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2025-158-Minutes for Meeting May 09,2025 Recorded 5/29/202501 E S COG�� BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541 ) 388-6571 7:00 AM FRI DAY, MAY 9, 2025 Recorded in Deschutes County CJ2025_158 Steve Dennison; County Clerk 05I29/2025 12:43:57 PM Commissioners' Journal h `� I I I I I II IIII II I I 1111 II I I III III �: I 2025-1 F �8 ZOOM MEETING A legislative work session was held on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. via Zoom Virtual Meeting Platform. Deschutes County Attendance: x DeBone, C, air Commissioner Anthony Chair x �� Nick elacL County Administrator Nick � �., County � Administrator x Commissioner Patti Adair, Vice Chair Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator x Commissioner Phil Chang x Whitney Hale, Deputy County Administrator Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager Tim Brownell, Director Solid Waste 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 x 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 Heather Kaisner, Director Public Health Sean Kirk, Manager Veteran's Services Bill Kuhn, Treasurer x 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 x Brenda Fritsvold, BOCC Executive Assistant I Lee Randall, Director Facilities 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 9, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 4 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 Paul Partridge, Manager Behavioral Health IDD Program Others Present: x Doug Riggs, Director NW Policy Advocates Corey Barber, Outreach Director NW Policy Advocates Emma Innes, Associate NW Policy Advocates 1. Welcome Chair DeBone called the meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Commissioner DeBone was in Salem on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, where he met with Doug Riggs and attended an Oregon public safety radio conference. 3. Updates from NW Policy Advocates Doug Riggs provided a brief update. We are 7 weeks out from the end of the session. The revenue forecast is scheduled to be released on May 14, and there is much speculation surrounding it. Following its release, allocations to Ways and Means subcommittees will be determined. The Capital Construction subcommittee meets today on lottery bonding. CORF3 representatives will testify. Commissioner DeBone noted that Holly Harris is registered to testify related to a regional child psychiatric facility, but she noted it is unlikely that time will allow for remote testimony, and so she will submit written testimony. Riggs reported that today is the second chamber deadline. The transportation package has not yet been released, but he has been told that it will include some accountability measures. A reason for the delay is that there is no supermajority in the House, and transportation tax increases will require a supermajority vote. Commissioner Chang said there is an alternative framework put forth by House Republicans that calls for substantial cuts, including but not limited to, eliminating 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 9, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 4 state funding for public transit, Connect Oregon grants, and funding for EV charging infrastructure. Partisan drama surrounds the transportation package. Riggs reported that the behavioral health bill, SB 610, moved out of committee this week. The pace in Ways and Means will accelerate moving forward. 4. Review Bill Tracker Report by Department Jen Patterson highlighted HB 3962 for Board consideration. This is the replacement bill for the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) bill, HB 3556. Riggs noted that HB 3962 had a hearing yesterday, with persuasive testimony from smaller cities struggling with tourism related impacts. HB 3962 requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study issues of local taxation, submit a report and include recommendations for legislation. Robert Tintle noted there is a Dash 2 amendment which pulls in some language from HB 3556 and expands allowable uses to include public safety and local infrastructure. He noted that the City of Bend Mayor Keebler testified in favor of the bill at yesterday's hearing, and most cities and counties were in favor of the bill. Notably, the mayor of Coos Bay spoke in opposition. Responding to Commissioner Chang, Tintle said the bill expands the definition of "tourism facilities" and enables the use of TLT dollars for public safety or infrastructure -related projects that would have otherwise gone exclusively towards tourism marketing. Riggs said it gives local jurisdictions options for flexibility and is not a mandate. Patterson noted the Dash 2 amendment applies to taxes from 2023 onward. Commissioner Chang wishes to take a position that mirrored the Board's position on HB 3556, one of support with amendments, to apply only to future taxation. Riggs highlighted the flexibility offered to local jurisdictions in implementing this bill. Board position: priority 2/support. Commissioner Adair reported that Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) are both in opposition to SB 916. This bill would allow all striking workers, both public and private, to seek unemployment benefits. She suggested to Rep. Kropf that we let Washington state be the pilot project for this bill and wait to see how it plays out. Responding to Commissioner Chang, since the inception of the unemployment benefits fund, public employees have not paid into it but should the bill pass, they would be required to do so. Riggs said this bill passed out of the Senate several weeks ago and is now in the House, noting there is much opposition. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 9, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 4 Commissioner DeBone directed staff to draft a letter of opposition for Board signature. Whitney Hale noted that Cam Sparks drafted a budget analysis on the fiscal impact of this bill, equating to $458,000 per week for Deschutes County. Board position: priority 2/oppose. Patterson said that a letter related to HB 3069 was sent to our legislative delegation following Monday's Board meeting. Today at 8:30 a.m. there will be a call with Rep. Kropf to discuss HB 3069 and amendments. Among others, in attendance will be DA Gunnels, Holly Harris, Nick Lelack, Deevy Holcomb and herself. Yesterday, Patterson routed a letter related to the Board's preferred route for Pacific Power's Blueprint South project. Commissioner Adair noted this letter is due today. Patterson asked for Board feedback on the letter. Once signed, she will get this out today. Responding to Commissioner Chang, Riggs said a package of wildfire funding bills is in the process of moving out of Ways and Means while appropriate funding mechanisms are determined. Tom Kuhn was pleased to report that HB 2954, the substance use and abuse prevention funding bill, has a work session scheduled for May 14 and credited their advocacy efforts. DA Gunnels said that 5B 277 has advanced through the legislature and is important for prosecutors as it allows them to extradite foreign nationals hack to the U.S. to face prosecution for serious crimes. it will now go to the governor's desk to be signed into law. This is a big win, as current Oregon laws make this a difficult process. Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 16 at 8:00 a.m., immediately preceded by a virtual legislative delegation meeting at 7:30 a.m. Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 7:52 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: Angie Powers, Administrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 9, 2025 PAGE 4 OF 4 Friday, May 9, 2025, 7:00 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, May 8th 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.