Loading...
2005-109-Minutes for Meeting January 26,2005 Recorded 2/10/2005DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS CJ 1005,109 NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 02/10/2005 03;09;08 PM 11!iti® DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK CERTIFICATE PAGE This page must be included if document is re-recorded. Do Not remove from original document. Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.ora MINUTES OF LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE CALL DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2005 Commissioners' Hearing Room - Administration Building - 1300 NW Wall St.., Bend Present were Commissioners Tom DeWolf, Dennis R. Luke and Michael M. Daly. Also present were Mike Maier, County Administrator; Dan Peddycord, Health Department; Bob Smit, KIDS Center; Mike Dugan, District Attorney; Hillary Saraceno and Julie Lyche, Commission on Children & Families; Tom Blust, Road Department; Scot Langton, Assessor; Scott Johnson, Mental Health Department; Judith Ure, Commissioners' Office; and two other citizens. Present via conference call was Bill Linden of Public Counsel LLC, the County's lobbyist in Salem. No media representatives were in attendance. Chair Tom DeWolf opened the meeting at 11:30 a.m. Bill Linden provided an update on substantive legislation and funding issues now being addressed in Salem. 1. Justice Court Mr. Linden said that he has had discussions with members of the House and Senate Judicial Committee. He stated that he cannot negotiate this issue with Ernie Mazorol of the Courts, and feels Mr. Mazorol has been developing excuses for not supporting the bill. Mike Maier said that he has advised Mr. Mazorol the Board needs to be involved. He added that the last time the excuse had to do with the location of Circuit Court, and this issue was addressed. Commissioner Luke noted that District Court puts a burden on staff and the courts. Mr. Linden agreed that it is a drain on resources. He said he will discuss the issue with Judge Sullivan, and will fax the revised draft to the Board. Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 1 of 6 Pages Commissioner Luke said that for the record, he was deeply disappointed in the Chief Justice and local court representatives because of how they treated the County on the last go -round regarding Justice Court. He added that he is willing to testify on this issue. He also stated that he is disappointed that the Presiding Judge and Ernie Mazorol contacted Mr. Linden without talking to the Board first. 2. SB 555 Sunset. Mr. Linden explained that Representative Whisnant will soon have the amendment in final form. Information on the possible outcomes and impacts is needed. It would be helpful to learn who might be in opposition of the bill. 3. & 4. Appointed Treasurer and Assessor. Mr. Linden said that there are two ways to handle this; one is through constitutional change and the other is legislative. Senator Westlund may be leaning towards legislative. Commissioner DeWolf stated that this would allow the Board the authority to appoint individuals, but an allowance should be included to allow for a vote of the electorate if the population is more than 100,000. Otherwise it is doomed. Mr. Linden felt that he could at least get a hearing on this issue. 5. PSU population data. In regard to PSU population data for state funding allocations, this is in legislative committee and a draft will be coming for the Board to review. It's important to include the most current population information. 6. Close "slayer" statue loophole. Mr. Linden stated that Senator Westlund drafted this bill, and there will probably be no problem getting it through. Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 2 of 6 Pages 7. through 12. Tort issues. (Cap tort claim limits, frivolous claim penalties, attorney fee awards, limit contingency fees in suits with public bodies, mandate mediation in suits with public bodies, attorney billing review process.) Mr. Linden explained that he doesn't expect to see a lot of activity on tort reform, but perhaps there will be some opportunity for reform eventually. 13. PIT stop legislation. Mr. Linden said that this is in committee. He talked with a lobbyist for police groups, and the Speaker requested the bill in draft form. The Attorney General is actively working to pass this. He will send a copy of the draft to the Board and to the Sheriff. There appears to be no opposition. 14. Police officer use of deadly force. (oppose) Mr. Linden stated that there will probably be a number of bills filed on this issue. Mike Dugan expressed concern that it will become an unfunded mandate, with the counties having to pick up the cost. 15. Public safety collective bargaining law changes. (oppose) Mr. Linden said this was fought last session but has been refiled. There is a good coalition of Police Chiefs, Sheriffs and others working on this, and the hope is to hold it at the Senate. This will be a difficult one. 16. Limits on local government insurance activities. (oppose) Mr. Linden said he is watching this one. B. Funding issues. In regard to funding issues, Mr. Linden stated the following. The process used by the Ways & Means leadership generally includes having all kinds of agencies come in and present information on how programs operate, and will stress the use of evaluations and outcomes. This information will be used in the second step, setting priorities. The Co -Chair's budget will then come out, and is supposed to reflect these priorities. Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 3 of 6 Pages The third step is the actual work of the subcommittee, tying back to evaluations and outcomes. Each budget issue needs to be worked on at least three times. This won't change the amount of funds available, but it is a different process than those used in the past — more than one-stop shopping. There should be multiple opportunities for interest groups and entities to make a pitch to the subcommittee and committee. The whole process seems to be driven by the K-12 numbers. It is hoped that they will settle on a strategy to establish this first, but it appears at this time that most budget issues will be unresolved and floating until the very end. There won't be much spending done until then. 1. a) SB 1145. Mr. Linden said he is working on a process that will result in more funding for 1145 and less responsibility on the local entity. He will keep the Board and Sheriff posted on this. b) Mentally ill persons. There is nothing new to report on the mentally ill pilot program. Scott Johnson observed that he is monitoring this issue, and doesn't know yet if it will go anywhere. It is a money issue. 2. Juvenile system. Mr. Linden said he has spoken with Jenny Chocole about the various issues. He stated that efforts are being made to get more money for the Oregon Youth Authority. Nothing has been drafted yet. 3. Other public safety issues. Regarding drug court, there is a strong interest. However, the budget for public safety funding is being slashed up to $24 million. It comes down to funding and the priorities of the Chief Justice. In regard to raiding 9-1-1 funds (oppose), this issue isn't as organized as it has been in the past. Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 4 of 6 Pages 4. Equity issues. Scott Johnson stated that this is in the executive branch. He is attempting to shake loose some FY 03-05 dollars. Legislation is not needed, but the influence and support of the legislators is needed. ESD funding issues are being monitored at this time. 5. Public and mental health issues. Mr. Linden emphasized that this budget is a basket case, as it is at least $450 million short. There are all kinds of calculations being made regarding case load levels and holes in programs that are being overlooked. Some programs are being deliberately underfunded in the hope that the legislature will be forced to find a way to cover it. Dan Peddycord stated that HB 2038, dealing with tobacco tax, and HB 2125, a new fee schedule for sanitary inspections of drinking water systems, were deleted. HB 2125 would have brought in about $200,000. The beer tax was one issue that they were not able to lobby. It may have not yet been filed yet. The tobacco tax bill has been filed. Mr. Peddycord said that he feels the bill pushed by the Sunriver Homeowners Association regarding the operation of a vector control district should sail through unopposed. 6. Programs for children and families. Mr. Linden said he talked with Bob Smit of the KIDS Center regarding funding problems. The same funding issues affect other programs as well. He is trying to work with judiciary committee members. The approach may be to bring this into the public safety arena to assure more stable funding. 7. Transportation system. There is great interest in the transportation bill, but funding will be inadequate. The State will probably try to bond as much as possible. Mr. Linden said that the surcharge on auto insurance policies is about dead on arrival. Commissioner Luke observed that there may be a $100 surcharge placed on first-time registrations that will be used to bond repair and maintenance of roads. Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 5 of 6 Pages 8. Environmental Issues. Mr. Linden said he needs some help with the noxious weed eradication issue. Commissioner Luke stated he would have Road Department staff contact him with the details. A lot of the funding for this comes through the Department of Agriculture. Tom Blust said that pesticide protection laws passed in the 1999 session. However, they have not been implemented due to the cost. There are two current bills trying to revive this. He stated that in his opinion the funds could be better spent and that there are already other ways to track this issue that are adequate. Being no further items brought before the group, the meeting adjourned at 12: 30 p. m. DATED this 26th Day of January 2005 for the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. Tom WWolf, Chair ATTEST: 61 6'W'CX;_ Recording Secretary Attachment Exhibit A: Agenda for Legislative Meeting Dennis R. Luke, Commissioner Minutes of Legislative Conference Call Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Page 6 of 6 Pages Board of County Commissioners Deschutes County Legislative Meeting January 26, 2005 Agenda I. Call to order — Board Chair Mike Daly II. 2005 legislative committees III. County priority issues - updates A. Substantive legislation 1. Justice court — bill draft; discussions with Westlund, Burley, Whisnant Judiciary Committee members 2. SB 555 sunset — bill dropped with amendment 3. Appointed treasurer — bill draft revised 4. Appointed assessor — bill draft revised 5. PSU population data for state funding allocations — in LC 6. Close "slayer" statute loophole 7. Cap tort claim limits 8. Frivolous claim penalties 9. Attorney fee awards 10. Limit contingency fees in suits with public bodies 11. Mandate mediation in suits with public bodies 12. Attorney billing review process 13. PIT stop legislation — in LC 14. Police officer use of deadly force (oppose) 15. Public safety collective bargaining law changes (oppose) — SB 319, 320,321 16. Limits on local government insurance activities (oppose) 1 B. Funding issues 1. Adult corrections a. SB 1145 funding — meeting with Governor's office b. Mentally ill persons — pilot program concept 2. Juvenile system a. Juvenile sex offender treatment b. Juvenile sex offender residential program funding C. Juvenile outpatient mental health service d. SB 267 programs e. Local option concept — not being pursued by juvenile directors f. Increased OYA bed capacity g. Funding for juvenile female offender residential program 3. Other public safety issues a. Drug court funding b. 911 fund raids (oppose) 4. Equity issues a. Mental health funding b. ESD funding 5. Public and mental health issues a. La Pine health center b. School-based health centers C. Increase public health per capita funding d. OHP funding for children's dental care e. Early childhood health screening and intervention f. Children's nutritional needs g. Funding for childhood obesity, asthma and diabetes h. Health services safety net funding i. Fund preventive approaches to chronic diseases j. Fund tobacco prevention programs 2 6. Programs for children and families — budget reduction information a. Maintain KIDS center funding — meetings with Bob Smit b. Sustain expenditure flexibility C. Restore Ballot Measure 30 cuts d. Adequate relief nursery funding 7. Transportation system a. Increase ODOT modernization funding 8. Environmental issues a. Funding for noxious weed eradication 9. Discuss need for precise fiscal impact information on all funding issues C. Other business 3