Advisory Groups

Community Benefits Advisory Group (CBAG)

The CBAG produced recommendations for community benefit efforts with the goal to achieve the greatest positive benefit for the communities in the program area and broader region from the program’s work, in alignment with program and community priorities.


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.

The CBAG developed 55 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.

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 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 was the approach?

The IBR program convened the CBAG with representation from both states as well as key community groups.

This advisory group developed 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 advised on the establishment of accountability mechanisms for commitments made in the community benefit process. CBAG's final meeting took place in May. 

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 met from September 2023 – May 2025.

CBAG meetings were hosted in a hybrid mode and can be watched on YouTube.

Meeting materials were posted in advance of each meeting and are available at the links below.

Upcoming Meetings

No upcoming events

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.