Loading...
2025-109-Minutes for Meeting March 28,2025 Recorded 4/17/2025�hC\Xvi E S co G2� BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541 ) 388-6571 8:00 AM Recorded in Deschutes County OJ2025-1 Q9 Stele Dennison, County Clerk Commissioners' Journal 04/17/2025 4:16:21 PM ty 2025-109 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025 ZOOM MEETING A legislative work session was held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. via Zoom Virtual Meeting Platform. Deschutes County Attendance: x Commissioner Anthony DeBone, Chair x Nick Lelack, County Administrator x Commissioner Patti Adair, Vice Chair Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator x Commissioner Phil Chang Whitney Hale, Deputy County Administrator Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager Tim Brownell, Director Solid Waste Sara Crosswhite, Director 9-1-1 Steve Dennison, County Clerk Chris Doty, Director Road Department x David Doyle, Legal Counsel Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace x Janice Garceau, Director Health Services x Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney x Peter Gutowsky, Director Community Development x Holly Harris, Director Behavioral Health x Geoff Hinds, Director Fair & Expo x Deevy Holcomb, Director Community Justice x Heather Kaisner, Director Public Health Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services x Bill Kuhn, Treasurer Tom Kuhn, Public Health Program Manager Scot Langton, Assessor Tania Mahood, Director Information Technology x Kevin Moriarty, Forester Elizabeth Pape, Internal Auditor x Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 28, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 5 x Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative Assistant x Lee Randall, Director Facilities Kim Riley, Senior Assistant Legal Counsel x Robert Tintle, Chief Financial Officer Kent van der Kamp, Sheriff Aaron Wells, Undersheriff x Heather Herauf, Procurement Manager Daniel Kieffer, Budget & Financial Planning Analyst Cody Smith, Assistant Director Road Department Others Present: x Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy Advocates x Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy Advocates 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair DeBone called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Commissioner Chang would like to take a closer look at SB 83 once a final draft is available. Aside from rural ADUs, a landscape resiliency program is incorporated into this bill. He would like to weigh in on fire resiliency programs. Commissioner DeBone reported that he is heading to Salem today to provide testimony on a hearing on information management and technology. 3. __Updates from NW Policy Advocates Doug Riggs reported that the Ways and Means Committee Road Show is in Astoria this week and will be in Warm Springs next week. The CORE3 team was encouraged to attend the Road Show in Warm Springs to advocate for the CORE3 program. April 10t" is the deadline for bills to come out of committee. SB 83 is awaiting final amendments and is currently at dash 5. SB 75 is the technical fix to the ADU bill from last session. As the wildfire maps may be repealed, SB 75 should not refer to the maps, so an amendment has been drafted. Additionally, a dash 1 amendment allowing manufactured housing to be sited in high wildfire hazard zones, but this amendment is also unnecessary. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 28, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 5 HB 3556, the Transient Room Tax (TRT) bill, has had two hearings and a work session that has been delayed. There is pressure on legislators to vote no from the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association viewing it as a tax increase. 4. Review Bill Tracker Report by Department Commissioner Chang said that HB 3031 is being tracked by the Regional Housing Council as it relates to housing infrastructure expansion. Riggs reported this bill will likely go through a series of amendments. Board position: priority 2 / support. HB 3572 relates to rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Riggs noted this is part of the EMS Modernization package. HB 3380 is a related bill, which provides a tax credit for EMS providers to incentivize the workforce. The goal for this package of bills is to provide a consistent funding mechanism for EMS services. Board position: priority 2 / support for both HB 3572 and HB 3380. Peter Gutowsky discussed SB 1129 as it pertains to urban reserves. It allows local governments to demonstrate the difficulty in designating lands as priority for urban reserves and allows them to discount these lands and look to other exception areas. He presented a letter of support for SB 1129 for the Board's consideration. The Board tentatively approved the letter, pending their review of the letter in its entirety, with the inclusion of referencing possible amendments in the letter. Board position: priority 2 / support. Deevy Holcomb ib asked for the Board's Support of a letter from her requesting and supporting Senator Broadman's withdrawal of his support for SB 1159, at Sen. Broadman's request. SB 1159 proposes to add another layer of investigation to child abuse investigations including youth in juvenile justice settings. It would create a new entity, adding to confusion and bureaucracy. Currently, law enforcement investigates child abuse in juvenile justice settings, and it works well. Riggs elaborated on the overregulation of this system, noting this bill is the wrong approach. Holcomb added that AOC has already opposed this bill. The Board was supportive of Holcomb sending the letter and copying Rep. Kropf onto the letter. Discussion ensued regarding pending allegations against the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA). Riggs elaborated on the status of these allegations. The organization has been vastly underpaying their workforce, adding to their many challenges. Responding to Commissioner Adair, Riggs said that there is no legislation directly related to the issues surrounding OYA. DA Gunnels said that HB 3935 increases the penalty for swatting incidents. Swatting is where someone contacts 9-1-1 claiming there is an active shooter or an act of violence that is untrue. Law enforcement responds to these incidents and in some 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 28, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 5 cases, individuals have been injured as a result. It creates a dangerous situation and is a tremendous waste of resources. HB 3935 changes swatting from a misdemeanor to a felony, which would allow for extradition. The Oregon District Attorneys Association (ODAA) supports this bill. Board position: priority 2 / support. Gunnels spoke about HB 5005, which provides funding for Criminal justice Commission (CJC). The ODAA is monitoring this bill. CJC funds some of the DNS Office programs. Holly Harris advocated a position of support for this bill. Holcomb noted her department relies heavily on CJC funding for her department's operations, and she is in support of this bill. Holly Harris plans to testify in support of and advocating for inclusion of IMPACTS funding. The Board directed staff to draft a letter of support for this HB 1005. Board position: priority 2 / support. SB 65 would create the basis for a state civil rights lawsuit that would typically take place in federal court. He has taken no position on this bill, but suggested the Board consider taking a position as it would impact their bottom line. Dave Doyle said the statewide association is not supportive of this bill as it seems redundant with federal processes. Riggs noted that there is very little testimony related to this bill. Board position: priority 2 / no position. Jen Patterson brought before the Board a letter of support for Mosaic Medical's Conners Campus State Bond Request for their consideration. Janice Garceau would sign onto the letter as Health Services Director, noting that Mosaic has struggled with staffing so consolidating their clinics would help alleviate staffing challenges. The Board was supportive of signing this letter. Riggs discussed SB 83, which will be the vehicle by which the wildfire maps will be .repealed. Commissioner Chang flagged SB 1154 for monitoring. This bill updates the Oregon Groundwater Quality Protection Act. It would allow for more proactive efforts before water quality hits critical thresholds. The Board directed CDD staff to look into this further and provide the Board with additional information, then it can be discussed under Other Items at the upcoming BOCC meeting. Patterson said there is a public hearing on this bill on April 3ra Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 4 at 8:00 a.m. Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 9:04 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 28, 2025 PAGE 4 OF 5 C A gie P we ,Administrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MARCH 28, 2025 PAGE 5 OF 5 NK Ailla HE! . Friday, March 28, 2025, 8:00 am This meeting will be held virtually. Members of the public may access the meeting using this link: https://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 27th 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.