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Community Benefits Advisory Group

The Community Benefits Advisory Group will develop recommendations for community benefit efforts to achieve the greatest positive benefit to the communities in the program area and broader region from the program’s work, in alignment with the program’s equity framework and community priorities. 

Co-Conveners

Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle

Photo of Mayor Anne McEnery-Ogle

 

 

Commissioner Mingus Mapps

Photo of Commissioner Mingus Mapps

 

 


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are community benefits and why is this part of the IBR program?

The inclusion of community benefits is becoming a best practice for large-scale development projects.  The purpose of a Community Benefits discussion lies in the mitigation of impacts the construction of a mega project can have on neighborhoods and businesses in the program area during construction.

Another important consideration of these discussions is to ensure the context of this infrastructure investment aligns with the community’s future vision. Community Benefits discussions are also rooted in the historical treatment of equity priority communities and therefore must be aligned with the IBR program’s equity principles to ensure equitable processes and outcomes of this effort.

The Community Benefits Advisory Group will develop recommendations for community benefit efforts to achieve the greatest positive benefit to the communities in the program area and broader region from the program’s work, in alignment with the program’s equity framework and community priorities.

What could community benefits include?

  • Community benefits will build on plans and mitigations already integrated into the program to include local street improvements, construction mitigations, etc.
  • Agency partner conditions such as climate goals and tracking, mitigations for pedestrians, etc.
  • Contributions from partner agencies such as housing development dollars, community investments and more.
  • Additional benefits determined by Community Benefits Advisory Group (CBAG) and the broader community such as support for workforce, community centers, parks, etc.

What is not included in the community benefit conversation?

This conversation will not include a Project Labor Agreement or a Community Workforce Agreement as separate efforts are underway to address these important topics.

Additionally, the community benefits conversation will not include a specific agreement just addressing community benefits. Instead, the community benefits will be added to contract specifications, environmental documents, or other documents as appropriate to ensure accountability for implementation of the community benefits.

What is the planned approach?

The IBR program will convene a Community Benefits Advisory Group with representation from both states as well as key community groups.

This  advisory group will develop recommendations to advise IBR on how to leverage the program’s work to achieve the greatest positive benefit to communities in the program area and the broader region. Further, the advisory group will advise on the establishment of accountability mechanisms for commitments made in the community benefit process.

Community Benefits Advisory Group Meeting Information

Members

  • Greg Johnson, IBR Program Administrator
  • Commissioner Mingus Mapps, City of Portland
  • Mayor McEnerny-Ogle, City of Vancouver
  • Anthony Samperio, Worksystems Inc.
  • Ben Jacobsen, Jane’s Forum
  • Carley Francis, Washington Department of Transportation
  • Corky Collier, Columbia Corridor Association
  • Darcy Hoffman, Workforce SW Washington
  • Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda CDC
  • Farleigh Winters, LSW Architects
  • Holly Williams, Community member
  • Javier Navarro, President, SW WA Chapter of Lulac
  • Jaynee Haygood, Vancouver Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
  • Jessica Green, Portland Parks Foundation
  • Marcus Mundy, Coalition for Communities of Color
  • Michael Strahs, Kimco Realty
  • Nate McCoy, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) Oregon
  • Nicole Davison Leon, Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
  • Peter Fels, Alliance for Community Engagement
  • Rian Windsheimer, Oregon Department of Transportation
  • Scott McCallum, Superintendent, Washington School for the Blind
  • Scott Sharba, Vancouver Housing Authority
  • Siobhana R. McEwen, Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC)
  • Steve Barnett, Tribal Council Chairman, Representative for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe
  • Tom Hickey, Community Advisory Group (CAG) Representative
  • Vicki Nakashima, Equity Advisory Group Representative
  • Walter Valenta, Community member

Meetings & Materials

Materials

Community Benefits Advisory Group Charter

Meetings

The CBAG is anticipated to meet at least once per month from September 2023 – March 2025 unless otherwise stated. If necessary, the group may meet more than once per month. 

CBAG meetings are hosted in a hybrid mode and can be live streamed on YouTube.

Meeting materials will be posted in advance of each meeting at the links below.

Upcoming Meetings

Past Meetings

To request an accommodation, such as materials in alternate formats, please email info@interstatebridge.org or call 360-859-0494 (Washington), 503-897-9218 (Oregon), 888-503-6735 (toll-free) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Provide Input

Public input is welcomed for each CBAG meeting and can be shared by joining the Zoom Meeting during the designated time, with the option to turn on your web camera. Commenters will not be allowed to share their screens and will be removed from the room once the public comment period concludes.

To comment via Zoom, please use this link: 
https://ibr.news/cbag

To comment by phone:

  • Dial: 646-931-3860 US or 408-638-0968
  • Meeting ID: 823 5803 3783 Passcode: 385815
  • Dial *9 to raise your hand; After you are invited to speak, dial *6 to unmute yourself.

To submit a comment after the meeting:

  • Fill out the comment form or email your comments to info@interstatebridge.org with “Community Benefits Advisory Group Public Comment” in the subject line.
  • Call 360-859-0494 (Washington), 503-897-9218 (Oregon), or 888-503-6735 (toll-free) and state "Community Benefits Advisory Group Public Comment" in your message.
  • Written comments need to explicitly say “Community Benefits Advisory Group Public Comment” in the subject line or in the body of the message for them to be identified and distributed to advisory group members.
  • All written comments must be received at least 48 hours before each upcoming meeting in order to be distributed to CBAG members. Comments received after that point will be distributed to members before their next meeting.

Meeting Guidelines

Meetings will be hosted online and streamed live on our YouTube channel.
For those without internet access, please call 360-859-0494 (Washington), 503-897-9218 (Oregon), 888-503-6735 (toll-free) and state "Public Meeting Comment" in your message.

All meetings will be open to the public and will include an opportunity for public input.

Free, temporary internet access is available throughout Washington for those who do not have broadband service.

Find the nearest Drive-In WiFi Hotspot