News Release
For release: September 15, 2004
Contact: Ross Williams, 503-988-3450
Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee Seeks Members
Are you interested in promoting opportunities for citizens to participate in
important government decisions? Do you want to learn how government really
works? The Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee is seeking members
from throughout the county. Currently there are openings for representatives
who live in Commission District 1 (represented by Maria Rojo de Steffey),
District 2 (represented by Serena Cruz), District 3 (represented by Lisa Naito)
and District 4 (represented by Lonnie
Roberts). In addition there may be openings for at large members who can live
anywhere in the county. Members must be nominated by a community group.
Multnomah County elected officials have responsibilities in many areas. The
Sheriff provides police services for people who live outside incorporated areas
as well as managing the county jails and detention centers. The District
Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of crimes throughout the County.
The County Chair oversees many important public services. These include
providing libraries, animal shelters and oversight of elections. Health and
Social Services provided by the county include county health clinics, services
to the aging, mental health, disability services, addiction services,
children's services, community immunizations, HIV prevention, lead poisoning
information and services to children with developmental disabilities. The
county is also responsible for maintaining most of the bridges over the
Willamette River as well as some roads and for land use planning outside
incorporated cities in the county.
This wide range of services means there is something of interest for almost
every county resident. The purpose of the Citizen Involvement Committee is to
make sure that the county makes the best possible use of citizen's interests,
expertise, ideas and energy so that these services are provided in the best
manner possible. While experience with citizen involvement, volunteer
management or County Government are helpful, the only real qualification for a
CIC member is a commitment to getting citizens involved.
If you are interested in getting involved contact:
Ross Williams, Outreach Coordinator,
Citizen Involvement Committee (CIC)
501 SE Hawthorne Avenue #192
Portland, OR 97214
Phone:(503) 988-3450 Fax:(503) 988-5674
Email: williar@co.multnomah.or.us
Web Page: www.citzenweb.org
CIC Application Form can be found at www.citizenweb.org/CICSignupForm.html
The CIC is a fifteen member citizen volunteer committee. Three members come from each of our four commission districts, nominated by
citizens participation organizations, neighborhood association, neighborhood
district coalitions, or community groups. Three additional members are chosen
at-large, representing various civic boards and grassroots non-profit groups in
the county. Membership is diverse in all respects. CIC's mission:
The Citizen Involvement Committee (CIC) will involve, educate, empower and
integrate the people of Multnomah County into all aspects of policy - and
decision-making within county governments. The CIC does not involve itself in
the merits of issues, but rather with the merits of the processes which shape
the issues. The CIC annually: conducts public forums; nominates individuals to
county boards and commission; coordinates the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee
(CBAC) process; produces monthly "Citizens Involved cable television show;
produces and distributes both regular and special publications [ CONDUIT,
SERVICE DIRECTORY,etc. ]; participates in local and regional citizen
involvement activities, such as, the Metro Committee for Citizen Involvement
(MCCI); and facilitates Multnomah County's Annual Volunteer and Gladys McCoy
Awards. Our program uses citizen volunteers to inform citizens about the
issues, connect citizens with the decision-makers who are actively engaged in
arriving at solutions, and helps citizens to contribute to the final outcomes.
We try to engage citizens at the earliest possible moment, before all the
decisions are made. The CIC works to help create: Cost-effective government;
improved perception of government services; improved knowledge of elected
officials; added professional skills and education; additional recourses;
additional resources; additional resources; and strong democracy. The Citizens
Involvement Committee (CIC) of Multnomah County, Oregon was created by a vote
of the people in 1984. [Ref: Chapter 3.75 Multnomah County Homerule Charter].
The Charter establishes: the Office of Citizen Involvement to develop and
maintain citizen involvement programs and procedures designed to facilitate
direct communication between citizens and the board of county commissioners; a
citizens' committee [process established by ordinance #664]; sufficient funds
for operation of the office and the committee [county discretionary funding
supports the office - general fund - property tax revenue]; and, the authority
of the committee to hire and fire its own staff. |
