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1992-05064-Minutes for Meeting February 12,1992 Recorded 2/20/1992sz-05064 MINUTES DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIQNW February 12, 1992 �? ��, Acting Chair Throop called the meeting to order atr rd members in attendance were Tom Throop and Nancy Popp Also present were Bruce White, Assistant County Counsel, Paul Blikstad, Planner; Norm Thrasher, Undersheriff; and Susan Mayea, Office Manager. 1. CONSENT AGENDA Consent agenda items before the Board were: #l, signature of Resolution 92-007 appointing the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council as Subgrantee for delivering Job Training Partnership Act Services in Deschutes County; #2, signature of Order 92-013 changing the name of a portion of Ladera Road to Sky Harbor Drive; #3, signature of tax refund Order 92-105; #4, award of contract for the Baker Road Bridge Project to the low bidder, JAL Construction, Inc. of Bend; and #5 signature of City of Bend replat for Park Place Subdivision on Roanoke and West 9th Street. SCHLANGEN: I move that we approve the consent agenda. THROOP: I'll second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused 2. PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 92-009 AMENDING REAR YARD SETBACK STANDARD Before the Board was a public hearing concerning Ordinance 92- 009 which would amend Title 19, of the Deschutes County Code, the Bend Urban Growth Boundary Zoning Ordinance to amend Section 19.24.050 to change the rear yard setback standards in the RL zone. Paul Blikstad gave the staff report. He said the Planning Division was asking the Board to amend the rear yard setback in the RL to allow them the flexibility to treat a rear yard on a corner lot in an RL zone as a side yard. That would allow them to reduce the set back from 20 feet to 5 feet so that there would be a larger area which could be built on. Acting Chair Throop opened the public hearing. There being no one who wished to testify, the public hearing was closed. SCHLANGEN: Move first and second reading of Ordinance 92- 009 by title only. PAGE 1 MINUTES: 2-12-92 'NnyFQ luCnrJ i�v1E" rCr " `'" T, 49,9 MAR 0 3. 4. 0108 1477 THROOP: I'll second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused Acting Chair Throop performed the first and second readings of Ordinance 92-009. SCHLANGEN: Move signature. THROOP: Second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused PP&L FINDINGS AND DECISION This item was postponed one week. ORDINANCE 92-010 REPEALING SICK LEAVE WITH PAY --WORKERS' COMPENSATION Before the Board was signature of Ordinance 92-010 repealing Section 3.36.120, Sick Leave With Pay - Workers' Compensation, of the Deschutes County Code. SCHLANGEN: Move first and second reading of Ordinance 92- 010 by title only. THROOP: I'll second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused Acting Chair Throop performed the first and second readings of Ordinance 92-010. SCHLANGEN: Move signature of Ordinance 92-010. THROOP: Second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused PAGE 2 MINUTES: 2-12-92 0108 1478 5. PUBLIC HEARING ON DESCHUTES COUNTY TAX LEVY FOR OTHER TAXING DISTRICTS Before the Board was a public hearing for representatives of units of local government to communicate to the Board of County Commissioners the effect of the proposed increase in Deschutes County's current tax levy authority on other units of local government. Acting Chair Throop said that this hearing was required by Ballot Measure 5 to give other taxing districts the opportunity to talk about the impacts of the County tax levy on their taxing districts. There was a maximum $10 limit on the total of all non -school taxing districts, so if one taxing district proposed a tax levy which would exceed the $10 limit, it would result in all taxing districts in the County being required to proportionately lower their tax rate. He said the Board would also take comments and questions from any citizens who were in attendance. Acting Chair Throop said there were couple of factors which created financial shortfalls for the County and forced the County to go out for an updated tax base in May of 1992. The County had been operating with an inadequate tax base while the population of the County and the cost of living in the County had grown at twice the rate of the tax base. The tax base was only 43% of the total source of money which the County received. Ballot Measure 5 had a revenue impact on the County also. In 1991-92 FY, the County was $1 million short of being able to operate a 40 -hour workweek, therefore, the County reduced its workweek by 10% to 36 hours. It was very difficult to sustain this shortened workweek since Deschutes County was Oregon's fastest growing county with a growth rate of approximately 7% a year. As an example, the County only had .68 deputy sheriffs per thousand population with the average in Oregon being 1 per thousand. The Sheriff had asked for eight new patrol deputies for FY92-93, however the Board had not authorized any new positions in this proposed tax base. The tax base included only three items: moving the County back to a 40 -hour workweek, allocating $700,000 to operate the new jail, and funding for the traffic safety patrol. If the proposed tax base was not approved, the County would have a $2.7 million deficit. Susan Mayea went through the attached tax rate comparison sheet with the Board. She said she asked the Assessor's Office to calculate value changes only for Deschutes County and the three incorporated cities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters since there were too many taxing districts to go through each one. The proposed tax levy was divided by the new valuation to arrive at the new tax rate of $1.9940 per thousand. She went through all of the taxing areas in the County to find the PAGE 3 MINUTES: 2-12-92 0108 14'79 highest taxing area to analyze, which was area 01-30 where they had a special road district and a vector control district; and that total government rate would probably not go over the $9 mark. Acting Chair Throop pointed out that Deschutes County's current rate was $1.48 per thousand which was about 29th out of the 36 counties in terms of the tax rate. The average tax rate for a county operation in Oregon was over $4, and both Jefferson and Crook Counties exceeded $4. Acting Chair Throop opened the public hearing and asked for testimony from representatives from the other taxing districts first. James Fort, 16101 Park Drive, LaPine, said that he was the Chairman of Special Road District #8 in LaPine. He wanted to know why the County needed to increase the tax base more than inflation. Acting Chair Throop said that Deschutes County was the fastest growing county in the state and the only one that was on a reduced workweek. If this tax base were adopted it would only accomplish three things: (1) return staff to a 40 -hour workweek with only one new staff position; (2) $700,000 to fund operations for the new jail (the County was operating its current jail for approximately $1 million for 54 beds, and it would take $1.7 or $1.8 to operate a new 150 bed jail); and (3) to continue the five -member traffic safety team which had previously been funded by grants which were no longer available. The reason that it would take this kind of money to accomplish these three things was because the 57% of County income which didn't come from taxes was not going to increase so the entire increase had to be born by the property tax payers. If this tax base was not funded, the first thing that would be cut would be the traffic safety team, the second would be the inability to operate the jail, and the third would be to continue to operate on a reduced workweek, unless a major component of the County, like the Sheriff's patrol or library, was eliminated. James Fort asked if the present jail was at capacity. Acting Chair Throop said it was at capacity everyday and people were being released too early because of overcrowding. Mr. Fort asked what the highest tax rate in the County would be, and Commissioner Throop said it would be below $9 a thousand. Mr. Fort was concerned that the County's increase not affect his district's ability to increase its tax rate in the future. There were no other representatives from taxing districts who wished to testify, so the hearing was opened to testimony from the general public. PAGE 4 MINUTES: 2-12-92 Bob Mead said he was a retired police officer and expressed concern that the other jail was being closed. Commissioner Throop said the current facility was terribly inefficient and was taking two staff people for every one staff person that the new facility could require. It would save taxpayers money to move out of the old jail and into the new, more efficient facility. It would only compound the inefficiency of the situation if the County tried to operate two, separate facilities. He invited Mr. Mead to meet with him individually to go over the data in depth. Mr. Mead asked if there was more than one facility included in the tax base request. Commissioner Throop said no, the only items included in the tax base were the three he had outlined previously. There would be no additions to programs and no increases in staffing with the new tax base. Mr. Mead asked what was happening to the budget to operate the current jail. Commissioner Throop said the $1 million would be transferred over to the new jail, but it would take another $700,000 to operate the new facility (which would be a three -fold increase in beds for a two-thirds increase in operating expenditures). Mr. Mead didn't like it when more than one issue was placed in the same package for voting. He also thought the transportation district was part of the proposed County tax base. Commissioner Throop said no, it would be voted on separately if it received enough signatures to be place on the ballot. Commissioner Throop said he felt the County had gotten the message on this issue. When the library and the jails were placed on the ballot together, they failed; so they didn't combine them the next time and the jail measure passed. Mr. Mead continued that he felt the County should live within its budget since many of its citizens were on a fixed income. To save the County money, he suggested that police officers not be allowed to take cars home with them, and that all other County staff use their own vehicles. He also was upset that the County Commissioners went ahead and purchased the Yellow Front Store in Redmond when the voters rejected the tax levy for that project, and then it cost $5,000 to get out of the deal. Commissioner Throop said the two Commissioners involved in that purchase "got the message" and reversed themselves, because they heard clearly from the public. He felt proud of that kind of responsiveness to the public. Mr. Mead said he had submitted a copy of the attached letter to the Bulletin. Earl Enyart, 52410 Dep Lane, Lapine, testified that he felt the assessed value should not have been replaced by the real market value on the property tax statements. Commissioner Throop agreed, but pointed out that this change was required by Ballot Measure 5, and the County had no choice in the matter. Mr. Enyart asked where the majority of the total tax bill went. Commissioner Throop said the vast majority went to schools. If the average tax rate were $20, only $1.48 would go to the County, with 70-75% going to schools. Mr. Enyart PAGE 5 MINUTES: 2-12-92 0.08 1481 was also upset about the purchase of the Yellow Front Store. He thought the new jail could be built on the old motel site which would save some money since the County already owned it. Commissioner Throop said there was a citizens' siting committee which would be considering all available sites, including that one. However that site was mostly rock which would take about $1 million just the prepare the site for development. Mr. Enyart suggested placing the jail on the outskirts of town where the prices were cheaper. Commissioner Throop said that would be considered, but they will have to balance the increased costs of operation at a remote site. Mr. Enyart felt the County should operate both jail facilities. Commissioner Throop said it would take $1 million to operate the current jail. The new facility would take $1.7 million to operate and would have three times the number of beds. So it was more economically feasible to move the $1 million to the new facility, so it would only take an additional $700,000 to operate. Mr. Enyart felt the representation of LaPine had gone down since Abe Young was a Commissioner. Sharon Reed, 16333 Twin Dr., LaPine 97739, testified that she was on a fixed income with a child to raise and didn't like increases in taxes, however she did want better police protection. She hadn't been aware that LaPine was not a city since she was new to the area. She felt it was important to build the jail so that it could be expanded, and was concerned that a site in town would not be expandable. She felt the jobs created by the new jail were very important for the economy. When there was only one police office covering the large southern county, it was important that they have their police cars at home. When someone broke into the LaPine park building, the police were unable to respond and just told them to go ahead and fix the lock. She wanted the LaPine substation to be open all of the time. Commissioner Throop said that some police cars did go home with sheriffs deputies in rural areas to allow them better response time, however most cars were not taken home in the urban area. He said there was a resident deputy in LaPine, and the County spent more money on roads in the LaPine area than anywhere else in the County. There were also Health and Mental Health programs operated by the County in LaPine. Bob Mead pointed out that when a deputy took a car home, it was only available for one shift. When he was an officer, they ran the cars for three shifts. He reiterated that the new jail had to be built with expansion in mind. Norm Thrasher, Undersheriff, said he came to this meeting to listen to any of the public's concerns about public safety. In response to the discussion on the vehicles, he said some of the cars did go out on double shifts. There were four PAGE 6 MINUTES: 2-12-92 resident deputies in the LaPine area with three vehicles, so one vehicle was rotated through on shifts. Because of the shortage of staff in the Sheriff's Department and the Oregon State Police, they did have to prioritize calls. He expressed concern for having the new jail built outside of the courthouse area, since the deputies were regularly bringing inmates back and forth from the jail to the court and were often there to testify. Sharon Reed suggested using the old jail to hold the inmates during trial days, and then using a bus to take them all back at one time. Commissioner Throop said it would probably cost more to staff the old jail than to transfer them back and forth. Mr. Thrasher said they were considering the use of TV monitors so that they would not have to appear in court. James Fort testified again representing only himself and expressed concern over the level of service that was given to LaPine. He specifically pointed to law enforcement, snow plowing and the formation of the park district. He understood the County was going to give the park and the buildings to the BLM, so that was why they had to form a park district. Commissioner Throop said that wasn't true. The County had never considered giving the facility back to the BLM, especially since the County had private nonprofit operations running programs there. He said the County even exchanged a piece of property for the White School because the Park District wanted it. Commissioner Throop said the level of service which was given to the LaPine area was the same level of service provided countywide. Since the County's tax rate was currently $1.48 while the average Oregon County rate was $4, Deschutes County had among the fewest number of patrol deputies in the state. If the County did not provide the level of services that the urbanizing population required, it was because the County did not have the resources to provide more service. He also pointed out that there was only one industrial park in the whole county which the County purchased and administered which was in LaPine. The County also opened a library in the LaPine area. Concerning snow plowing, the County could not spend any money on roads which weren't county roads, however the County spending more money per capita on roads in the LaPine area than any other area of the County. Commissioners Throop and Schlangen suggested that he put together a meeting in LaPine which they would attend to discuss these issues. Commissioner Throop pointed out that there were only two services provided in Deschutes County which were not mandated by state and federal law: sheriff's patrol and libraries. Acting Chair Throop closed the public hearing. PAGE 7 MINUTES: 2-12-92 6. 7. 9. 0108 1483 LOBOS INDEMNITY AGREEMENT Before the Board was signature of an Indemnity Agreement with The Lobos for an off-road motorcycle race to be held February 29, 1992, and March 1, 1992, near Millican. SCHLANGEN: I move signature. THROOP: Second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH TRANSCENTRAL Before the Board was signature of a Personal Services Contract with TransCentral to provide job related transportation for eleven clients with developmental disabilities. SCHLANGEN: Move signature. THROOP: Second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE VOUCHERS AND TAX OVERPAYMENTREFUNDS Before the Board was approval of Accounts Payable Vouchers in the amount of $14,130.75 and Tax Overpayment Refunds in the amount of $590.73. SCHLANGEN: Move approval upon review. THROOP: Second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused. APPOINTMENTS TO 4-H/EXTENSION COMMITTEES Before the Board was appointment of Sharon Hoobler to the 4-H/Extension Service District Budget Committee; and appointment of Bob Hoar, Carl Juhl, Ann McDonald, Parker Johnstone, and Rosie Stevens to the 4-H/Extension Service District Advisory Council. SCHLANGEN: I move approval of the appointments. PAGE 8 MINUTES: 2-12-92 THROOP: I'll second the motion. VOTE: THROOP: YES SCHLANGEN: YES MAUDLIN: Excused DATED this 1,3M day of Commissioners of Deschutes County, 0108 1484 •�, 1992, by the Board of s s ioaier ATT Nancy Po a ch angen, Commissioner Itt'd � OL Recording Secretary Secreta Dick Maudlin, Chairman PAGE 9 MINUTES: 2-12-92 PUBLIC HEARING SPEAKERS' LISTING PUBLIC HEARING TOPIC: DATE.•, / 99 a2 TIME: 4 ' I i W 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. w 0108 1486 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DESCHUTES COUNTY TAX LEVY Deschutes County hereby gives notice, pursuant to ORS 310.186, that Deschutes County intends to seek elector approval for the 1992-1993 fiscal year of an increase in the current tax levy authority from $6,637.203 to $9,990,000. A special public hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 1992, in Hearing Room A, Juvenile Justice Center, 1128 NW Harriman Street, Bend, Oregon, for citizens and representatives of units of local government to communicate to the Board of County Commissioners the effect of the proposed increase in Deschutes County's current tax levy authority on other units of local government. Any interested persons and representatives of a local unit of government may attend and comment. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON DICK MAUDLIN, Chairman To be published in The Bulletin: 1/28/92 and 2/4/92 Mailed to all Deschutes County Local Units of Government 1/28/92. mwwty Cy N- ID m a t+ cmr'a.a o m a rt H m O m z 0 0 o rt o ►C M to UI 0% ~ 0 Ot r �P r.. N N- rrr-r z 0 0 wrw Dots O W N r Ut ro O%G• w tTi N O 0 V O r w t7' r- to rrr r M r rrr 0 0 t•- r w O m o � 0 O NWWt=J0 r'- F•- r k O tt mr rt 0 o m :jO m tm-� O 0 rjp�OOr i.oNo�. 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O x 0 M 00000.00r O N6rA P, 6r6t0 o moODwwwww ,i 0 0 w " M W N3 P. r 0wN-%D 0Ww0 r r t0 N rN0.�4rt0 UI 0v0.t00t-1 O Ot Gt O O� �P 0 O NODW W�1O O �PU1�PVtNO Q148 148'7 W1- „o 00 it M r U 11 it u u u u u onwW"0 X tr tt :7 r ct 0 mma ��e o O 0% 00w0or N N t0 W r 0 4h N 0.N-1WNOD N W OD tO at at v to to N W to OD IN r w Ot Ch ODCnrG% 0 F- %D rno+rntG� GtO%W-1N 0WtnNO &toOODW H govw omo yHy po V tai m #-A cct t� mOmp' �t0t cwt w� 0Orw0Or �p NN36r6t0 OD 0&.W ntoWW �P OWOWtoNip N Ot000WWt0O r N w tG N t0 OD -i r t0 cn w " w 0 - O OG►Ot�PO O O► Ot W -1 O O OWUINO O "WOODO t7 til rn x Q H M In 10 O tr � H a K K r ry to m m N 0 O z ro H 0 Oz m Page 1 28 January 1992 Money Management Questioned 0108 1488 I believe we are all concerned about taxes. The majtority of citizens must stay within a budget; so must government! The Deschutes County taxpayers just recently passed two, much needed, issues: a 43 million dollar school bond and a 92 million dollar jail bond. Now the county wants another 3 - plus million. We, the taxpayers, have yet to see the increases on our tax bill that reflect these bonds totalling $52 million. You understand the property tax outcry this tax period. Wait until the new tax assessments hit the property owners, and rents jump up. In my view, this county could save money in numerous ways by re-examining old practices. One obvious way is by not allowing anyone to take a County vehicle home (including Sheriff's Deputies). County and City employees could and should use their own vehicles in the performance of their jobs (excluding law enforcers). Let them write mileage as I did when I was a Police Detective. This saves the purchase of new vehicles, gas, insurance and maintenance. Government must attempt to cut costs and retain taxpayers' confidence! People are mad and upset with government spending and credibility. Numerous lawmakers didn't pay for their meals and wrote bad checks. Senator PO OAPis under investigation for selling his vote to a Southern State University thusnabling his son to get a free education there. We have Les Aoin (who is running for the Senate) admitting writing 5 bad checks while representing us. Locally we have the situation where poor management in tax collecting resulted in non collection of $125,000 in bed taxes from "The Inn of the Seventh Mountain" (which has now filed for bankruptcy). The visitor center is still a subject of controversial spending. That's why term limits are gaining favor. How can we believe this commission when last year Commissioner Lois Prante and Dick Maudlin overruled the voters and pur- chased the yellow front building in Redmond for a library using $450,000 of County insurance money. Fortunately, this purchase never materialized and the county had to pay a $5,000 penalty to back out of the deal (at taxpayer expense). It should be noted that this building was owned by a current member of this commission. The bottom line is: Live within your budget! Bob Mead 60341 Wood side Loo Bend, Ore. 97702 389-1966