Boards and Commissions Vacancies

Various boards, committees and commissions advise the Board of Commissioners on matters of interest to people who live and work in Washington County. Commission members are volunteers appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. Committees themselves do not pass ordinances to establish policy; their purpose is to study issues and make recommendations.

In many cases, members must be residents of Washington County. Serving on an appointed board or commission is an opportunity for Washington County residents to participate in decisions that affect them and to learn more about how local government works.

Per Board of Commissioners procedures, the County Administrative Office will solicit applications from individuals for a six-week period. Staff will keep the Commissioners apprised of applications received and of approaching deadlines. There will be an opportunity for the Board to discuss appointments at a work session prior to scheduling any formal action.

Advisory Council on Racial Equity (ACRE) – 1 position available now

Description:  The purpose of the ACRE is to:

• Advance equity, diversity and inclusion outcomes by way of advising on the County’s planning, policies, legislative work, budgeting, and programming.
• Empower Washington County equity leaders, especially those from communities most impacted by racial inequities, to provide advisement to the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
• Ensure that needs and priorities of communities most impacted by racial inequities are centered in County policies and operations.

Goals:

• Center and build equity, diversity and inclusion into the County’s Board priorities, strategic plan, legislative agenda, policies, programmatic priorities, and departmental priorities and strategic plans.
• Engage with and empower the community to establish external accountability and to ensure community needs are prioritized by the County.

Member Description: The ACRE will be comprised primarily of county residents and community partners with lived experience of racial inequity.

• Members are to be appointed by the Board.
• The Council will consist of no more than 15 members.
• Members will include two liaisons from the Washington County Board of Commissioners
• Members will include a mix of representatives of community-based organizations and at-large community members.
• Members will represent racial equity expertise, as well as geographic and demographic diversity.
• The Council will convene under the joint leadership of two Co-Chairs.
• One Co-Chair will represent the County Board of Commissioners, and the other Co-Chair will represent the community.
• Co-chairs will each serve two (2) year terms.
• Members will participate in equity trainings.
• Members will serve a term of either two (2) or three (3) years. Members have the option to extend membership for one additional term, with a maximum of six (6) years of consecutive service.
• Member terms will be tracked and managed so that not all members begin or end their term simultaneously.
• Non-County ACRE members will be offered compensation for their participation.

Term:  Varies
Time Commitment: Three (3) hours bi-monthly to attend scheduled meetings. Two to four (2-4) hours of preparation time (in addition to meeting time) before and following meetings. Co-chairs will commit an additional four (4) hours per quarter to ACRE leadership duties. 
Meetings: ACRE will meet bi-monthly, time and day to be determined.
Contact: Amanda Garcia-Snell (503) 846-6285

Aging and Veteran Services Advisory Council – 10 positions available now

Description:  Planning for future services and reviewing current programs are two key roles for these 19 volunteers (13 regular and 6 alternate members). Their community ties and personal or professional familiarity with issues facing older adults and veterans make them an invaluable resource for Washington County Disability, Aging & Veterans' Services and the Board of Commissioners. The Council advises the department on policy, programs, and actions affecting the delivery of services and generally serves as an advocate for older adults, veterans and their families.
Member Description: Nineteen members (13 regular and 6 alternate) including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens. Members are residents of the county or have relevant work interests in the county. The Aging and Veteran Services Council membership will seek to represent the whole community and members of communities that experience health and social inequities will be given preference for membership on the Council.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 4 to 8 hours per month
Meetings: Usually the third Thursday of every other month, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, hybrid
Contact: Janet Long (503) 846-3081

Audit Committee – 2 positions available now

Description:  Independent oversight is critical to the effectiveness of financial statement audits.  The Audit Committee monitors audits of the County's finances, in the belief that access to knowledgeable individuals help prevent an excessive reliance on the expertise of the external auditor.
Member Description: The Audit Committee shall be comprised of not less than 5 and not more than 9 members appointed by the BCC. One member shall be appointed from the membership of the BCC. No employee of the County shall be appointed to the committee. No appointee shall have any direct business relationship with the County. All community members of Washington County are welcome to apply for the appointment to the Audit Committee. The majority and at least four of the appointees to the committee shall be knowledgeable in accounting and auditing practices as demonstrated by personal or professional experiences in auditing, accounting, or finance.

A quorum is represented by a majority of the appointed committee members. Any formal action will be taken by a majority vote by a quorum of the membership. In the event that urgent business must be transacted between regularly scheduled meetings a vote of the membership may be taken by electronic mail.

Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years or less. Each term shall start July 1 of the applicable year. Members shall be appointed to achieve staggered three (3) year terms. The Audit Committee shall annually elect one member to serve as chairperson. The Audit Committee shall adopt by-laws or operational guidelines as it deems appropriate, consistent with adopted County policies.

The County’s Chief Financial Officer and staff in the Department of Support Services Finance Division shall serve as staff support to the Audit Committee.
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: The two meetings are scheduled for 90-minutes each and can run shorter (most likely) or longer (less likely). So total time commitment is three hours.
Meetings: One meeting after the start of the fiscal year (July) and prior to the start of field work (October). The second meeting is in January after the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report is issued and prior to the Board accepting the financial statements at their first meeting in February.
Contact: Roger Dawes (503) 846-8004 or Ethel Gallares (503) 846-8414

Behavioral Health Council – 1 position available now and 9 positions available after Mar 31, 2023

Description:  The Behavioral Health Council advises the Behavioral Health Division, and identifies community needs, recommends funding priorities, and helps select and evaluate service providers. The County's emphasis on contracting with community agencies for social services makes the work of this volunteer advisory council critical.
Member Description: Comprised of nineteen members including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens.  Members are residents of the county or have work interests in the county.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month
Meetings: Fourth Wednesday, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Contact: Aika Fallstrom (503) 846-4576

Civil Service Commission – 1 position available now for District 3 (must live in District 3 to be considered)

Description:  The Civil Service Commission is comprised of five volunteers, one from each of the Commissioner districts, who provide a third-party review of the County's employment practices. The Civil Service Commission is the appeal board for Washington County employees and candidates for employment. Employees and candidates for employment may appeal to the Civil Service Commission adverse personnel management decisions such as appointments, disciplinary actions and classification allocations. The Commission hears and decides appeals by employees and candidates for employment.
Member Description: Five members who are registered voters within the county.  No member of the Commission shall be a member of the governing body or an employee of the County or Clean Water Services except that any Commissioner may serve as a member of any other civil service commission.
Term: 2 years
Time Commitment: Quarterly meetings, others as necessary
Meetings: TBD
Contact: Eva LaBonte (503) 846-4476

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) – 2 positions available now

Description:  The Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) is a private non-profit organization established to assist in diversifying and strengthening the economy and livability of Northwest Oregon. The District covers all of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties and the western part of Washington County (including Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Gaston, and North Plains).

Col-Pac’s mission is to promote and sustain healthy communities in the district through retention, diversification and expansion of the economic base.  The goal is healthy and thriving communities. A strong and diversified economic base that provides family-wage jobs is a significant component and contributor to healthy communities. Col-Pac's economic development activities focus on blending the natural resource-based industries in the region with new economic development opportunities that historically have not been part of the area's economy.

As an economic development district, Col-Pac provides capacity building, coordination and establishment of basic economic development foundation building tools for NW Oregon.
Member Description: Governed by a 17-member volunteer Board of Directors, Col-Pac consists of local public and private leaders including representatives from county commissions, cities, ports, the private sector, workforce, and the minority community. Col-Pac also has a seven-member Loan Administration Board that oversees the District's Revolving Loan Fund.
Term: 2 years
Meetings: March of each year
Contact: Matt Craigie 503-846-8295

Developmental Disabilities Council – 1 position available now and 3 positions available after Feb 28, 2023

Description:  The Council identifies community needs, recommends funding priorities, and helps select and evaluate service providers. The County's emphasis on contracting with community agencies for social services makes the work of this volunteer advisory council critical.
Member Description: Comprised of fifteen members including recipients of service, advocates, professionals in the field, key referral sources, provider representatives, and lay citizens. Members are residents of the county or have work interests in the county.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per month
Meetings: First Wednesday, 10:00 am
Contact: Colin Fitzgerald (503)846-3138

Enhanced Sheriff Patrol District/Urban Road Maintenance District Budget Committee (ESPD/URMD) – 3 positions available now

Description: Reviews the proposed budget developed for the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District and the Urban Road Maintenance District in unincorporated Washington County.
Membership Description: Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county. Each County Commissioner appoints one member. The five residents must live within the ESPD boundaries.
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: Approximately one three-hour meeting in April and four three-hour meetings during April and May that total 12-16 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour evening the first week of April as budget committee orientation and two three-hour evening meetings the third week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from the 1) Public Safety and Justice 2) Land Use & Transportation (including Capital, URMD, SDL No.1 and North Bethany Service District for Roads) are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening one week after the first meetings. This public hearing is an afternoon – evening meeting and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Greg Munn (503) 846-8756

Fair Board – 1 position available now

Description:  The Fair Board’s primary function is to oversee the planning, preparation and production of the County Fair.  The Fair Board will develop both short- and long-term plans for the promotion and production of the County Fair and provide input to the County’s Facilities Maintenance Plan of the Fairgrounds.
Member Description: The Fair Board is comprised of seven members that are selected from a variety of interests determined by the Board of Commissioners, including, but not limited to:  Agriculture, Livestock, Youth/Education, Exhibitors/Vendors, Urban Agriculture.  In lieu of a citizen representative, one member may be from the Board of Commissioners.
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month
Meetings: First Wednesday of every other month, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Contact: Leah Perkins-Hagele (503)648-1416

Fairgrounds Advisory Committee – 1 position available now and 3 positions available after Dec 31, 2022

Description:  The Fairgrounds Advisory Committee provides input on the priorities and development of the Fairgrounds Master Plan, and other plans including: capital projects, maintenance, non-fair marketing and other strategic initiatives.  As advocates, this committee works with local partners and the community at-large to communicate and encourage participation in Fairground developments.
Member Description: Nine members who represent the county geographically and in fields of interest or occupation. Two members are ex officio:  a member of the Board of Commissioners and the President of the Fair Board (or designee)
Term: 3 Years
Time Commitment: TBD
Meetings: TBD
Contact: Leah Perkins-Hagele (503) 648-1416

Garbage and Recycling Advisory Committee – 1 position available now and 2 positions available after Mar 31, 2023

Description:  A coordinated countywide program intended to ensure the safe, economical and efficient collection, storage, transportation and disposal of garbage and recycling, and to ensure adequate standards of service for the garbage and recycling system.  To assist the Board in achieving these objectives, the Board has appointed this advisory committee to make recommendations on garbage and recycling decisions and programs that impact all users of the garbage and recycling system.
Member Description: Ten members including: eight members representing the public, one member representing the garbage and recycling industry, and one representative of the County's Department of Health and Human Services (a non-voting committee member).
Term: 4 Years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours per month
Meetings: Second Thursday, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Contact: Kathy Folsom (503) 846-2817

Homeless Plan Advisory Committee (HPAC) – 6 positions available after Dec 31, 2022

Description:  The Homeless Plan Advisory Committee is comprised of members who have authority within their agency/jurisdiction to make policy and budget decisions that impact the community’s housing and supportive services system. The Committee provides high-level oversight to the implementation of A Road Home: Community Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and the Local Implementation Plans, encourage collaborative partnership building, provide guidance to the annual Department of Housing Services Work Plan, work to create resources and funding, and promote and sustain the vision through leadership in developing new ways of addressing the needs in the community. The HPAC advises the county Department of Housing Services Staff, the Director of Housing Services, the County Administrator, and the Board of County Commissioners for Washington County.
Member Description: The 17-member committee includes a representative from each of the following categories: Washington County Commissioner official, a mayor or city councilor, philanthropy, business, Housing Authority of Washington County, a nonprofit housing provider, a nonprofit service provider, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Community Corrections, state or federal public benefits & resource programs, a representative from the two major hospitals, a representative from the faith-based community, 3 community member at-large and an individual with lived experience.
Term: 3 years
Contact: Ty Schwoeffermann (503) 846-6288

Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) – 1 position available now and 3 positions available after Mar 31, 2023

Description:  Providing affordable housing in Washington County is a formidable job. It is the mission of the HAC to advise the Housing Authority Board of Directors on housing goals policies, to review and recommend actions on the budgets of the Housing Authority, to advise regarding the community’s needs for low-income housing, and to recommend resources and programs available to address those needs.
Member Description: Fifteen members representing various groups, to include:

• Two (2) Members being assisted by the Housing Authority.
• One (1) Member involved in the Finance profession.
• One (1) Member representative of the Elderly.
• One (1) Member representative of Minority Groups.
• One (1) Member drawn from officials of Social Service organizations.
• One (1) Member drawn from either Design/Architectural/Engineer professions.
• One (1) Member drawn from Real Estate/Development/Construction.
• One (1) Member involved in Urban and Regional Planning.
• One (1) Member involved in Property Management.
• One (1) Member representing Veterans; and
• Four (4) Members at large.

Bylaws: https://www.co.washington.or.us/Housing/CommitteesPartners/upload/7-HAC-Bylaws-6-6-17.pdf
Term: 4 Years
Time Commitment: 2 hours (minimum) each month
Meetings: Fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
Contact: Jacob Boyett (971) 392-5579 or Melissa Sonsalla (503) 268-3215

Housing Authority Board of Directors – 1 position available after Dec 31, 2022

Description:  The Housing Authority of Washington County is the legal entity that owns properties; and the Department of Housing Services is the County agency that operates the programs, works with developers and provides services to meet the housing needs of low-income people in Washington County.

Facing ongoing reductions in federal housing support, the Housing Authority of Washington County and Department of Housing Services will continue to expand their entrepreneurial approach to funding low-income and affordable housing in Washington County. Partnerships are a key to the success of this work.
Member Description: The Housing Authority of Washington County Board of Directors is made up of the members of the Washington County Board of Commissioners plus two additional members: one member who is a resident assisted by the Housing Authority (Public Housing or Voucher program), and one At-Large position.
Term: 4 Years
Time Commitment: 1 hour per month.
Meetings: The first Tuesday of each month, as necessary.
Contact: Jacob Boyett (971) 392-5579 or Melissa Sonsalla (503) 268-3215

Metzger Park Local Improvement District Advisory Board – 7 positions available now

Description:  Maintains a proud tradition of overseeing the only park in the County supported through a Local Improvement District. The Board plans and helps with park maintenance needs, deals with the administrative issues involved in running an active urban park.
Member Description: Nine members (seven regular and two alternates) who own property within the Metzger Park Local Improvement District.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per month, 4 times per year
Meetings: Fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer (503) 846-7001

North Bethany County Service District for Roads Budget Committee – 1 position available now

Description:  Reviews the proposed budget developed for the North Bethany County Service District for Roads in unincorporated Washington County.
Member Description: The Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county.  The five residents must live in the North Bethany CSDR.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: Approximately one three-hour meeting in April and four three-hour meetings every May that total 12-16 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour meeting the first week of April as budget committee orientation and one three-hour evening meeting the third week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from Land Use & Transportation are given. The second meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening one week after the first meetings. This public hearing is an afternoon-evening meeting and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Greg Munn (503) 846-8756

Northwest Area Commission on Transportation (NWACT) – 1 position available now

Description:  NWACT is an advisory body chartered by the Oregon Transportation Commission.  NWACT addresses all aspects of transportation (surface, marine, air, and transportation safety) with primary focus on the state transportation system.  NWACT considers regional and local transportation issues in northwest Oregon that affect the state system.

NWACT plays a key advisory role in the development of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which schedules funded transportation projects.  NWACT establishes a public process for area project selection priorities for the STIP.  Through that process, they prioritize transportation problems and solutions and recommend projects in their area to be included in the STIP.

Boundaries include:  The entirety of Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook counties and the western portion of Washington County including the cities of Banks and Gaston.  The Washington County area includes Highway 47 to the southern city limits of Gaston excluding the city of Forest Grove, the east on US 26 and including the Dersham Rd interchange.
Member Description: Two Citizen-At-Large representing western Washington County (including Banks and Gaston), selected by the county’s commissioners. Members are non-elected citizens selected from private interests including but not limited to freight, trucking, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation system, public interest advocacy groups, environmental, land use, local citizens, business, education, minority organizations, public safety providers, non-profit organizations, etc.
Term: 2 years
Time Commitment: 1 to 2 hours per month
Meetings: Second Thursday 1:00 pm—3:30 pm
Contact: Christina Deffebach 503-846-3406

Park and Recreation Advisory Board – 4 positions available now

Description:  Provides advice on the maintenance, operations, and capital development needs of County parks, including Scoggins Valley Park / Henry Hagg Lake.
Member Description: Nine members who are residents of the county.  Traditionally members appointed from all Commissioner districts.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: 2 to 3 hours, 6 times per year
Meetings: Third Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Carl Switzer (503) 846-7001

Regional Arts and Culture Council – 3 positions available now

Description:  Regional Arts and Culture Coalition (RACC) was initiated via a regional intergovernmental agreement (IGA) in 1993. It provides arts education, advocacy, and public art in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties. The IGA stipulates that the Washington County Chair appoints three (3) directors to the board. Directors could be commissioners, staff or community members.
Term: 2 years
Contact: Amanda Garcia-Snell (503) 846-6285

Rural Roads Operations and Maintenance Advisory Committee (RROMAC) – 3 positions available now

Description:  RROMAC studies rural road operations and maintenance concerns in Washington County, works with County staff to develop program and funding alternatives and makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.
Member Description: Twelve members who reside or have business interests in the county, all of whom serve as regular members and are appointed by the Board of Commissioners.  In addition, there are two ex-officio members: one Commissioner appointed by the Board of Commissioners, and the LUT Operations Division Manager.  Members represent different groups with an interest in rural roads.
Term: 4 years
Time Commitment: Two hours per month
Meetings: Second Thursday, 7:30 a.m.
Contact: Sherri McFall (503) 846-7615

Urban Road Maintenance District Advisory Committee (URMDAC) – 1 position available

Description:  URMDAC advises the Board and staff on matters related to road maintenance provided by the Urban Road Maintenance District (URMD). URMDAC reviews and makes recommendations regarding URMD's level of service and annual work program, assists in evaluating the cost effectiveness and efficiency of URMD, assists in informing URMD activities and advises on continuation of URMD and/or other long-range funding opportunities for road maintenance.
Member Description: URMDAC is comprised of ten (10) residents of the Urban Road Maintenance District, all of whom serve as regular members and are appointed by the Board. In addition, there are two ex-officio members: one Commissioner appointed by the Board of Commissioners, and the LUT Operations Division Manager. Members represent different groups with an interest in roads within the Urban Road Maintenance District.
Term: 4 Years 
Time Commitment: Two hours per month
Meetings: Third Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Contact: Sherri McFall (503) 846-7615

Washington County and SDL No.1 Budget Committee – 3 positions available now

Description:  Reviews the proposed County budget submitted by the budget officer each fiscal year.
Member Description: Board of Commissioners plus five residents of the county.  Each Commissioner/district is allocated an appointment, however the representative does not need to reside in the Commissioner's district.
Term: 3 years
Time Commitment: Approximately one three-hour meeting the first week in April and two three-hour meetings every May that total 12-16 hours; additional meetings may be added.
Meetings: One three-hour budget committee orientation meeting and one three-hour evening meeting the third week in May to receive the proposed budget; staff does an overview of the budget via a PowerPoint presentation. The start time is 5:30 p.m., presentations from Land Use & Transportation are given. The third meeting is a public hearing on a Thursday evening one week after the first meetings. This meeting typically takes the better part of three hours and there is a time certain at 7:00 p.m. when the public can testify. Upon completion of the staff presentations and any public testimony, the Budget Committee is asked to consider approving the proposed budget. There are some years when additional meeting(s) with the Budget Committee take place prior to the May meetings. These meetings are publicly noticed.
Contact: Greg Munn (503) 846-8756

The application deadline is January 24, 2023, or open until filled. Applications may be obtained by visiting the Boards and Commissions website.

Media Contact:
Tricia Kennedy, Senior Administrative Specialist (503) 846-6284