Eugene’s boards and commissions are resident advisory groups that provide an invaluable service to our city by advising City Council and/or City staff on a wide variety of subjects.

2022 Application Period Now Open!

Apply here through April 15, 2022 to serve on any of the following groups:

City Council Advisory Bodies* (see below for further information):

• Budget Committee (2 openings)
• Civilian Review Board (3 openings)
• Human Rights Commission (4 openings)
• Planning Commission (2 openings)
• Historic Review Board (2 openings)
• Toxics Board (2 openings)

Other Groups:

• Whilamut Citizen Planning Committee (4 openings)
• Library Advisory Board (3 openings)
• Expenditure Review Panel – Downtown Urban Renewal (1 opening)

*Please note: City of Eugene employees are ineligible to serve on City Council advisory bodies.

Budget Committee

The Budget Committee is a standing committee that reviews the proposed operating and capital budget each fiscal year and makes a recommendation on the budget to the City Council for final enactment. See  City Code 2.013 and ORS 294.414 for more information.

Staff Contact:   Email  Vicki Silvers, Assistant Finance Director 

Civilian Review Board

The seven-member Civilian Review Board provides valuable input about the fairness and diligence of the police investigation process, with the goal of making the system of police accountability more transparent and increasing public confidence in the manner that police conduct their work. See  City Code 2.240 for more information.

Member Characteristics

• Age 18 years or older
• Able to pass a background investigation consistent with investigations conducted for other city volunteers who have similar access to police records and/or facilities
• Members shall not be an immediate family member of a current City police employee
• A demonstrated ability to be fair, impartial and unbiased
• An absence of any real or perceived bias, prejudice or conflict of interest
• A record of community involvement
• An ability to build working relationships and communicate effectively with diverse groups
• A demonstrated commitment to the committee’s purpose

Staff Contact:   Email  Leia Pitcher, Deputy Police Auditor 

Human Rights Commission

The Human Rights Commission shall affirm, encourage and initiate programs and services within the community and advise and support City of Eugene services designed to place priority upon protecting, respecting, and fulfilling the full range of universal human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The commission shall help the City of Eugene and the community work toward the elimination of systemic barriers to equitable treatment and toward inclusion and accommodation of differences among people. The commission will promote justice and equal opportunity for all. In these efforts, the commission may enlist the support of community groups and public agencies. See  City Code 2.260 for more information.

Member Characteristics

• Members should possess demonstrated knowledge and interest in the civil and human rights concerns of the community.
• Members shall be appointed in a way that strives to have balance on the commission that reflects the community and has protected class representation.
• Members shall be persons who have actively demonstrated an interest and expertise in efforts to promote diversity, equality, equity and understanding of human rights, and to dismantle injustice, discrimination, bigotry, hatred and harassment within the city.

Staff Contact:   Email  Fabio Andrade, Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement Manager

Planning Commission

Members of the planning commission advise the City Council and City staff on a variety of subjects by making recommendations on important policy matters affecting the livability of Eugene. See  City Code 2.330 for more information.

Member Characteristics

• No more than two members of the commission shall be engaged principally in buying, selling or developing of real estate for a profit as individuals or be members of any partnership, or officers or employees of any corporation, that is engaged principally in buying, selling, or developing of real estate for a profit.
• No more than two members shall be engaged in the same kind of business, trade or profession.

Staff Contact:   Email  Rebecca Gershow, Senior Planner

Historic Review Board

As a subcommittee of the Eugene Planning Commission, the Historic Review Board oversees Eugene’s Historic Preservation program, the Cultural Resource Survey Program, historic education and outreach, preservation programs, and makes determinations on historic landmarks. See  City Code 2.355 for more information.

Member Characteristics

• Seeking membership from, to the extent they are available within the community:
  • Architects with preservation expertise and a historian with knowledge of local history.
  • Professionals with demonstrable interest, competence, or knowledge of historic preservation in the disciplines of landscape architecture, real estate, construction, community development, urban planning, archeology, law, finance, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, or related disciplines.

Staff Contact:   Email  Althea Sullivan, Assistant Planner

Toxics Board

The Toxics Board makes policy governing the Eugene Toxics Right-to-Know Program, which is a public information program on the use and disposition of federally listed hazardous substances by certain manufacturers within Eugene city limits. See  City Code 2.013 for more information.

Member Characteristics

• Seeking one ‘advocate’ member, who is not employed by or an agent of persons required to report on hazardous substances, and who have a demonstrable record of advocating for the public’s right-to-know.
• Seeking one ‘neutral’ position, who shall be nominated by a two-thirds majority of Toxics Board members.

Staff Contact:   Email  Mark Dahl, Assistant Fire Marshall

Library Advisory Board

The Library Advisory Board (Department Advisory Committee) serves to provide citizen input and to advise the library on policy, services, and library development. The Board members build community support and act as advocates for the library’s services.

Member Characteristics

• Seeking one at-large board member
• Seeking one Bethel branch representative, who must live in the Bethel neighborhood
• Seeking one youth position, who must be age 25 years and under

Staff Contact: Email Will O’Hearn, Library Services Director

Expenditure Review Panel – Downtown Urban Renewal

The Expenditure Review Panel for the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan convenes at least once a year to prepare a report on the Urban Renewal Agency’s use of Downtown Urban Renewal Plan funds and whether the expenditure of tax increment dollars was limited to the projects and the associated administrative costs authorized by the Plan.

Member Characteristics

• Members are to have or to develop a basic understanding of the projects, expenditures, terms, and requirements authorized in the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan.
• Members terms of service will be for a two or three-year period, with opportunity for renewal.

Staff Contact: Email Angelin Singh, Senior Program Coordinator