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2025-171-Minutes for Meeting May 23,2025 Recorded 6/9/2025�v1ES CO BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon (541 ) 388-6571 2 11 i (recorded in Deschutes County CJ2025-1 d 1 Steve Dennison, County Clerk Commissioners' Journal 06/09/2025 1 1 :11:40 AM 2025-171 FOR RECORDING STAMP ONLY D ESCH UTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025 ZOOM MEETING A legislative work session was held on Friday, May 23, 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 x Whitney Hale, Deputy County Administrator Kristie Bollinger, Property Manager x 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 x Deevy Holcomb, Director Community Justice 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 x Elizabeth Pape, Internal Auditor x Jen Patterson, Strategic Initiatives Manager 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 23, 2025 PAGE 1 OF 4 x Angie Powers, BOCC Administrative Assistant 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 Brenda Fritsvold, BOCC Executive Assistant 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 7:59 a.m. 2. Commissioner Updates Chair DeBone noted the Board sent a letter to Ways and Means this week, which included a list of Deschutes County's top 15 legislative priorities. Commissioner Adair was pleased to report that all seven counties signed onto the letter of support for the $5.2 million juniper management bill, HB 3135. On behalf of Commissioner Adair, an email will be sent to Ways and Means today regarding the $2.5 million Terrebonne Sanitary District funding request, and she thanked Senator Girod's Chief of Staff for her advocacy. Commissioner Chang reported the governor's acknowledgement that wildfire funding is inadequate and is considering the use of a portion of the kicker to fund a wildfire trust fund. Commissioner Adair shared that at a recent Eastern Oregon Counties meeting, it was noted that using interest from the rainy day fund may be preferable to using the kicker. 3. Updates from NW Policy Advocates Doug Riggs provided a brief update. The second chamber deadline has now passed, and most committees are now closed. Exceptions include Ways and Means, Revenue and Finance, Rules and the New Joint Committee on Transportation Expenditures. The revenue forecast was down from the March forecast but still equals the higher December forecast, so they have $2 billion more to spend than in 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 23, 2025 PAGE 2 OF 4 this biennium. Inflation and new demands, including wildfire funding, will have impacts. The co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Transportation are considering Cap and Trade as a revenue source. Riggs described the concept as selling pollution credits from companies who have generated a decrease in emissions to use on transportation programs. No details have been released. The ODOT audit results have not yet been released. Neither ADU bill SB 75 nor Wildfire hazard map bill SB 83 have passed by the Climate Committee but were forwarded onto the Rules committee. They are being held for potential negotiating leverage. HB 3069 is meant to streamline CJC grant process. A dash 6 amendment has addressed several concerns by counties, and this bill will now move onto Ways and Means to determine the funding mechanism. Responding to Commissioner DeBone, Riggs said that neither the transportation package nor any ODOT accountability measures have yet been rolled out. Commissioner Chang said it is important to note that transportation is not intended to be funded through the General Fund (GF), and he hopes to see progress soon. Other spending packages can proceed independently from transportation funding. Commissioner DeBone discussed a letter to Ways and Means, related to the economic impact statement for CORES. The letter will be drafted by staff next week. Riggs said the draft statement confirms that CORE3 will have a positive economic impact on the region and will generate revenue for the state while providing emergency response preparedness training. 4. Review Bill Tracker Report by Department Jen Patterson highlighted HB 3835, which modifies provisions regarding the use of restraint and involuntary seclusion of young people. Deevy Holcomb asked the Board for approval of her sending a letter on behalf of her department. Senator Broadman requested her department's support. Holcomb wants abuse allegations related to young individuals at detention centers to be more streamlined, and for investigations to be handled by law enforcement rather than DHS. DA Gunnels concurred. The Board expressed unanimous support for Deevy to sign the letter and/or add her department's logo onto the letter. As it relates to transportation, Chris Doty encouraged the Central Oregon legislative delegation to recognize the leverage opportunity for accountability, oversight, prohibiting ODOT project labor agreements, and complaining about rate increases. 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 23, 2025 PAGE 3 OF 4 Roads are utilities, and rate adjustments are necessary to keep them operational. He noted that transportation utility rates have only increased three times in thirty years. Individuals must consider the total cost of vehicle ownership, and gas tax increases can be necessary while acknowledging that the state of Oregon has no sales tax. Commissioner Adair highlighted the high cost of gas in Oregon and wishes for ODOT to closely examine their spending. Commissioner Chang said that 2017's HB 2017 promised citizens new capital construction and did a poorjob of funding operations and maintenance. HB 2017's funding formula was flawed. Commissioner Adair added that HB 2017 allocated only 3% for maintenance, and ODOT operations and accounting practices must be revamped moving forward. Next Meeting: The next virtual legislative update meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 30 at 8:00 a.m. Adjourn: Chair DeBone adjourned the meeting at 8:28 a.m. Respectfully Submitted by: o r Angie wers, Administrative Assistant 2025 DESCHUTES COUNTY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE MAY 23, 2025 PAGE 4 OF 4 Friday, May 23, 2025, 8:00 arm 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 22nd 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.