2023-214-Minutes for Meeting June 30,2023 Recorded 7/14/2023'TES CO
o� G2< BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon
(541) 388-6571
Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2023-214
Steve Dennison, County Clerk
Commissioners' Journal 07/14/2023 9:58:55 AM
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2023-214
FOR RECORDING STAMP ONLY
DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
FRI DAY, DUNE 30, 2023 VIA ZOOM CONFERENCE CALL
A virtual legislative update meeting was held on Friday, June 30, 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
x
Kim Riley, Assistant Legal Counsel
David Givans, Internal Auditor
x
Robert Tintle, Chief Financial Officer
x
Chris Doty, Road Department Director
Janice Garceau, Health Services Director
Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager
Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney
Peter Gutowsky, Community Development
Director
x
Kathleen Hinman, Human Resources
I Director
Keith MacNamara, Veterans' Services
Manager
Deevy Holcomb, Community Justice
Director
x
Lee Randall, Facilities Director
Kevin Moriarty, Forester
Chad Centola, Solid Waste Director
Tim Brownell, Incoming Solid Waste
Director
Shane Nelson, Sheriff
Sara Crosswhite, 9-1-1 Director
Steve Dennison, Clerk
Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace
Geoff Hinds, Fair & Expo Director
Scot Langton, Assessor
x
Tania Mahood, IT Director
x
Bill Kuhn, Treasurer
x
Holly Harris, Health Services Deputy
Director (Behavioral Health)
Will Groves, Planning Manager
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE JUNE 30, 2023 PAGE 1 OF 5
Tom Kuhn, Public Health Program
Manager
Heather Kaisner, Health Services Deputy
Director (Public Health)
Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager
x
Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative
Assistant
Legislators Present:
Senator Lynn Findley
Senator Tim Knopp
Representative Emerson Levy
Senator Dennis Linthicum
Representative Vikki Breese Iverson
Representative Werner Reschke
Representative Jason Kropf
Others Present:
x
I Doug Riggs, NW Policy Advocates President
1. Introductions
Commissioner DeBone called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.
2. Legislator Updates
No legislators were in attendance to provide updates.
3. Commissioner Updates
Chris Doty reported that HB 2101, the ODOT Fund Exchange Bill, passed. The
County will receive state dollars instead of federal. He added that ODOT has a
severe Operations and Maintenance funding shortage, and he expects another
discussion of a funding package in/around 2025. It will be key to make sure that
funding packages maintain a 50-30-20 split so that local government is not left
behind. Doug added that gas tax revenues continue to go down, due to the growth
in electric and hybrid vehicles and people working from home.
Holly Harris shared that she is thrilled with the IMPACTS funding. Responding to
Holly, Doug said that $10 million through Criminal Justice Commission was slated to
go towards other counties for opening up new stabilization centers, but he is not
aware of the allocation plan.
Responding to Bill Kuhn, Doug reported that HB 2980, the middle income housing
infrastructure bill, did not pass. Housing infrastructure bills were largely left behind.
4. Updates from NW Policy Advocates
Doug Riggs reported the session is over, and it was a unique ending to the session
as three bills failed on the senate floor on the final day. Amongst others, the failed
bills included HB 3414, which deals with land use and required cities to grant
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE JUNE 30, 2023 PAGE 2 OF 5
variances to builders and set up an enforcement office for DLCD. A portion of this
bill would have granted a one-time exception for cities to expand their UGBs into
urban reserves rapidly without approval by the state or counties. The Governor's
office removed protection for intergovernmental agreements for unincorporated
urban reserve land bordering multiple cities. Another bill which failed deals with the
right to sue your medical provider or insurance company. HB 3013 also failed, which
pharmacists advocated for and would have imposed a $10 per prescription drug fee
for any public employee. The final day of the session was very dramatic, with
numerous recesses.
Doug summarized some successes for Deschutes County. The ADU bill (without
amendments) passed early and was signed into law, by the Governor. The County
received $15 million towards the courthouse expansion funding. Most capital
construction projects went unfunded, and many others were cut by 50%. IMPACTS
funding came through.
Doug summarized some of the misses for this legislative session. Funding towards
Public Health came up short. Behavioral Health, particularly workforce funding,
went unfunded. HB 3126, providing regional mental health treatment facilities for
youth, did not pass.
Doug summarized next steps. There will be no special session in July. There may be
a special session around the third week of September. The Governor may ask for a
special session for the land use bill HB 3414. Interim hearings will take place in
November. The short session (35 days) will likely begin in early February. Doug
expressed his appreciation to Deschutes County's delegation.
Robert Tintle asked Doug about the $15 million from the general fund towards the
courthouse funding, and whether there are any special strings attached to the use
of these funds. Doug expects that the Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
will likely write a contract similar to a bond funding contract. He added that extra
bonding capacity was left on the table as unallocated.
Regarding HB 3414's failure this session, Commissioner Chang asked about
opportunities and strategies, should this bill move again in special session. He
believes the City of Bend is interested in bringing some lands at the eastside of
Bend into the UGB, adding that there may be opportunities to coordinate with the
city on HB 3414 or other related legislation. Doug reported that Governor Kotek and
her staff were unwilling to negotiate on HB 3414 at the end of the session, and will
need to work collaboratively. The Mayor of Bend testified on this bill twice, and the
City of Redmond has expressed interest as well. He also expects AOC to engage.
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE JUNE 30, 2023 PAGE 3 OF 5
Doug highlighted that housing infrastructure funding was left behind this session,
although Redmond received funding for Northpoint. It's easier in short session to
get a bill passed if part of a larger package, as opposed to an individual bill.
Commissioner Adair asked about strategies for the biomass plant in short session
(HB 3003). A portion of this bill passed, providing $2.6 million in funding for the
juniper management and stream restoration. The portion related to biomass tax
credit did not pass, and this would have sustained the program over the long term.
Commissioner Adair spoke about strategies to advocate for the bill related to
establishing youth mental health regional facilities during short session. Doug
shared that this bill was sponsored by the House Co -Chair of Ways and Means, and
its failure puzzles him. In addition, mental health care in schools was left behind and
special education funding for the Portland metro area failed. He suggested the
County draft a letter to Rep. Sanchez, asking her to come speak to us about this bill
and other important programs that were left behind. One victory was securing $19.4
million towards youth residential treatment programs, such as J Bar J. This will help
them to retain their staff by increasing wages. This was a hard-fought victory in the
Christmas Tree Bill.
Relative to regional youth psychiatric emergency treatment centers, Commissioner
Chang shared that discussions took place in the past with St. Charles Medical
Center, about hosting Representatives Kropf and Levy for a tour of the Emergency
Department. Doug supported this plan, and will coordinate with Holly Harris and try
to schedule a date for this tour. Commissioner DeBone added that Central Oregon
is an important treatment area for much of rural eastern Oregon as well.
5. Other Items
• Doug Riggs will provide a formal wrap-up of the legislative session during the
July 12 Board of Commissioners meeting. Whitney suggested coordinating
with Jen on any items of note for that meeting.
In response to Commissioner Chang, Doug reported the County's contract
with Doug outside of the legislative session is a slightly smaller amount, but it
is business as usual. He will put together a list of legislators to invite to a
summit/barbeque in Central Oregon. There are many opportunities in
between sessions. Pre -session filing takes place in September.
• Nick Lelack asked Doug to please track interim work groups, for best
allocation of staff.
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE JUNE 30, 2023 PAGE 4 OF 5
Next Meeting: This wraps up Legislative Update meetings for the 2023 Legislative Session.
Doug Riggs will present to the Board during their public meeting on July 12, 2023.
Adjourn: Commissioner DeBone adjourned the meeting at 8:37 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Angie PoWers, BUCC Administrative Assistant
2023 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE JUNE 30, 2023 PAGE 5 OF 5