Appoint voting members to the Portland Utility Board

TO THE COUNCIL:As Mayor, in consultation with Portland Utility Board members and the Deputy City Administrators for City Operations and Public Works Service Area, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Portland Utility Board:Voting Member AppointmentTermReplacingJoe RobinsonAugust 1, 2026 - July 31, 2029Vacant Labor RepresentativeAlexander (Al) HaggAugust 1, 2026 - July 31, 2029Julia DeGrawRoselyn (Rose) PotonSeptember 1, 2026-August 31, 2029 Bruk Berhanu Respectfully submitted,Keith WilsonMayorBiographies and Interest Statements for Appointees:Voting MembersJoe Robinson is a planner within Bureau of Environmental Service's (BES) Maintenance Reliability and Asset Management group, a member of the City of Portland Professional Workers union (CPPW), and a District 4 resident. His work supports the city in maintaining the public's massive wastewater infrastructure portfolio. This work is the culmination of over a decade of experience as a mechanical engineer and program manager in the automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries. Beyond the work experience, he has also been a member of international scientific and social research teams focused on alternative energy and the Circular Water Economy. Although his daily focus is managing BES plant and pump station electrical assets, coordinating regulatory compliance, and modernizing maintenance procedures, he keeps space for equity and organization by being active in the CPPW labor union as well as a volunteer coordinator with multiple local nonprofits. His advocacy of clean water for healthy communities' spans research in Costa Rica, presentations at regional and international symposia, and volunteer outreach for water equity groups. Statement of interest – Joe RobinsonI am pleased to submit my statement of interest to represent my coworkers, my labor partners, and my neighbors as a member of the Portland Utility Board. I aim to hear the issues affecting our utilities not just as a wastewater professional, but as a member of an entire union of professionals dedicating ourselves to public service. From a procedural standpoint, as a technical planner, engineer, and project manager, I am well-equipped to understand the key infrastructure issues affecting our utilities. From a social standpoint, as an advocate for my union, my neighbors, and nonprofit partners in the water space, I humbly submit that I can approach these issues with community engagement in the forefront. From a personal standpoint, there is nothing I would like more than to advocate on the Portland Utility Board, standing at the crossroads of analysis and empathy. For most of my life I did not have a say in the quality of water that I lived with, and thus my health was not my own. Living now in Portland, where community buy-in is not only allowed but encouraged, I feel obligated to stand up for myself and those out there who have yet to be engaged. I will do my best to be an ally, in the hope that the number of people without a voice in their community's health reaches zero. These next years are critical; as Portland's large-scale investments in infrastructure contend with evolving regulations, changing demographics, and the continual depreciation of aged assets, each decision must be weighed honestly and equitably.Alexander (Al) Hagg grew up near Joliet, Illinois, and earned an engineering degree from the University of Illinois. After beginning his career with the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, he moved to Portland in 2014 and spent several transformative years working in conservation with organizations including Northwest Youth Corps, Friends of Trees, and Oregon State Parks. These experiences sparked a passion for conservation and public lands.Since 2019, Al has worked for the City of Gresham, where he reviews and manages public infrastructure projects associated with private development. The role built his appreciation for civil service and local government.Outside of work, Al is active in several community organizations, mainly the East Portland Tool Library, the Nature Conservancy and the One More Time adult marching band. He lives in outer Southeast Portland with his partner, their newborn son, cat and chickens. His interests include cycling, reading, movies, hiking, camping, and learning Polish. He will begin pursuing a master's degree in engineering at Portland State University this year.Statement of Interest – Alexander (Al) HaggPublic utilities stand next to emergency services as the most important services a city provides, yet much of their work happens behind the scenes. I am interested in serving on the Portland Utility Board because I want to better understand the challenges facing the City's utility systems, the funding mechanisms that support them, and how resources can be managed effectively to deliver reliable, high-quality service to residents and businesses.As the City navigates a period of structural change, I would like to contribute to the development of sustainable practices that support long-term community needs. Through my role in public infrastructure with the City of Gresham, I have gained a strong understanding of infrastructure planning, design, construction, codes and standards. I believe this experience would allow me to provide a practical perspective and help ensure public funds are invested wisely and effectively.Roselyn (Rose) Poton is the Water Justice Associate at Verde, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to building environmental wealth through social enterprise, advocacy, and organizing. She advocates for equitable water solutions that are community-led and driven at the local, state, and national levels. She leads the Oregon Water Futures Collaborative (OWF) annual Water Justice Leadership Institute, facilitating a collaborative space for Oregonians to learn and mobilize around critical environmental issues relating to water. Drawing on a decade of experience as an Oregon licensed nurse, she brings deep empathy, strong communication, and a proven ability to navigate complex conversations to build trust across diverse communities and interests. Rose holds a M.S. in Conflict and Dispute Resolution with a Specialization in Environmental Conflicts related to water from University of Oregon School of Law and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Water Resources Science at Oregon State University. Statement of Interest – Roselyn (Rose) Poton My interest in serving on the Portland Utility Board is driven by the fundamental reality that water is essential for our health, ecosystems, and economies. Rooted in community and my experiences as an Oregon licensed nurse, my current work as the Water Justice Associate at Verde, and graduate studies in water sciences, I am deeply committed to ensuring that water remains safe, affordable, and accessible to everyone. I am eager to help navigate complex challenges and prioritize equitable, community-led and data driven solutions.