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2024-270-Minutes for Meeting July 30,2024 Recorded 9/23/2024BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541) 388-6570 Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2024-270 Steve Dennison, County Clerk Commissioners' Journal 09/23/2024 3:07:58 PM Iiliuuiumiimimiuii FOR RECORDING STAMP ONLY COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON RECREATIONAL CAMPGROUND OPPORTUNITIES WITH DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 5:30 PM TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024 Barnes Sawyer Rooms Live Streamed Video Present were Commissioners Patti Adair, Anthony DeBone and Phil Chang. Also present were County Administrator Nick Lelack; Deputy County Administrator Erik Kropp; Deputy County Administrator Whitney Hale; Strategic Initiatives Manager Jen Patterson; and Executive Assistant Brenda Fritsvold. This meeting was audio and video recorded and can be accessed at the Deschutes County Meeting Portal website www.deschutes.org/meetings. Commissioner Adair called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm and welcomed everyone in attendance, acknowledging the presence of representatives from Oregon Parks & Recreation, Bend Parks & Recreation, Deschutes Trail Coalition, and Visit Central Oregon. Commissioner Adair then reviewed the agenda, noting the meeting will begin with a presentation from ECONorthwest, the consultant contracted by the County to conduct a Camping Feasibility Study. Update on Camping Feasibility Study Mark Buckley from ECONorthwest said the Camping Feasibility Study looked at tourism demand and potential opportunities in Deschutes County which result from the scarcity of short-term accommodations for persons recreating outdoors. The study included an BOCC COMMUNITY CONVERSATION JULY 30, 2024 PAGE 1 OF 4 evaluation of three County -owned properties for possible use as recreational campgrounds, including the property on Fort Thompson Lane. Buckley reviewed data on Deschutes County's population and visitor growth and described tourism and economic impacts over the past 20 years, saying that although the Deschutes National Forest is a high -profile resource for outdoor recreation, most of its campgrounds are not accessible outside of the summer months. Buckley shared statistics on the projected number of future visitors to the County as well as economic contributions of persons visiting the Deschutes National Forest. Continuing, Buckley said the study evaluated current campground availability and occupancies. He shared information on the Fort Thompson Lane property, including its zoning, access, natural resources, regulatory considerations, and development potential. He estimated that the property has about 98 areas of "opportunity acreage" and offered potential in -season and off-season camping rates. Buckley then shared a graph showing occupancy rates that could be expected at Fort Thompson for 50, 100 and 150 RV sites, and spoke to estimates of how much each development might cost as well as how many years it would take to break even following the initial capital investment. Buckley noted these numbers do not account for state or federal grants which might be secured. Buckley concluded that use of the Fort Thompson property appears to offer a strong return on investment potential, particularly when possible public -private partnership opportunities are factored in. Group Discussions Following the presentation from ECONorthwest, persons who signed up to talk with the Commissioners were called up in groups. Persons who live in proximity to the Fort Thompson Lane property were invited to join the Commission —they were Sam Davis, Bruce Halperin, Alex Tarnoff, Lindsey Wilcox, Gary Knight, Rich Neiderhof, Ken Moore, Connie Settle, Chip Arthur and Greg Vann. Discussion points included: the fact that the County's Comprehensive Plan states that Deschutes County does not provide parks or recreation programs; the desire that recreational opportunities be expanded for the benefit of those who live here and visit here; the fact that the Camping Feasibility Study is only a preliminary analysis of the market and includes the idea of partnering with a private developer for a future campground on County -owned land; the assumption that an RV park would attract dispersed campers from federal lands; the possibility that the Murphy Road site could more than accommodate the demand for RV sites as projected in the ECONorthwest analysis; the failure to include other known RV parks together having a total of 600 sites in the analysis; the lack of natural BOCC COMMUNITY CONVERSATION JULY 30, 2024 PAGE 2 OF 4 amenities such as a river or lake at the Fort Thompson property; a statewide analysis which addresses the need for camping around Oregon and includes regional data on this subject; the fact that many potential campers are turned away at Tumalo State Park for lack of space; the recognition that more analysis is needed to determine if a campground at Fort Thompson would be feasible; the perception of the Fort Thompson property as dry, dusty, and arid, and that it experiences traffic noise from adjacent Highway 97; concerns that transients may use the property and dump trash onto it; the supposition that a campground at Fort Thompson would not be a destination in and of itself but would only serve as an overflow site from Tumalo and the Fair; the worry that people would utilize private property to access Fort Thompson; the owner of the Groves property's opposition to granting the County an easement for access to Fort Thompson; the demand for vacant land to develop for residential or commercial use and the concern that the Fort Thompson property could be sold to generate revenue for other purposes; the limitations of the initial analysis done for the camping feasibility study and the need for more, in-depth analysis of the campground concept; the possibility that the site could be dedicated as open space in perpetuity and utilized only for education and passive recreation with no campground; the fact that the property is in the Wildland Urban Interface area; the validity of the pro forma numbers, which are based on limited data; and the concern that developing this site to any extent could preclude restoring it to its natural state. The second group of persons invited to join the Commissioners at the table were representatives of tourism and recreational interests —they were Emmy Andrews from the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (COTA), Jana Johnson from the Deschutes Trails Coalition, Kim McCarrel from NW Horse Trails, Rachel Colton from the Bend Parks & Recreation District, and JR Collier from Oregon Parks & Recreation. Discussion ensued regarding whether the Fort Thomspon property would be suitable for trails; how this site compares to the Maston trail system outside of Prineville and the fact that the Bureau of Land Management had asked to partner with COTA to develop the Maston trails to discourage the dumping of trash and other negative activities, with the result being an amenity enjoyed by many people every day; the value of trails, open space and recreational amenities; the demand for and economic viability of campsites; the lack of trail opportunities in northeast Bend for people to bike or walk their dogs; the proximity of the Fort Thompson property to Bend and other amenities; the concern about possible future pressure to develop the Fort Thompson property for a use other than passive recreation; sources of possible funding opportunities for establishing a park at Fort Thompson; the consideration that park properties with low development tend to have more problems than those which are more developed because staff is assigned to the latter but not the former; the fact that campgrounds help pay for parks because the campsites generate revenue from fees; the lack of campsites at Smith Rock, which is for day use only yet draws 1.5 to 2.0 million visitors each year; the estimates that it could take ten to 12 years before a campground at Fort Thompson would start paying for itself; the need for a complete financial analysis and operating plan to fully inform a decision on BOCC COMMUNITY CONVERSATION JULY 30, 2024 PAGE 3 OF 4 whether to proceed with developing a campground and park; the question of access to the property; and the difference between a destination campground and a transition campground, with the latter having only basic amenities. Closing Remarks Commissioner DeBone reminded of the information provided by the Community Development Department regarding authorized uses of resource land and the conclusion that up to 50 campsites would be allowed at the Fort Thomspon property. He questioned if the County wants to allow private property owners to develop this kind of use on private property, stressed the importance of addressing unsanctioned camping, and agreed that the access issue to the Fort Thompson site is a concern. Commissioner Adair said Oregon already has thousands of acres available for trail riding. She said using Highway 97 for access to a park and campground at Fort Thompson would be problematic. ADJOURN: Being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m. DATED this I day of Commissioners. ATTEST: RECORDING SECRETARY BOCC COMMUNITY CONVERSATION 2024 for the Deschutes County Board of PATTI ADAIR, CHAIR 7:A-v.1! ANTHONY DEBONE, VICE CHAIR PHIL CHANG, COMMISSIONER JULY 30, 2024 PAGE 4 OF 4 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON RECREATIONAL CAMPGROUND OPPORTUNITIES WITH DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 5:30 PM, TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2024 Barnes Sawyer Rooms - Deschutes Services Building - 1300 NW Wall Street - Bend (541) 388-6570 I www.deschutes.org AGENDA MEETING FORMAT: In accordance with Oregon state law, this meeting is open to the public and can be accessed and attended in person or remotely. Members of the public may view the meeting in real time via YouTube using this link: http://bit.ly/3mminzy. To attend the meeting virtually via Zoom, see below. Citizen Input: In addition to the option of providing in -person comments at the meeting, citizen input comments may be emailed to citizeninput@deschutes.org or you may leave a brief voicemail at 541.385.1734. When in -person comment from the public is allowed at the meeting, public comment will also be allowed via computer, phone or other virtual means. Zoom Meeting Information: This meeting may be accessed via Zoom using a phone or computer. • To join the meeting via Zoom from a computer, use this link: http://bit.ly/3h3oqdD. • To join by phone, call 253-215-8782 and enter webinar ID # 899 4635 9970 followed by the passcode 013510. • If joining by a browser, use the raise hand icon to indicate you would like to provide public comment, if and when allowed. If using a phone, press *9 to indicate you would like to speak and *6 to unmute yourself when you are called on. 11 Deschutes County encourages persons with disabilities to participate in all programs and activities. This event/location is accessible to people with disabilities. If you need accommodations to make participation possible, call (541) 388-6572 or email brenda.fritsvold@deschutes.org. 5:30 PM Chair Patti Adair - Welcome and Introductions 5:35 PM Mark Buckley, ECONorthwest - Update on Camping Feasibility Study 5:50 PM Four sessions each of 30-minute group discussions • Groups of up to 10 community members at a time will have a 30- minute open group discussion with Commissioners 7:50 PM Closing remarks by Commissioners July 30, 2024 Page 2 of 2 Discussion Topic: Neighbors of Fort Thompson Lane Property Name Phone Number Email Address L 2 krC get. \\p, 3. 4te?‹ --FoAcyuc-c 4. lei L)'jC9 ��Y/ 77 --3) s- �iti S(-ll -hY ` ©(12� 5cc(ar_itl •-Qwfk . -''-r- ce C(6y lei10Je(. .-rarviOF Uv 4 cW Rin CD✓► 1 f ► 5f(..zpg '44 ›-v (12/1,fd/ 7\/(exiey41.64- 5-4/- Eir- 8, 4(- 6. A)Pi- 911d--a,4t)/40°:2 ve*-4 8. 9. 10. Discussion Topic: Neighbors of Fort Thompson Lane Property Phone Number Email Address Anyvv 5QS(cQ t,v1#. 1&m' 3b3-26/- 22b2_ h vgNNJ- a yAllw, 04i 10. Discussion Topic: Tourism/Recreational Use Interest Name Phone Number Email Address 1. 'DM m.1\ Prn,d1Nr e7 4 l s ,1-7 \ 1 2J e laol�k.s 6 63 R , ' ' z_. o(25Gt.K.c IS 3. 16--- Cc-r-rc., s-�i \ -y 1 ob . Z ttA"--- 6 N L.3 t-- v r-s 60 fit. 4. (;�.�, v i 1 C7I✓1 5. J CO q l..2-1g--, 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. ce _C N 0 .i- O N O c C ._ O c N N} N o (nC O) ; O) N N Ti O Q t3 > p ` C Q.0 �� s t N a 0 4- O QN a a) p•p O O p 0 0 0 O U IP P-0 Li -0 - U 4- U Z 0 O O O o • Population and Visitation Growth N a)> • -0 > ® i cn C O y- O O 01 O • +- > OO O O S i i +- +- O) i } X -0 C O > C C 4 } (I) 0 O a)I •() — -0 SD_O O .0 O O L N Q • C C O O C O E N U ° U O O •N46 N CO • 0_ a_ C U U C 4- • C C O ' O -4- cn C O) cn O C O N ®� • = O to _ 4 cn • > ® O O • U O U a 1 • C 0 (3) • O C 1 C �a- .— j to Q C cn L- ® 0_0 Q� 0)-1 N CO `pOi `pp-ppi ` (O co CO 00 M M N 0000 N 00 N a-� 0) O N (o C) O CO e-i O r` O M 0 CA N 1f) O co CV 8 O O (o M ti M 0) t�- r~ c1) M co O (O e-1 cy N 0) 1) o) O LC) N O M Notes: UGB - Urban Growth Boundary 4- O Tourism and Economic Impact OC 4-C- 47- C 0 0) (-) 0 (1) U a) 0 45 " o _C T3 C (J) 0 0 o c c -0 a) •z:75 c CD 0 _C as a tourism destination. Tourism Room Tax (TRT) collections in both Bend and summer trends. a) co Deschutes County 0° 0° 0 0 0 0 0 0000 0000 <1' CO NT- CnC,.I S003 amp a6ueLIO 1E11 szoz zzoz LZOZ ozoz 6 LOZ 8 LOZ L1.0 9 LOZ 9 LOZ LOZ CLOZ ZLOZ LOZ 0 LOZ 600Z 800Z L003 900Z 900Z VOOZ £00Z Summer — Winter Outdoor Recreation Deschutes National Forest, with its extensive trails and 0 L04- ci a) o — 0 vi _C 1— CD I-- 0 0 6 Tfl (1) C 0 2 w :47 o o.) a) 0 (1) — 0 • 0 • 0 14— O .—.• 4 0 0 0 T3 0 O 0 O (1) s_. > :15 0) • - L_ vi 0 (1.) 0 0 0 v) 4— v) C s_ • 0 CY) O Li— C 0) 6 0_ C -0 E ° 0 O :11-- c) •---6 • z (1) V) (1) O 0 °a) c E 45 u 0 La-) > a) (1)0 0 E O 2 (I) E L- 0 v) Visitor Statistics and Projections O O 0 :IZ•N a) • O L 6 -o C'N C - 0 -� O U c OE ▪ 0 -o N O cn v) 0) - u) 0 C > 0)0�: O C 4) — 0 (3 O .c Et. C � U O N C -`- L 0 • = 0 Q) 0 N ▪ 1- ->, a) Q a) 0 U O Li_C L O 0 .0 �_ 0 _ c 0 C'} . — o C CO O 0 '�} 0 ,: Z 0 0 >. 0 a) t 0 Q +5 a- > 0 O O 0 a �- � a) O 0 0 - 0 O _c c p 0 F— 0 0N 4-- tfirgi tousan. s N op 00 d' 0 0) • 0 0 N C) 0) C C 0 0 N a) O 0) C a) 0 0 0 th C t N i% N 0) U C C O CL CO CO MigraIMIRDNITIM IIQii . - .I Home Locations of Visitors to Deschutes National Forest Economic Contributions of Visitors Visitors to the Deschutes National 0 concentration in the Willamette Valley, particularly around Portland. Existing Availability The Deschutes National about 81 U.S. Forest Service- O 0 W Campground Occupancy 46 4- N N LL 0 0 c z N 0 45 0 N a CO) CV vi 0 0 c 4- 0 4- 0 0 0 a) 46 0 c 0_ 0 U c 0 0 CV W s 4- C a) U a) 0 0) c 0 a) 0 a) u) c 0 0) L. C_ C 0 U c 0 N 0) 0 0) 0 L 0 0 0 c> 0 vl CV 0 utilization rates from 2020 to CAI ) ( `- - ••• I: L r,/ \- /./// C-7\J k /if I I I_ / I , I I / r \ I // I \ 2 a) 0 c 0 (i) E o.. 0 _c F- 4— L LL. oning and Regulatory Consideration 0 E +c- (1) a_ TD 3 0) a0 (1) a_ a) u.) T:3 0 . o a 92 .,/ • I (./ 1 .+= 0 0) 0) 0 a) _c a) -o 3 . _ a) 05 _c 1- -d +c- o a) a) a) 4- 0 0 >Q) - Q- -4E 0 • _C - • v) D -05c 0 0 >, 0 %1E. 30 U C V) — (1) C3 u C u 0 < U g I c • o (1) 0 (1) '"0 - CO_ c 0 ° U 0 • a) c• s_ • (,) (1) r„) aj Ea) 0 c E a) a ,a5 0 -05 > —6- (5) c 0 (A (I) L- O ° o cl.) a)() O .c. — ›- 13 -L• 0 O 0 E u) 0) .c: Ei a) >a > • u a) a +5 • n 0 Utilities and Access 0 0 E o c -co 1- --a L. u_ a) The site was evaluated to 6. L..: 4E a) --o 8 a) t3 E...... o C:5 +->:. viC _._ > .()-- 0)0 Lo o 25 L.. o bi. 0 to -5 5 E 46 TD "5- > o_ 0 4- 1.. --0 CY) a) C 0 C >. V) -°-• L: 4: 0 V) — V) a) a) (/) 4E3 D 0 CL. >- s.:i (1) 0 -i- v9 .0- L-.--- 0 CO c _c c a) , a) (I) (I) 0 a) Pacific Power telecommunications. The Onsite surface treatment available or accessible 1 0 E L. 0 u) infrastructure is summarized in the following chart. IMM11 a> 0 4- 0 w o I—oc +- 0 us 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5-- CO \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ N— N I` CO N— CO CD I` CC) N O O f� r- CC) N-LO 00 cr) r co a) M M N M LC) CO f` O CO CO I` N d CO C) \ c 8.4...D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CO O M f- O Ln d O d 0) CO 0) — N N O— N d• O M N O N C') CY) d' LO I` N- CO CS) L() M C) LC) tQ to 4-0Q Z o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O 00 O M O I` 00 d: (fl ti Ln N N I` Lf) f` d' 00 — I` d' 00 d- d' L0 LO CO N f` i` CO CO d" d` LC) 0 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 0 0 0 0 0• 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 d' C9 N !` co C3) N CC) !` LC) • - r'I d' O cri O r Ln 0) In C r d N CV LO CO CO N- N f` N- CO Li) d' CO T6 C6 C6 'OA 4) U O LT N C co < c/) O Z O Q In -season a m 0 a. a 0 Full Operational Occupancy Forecast PIoS sAad a4!S latol Thompson Site days sold - ars to Brea eve P au- it-rn•I Rate o •etur am•groun• iz- 0' J 0 O O Nr No o 0 c.v.)r 1 A1 O O c 0 0 .E E N 0 co O 4 N N t 0 tn 0 0 r� r > 3 0 1- 46 t/) Q V a) c c 41) c 46 2 V• ^ I 0 • 45 (3) -0 c 0 + Lia -0 V I 0 ^)) ) (/) W 4 (7)E - > .c O O) E U Cl- NZ, N{N ) n +m M 4 ri CO 00 cV N L0 N EA-N N ri O r- L L c7 60rn N m Ln L� N N M L10 1 i MG L1� N H} N • d+ o o Lf) N 10 L0 00 M tf) N m Lc) 1 N • d+ if coo L Lf) ) IT) 0\ N \ C O Ld M in N M EA N CN 00 N r-i N71, 00 N d+ N if) N r-i LO L-f') cL - N 4 Ln N ac) N co O EA L0000 1-4 N d+ N c-i O N o o N Lf) n 00\ rn cc0 CO CO O 0000 N N in O N CON -- O N o o \ .0 0\ in co N O dm+ r-i d <-4 4 N L0 N N O 01 0 o O c\ `c) �oGoOmo �® Nino-oMmu4 om N 0\ r-I fv as 0� .41 + Terminal value 0 N C`°arn r-+N co N ° V W I-0 O 0\ O d\ \C V In+ rn m ON CO Lf) in \ / O dam+ c Lmc) 1 0\ c--+ N COcO N r-1 1 r-i EA Eft O + CO Cr L1j c0 N can co LL0 co 00 1-1 N CO N c-1 ry EA Lf) r1 r-i EA- N 00 ao 10 If) EA- rti L n m CO r-� Total revenue Cash outflows O O co r-+ �N�N m 00 N N M N • N M00 • O r4 0000 CON N0 N CO CS cc) 0 � N CO \0 CD 1 EA- 000 00 O • 1-1 cr) Lf) 0000 N 0000 01 N N • EA 71, • N if) m C\ M N cc) N N N 1 ER NCO CO N o N • rn N N dam+ 10 EA- EA- Proiect cash flow Full analysis runs through 2041 Transient Lodging Tax Revenue, including grant funds 0 4- Q O a) c a) 0 a) O a) 4- • E a0 0 V_ V J c O O V_ N E > .0 O L N O ✓ +' N 0 0 " O O 0 0 U) c 0 0 0 a, S w a- O 0 Lcn C 0 0 a_ 0 0 4 i— s -0 O c -0a) 0 a) _J County Opportunity Grant Program (OPRD) Government Grant Program 0 0 J and others O d) +- (/) V C _ -1 C �� O O N c L 1 O N O c O a o 0 O O0 c F- (DM -0() g 1 Ov) 0 v) -o 4- a) ° c 0 2 ((ID) 0 ex O V _ o Nc O 0-O O - O EU 4_ a) O c > a O O ( 0 0- Q to c C . LL cn . 0 6 t3 c .® r c 0 o ID -c c D O _0 0 � V N u., O a) cp cy) ci) +._ (/) c c c . ,.... O a)O O O N N O 0) O E .E -4- ® O V O >, N O -0 O 'y ▪ O QO Q O cc) V O - 1- c V tr, O :'= -0 O 0 C E 7 (2 -� 0 L. 0 .0 sa O O 0_ 0-0 O4 O " _ 0 0_ += E 2 O E (� O O '� 47, O O cv) O Q .� N V L t D 1 cn EL) � c _ O —_ i �� 0 O > O U- .0 0 < 0- < 0 fi 0 V O C 0 O 4— O Brenda Fritsvold From: Jen Patterson Sent: Tuesday, July 9, 2024 11:53 AM To: Nick Lelack Cc: Whitney Hale; Brenda Fritsvold Subject: Other Items 7.10.24 - Community Conversation on County Campground Opportunities Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Bcc BOCC Good Morning, During tomorrow's BOCC meeting Nick and I will bring, under "Other Items", a few questions for the Board's consideration pertaining to the Community Conversation on County Campground Opportunities. The Community Conversation is scheduled for July 30 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. in Barnes Sawyer Room. Questions for the Board's consideration: 1. Currently ECONorthwest is confirmed to attend and give a brief presentation pertaining to financial feasibility (with updated financial models based on RV campground sizes of 50 RVs, 75 RVs, and 100 RVs) and campground capacity vs. need in the County. a. Staff can invite other partner agencies to attend and potentially be available for panel participation as specific topics come up. i. Partner agencies that have been mentioned by one or more Board members include: 1. Visit Central Oregon 2. Bend Parks and Rec District 3. Oregon State Parks 4. Visit Bend ii. Would the BOCC like these agencies invited and are there any additional partner agencies to consider inviting to the conversation? 2. As part of the outreach effort staff can send out a postcard mailer to owners within 1/4 mile of County property line being discussed to notify them of the upcoming community conversation opportunity. a. Would the Board like mailers to go to owners of record of property within a lit mile of the Fort Thompson Lane property? b. Would the Board like mailers to go to owners of record of property within a 1/4 mile of the Drafter Road property in La Pine? 3. Staff has drafted an agenda for Board consideration 5:30-5:37 p.m. - Introduction Chair Adair provides opening remarks and introduces partner agencies in attendance i 5:37-5:45 p.m. - ECONorthwest Mark Buckley from ECONorthwest presents on financial feasibility and campground needs in the County 5:45-7:45 - Group Conversations in 30-minute increments Staff will have sign-up sheets for up to 10 people grouped by areas of interests. Each group will have up to 30 minutes to converse with the Board on any comments or questions they might have. Proposed groups for sign-up: 1. Fort Thompson Lane Neighbors 2. Fort Thompson Lane Neighbors 3. Tourism/Recreational Interest 4. Other topics and online participants a. Does the Board want to use this format? b. Are there other proposed areas of interests that should be included? 4. Would the Board like a contingency plan to extend the conversation to 8:30 if more than 40 people sign up to participate in the conversation? Thanks, Jen Jen Patterson I Strategic Initiatives Manager Pronouns: She/Her D ESC H U i ._:S CO Tel: (541) 388-6654 2