Applicants Sought for Springfield Boards, Committees, and Commissions

The City of Springfield is seeking dedicated individuals who want to offer their talents, experience, and perspectives to help make a difference in the Springfield community! Community members are needed for a variety of Springfield boards, committees, and commission opportunities.

Springfield City Council goals include fostering an environment that values diversity and inclusion. Springfield is a diverse community and individuals of all ages, ethnic and religious backgrounds, gender, and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply.

The deadline to submit your application for any of the boards, committees, and commissions is 5 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2023.

Due to current COVID precautions, we ask that you complete and submit your application electronically if possible and email it to cmomail@springfield-or.gov or contact the staff liaison listed for the committee you are interested in to make other arrangements.

Applicants will be interviewed in February and March of 2023 by the Springfield City Council during one of the four scheduled work sessions. Dates and times to be announced.

Springfield History Museum Committee
The City is seeking applicants with strong interest in the history and culture of Springfield to fill two vacancies on its Museum advisory committee. The Museum’s mission is to foster an awareness of the history of Springfield, provide a link between our past and present, and promote an appreciation of the diverse communities that call Springfield and rural East Lane County home. The committee is responsible for making recommendations for Museum exhibits and programs, drafting policies and procedures, and assisting with community outreach and publicity. Museum Committee meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m.

Requirements: Committee members are required to attend monthly meetings, as well as plan, develop, and assist with Museum projects and activities. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Preference will be given to applicants who live or own a business in Springfield, which includes 97477, 97478, or 97482 zip codes.

For additional information, contact Madeline McGraw at 541-726-3677 or mmcgraw@springfield-org

Historic Commission 
The City is accepting applications to fill one open position on the Historic Commission. The qualifications for membership on the Historic Commission include being appointees of Willamalane Park & Recreation District or Springfield School District #19; or individuals who meet professional qualifications in the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, archeology, or related fields who live within the Metropolitan Area General Plan boundaries; or residents, electors, or property owners within Springfield. 

The Springfield Historic Commission is appointed by the City Council and serves to advance the identification, protection, preservation, education, and interpretation of Springfield’s cultural heritage and history. As such, the Commission organizes projects and programs to encourage stewardship of the community’s historic assets. The Commission also reviews development and restoration requests within the Washburne Historic District and for other Springfield historic resources. Historic Commission monthly meetings are currently held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 4:30-6 p.m. Meeting details can be found at www.SpringfieldOregonSpeaks.org.   

The candidates appointed to these positions are eligible to serve up to two, four-year terms. For additional information, contact Mark Rust at 541-726-3654 or mrust@springfield-or.gov.

Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
The City is accepting applications for two voting member position on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). The Committee advises City of Springfield staff and partner agencies on bicycle and pedestrian policies, programs, and facilities. The Committee meets approximately six times each year during even-numbered months, with subcommittee meetings on the alternating months.

Applicants should have an interest in promoting walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation in Springfield. The City would like to have diverse representation on the committee, including but not limited to youth, seniors, people of different races and ethnicities, people with mobility, hearing, sight, or cognitive disabilities, and mountain, BMX, and electric assist bicycle riders.

For additional information, contact Michael Liebler at 541-736-1034 or mliebler@springfield-or.gov

Springfield Arts Commission
The City is seeking applicants with strong interest in the arts, culture, and heritage of Springfield to fill five vacancies on its Springfield Arts Commission. The Springfield Arts Commission’s purpose is to promote cultural richness and diversity and assist in the preservation of the cultural heritage of the community as expressed through artistic endeavors. The responsibilities of the Commission shall include but are not limited to providing places and spaces for artistic creations, exhibits, performances, and events; fostering awareness, communication, education, and sharing of resources between local artists and arts groups; functioning as a local coordinating agency between the Lane Arts Council and the community; promoting the arts as an element of Springfield’s economic diversification program, particularly in regard to tourism. The Springfield Arts Commission meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m.

Requirements: Commission members are required to attend monthly meetings, as well as plan, develop, and execute all Springfield Arts Commission projects and activities including but not limited to the annual Heritage Arts Grants, and both City Hall and Youth Art Gallery exhibitions and related monthly Art Walks. Applicants shall be at least 18 years old, registered to vote, and shall have specific expertise or interest required to carry out the Commission’s objectives. No fewer than seven of the nine Commission members must reside, own property, or own a business in Springfield, which includes 97477, 97478, or 97482 zip codes.

For additional information, contact Mindy Linder at 541.744.3388 or mlinder@springfield-or.gov

Springfield Police Advisory Committee
The City is seeking applications to fill volunteer positions on the nine member Springfield Police Advisory Committee. There is currently one open position; this position represents the faith-based community.

The Police Advisory Committee was initially established in 1994 as the Police Planning Task Force to develop a long-range plan for providing police services. A plan was completed and adopted by City Council in April 1996 and updated in 2002 and 2010. To date, much of the long-range plan has been Springfield Municipal Jail. The committee has continued for the purpose of providing citizen input to the Chief of Police on long range planning, plan implementation strategies and development of police department operational policies and procedures.

The police advisory committee consists of four neighborhood and citizen-at-large representatives, one local business community representative, one cultural minority representative, one faith community representative, one School District 19 representative, and one Willamalane Parks and Recreation District representative. Committee appointments are for a four-year term. The committee generally meets on the first Thursday of every other month.

For more information about the Springfield Police Advisory Committee or future meeting information, please call Tiffany Monroe at 541-726-3721.

Springfield Community Development Advisory Committee
The City of Springfield is accepting applications for one vacancy on the Community Development Advisory Committee. The vacant position is an at-large position filling a term ending December 31, 2025. Applicants must be residents of the City of Springfield or reside within Springfield’s Urban Growth Boundary.

This volunteer committee advises the City Council on matters related to the City’s housing and community development activities. Activities are funded annually by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Projects funded with HUD funds address the priority needs identified in the Springfield/Eugene five-year Consolidated Plan and serve primarily low- and moderate-income residents of the city.

The committee meets two to four times a year. They assist with reviewing annual plans for use of funds, including evaluating applications for funding, soliciting, and receiving written comments from the public, conducting public hearings, and making recommendations to City Council. 

Applications for the committee are encouraged from lower-income earners, residents of lower-income neighborhoods, racial and ethnic minorities, senior residents, persons with disabilities and female heads of households.

For additional information, contact Erin Fifield, 541-726-2302 or efifield@springfield-or.gov

Springfield Planning Commission
The City of Springfield is accepting applications for two positions on its seven-member Planning Commission. All Commission seats are volunteer, at-large positions with no ward restrictions. Applicants may be residents of Springfield or may reside between the City limits and the City’s urban growth boundary.

Planning Commissioners generally serve a four-year term and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms at the discretion of the City Council. Planning Commissioners are appointed by the City Council and are vested with the authority to make final decisions on a variety of land use matters including zone changes, variances, and discretionary use requests.

The Planning Commission reserves the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month for public hearings and work sessions as the need arises. This translates to about 4-6 hours of meetings monthly and approximately an equivalent time spent in preparation for each meeting. Each Commissioner is also expected to attend City Council meetings on a rotating basis, and to participate on special committees or other Council appointments as needed. The total monthly commitment may exceed 12 hours.

For more information, contact Planning Manager Sandy Belson at 541-736-7135 or sbelson@springfield-or.gov.

Springfield City Budget Committee
The City is seeking applications for four open positions on the Springfield Budget Committee, and one open position on the Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) Budget Committee.

Applicants are being sought to represent Wards 1, 2, 4, 5 and the SEDA Downtown district. Click here to see a Ward map.

The Budget Committee reviews the City’s financial plans, including the annual budget. The 12-member committee is comprised of the six elected City Councilors and six members from the community. Appointed by the City Council, each of the committee’s six community members must live in the ward they represent. Meetings are typically held between April and June, but the committee may also meet on an “as needed” basis.

SEDA Budget Committee is comprised of the 12 members of the City of Springfield’s Budget Committee along with the Springfield area County Commissioner, and a representative from both the Glenwood and Downtown districts. Appointed by the City Council, each representative must own a business or live within the Glenwood or downtown area. Meetings are typically held between April and June, but the committee may also meet on an “as needed” basis.

For more information, contact Neil Obringer at 541-736-1032 or nobringer@springfield-or.gov