HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-31 Work Session Minutes
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960
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MINUTES OF WORK SESSION
DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010
___________________________
Present were Commissioners Dennis R. Luke, Alan Unger and Tammy Baney.
Also present were Dave Kanner, County Administrator; Erik Kropp, Deputy
County Administrator Laurie Craghead, County Counsel; Peter Gutowsky, Will
Groves, Tom Anderson and George Read, Community Development; David
Givans, Internal Auditor; media representatives Hillary Borrud and Diane ? of
The Bulletin; a representative of the Humane Society of Central Oregon and
several representatives of the Humane Society of Redmond.
Chair Luke opened the meeting at 1:35 p.m.
1. Humane Society of Central Oregon Annual Report.
2. Humane Society of Redmond Annual Report and Presentation of Five-
Year Strategic Plan.
Director Pat Roden discussed events at which the Humane Society participated,
and their outreach for 2009. (A copy of the outreach document is attached for
reference.)
The average stay for dogs is about six days, and 29 days for cats. The intake of
stray cats was down last year by about 16%, mostly having to do with cats.
Owner surrenders were up about 2-5%.
She said it is all about the dollars. They received some large donations last year,
partly because they were in the media a great deal. The media exposure is very
important. She added that they have not received any calls regarding large
animal rescue.
Chris Bauersfeld said they are in a much better place than in the past. They had
to ramp up and get more involved in the community, as outreach was not done
that effectively in past years. (A copy of their report is attached for reference.)
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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They participate in smaller events but are getting more involved with schools
and larger groups. Most of the events are more successful than anticipated.
They are getting a lot of positive feedback from the public. She said they are
about the adoptions and the community.
They are concentrating on their spay and neuter program. About half of the
animals treated were owned by the public. People are thankful for the
assistance. Vaccinations and other services are offered at the same time. Spay
and neuter is the only way to address the pet overpopulation problem. They are
also adopting out barn cats that previously may have been destroyed. The
public wants these programs to stay. It is important to help people keep the
animals they have already so they don’t end up at a shelter.
There is an increase in the number of strays and owner surrenders. If people are
losing their homes, these cats are given priority.
Commissioner Luke asked how many cats test positive for leukemia and AIDS.
Ms. Roden said that it is lower in owned cats and higher in strays or feral cats,
up to 20%.
Commissioner Baney asked if others are doing spay and neuter programs. Ms.
Roden said they do their own animals but have the somewhat limited SNAP
program for low-cost residents. Ms. Bauersfeld said they pay for the cost of
altering shelter animals with the proceeds of the program offered to the public.
Ms. Roden was asked about the sale of the trailer park for the trust. There has
been mention of this. Commissioner Unger asked how it is set up. Mike Daly
stated the next disbursal is not set until 2013, but it could be done sooner if the
trustee agreed.
Ms. Bauersfeld stated that the adoption rate for 2010 is down, and they have
been moving dogs to other shelters. The number of strays picked up by owners
is down.
The RV park is doing better now that snowbirds are coming home, and is
becoming profitable, as is the event center. The welfare of the shelter is being
carefully addressed by the current board. They are very involved in its
operation and planning for its future. The community has let them know they
are valuable and are willing to support them.
Commissioner Luke said there are two humane societies in the same area,
which is not a normal practice. They are asked about combining County
services.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Ms. Bauersfeld said that they keep in contact and don’t feel the need to combine
services. Ms. Roden added that they have not done that. Ms. Bauersfeld said
logistically there is a cost issue because of distance. Ms. Roden said that an ID
microchip or vaccination clinic done jointly might be helpful. They are
working on a few events together.
It was pointed out that there is some natural overlap in areas and services.
Mr. Daly said that they have discussed about getting together on a regular basis
to learn from each other.
A volunteer said that she has worked at the front desk at Redmond for a while,
and calls come from all over.
Commissioner Unger stated that it is important to know what areas are being
served. Ms. Bauersfeld that they are getting visits from Crook and Jefferson
counties. Half of the spays and neuters are from Redmond, another quarter
from other parts of the county, and the rest from other parts of the state.
Commissioner Luke noted that Crook County is requiring mandatory licensing
and rabies vaccinations. There has been discussion about licensing at no cost if
the rabies vaccinations are done. Ms. Bauersfeld said that rabies is not an issue
in the area, but it is possible as it can be transmitted by bats, raccoons or foxes.
There have been cases of rabies in livestock in other areas. She said that cats
should also get a rabies shot.
Mr. Daly brought up the concept of a thrift store. They are doing a lot of
bookings at the event center, mostly on weekends. The RV park is generating
$500 a month revenue now, and could go as high as $2,500 when full. They are
signing a sublease on a new thrift store, near Safeway. They have a business
plan for the thrift store, and are requesting assistance on making some
improvements, such as clothing racks and shelving. They’d like to use their
credit line in the amount of $15,000 to get this established. The lease is $2,500
a month to start, which is less than 50 cents per square foot for a high-traffic
location. Thrift stores are good revenue generators, and this may help the
shelter reach a break-even point.
Ms. Roden said that their thrift store is their biggest source of revenue, and they
in fact added another location.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Commissioner Baney said that the Humane Society of Redmond was in a very
precarious situation not that long ago, but their board and others have really
pulled together to work at making it successful. She is very impressed with
what has been accomplished.
3. Discussion of Hearing, Ordinance 2010-015, Goal Exception – Wireless
Telecommunications Facilities – Oregon Water Wonderland II Sewer
District.
Will Groves gave a brief overview of the item. The conservation easement and
zoning would not normally allow wireless telecommunications facilities on the
subject property or in the zone. Staff concurred with the Hearings Officer’s
decision, allowing the use.
The Board is required under Code to approve a plan amendment in this regard,
even if there is no objection from the public. The Sewer District would like this
to take place, as it would result in revenue for the District.
The actual approval of the application would be through an additional process,
including it going before a Hearings Officer.
Commissioner Unger asked about lighting, as he does not like seeing the
flashing lights. Laurie Craghead said that this is controlled by the F.A.A.
4. Update regarding Destination Resort Remapping.
Peter Gutowsky and Nick Lelack presented the update. The testimony was
continued to April 5 from the previous hearing date. Mr. Gutowsky referred to
an oversized map showing eligible properties that are not presently mapped.
112,000, plus 58,000.
Commissioner Baney asked what information is going out to the public in this
regard. Mr. Gutowsky said that the public has been altered if they have testified
in the past, and it is also posted on the CDD website. The only lands excluded
on the map are federal lands. About 24,000 belong to irrigation districts. State
lands have also been added.
Commissioner Luke said that there are reasons for reducing the map. He does
not understand why more is being added. This cannot be reviewed for another
30 months. The wholesale addition of this much acreage is a problem. This is
not the direction that the previous Board and this Board wanted.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Mr. Gutowsky said the Planning Commission would make these properties
eligible to ask to be added; it would not automatically be done. Commissioner
Luke stated that people want some assurances that property is or is not eligible.
There are clearly a lot of properties that could not be approved for this use.
Commissioner Tammy stated that it is important to vet the two sides, and more
information can be obtained. Commissioner Unger said he thought the
language was the question, as to what might be included.
Mr. Gutowsky said the Board extended the hearing to allow for more testimony.
There has been little testimony offered since then. Staff has been working on
this for about a year, including off-site work sessions with the public. Most
residents want to see the map reduced. The Board and Planning Commission
both concurred. The feedback from the Planning Commission has been that
they want to introduce for consideration some additional concepts. It may be
worth going over those.
This includes lands with 40 or more acres contiguous with irrigation, or 60 or
more under the same ownership – large blocks of irrigated farm land. Another
is platted subdivisions; removing those is recommended, as the minimum 160
acres would likely not be met. The Planning Commission said those should
stay on the map.
Add undeveloped or unimproved subdivisions that were platted. Also, add
eligibility criteria to cluster developments that have over 50% of property
dedicated as open space. There are four of those, including Aspen Lakes in
Sisters.
The last motion pertained to the grandfather clause, and the Planning
Commission wanted those retained unless they specifically request in writing
that they be taken off the map. This is the opposite of what was decided in
2009.
Commissioner Luke asked whether other counties’ efforts to disallow
destination resorts have worked.
Ms. Lelack said that they would have to go through a Goal 8 exception process.
If you are not on a map and there is no process to get on a map, it is a very
complicated process. Once a map has been adopted, it cannot be changed for
30 months.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Commissioner Luke stated that land use planning was supposed to make it
easier for people to know what to do with their land, or to have some assurances
what others might be able to do with their land.
Mr. Gutowsky said that it should be black and white – based on size, zoning,
etc. – as the idea is to try to minimize the controversy.
Discussion occurred regarding whether closing the hearing next week or to
leave it open to allow for more information to be provided, since Commissioner
Luke will not be in attendance on Monday.
Mr. Lelack stated that the population of the Bend UGB has not been
determined. Once it is acknowledged, as they approach the 100,000 population
threshold, no destination resorts would be allowed. Mr. Gutowsky said that
conservatively he does not think it will make this threshold.
5. Other Items.
Tom Anderson said a family asked about financial assistance to replace a
failing septic tank. They were referred to NeighborImpact and U.S.D.A. The
failure was severe and a contractor was called in. Dan Haldeman gave a verbal
okay to do the work because of potential health ramifications.
The woman said that she was turned down by U.S.D.A. and NeighborImpact
said they would not loan money for work that was already done. There was
discussion about backing loans that are high risk. This needed to get done for
public health and safety reasons. NeighborImpact acknowledged this is a
problem, and will work on an emergency program. If it turns out that they are
not eligible for this, the County’s program might be able to help.
Unfortunately, it does not help this particular property owner at this time. It
appears that the work was done within a couple of days after the initial call.
NeighborImpact might have responded within a day or two of her call.
Commissioner Baney said that she wants to support use of the rehab dollars,
and perhaps she might not have qualified. Mr. Anderson said she is eligible for
a $3,750 rebate, but the work cost about $10,000. The system and drain field
were expanded and the nitrogen reducing component had to be used.
Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, March 31, 2010
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Commissioner Unger said it needs to be determined if she has income issues
and if it is clearly a situation where she normally would have received help.
Commissioner Luke observed that it appears the system might have been failing
for some time. Ms. Craghead said the contract and program are not yet
finalized, and asked if there are others who had to put in systems prior to this
who might also want to be included.
Commissioner Baney stated that the County may have some responsibility to
address this, as discussions had already taken place with NeighborImpact. She
asked if this has happened to others. Ms. Craghead said discussions with
NeighborImpact began a year ago.
Mr. Anderson said that this is a unique situation. It sounds as if she might
qualify for the original program already in place with NeighborImpact. The
difference is that it became an emergency, which is no fault of the County.
Commissioner Luke said that there are alternatives even in an emergency, and
the contractors know this as well. The tank should have been pumped to allow
a little time. She made a decision to do this before knowing how it would be
paid.
Commissioner Unger stated that the environment is better because this was
fixed. Commissioner Luke said that people should not do this and expect the
County to pay. Commissioner Baney stated that she has not contacted the
Commissioners. She may not have known what her options were at the time.
She needs to be contacted to find out if she indeed would qualify under normal
circumstances.
Mr. Anderson said that the program is not yet in place, but NeighborImpact is
working on it. He asked them if they can help at this point, and they said their
rules do not allow for this. They will investigate further.
At 3:25 p.m., the Board went into executive session under ORS 192.660(2)(h),
Litigation, which concluded at 4:20 p.m.
Being no further items addressed, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.