2023-101-Minutes for Meeting February 17,2023 Recorded 3/30/2023SES C0
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BOARD OF
,,,,•- COMMISSIONERS
Recorded in Deschutes County
Steve Dennison, County Clerk CJ2023-101
Commissioners' Journal 03/30/2023 2:32:37 PM
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1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon
(541) 388-6571
FOR RECORDING STAMP ONLY
DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
8:00 AM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023 VIA ZOOM CONFERENCE CALL
A virtual legislative update meeting was held on Friday, February 17, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. via Zoom
Virtual Meeting Platform, for a weekly scheduled event during this 2023 Legislative Session.
Deschutes County Attendance:
X
Commissioner Anthony DeBone
x
Nick Lelack, County Administrator
X
Commissioner Patti Adair
X
Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator
X
Commissioner Phil Chang
X
Whitney Hale, Deputy County
Administrator
X
Dave Doyle, Legal Counsel
Kim Riley, Assistant Legal Counsel
David Givans, Internal Auditor
X
Robert Tintle, Chief Financial Officer
Chris Doty, Road Department Director
X
Janice Garceau, Health Services Director
Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager
Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney
X
Peter Gutowsky, Community Development
Director
X
Kathleen Hinman, Human Resources
Director
Keith MacNamara, Veterans' Services
Manager
X
Deevy Holcomb, Community Justice
Director
Lee Randall, Facilities Director
Kevin Moriarty, Forester
Chad Centola, Solid Waste Director
X
Tim Brownell, Incoming Solid Waste
Director
Shane Nelson, Sheriff
X
Sara Crosswhite, 9-1-1 Director
Steve Dennison, Clerk
Cheyenne Purrington, Houseless
Strategies and Solutions Director
X
Geoff Hinds, Fair & Expo Director
Scot Langton, Assessor _
Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace
Will Groves, Planning Manager
X
Holly Harris, Behavioral Health Director
X
Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 1 OF 5
X ITom
Kuhn, Public Health Program
Manager
X
Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative
Assistant
Legislators Present:
Senator Lynn Findley
Representative Jason Kropf
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Representative Emerson Levy
Representative Werner Reschke
Representative Vickki Breese Iverson
Others Present:
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Doug Riggs, NW Policy Advocates President
X
Gabriel Velasquez, NW Policy Advocates
Legislative Coordinator
X
Sherrie Grieef, Community Member
X
Phone -In Caller, Community Member
X
DW Lee, Community Member
1. Introductions
Commissioner DeBone called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m.
2. Department Updates
Sara Crosswhite, 9-1-1 Director, summarized HB 2828, which relates to
telecommunications towers. Her concern is that decommissioning towers is costly
and maintaining towers are important for public safety. Peter Gutowsky stated that
he expects modernization of telecommunication towers as our area grows. The bill
would require towers to conform to new rules by the year 2030, which is a
significant undertaking at a high cost. The Board supports opposing HB 2828 unless
amended.
Sara Crosswhite discussed HB 3101, which requires schools to have at least one
panic alarm in each building. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz spoke with Rep. Levy
this week, and she is open to making amendments. Ms. Crosswhite and Chief Krantz
will meet with Rave Panic next week regarding this topic. Mr. Riggs stated that HB
3101 is Rep. Levy's top priority bill. Snohomish County had interesting testimony,
and he suggested Ms. Crosswhite listen to the testimony. The Board supports
maintaining a neutral position on this bill.
Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator, shared that EDCO (Economic
Development Central Oregon) has supports bills extending the enterprise zone. Mr.
Riggs shared that some large data centers in the gorge have faced opposition. Any
input or insight from the County, in the form of a generic letter of support for
enterprise zones, to the delegation would be invaluable. There are seven total
enterprise zone bills. Senate Bills 133, 134 and 135 are included in this batch of
enterprise zone bills. The Board supports economic development tools as priority 2,
and supports drafting a letter of support for this batch of enterprise zone bills.
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 2 OF 5
Geoff Hinds, Fair & Expo Director, summarized HB 2510, which removes the lottery
funding cap for funding that goes towards county fairs statewide. Currently, fairs
receive 1 % of lottery funds and this cap has been in place for 20 years. Removal of
the cap would provide additional lottery fund dollars for fairs, and this funding is
integral for many fairs statewide. A brief discussion took place regarding lottery
dollars in general. Mr. Riggs shared that a work session will be held in the next
three weeks regarding HB 2510. The Board supports HB 2510 as priority 2.
Kathleen Hinmann, Human Resources Director, summarized HB 2448. Her position
in support of this bill is in alignment with Health Services' position. This bill updates
compensation for specified positions held by those working in developmental
disabilities program. The Board supports HB 2448 as priority 2.
Ms. Hinmann discussed HB 2773, another bill that was also routed to Health
Services, and provides incentives for increasing recruitment and retention of local
public health professionals. The Board supports HB 2773 as priority 2.
HB3205 is similar to HB 2607, which remove hiring bonuses and retention bonuses
from the definition of compensation for purposes of pay equity. The Board
supports these bills as priority 2.
HB 3003 was reviewed last week in Commissioner DeBone's absence and revisited.
This bill provides tax credits for electric utilities that purchase electricity produced
from a fuel source made from at least 50% western juniper biomass. Mr. Riggs
shared that there is an amendment in progress that would support other
alternative energy applications, and this amendment is in alignment with
Commissioner Chang's suggestions. The Board supports HB 3003 with
amendments as priority 2.
HB 3142 was discussed last week and was revisited for discussion with
Commissioner DeBone in attendance. This bill provides grants to counties for
western juniper removal. Mr. Riggs reported that Central Oregon LandWatch
opposed the bill at a recent hearing. Mr. Riggs reported that studies show juniper
thinning results in increased streamflow when done correctly and target areas are
carefully selected. Commissioner Chang believes juniper removal in Central Oregon
should focus on improving habitat and forage while reducing wildfire risk, rather
than focusing on the water issue. He added that removing juniper in our area will
not alleviate our water shortage. Per Commissioner Chang, as written, the bill
creates a misperception that juniper removal will solve the water crisis in Central
Oregon. Commissioner Adair watched the hearing remotely and signed up to
testify at the hearing. She is supportive of HB 3142 and thanked Mr. Riggs for his
efforts towards the bill. The Board supports HB 3142 with amendments as priority
2.
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 3 OF 5
SB 653 was opened up for discussion by Ms. Hale. This bill provides state funding
for forest thinning on public lands in wildfire -prone counties. Commissioner
Chang's concerns with this bill is in regards to brush removal prior to thinning
operations, creating a bottleneck. He has received confirmation from AOC that an
amendment is in the works taking some of these concerns into consideration, and
has Sen. Knopp's support. The Board supports SB 653 with amendments as priority
2.
SB 859 was summarized by Tim Brownell, Incoming Solid Waste Director. This bill
allows local governments to abate waste, graffiti and vandalism associated with
homelessness, and passes the costs along to waste collection ratepayers. Mr.
Brownell outlined the reasons why he opposes the bill. Mr. Riggs reported that a
hearing hasn't yet been scheduled for this bill. The Board put SB 859 on a watch list
as priority 2, leaning towards oppose, and will take a position on this next week.
Ms. Hale reported receipt of a letter from the City of Redmond, asking us to
consider adding the Deschutes County logo to a letter of support for the
semiconductor package. The task force is discussing what types of incentives from
the state to counties to leverage some of the $230 billion in federal Chips Act
dollars that passed last summer. One key area of interest is the land around the
Redmond Airport, which totals 600 acres. A 200-acre site within the UGB, meets all
the criteria and is being targeted as potential semiconductor property, and the
question is whether the state will provide funding for infrastructure development.
Commissioner DeBone suggested arranging a site visit with legislators and EDCO.
The Board supports adding the County's logo to the letter discussed by Ms. Hale.
3. Legislator Updates
Representative Levy joined the meeting via phone. She would like to see
amendments on HB 3003 regarding other alternative energy sources, and is
supportive of the bill with amendments. HB 3101 is also known as "Alyssa's Law",
the panic alarm bill for schools, and it has received a lot of positive feedback. Rep.
Levy is speaking with Bend Police Chief Krantz and Ms. Crosswhite regarding the
bill next Thursday. Rep. Levy also provided an update on the semiconductor task
force. There is interest in the land near the Redmond Airport, but Central Oregon is
in competition with other areas of the state. She briefly touched on the homeless
package, which would provide funding to local governments and stabilization
centers. This is part of the governor's "First 60 Days" package, and she expects a
work session soon, to move it quickly.
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 4 OF 5
4. Other Items:
Commissioner DeBone discussed homeless camp clear -outs at Hunnel Road and
east of Redmond, and potential alternate sites for the homeless to relocate as a
topic that is on the radar.
Commissioner DeBone received an email from CORE3 (Central Oregon Regional
Emergency Services Training and Coordination Center facility) asking for the
Board's support in putting a Deschutes County logo on a letter taking a positive
position reminding our legislators about this project in Central Oregon as part of
their lobbying efforts. They are asking for funding from the legislature for
improvements at CORE3. The Board supports including the County logo on
CORE3's letter.
Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday,
February 24, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.
Adjourn: Commissioner DeBone adjourned the meeting at 9:08 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
jP►ngie P ers, CC Administrative Assistant
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2023 PAGE 5 OF 5