2025-86-Minutes for Meeting March 21,2025 Recorded 4/3/2025Recorded in Deschutes County C J2025-86
Steve Dennison, County Clerk
Commissioners' journal 04/03/2025 3:56:51 PM
2025-86
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Deschutes County Clerk
Certificate Page
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Friday, March 21, 2025, 8:00 am
This meeting will be held virtually.
Members of the public may access the meeting
using this link: httl2s://bit.ly/3WDZYOx
Or call (253) 205-0468
Webinar ID: 879 4809 6174
Passcode: 156736
1. Welcome -Chair
2. Commissioner Updates
3. Updates from NW Policy Advocates -Doug Riggs
4. Review Bill Tracker Report* by Department
*the Bill Tracker Report will be added to the online meeting materials on Thursday, March 20th
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, please call (541) 617-4747.
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1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon
(541)388-6571
D ESCH UTES COUNTY
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UPDATE
7:30 AM FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025 ZOOM MEETING
A legislative work session was held on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. via Zoom Virtual
Meeting Platform.
Deschutes County Attendance:
mmissioner Anthony DeBone, Chair
Nick Lelack, County Administrator
mmissioner Patti Adair, Vice Chair
x
Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator
EKristie
ommissioner Phil Chang
Whitney Hale, Deputy County
Administrator
Bollinger, Property Manager
Tim Brownell, Director Solid Waste
x
Sara Crosswhite, Director 9-1-1
Steve Dennison, County Clerk
x
Chris Doty, Director Road Department
David Doyle, Legal Counsel
Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace
Janice Garceau, Director Health Services
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Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney
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Peter Gutowsky, Director Community
Development
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Holly Harris, Director Behavioral Health
Geoff Hinds, Director Fair & Expo
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Deevy Holcomb, Director Community
Justice
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Heather Kaisner, Director Public Health
Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services
Bill Kuhn, Treasurer
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Tom Kuhn, Public Health Program
Manager
Scot Langton, Assessor
Tania Mahood, Director Information
Technology
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Kevin Moriarty, Forester
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I Elizabeth Pape, Internal Auditor
I x
Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager
2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 21, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 4
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Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative
Assistant
x
Lee Randall, Director Facilities
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Kim Riley, Senior Assistant Legal Counsel
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Robert Tintle, Chief Financial Officer
Kent van der Kamp, Sheriff
Aaron Wells, Undersheriff
Heather Herauf, Procurement Manager
Daniel Kieffer, Budget & Financial Planning
Analyst
Cody Smith, Assistant Director Road
Department
x
Brenda Fritsvold, BOCC Executive Assistant
Others Present:
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Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates
Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy
Advocates
Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy
Advocates
Legislators Present:
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Representative Jason Kropf
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Representative E. Werner Reschke
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Senator Diane Linthicum
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Senator Mike McLane
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Reagan Knopp, Chief of Staff for
Representative Vikki Breese -Iverson
1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair DeBone called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.
2. Commissioner Updates
Commissioner Adair mentioned HB 3166, the rank choice voting bill. This topic was
not approved by voters in previous sessions but is back in the legislature for
reconsideration.
Commissioner Chang reported that the Deschutes water bank bill has formally been
introduced. He did not provide a bill number.
Commissioner DeBone joined the HB 3556 hearing yesterday but did not get the
opportunity to testify. This week, the Board submitted a letter for the record. This
bill relates to using a portion of Transient Room Tax for public safety services and
community infrastructure.
3. Updates and Briefing from Legislators
Representative E. Werner Reschke reported that today is work session posting
deadline. From a revenue perspective, he will be watching for bills that come to
Revenue because they have an impact on revenue. To -date, his work has been
preparatory, but the heavy lifting is yet to come.
2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 21, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 4
Commissioner Adair reported that the Board of Commissioners approved a request
by the Terrebonne Sanitary District on Wednesday. Rep. Reschke noted that
sanitation and drinking water issues are a hot topic, with many issues related to
aging infrastructure.
Senator Mike McLane provided a summary of the committees on which he serves,
noting that Deschutes County has good representation.
Doug Riggs reported that there will not be a biennial Ways and Means Committee
Road Show in Deschutes County, but there will be one on April 4t" at the elementary
school on Warm Springs Reservation and one in Klamath Falls on April 25t". These
are opportunities for individuals to ask questions.
Responding to Commissioner Adair, Sen. McLane said that the $800 million
waterfront baseball stadium in Portland proposal does have life, and proponents
have made a compelling argument for the project. He spoke briefly about debt
service for the $800 million bond.
Reagan Knopp, Chief of Staff for Representative for Rep. Breese -Iverson, is tracking
HB 3166 which deals with switching us to an open primary. It is currently in the
House Rules committee. He summarized Rep. Breese-Iverson's priorities. HB 3846
would allow Oregon Department of Forestry to enter into an agreement with the
Federal government to manage the Ochoco National Forest, as a pilot project. The
goal is to start a bipartisan conversation about the state gaining more control over
national forest lands.
Another key priority for Rep. Breese -Iverson is HJM (House joint Memorial) 14
which relates to all federal lands. Knopp added that 53% of Oregon's lands are
owned, operated and managed by the federal government. HJM 11 relates to
improvements on federal wildfire management practices. juniper removal and rural
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) modernization (HB 3572) are additional
priorities.
Senator Diane Linthicum summarized the committees on which she serves. SB 916
relates to paying union workers while on strike. They put up a good fight in
opposition to this bill, but it did pass. She attended a COCO event at the Capitol. She
met the Mayor of La Pine and had conversations with her and others from
Redmond about water storage. She looks forward to the list of bills being narrowed
down.
Representative Jason Kropf noted the fast -approaching bill posting deadline.
Allocations for deflection programs were summarized as it relates to public safety.
2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 21, 2025
PAGE 3 OF 4
4. County Priorities
5. Closing Comments
Riggs thanked legislators for attending today's meeting.
Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, March
28 at 8:00 a.m.
Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 8:00 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Angie P ers, Administrative Assistant
2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 21, 2025
PAGE 4OF4
