Portland Courant

The City of Portland seeks interested persons to serve in one position for a three-year term on the Noise Review Board. Persons of color are encouraged to apply. Applications are accepted through Wednesday, June 28. 

In this article

• Purposes and roles of the Noise Review Board
• Eligibility
• Desired attributes
• Terms and time commitment
• Volunteer ethics
• Application
• Voluntary and confidential demographic information
• For more information

Purposes and roles of the Noise Review Board

The Noise Review Board is unique in the United States in offering residents and the business community opportunities to help set the City of Portland's policies related to the environmental issue of noise pollution.

The Noise Review Board works to improve neighborhood livability by striking a balance between sound-generating activities related to construction and special events, and the desire for livable communities. The board reviews applications for noise variances for events and construction that may impact a lot of people or take place over a significant period of time. It also addresses emerging noise problems in the community. 

As part of the board, you will also be responsible for working with the Noise Program to advise and make recommendations to the Portland City Council on sound-related code and policy decisions.
Please share this information with anyone in your network who might be interested in serving as a volunteer board member and supporting our work. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on the Noise Review Board, members must live, play, worship, work, or do business in the City of Portland.

The Noise Review Board is comprised of five members: three community member-at-large positions, a representative from the construction industry, and a professional in the field of acoustics. Volunteers serve on the Noise Review Board for three-year terms and may serve a maximum of two terms.

The City of Portland seeks one community member-at-large to serve on the Noise Review Board.
Applications received from individuals who are not chosen through this recruitment will be retained for consideration for future openings. 

Desired attributes

The Bureau of Development Services is at a point of significant transformation as it expands how it interacts with and provides services to the public, with a shift to more online and remote services becoming available. It is critically important to have people of color at the table, providing their advice, perspectives and feedback on the new ways the bureau and its partner bureaus provide information to the public about existing regulations and provide development review, permitting, and enforcement services to the community.

We need systems, processes and services that work for people of color. If you want to help noise review and enforcement better serve communities of color, we want to see your application.

• You believe government is better when community is involved.
• You have an interest in effective, equitable noise review policies, processes, and outcomes.
• 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 believe in the value of public participation in government processes.
• You can work collaboratively and effectively with people representing diverse interests.
• You are available to attend all meetings and participate in the discussions.

Terms and time commitment

• The Noise Review Board meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Currently, all meetings are held online via Zoom. All meetings of the committee are open to the public.
• Members serve a term of three years with the possibility of renewing for a second three-year term.
• Members are expected to attend and participate in meetings consistently. Members are expected to prepare for meetings on their own time and arrive ready to discuss meeting materials and agenda items. Meeting materials are typically sent one week in advance.
• The Noise Review Board may establish regular and ad hoc subcommittees to work in-depth on particular areas of interest. Subcommittees meet outside of the full Noise Review Board meeting. Participation in subcommittees is voluntary and optional for Noise Review Board members.

Volunteer ethics

Those who serve on this advisory body are considered to be public officials, which means that you must serve fairly and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are appointed. Part of following Oregon’s government 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 members with potential conflicts of interest. We appreciate your inclusion of possible conflicts of interest on the form included with the application.

Application

Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Please apply for appointment to the Noise Review Board here.

To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the committee’s staff liaison, Juliette Olivella Lopez, at Juliette.OlivellaLopez@portlandoregon.gov or 503-865-6650. Juliette is available between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Se habla Español.

Voluntary and confidential demographic information

The City is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. It uses the demographic information provided to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of the community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment or the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. The City will treat this information as confidential to the fullest extent allowed by law. Questions about this may be sent to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.

For more information

For more information about the Noise Review Board, please visit its website.

Original source can be found here