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2025-136-Minutes for Meeting April 18,2025 Recorded 5/5/2025ES COG 2< I BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541) 388-6571 FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025 Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2025-136 Steve Dennison, County Clerk Commissioners' Journal 05/05/2025 11:37:54 AM f 2D25-136 FOR RECORDING STAMP ONLY U1,71 M., ZOOM MEETING A legislative work session was held on Friday, April 18, 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 x Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator x Commissioner Phil Chang Whitney Hale, Deputy County Administrator x Kristie 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 x David Doyle, Legal Counsel Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace Janice Garceau, Director Health Services x Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney x Peter Gutowsky, Director Community Development x Holly Harris, Director Behavioral Health Geoff Hinds, Director Fair & Expo Deevy Holcomb, Director Community Justice x Heather Kaisner, Director Public Health Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services x I 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 Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 4 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 x Cody Smith, Assistant Director Road Department Others Present: x Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates x Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy Advocates x Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy Advocates Reagan Knopp, Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson's office 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair DeBone called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Commissioner Chang reported that he was in Salem on Monday and Tuesday. He spent time on AOC events and visited approximately ten legislators. He spoke with them on topics such as housing, public health, behavioral health, wildfire funding, and wolves. He had a productive discussion with the Co -Chair of the Ways and Means Health and Human Services subcommittee. He spoke about housing infrastructure funding, condo liability reform, and shelter operations funding. He spoke with Representative Marsh, the Chair of the Housing Committee, about a concept for mobile home / RV park work group. Commissioner Chang worked to debunk misinformation related to SB 1154, which relates to groundwater management areas. During a hearing on the bill, private property owners expressed concerns, many based on the misinformation that government officials would be going onto their land to meter their wells. 3. Updates from NW Policy Advocates Doug Riggs provided a brief update. A new decision from Legislative Counsel prevents legislators from putting corporations or agencies into bills that include policy. Some bills died due to this rule, and this caused some debate. Senate and House floors are busy moving bills off their floor, and they may have evening and weekend sessions next week. A bill on climate education in K-12 schools drew much discussion. Many bills are in a holding pattern in Ways and 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 4 Means, including SB 83. Wildfire funding mechanisms are in the Revenue committee and will take time to iron out. The transportation package is awaiting ODOT accountability measures, which is a key element for the package to gain bipartisan support. Commissioners Adair has the Area Commission on Transportation (ACT) conference next Wednesday in Keizer. She said that ODOT needs to be more accountable and road maintenance should be their top priority. Responding to Commissioner DeBone, Commissioner Chang said the transportation package includes no new projects and is focused on operations and maintenance, so it is unlikely the south county intersection improvement will be completed in the upcoming year. 4. Review Bill Tracker Report by Department jen Patterson noted that an updated bill tracker report was sent out last evening. Peter Gutowsky spoke about HB 3499, which pertains to urban renewal plans. If adopted, these plans could not be approved by the local government through their elected officials and instead would need to go before voters. Riggs elaborated on this bill. There is strong opposition from municipalities as it would make urban renewal very difficult and would also delay projects. Board position: priority 2 / watch. It was reported that the Transient Room Tax (TRT) bill HB 3556 is dead. Lee Randall provided an update on HB 2688, which would have impacts on the Road and Facilities departments as it impacts the prevailing wage on certain types of offsite work. Beyond cost, there is administrative ambiguity related to enforcement by Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLT) and Randall expressed concerns that this may drive some of this work out of state. It's currently in Ways and Means and is not scheduled for an upcoming hearing. Randall reported that HB 2680 will likely pass, and it relates to large window glazing installation contractors. Commissioner Adair reported disappointment that a Bend Airport General Contractor from outside of the area is failing to pay some of its local subcontractors for completed work. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 4 Riggs alerted that -there will be last-minute notices of hearings moving forward. Fortunately, much of our Central Oregon delegation is on the Ways and Means committee. Responding to Commissioner Adair, the next revenue forecast will be released around May 15. There will be an opportunity for testimony at the Capital Construction subcommittee for projects such as the Terrebonne Sanitation District's $2.5 million request. Commissioners Adair and Chang recently took place in an AOC Senate floor opportunity at which Senator David Brock Smith spoke positively about county government. It was reported that 75% of Oregon's 36 counties are struggling financially. Commissioner Adair added that SB 916, unemployment for striking workers, would be impactful to counties who are already struggling financially. Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m. Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 8:36 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: Angie _ _ ers, _ dministrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 4 OF 4 v�ES �- 41 oG2� BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541) 388-6571 7:30 AM lTji�� ► 1 FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025 ZOOM MEETING A legislative delegation update was held on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 7:30 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 x 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 Janice Garceau, Director Health Services x Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney Peter Gutowsky, Director Community Development x Holly Harris, Director Behavioral Health Geoff Hinds, Director Fair & Expo Deevy Holcomb, Director Community justice x Heather Kaisner, Director Public Health Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services Bill Kuhn, Treasurer Tom Kuhn, Public Health Program Manager Scot Langton, Assessor Tania Mahood, Director Information Technology Kevin Moriarty, Forester Elizabeth Pape, Internal Auditor x Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 3 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 Heather Herauf, Procurement Manager Daniel Kieffer, Budget & Financial Planning Analyst Cody Smith, Assistant Director Road Department x Brenda Fritsvold, BOCC Executive Assistant Others Present: x Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy Advocates Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy Advocates Legislators Present: x Representative Emerson Levy x Representative E. Werner Reschke x Reagan Knopp, Rep. Breese-Iverson's Office x Senator Mike McLane 1. Welcome and Introductions Chair DeBone called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Commissioner Adair reported that the swatting bill is dead, although it had bipartisan support, and DA Gunnels penned an excellent letter in support of this legislation. She expressed her disappointment. 3. Updates and Briefing from Legislators Representative Emerson Levy provided a brief update. They are close to getting HB 2088 past the finish line. This bill provides for a process by which former owners of real property deeded to the county due to delinquent property taxes may claim the surplus value after the property has been disposed of by the county. The battery producer recycling responsibility bill, HB 2062, is sitting in Ways and Means. This legislation will not cost consumers any money and will reduce the number of battery fires. HB 3806, the Deschutes County water bank bill, is also sitting in Ways and Means. Representative E. Werner Reschke reported they will be discussing timber taxes on Thursday. Ways and Means is beginning to pass small budgets, and after the revenue forecast is released in Mid -May, things will begin to solidify. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 3 Commissioner Chang asked Rep. Reschke about the wildfire funding package, noting that the current rate schedule is putting strain on rural rangeland owners. Without adequate funding sources for wildfire, money has been drawn from the General Fund (GF) to pay for debts. He asked how to close the gap and provide relief to rural rangeland owners. Rep. Reschke said that the retaliatory tax, paid by insurance companies from out of state, will be dedicated to wildfire funding as opposed to being placed directly into the GF. Other sources of revenue in the bill include an extra 5 cents per bottle tax, which is controversial. Senator Mike McLane spoke briefly about county fair funding and wolf depredation compensation. He's currently in the process of examining Capital Construction Committee requests. Commissioner Chang spoke about Deschutes County's deflection program and offered to showcase Deschutes County's program to legislators. Rep. Reschke expressed interest in participating in such a tour, after the session concludes. Reagan Knopp from Representative Breese-Iverson's office echoed what has been previously reported by other legislators. They are working with the Central Oregon caucus to advocate for priorities, including but not limited to CORE3 and juniper removal. He expressed appreciation to Commissioner Adair for testifying in Salem in support of HB 3928, Build Rural Oregon Housing Now. Unfortunately, this bill did not move forward. Commissioner Adair spoke in opposition to the bill providing unemployment to those who are striking. 4. County Priorities - None noted 5. Closing Comments Riggs thanked legislators for attending the meeting. Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative delegation update meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 16 at 7:30 a.m. Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 7:51 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: \_/ 2,9,� Angie kwers-,14dministrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UPDATE APRIL 18, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 3 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Friday, April 18, 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, April 17th 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.