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2025-147-Minutes for Meeting May 16,2025 Recorded 5/29/2025ODES CO 1110 G� ;£ BOAR® OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon. (541) 388-6571 Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2025-147 Steve Dennison, County Clerk 05/29/2025 12,43.57 PIS Commissioners' Journal s, 2025-14/ COUNTDESCHUTES LEGISLATIVE UPDATJ ZOOM MEETING 8:00 AM FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025 Islative work session was held on Friday, May 16, 2025 at &00 a.m. via Zoom Virtual Meeting A leg Platform. Deschutes County Attendance: x Nick Lelack, County Administrator Commissioner Anthony DeBone, Chair x Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator x Commissioner Patti Adair, Vice Chair Whitney Hale, Deputy County x Commissioner Phil Chang Administrator Tim Brownell, Director Solid Waste Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager Steve Dennison, County Clerk x Sara Crosswhite, Director 9-1p x David Doyle, Legal Counsel Chris Doty, Director Road Department Janice Garceau, Director Health Services Charles Fadeley, Justice of the Peace Peter Gutowsky, Director Community x Stephen Gunnels, District Attorney Development Behavioral Health Geoff Hinds, Director Fair &Expo Director Public Health x Holly Harris, Director Director Community Heather Kaisner, x Deevy Holcomb, justice Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services x Bill Kuhn, Treasurer Scot Langton, Assessor x Tom Kuhn, Public Health Program Manager Tania Mahood, Director Information x Kevin Moriarty, Forester x Technology x jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Man Elizabeth Pape, Internal Auditor PAGE 1 OF 4 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 16, 2025 r X Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative Assistant Kim Riley, Senior Assistant Legal Counsel Kent van der Kamp, Sheriff X Heather Herauf, Procurement Manager Lee Randall, Director Facilities X Robert Tintle, Chief Financial Officer Aaron Wells, Undersheriff Daniel Kieffer, Budget & Financial Planning Analyst fCody =Assilstantrector Road Depa Others Present: X X Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy Advocates Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy Advocates 1, Welcome and Introductions ting from the Legislative Delegation Update to Vice Chair Adair transitioned the mee the Legislative Update at 8:01 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Commissioner Chang emphasized that if an adequate wildfire funding package isn't pay passed, it will be detrimental to rural rangelFund dollars would likely be impaand owners who will be forced oc ed higher assessments. Additionally, General Responding to Commissioner Adair, Riggs said that HB 3172 is currently sitting in Ways and Means. 3, Updates from NW Policy Advocates Doug Riggs is confident that SB 83 will move but SB 75, which eliminants pthe connection to wildfire maps for ADUs, led over aneld up, Despite adequaRe w Idfpe funding Commissioner Chang remains concern package. Related to the revenue forecast, the state is faced with multiple big -ticket issues: $1.6 million in the kicker, the loss of $1 to $1.7millionedd federal Medicaid the lgovernor dlhas and $1 billion for salary increases for state worke asked for $880 million for housing. Responding to Commissioner Adair, Riggs confirmed the Salem Capitol building construction project is substantially over budget. All three phases are currently at $1.2 billion. PAGE 2 OF 4 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 16, 2025 Commissioner Adair noted that despite Oregon's high rate of taxes, Oregon ranks last in areas such as youth education and psychiatric care. Additionally, Oregon ranks at the top for the highest number of state employees per capita. 4. Review Bill Tracker Report by Department Erik Kropp discussed HB 5011, which provides $880 million for affordable housing in Oregon. This breaks down to $700 million for affordable rental housing, $100 million for home ownership and $80 million for permanent supportive housing. The funding mechanism is general obligation bonds, and the bill is currently in Ways and Means. This bill is supported by the League of Oregon Cities (LOC). Riggs highlighted the related Policy Option Package (POP 501), which calls for $217 million in shelter funding. Riggs noted that federal housing programs are being cut, which leads to further uncertainty. An example is that J Bar J Youth Services has received substantially lower funding for youth houselessness. Commissioner Chang emphasized that this funding is essential to stabilize or lower the numbers of houseless individuals. Commissioner Adair said that houselessness is a complex issue, correlated with substance use and mental illness. She provided data on affordable apartment rental vacancies in the area. Discussion ensued regarding rental affordability. For Board Consideration, a letter to Ways and Means for Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) funding for the Law Library was brought forward by Erik Kropp. The request is to add the County's logo onto the letter, which was drafted by Washington County. Law Library funding comes from court filing fees, and Deschutes County contracts with Deschutes Public Library for the Law Library. Neither Commissioner Chang nor Commissioner Adair were supportive and would rather OJD prioritize their funding for other important issues. Responding to Commissioner Adair, Riggs reported that dental care bill HB 2597 still has life with bipartisan support. Holly Harris is concerned about IMPACTS grant funding for behavioral health, as well as deflection funding from the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC). Riggs welcomed input in the form of reminder letters to target legislators and committees. It was determined that a high-level one -page letter will be prepared by staff, attached to the County's written testimony related to IMPACTS, QC, and community corrections. Riggs will work with Patterson on this letter, to be drafted and routed for signatures by Monday. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 16, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 4 Riggs added that reminding Ways and Means that strategically spending money saves communities money in the long run. Commissioner Chang concurred, stating it is difficult to advocate for prevention. Commissioner Adair reminded that she secured $15 million in state funding for the courthouse expansion project. Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 23 at 8:00 a.m. Adjourn: Vice Chair Adair adjourned the meeting at 8:44 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: P Angieower, , dministrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 16, 2025 PAGE 4 OF 4 DESCHUTES 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, May 15th 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.