OPM “Fair Share” Contract Includes Project Advisory Committee

While the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) defended the removal of information about a project advisory committee associated with the Fair Share Housing Study by stating the law does not require such a committee to meet, a contract between OPM and a contractor hired to conduct the study does require the creation of a project advisory committee.

A website for the Fair Share Housing Study, which OPM was charged with conducting under a 2023 housing bill , previously referenced the project advisory committee and that it would meet five times while the study was ongoing. It also stated that summary notes from the meeting would be provided and listed the project advisory committee’s membership.

But after erroneous reports that the committee had held its first meeting and outcry over the lack of public oversight, OPM pulled information on the project advisory committee from its website.

OPM spokesperson Chris Collibee previously told Inside Investigator that OPM had determined the enabling legislation did not provide for advisory committee, as a result, and one would not meet.

But while the bill may not require the creation of a project advisory committee, a $250,000 contract OPM signed with Economics Consultants Oregon Ltd. (ECONorthwest) does require such a committee to be created.

On May 14, 2024 OPM secretary Jeffrey Beckham signed a contract with Economics Consultants Oregon Ltd. (ECONorthwest). The contract was also approved by Attorney General William Tong.

The contract details the scope of work and project schedule ECONorthwest is to follow, including a kickoff meeting and ongoing project management. The creation of a project advisory committee is also specifically called out as one of the tasks ECONorthwest must undertake.

“The Consultant shall work closely with a Project Advisory Committee (PAC), composed of representatives from relevant state agencies, planning regions, municipalities, housing advocates, and planning experts throughout the development of the fair share housing methodology and regional needs assessments.” the contract states.

It directs ECONorthwest to conduct up to 5 project advisory board meetings “with initial conversation focused on gathering input to inform the project, and later meetings focused on presenting and soliciting feedback.”

The contract also includes anticipated meeting topics and requires ECONorthwest to send staff to attend the third meeting person. OPM also agrees to assist in gathering committee members and provide introductions, review meeting agendas and materials, and to attend meetings.

According to the contract, the committee’s first meeting was to be held in June. Meetings were then to be held every other month from September 2024 through April 2025.

Senate GOP Questions

Republican senators on legislative committees that handle housing and development issues also recently raised questions about the project advisory committee.

“There are many unanswered questions. Why was there a Fair Share Advisory Committee created to design a potential new mandate on our municipalities without legal permission? Why were the appointees to that committee stacked with the most outspoken and biased proponents of new municipal mandates, including the head of the organization in favor of the original Fair Share mandate itself? Why was the contract for the consultant written contrary to the law passed in 2023 and will that contract be changed for the new consultant? What is the end game of a ‘Fair Share’ housing calculation if not an eventual mandate?” Sens. Ryan Fazio, the ranking senator on the planning and zoning commission; Jeff Gordon; Rob Sampson, the ranking senator on the Housing Committee, and Stephen Harding said in a written statement released on July 29.

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