Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-06 Work Session Minutes Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org MINUTES OF WORK SESSION DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2011 ___________________________ Present were Commissioners Tammy Baney, Alan Unger and Anthony DeBone. Also present were Dave Kanner, County Administrator; Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator; and, for a portion of the meeting, Scott Johnson, Health Services; David Givans, Internal Auditor; Anna Johnson, Communications; Kevin Harrison and Tom Anderson, Community Development; and Seth Bernstein, Director of ABHA (Accountable Behavior Health Alliance). Also present was media representative Hillary Borrud of The Bulletin. Chair Baney opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. 1. ABHA Update. Scott Johnson said that the Board asked for a briefing from ABHA on a regular basis, to keep informed on some aspects of health and human services. ABHA includes Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties as well as Benton and Lincoln counties. Seth Bernstein provided a visual interpretation of how ABHA fit in the Department of Human Services and regional counties programs for physical and mental health. Chair Baney said that having Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Johnson at the State meetings made a huge difference in how these programs will work, and helped to maintain adequate funding for the region and Deschutes County. ABHA was formed when the Oregon Health Plan developed and is ‘owned’ by the five counties. Mr. Johnson said it is similar to the Central Oregon Health Board, a 190. Commissioner Unger asked what would happen if Lincoln and Benton counties did not participate or were split off. Mr. Bernstein said most of the staff does work relating to all five counties. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Page 1 of 6 Pages Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Page 2 of 6 Pages Commissioner Unger asked why those two counties have not attached to another health group. Chair Baney said efforts have been made to bring others into ABHA, to utilize economies of scale. Mr. Johnson stated that the map will change over the next few years and it is not yet known what the results might be. Mr. Johnson noted that the legislature did not have a chance to make some changes. The state needs programs that will work, and what works in this area may not work in every part of the State. 2. Report on State Health Reform Efforts. Mr. Johnson gave an overview of the work of the 2011 legislature regarding health care programs and funding. (A copy is attached for reference.) SB 204 originated with Deschutes County and involves Central Oregon Health Council. Chair Baney stated that there have been so many interactions of each group, from formation to what it is today, that it is hard to keep up. There is a lot of work ahead in the next two or three years. Much will not be completed until 2012. Dollars can only be used in certain ways, and if there is reduced funding, flexibility is necessary. The assistance of the advisory board is welcome. Mr. Bernstein added that there have never been so many changes in the history of modern health care, at many different levels. Some resources may be requested as funding is reduced. Mr. Johnson noted that one big challenge is keeping the doors open and operating while all of the changes are addressed. Mr. Bernstein said that no county has enough staffing to easily respond to these changes. Deschutes County in particular is still growing faster in terms of need than other areas. Many of those coming in end up in the Oregon Health Plan, and the percentage of OHP members in Deschutes County is very high when compared with other counties and regions. Mr. Bernstein indicated that they knew big changes were coming and prepared for it as much as possible. There is an 11.5% reduction of costs required by the OHP in this coming year. It will be a different environment working under a coordinated care organization. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Page 3 of 6 Pages Mr. Johnson stated that there are some real challenges, but some opportunities as well. The biggest issues are trying to implement immediate cost savings and the uncertainty of the new world order, local problems will still have to be dealt with at the local level. It is harder for any new CCO to make use of the markers when you are trying to conduct regular business. Commissioner Unger asked if the Governor is on board with where this going. Mr. Johnson indicated yes. Commissioner Unger asked if the Governor is going to help with some kind of a roadmap. If he want to get these things done quickly, it would be wise to help the county make it happen earlier. Chair Baney said that legislation was necessary to make this take place, but the right path is to move forward while analyzing different ways to provide these services. Chair Baney complimented Mr. Johnson on the hard work he did on tracking what the legislature was doing this session. 3. Update of Commissioners’ Meetings and Schedules. There are a variety of meetings coming up, some of which have timing or scheduling conflicts. Commissioner Unger is interested in being more involved in COACT. ________________________________ Commissioner Unger asked Anna Johnson to bring the County booth to NACO. Mr. Kanner stated that he is not clear on whether this is allowed or if there is value to having it there. Commissioner Unger said that every district has a booth there, and the other local counties are not driving this forward. Chair Baney is concerned about staffing it, and whether it can be set up properly to include the other four counties. She would like to keep it simple. Mr. Kanner did not want to have to take staff out of the office for several days just to sit there. The Commissioners are fine with a display, and the other counties will be asked to supply information. The Central Oregon Travel Guide would be a good piece of literature to include. 4. Other Items. Tom Anderson and Kevin Harrison discussed an upcoming agenda item having to do with the Bend Airport area and how to accommodate growth there. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Page 4 of 6 Pages The Bend Airport Master Plan is key, and needs to show a need for more land. Mr. Harrison said that this began in 2008 and the Board has consistently asked to be shown that changes are needed. A hearing from last year was delayed until now so an update to the Master Plan could be reviewed. It is his understanding that details have been sent off to the F.A.A. There is a project schedule that shows no local involvement until late 2012. A land needs assessment has not been done, but the technical advisory committee meets this fall. Pat Gisler and his attorney were advised of the Board meeting next week, since he was principal to the request for changes. However, the economic environment was quite different at that time. Chair Baney stated that to change EFU into anything else takes a lot of justification. Mr. Harrison said that this has to be shown before any amendments are granted. Mr. Harrison feels the applicant will ask for a continuance. ________________________________ Discussion of Evaluation Process – County Administrator. The Commissioners decided to contact the various department heads and get feedback. The same questions would be asked of all, but the elected officials’ responses might be somewhat different. ________________________________ Chair Baney said she has been contacted numerous times by someone in Sisters who wants the County to lease property from him to expand services. She has advised him that there is no clear need for more space at this time. ________________________________ Letters of interest have been received to fill vacancies for citizen members on the Public Safety Coordinating Council. Commissioner Unger asked what a citizen member is expected to bring to the group. Chair Baney would like to have at least two service providers involved. Anyone can attend the meetings, but appointed members are the ones who can vote. Mr. Kanner said there should be a minimum of three citizen members. The Commissioners indicated that at least two should be from nonprofits that are involved in services that the County provides. Chair Baney feels strongly that someone from J Bar J should be selected. Commissioner Unger would like NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill) more involved because he thinks this is a largely unrepresented group that heavily impacts various departments. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, July 6, 2011 Page 5 of 6 Pages It was felt that applicant Dave Cook has a strong background and might make a good choice as a citizen member. Commissioner DeBone thought that Broc Stenman might be a good fit as well, and he has already attended County College, but the other Commissioners indicated they wish to keep the numbers down. Chair Baney will talk about these potential appointments with Judge Sullivan before action is taken. All should be thanked and invited to apply for County College in the fall to find out other ways they can get involved in local government. ________________________________ Discussion occurred regarding transferring land from the BLM to La Pine for expansion of the sewer district and for rodeo grounds. There is some activity happening but, per Commissioner DeBone, it never seems to get attached to a bigger bill in order to get passed at the legislative level. ________________________________ Mr. Kanner said that all of the citizens who were asked to be on the road maintenance advisory committee have indicated they are interested. However, one of the individuals works for a contractor and that may present a conflict. COVA (Central Oregon Visitors Association) said they wanted Steve Runner to participate. Andy High may try to find another large contractor to be involved who would not be bidding on any projects. Rick Allen will participate as long as the work goes quickly. Some of the people want the number of meetings limited. Mr. Kanner said that a “survey monkey” was put on the website, asking for input from the public on various road maintenance options. Chair Baney said that this input should be used in some fashion. Mr. Kanner noted that these on- line surveys are not statistically valid. ________________________________ Darrell Powderlee is putting together a Central Oregon economic summit for a lunch meeting on a regular basis to share information. They meet on July 20. The Deschutes Economic Alliance is involved as well. ________________________________ Commissioner Unger spoke about HUB zones, and the fact that the Forest Service uses HUB zone contracts, and none of the local contractors can apply for them because this area is not a part of that zone. Commissioner DeBone said that in cities, this is common but it is more problematic in rural areas. Commissioner Unger added that because of the census, this area is on the list but it doesn’t really fit.