least one working group and to review staff work. Research, analysis, and writing will be provided by City staff under the guidance of the Task Force.

Application Process

To be considered for the Task Force, please submit a résumé and brief cover letter (no more than two pages) that includes:

1. Name
2. Contact information, including phone number or e-mail address
3. Areas of expertise relevant to the Task Force
4. A description of your ability to meet the qualifications identified above
5. Your primary motivation for serving on the Task Force

Electronic submission is preferred; files must be in MS Word or PDF format. Submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m. on June 12, 2006 and should be provided to:

Kyle Diesner
City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development
721 NW 9^th Ave., Suite 350
Portland, OR 97209

e-mail: kdiesner@ci.portland.or.us
fax: 503-823-5311