Should Portland appoint members to the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee?

TO THE COUNCIL:The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Committee recommends the PCEF Climate Investment Plan to the City Council and evaluates the effectiveness of the PCEF program in achieving the goals described in Portland City Code Chapter 7.07. ​The PCEF Committee has recommended the appointment of three new PCEF Committee members with 4 -year terms through July 23, 2030. The Committee additionally requests the appointment of one Committee member to his second term from November 8, 2025, through November 7, 2029. ​As Mayor, I request a Council motion and vote to confirm the following appointments to the PCEF Committee:​​Appointment Term ​​1. Tamara Kennedy July 22, 2026 – July 23, 2030​​2. Danielle Walker July 22, 2026 – July 23, 2030​​3. Randall Friesen July 22, 2026 – July 23, 2030​​4. DeAngelo Moaning Nov. 8, 2025 – Nov. 7, 2029​​These individuals bring a wide variety of knowledge and expertise to the PCEF Committee, including experience in transportation decarbonization, Native American history and issues surrounding the Urban Indian experience, regenerative agriculture and green infrastructure, financing tools for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and environmental justice. I look forward to working with this group of volunteers and the recommendations they will make to City Council in the coming years.​Brief biographies and statements of interest for each individual are below:Tamara Kennedy​Biography: Tamara Kennedy is Executive Director of the NW Energy Coalition. Tamara was previously the Director of Economic Development for the Port of Portland in the Trade and Economic development division. The Port of Portland's mission is to build shared prosperity for the region through travel, trade, and economic development. In this role Tamara partnered with leadership and external partners in the region to attract investment, design workforce pipeline strategies, advance international trade strategy and equitable development initiatives for industry clusters in Advanced Manufacturing with a particular focus in ClimateTech and Mass Timber ecosystems.​​Kennedy served on regional boards advancing equity and economic development including Black United Fund of Oregon, Greater Portland Inc., Clean Tech Alliance and Transition Projects. Tamara holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Portland and a bachelor's degree in communications-Training & Development from Marylhurst University.​​Tamara's passion is to align human potential with positive community impact. She is co-founder of Portland's My People's Market, an equitable marketplace for entrepreneurs of color in the greater Portland region.​Statement of Interest: I'm excited about the current stage of development that PCEF is at and look forward to supporting the strategic future vision aligned with workforce targets and significant initiatives. I've followed the journey of PCEF in my various roles (formerly at Travel Portland and the Port of Portland) and see that this is a innovative initiative that Portland is able to use to benefit community, business and clean energy targets.​​Danielle Walker​​Biography: Danielle Walker is an energy efficiency professional with nearly 20 years of experience in program planning, policy development, and public-sector energy initiatives. Currently Principal Consultant with Brightline Group, Danielle began her career in 2007 with the Energy Trust of Oregon, later serving at the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy. Her work spans residential, commercial, and industrial programs, with a focus on identifying savings opportunities, evaluating costs, and navigating policy and political dynamics to deliver effective results. Her background supports strong, data-driven planning and decision-making with professional experience at local, state, federal and utility agencies. ​​Danielle has extensive experience working with diverse, cross-functional teams. She leads with a collaborative approach centered on listening, recognizing contributions, and assuming good intent fostering inclusive and productive group environments. She also serves her community as a member of the Parkrose School District Budget Committee, where they have contributed for the past three years.​Statement of Interest: The City of Portland has an immense opportunity ahead of it to execute PCEF funds cost-effectively and with the support of local residents, taxpayers and businesses. The amount of funding the City has received is both a blessing and a curse. With all eyes on such a large pot of funds, it is paramount that the City plan, execute, monitor, report and evaluate these programs transparently and timely. It would be an honor to participate in the process that helps the City prudently and efficiently invest in energy related projects that will make our city more affordable, resilient and contribute toward aggressive climate goals. I am eager to use my deep knowledge and background to support the City in effective planning, analysis and decision making.​Randall Friesen​​Biography: Randall Friesen's professional experience centers on workforce development, skilled trades, and labor representation across the Portland metropolitan region and Southwest Washington. He is a graduate of a five-year, 8,000-hour state-registered apprenticeship through Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 290, providing both technical expertise and a strong foundation in career pathway development.​​Randall currently represents more than 16,000 workers through the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, which includes 22 affiliated local unions. In this role, he works across labor, industry, and community partners to expand access to family-wage careers and strengthen equitable workforce systems.​​Randall also serves as Co-Chair of Metropolitan Alliance for Workforce Equity (MAWE), helping advance strategies that improve access for underrepresented communities. He brings a practical, systems-level perspective on connecting workforce investments to real economic opportunity for workers and communities.​Statement of Interest: I want to better the community and ensure these funds spur projects that benefit the community and provide benefits to the groups they affect the most, some of them being our most vulnerable and under-represented.​​DeAngelo Moaning​Biography: DeAngelo Moaning is the Workforce Outreach Manager at Espousal Strategies, supporting major infrastructure initiatives such as the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, the Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Program, and the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. He also leads public involvement and subcontracting compliance efforts to ensure public investments generate meaningful opportunities for disadvantaged businesses and priority populations. DeAngelo is a multigenerational Portland native with long established ties to the Historic Albina Community, providing deep community relationships and a proven ability to connect public agencies and contractors with historically underserved communities. Prior to joining Espousal Strategies, DeAngelo lead public engagement efforts, developed direct-to-work pathways for youth and people returning from incarceration, and supported small business participation through large-scale campaigns and strategic outreach.​Statement of Interest: My background in working with diverse groups of people is a lifelong experience, magnified in this city where diversity is something that I have to intentionally seek out as an African American. Having worked with different organizations such as Nike, Portland Youth Builders, Raimore Construction among many others as a facilitator, event planner and coordinator, I have been responsible for navigating difficult conversations and offering solutions to hard-to-tackle problems while keeping dialogue on track. I am confident that I would be able to apply these same skills in the PCEF committee and support the mission of bringing collective voices together to provide equitable solutions in economic and environmental benefits for Portland's communities of color.