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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-05-12 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, MAY 12, 2010 ___________________________ Present were Commissioners Dennis R. Luke, Alan Unger and Tammy Baney. Also present were Dave Kanner, County Administrator; and, for a portion of the meeting, Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator; Joe Stutler, County Forester; George Kolb, Road Department; Tom Anderson, Eric Mone, Anthony Raguine and Peter Russell, Community Development; Laurie Craghead, County Counsel; and Hillary Borrud of the Bulletin. No other citizens were present. Chair Luke opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. 1. Before the Board Approval of a Grant Agreement regarding Utilizing Woody Biomass for the Production of Renewable Energy. Joe Stutler gave a brief overview of the agreement. It is for approximately $676,000, and the funds have to be spent within a few months. This work will tie in neatly with other grants and projects now underway. BANEY: Move Chair signature. UNGER: Second. VOTE: BANEY: Yes. UNGER: Yes. LUKE: Chair votes yes. 2. Before the Board was Review and Approval of Commission on Children & Families’ Revised By-laws. Hillary Saraceno provided a review of the document. Mr. Kanner indicated that it is an accurate version of what should be the final document. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 1 of 7 Pages Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 2 of 7 Pages UNGER: Move approval of the final version as approved by the Board of the Commission on Children & Families. BANEY: Second. VOTE: BANEY: Yes. UNGER: Yes. LUKE: Chair votes yes. 3. Before the Board was a Discussion of a Code Revision to Allow Mitigation Identified in Traffic Studies to Become Approval Criterion & Setting Parking Ratios for Land Uses at Airports. Anthony Raguine explained that this is staff-initiated and only applies to the Bend Airport, since it is the only one in the airport combining zone. The criterion has been historically used, but was just not codified. The Planning Commission supports this Ordinance. 4. Discussion of a Code Revision Defining Performance Standards for County Roads, Intersections and ODOT Ratios. Anthony Raguine said that existing site plan criteria does not necessarily cover all that needs to be addressed. This change allows for a conditional approval relating traffic issues and correcting safety deficiencies. Laurie Craghead stated that this is in the traffic study Code, but she is concerned that it acts as a moratorium and statutorily cannot do so. It already says the same traffic study Code be applied in a different section. She would like to avoid having that language in two places in the event that it is not accurate. Discussion took place as to discrepancies. Mr. Raguine said that it is already in Title 17, so this just duplicates what is there to make it easier for the planners and the public. Peter Russell said that the traffic study is part of the land use application process already. Ms. Craghead indicated that she would prefer they not duplicate information that might not be accurate. It needs further analysis. Mr. Kanner added that this appears to be a de facto moratorium on development. Chair Luke observed that if there is a real or perceived de factor moratorium, it is against State law. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 3 of 7 Pages Laurie Craghead said that she feels that revisions may be needed. There have been issues that did not always match up, especially when dealing with traffic situations. Mr. Raguine will bring the package back, and Title 17 will be addressed at that time. He added that as a planner, he feels that it is much easier to have it in both places. At this time, it would be referenced as it has been. In regard to text amendment 10-2, which would update Title 17, Mr. Russell said that when traffic approvals were updated, ODOT went to a different way of looking at volume capacity. County roads will remain at “level of service” needs; but for State highway systems, ODOT standards would apply. The Commissioners indicated that this is appropriate. __________________________________ Mr. Russell updated the Board on the Bend area transportation plan and pointed out areas of risk. (He referred to an oversized map at this time.) Most involve the State highway system. Burgess Road west of La Pine is the only one on just the County system. In regard to intersections, the ODOT methodology is used. He explained what could be done to accommodate additional traffic, short of installing signals. Commissioner Unger said that there does not seem to be a way to get around Bend easily. He would like to see people have more choices on how they get where they want to go. Mr. Russell stated that each city and county has a model that shows alternatives. The Technical Advisory Committee looks at each and decides which ones are appropriate and useful. There will be public meetings where they would get more input, and stakeholder meetings for the same reasons, and to further define that information. Public meetings in Terrebonne, Bend and Sisters were held in May. It was almost all about bicycling in Sisters, especially regarding passing lanes on Highway 20. The La Pine hearing is planned for next week. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 4 of 7 Pages A large group in Sisters would like to pave Sisemore Road, but it has to be built to County standards and the cost would be high, especially because there is a bridge and a canal to accommodate. It does not pencil out based on the use. The group wants a non-highway route between Sisters and Bend. Some of the public feels that portions of Lower Bridge Road are dangerous because of the lack of sight distance. Some improvements have been made, and drivers just have to get used to the changes. The Bend meeting consisted mostly of residents from Tumalo, as the meeting addressed Highway 20 at Tumalo. ODOT has some short-term solutions regarding three uncontrolled intersections. Right-in and right-out may be useful for some of those. The left turn out from Bailey will not be allowed due to a raised median. Connectivity is the main concern, and potential loss of access for businesses. Cook Avenue will be reclassified from a collector to an arterial. The other locations of concern are O’Neill Junction, Quarry at Highway 97, the High Desert Museum access, and Highway 97 between Bend and Redmond. 5. Update of Commissioners’ Meetings and Schedules. Commissioner Baney will be in Salem on Friday for several meetings. She was nominated to the Oregon Housing Council and the appointment is scheduled for the morning of May 24. Commissioner Unger is speaking on Thursday with a group involved in ADA issues. 6. Before the Board was Discussion of Support for Temporary Restaurant Vendors at Community Events. Commissioner Baney said that alterations were made regarding restaurant vendor licensing. There are individual events that happen one time, and a single fee is required. The number one priority is health, and all agree with that. The Saturday Market aspect was discussed, and an equitable inspection and license plan was reviewed. The requirements are not easy to determine. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 5 of 7 Pages She has been told that small vendors cannot participate in these events due to the cost. The event promoters say that it is bad for the events to not be able to include the smaller vendors. Commissioner Luke said that he wants to be sure the public is safe; therefore, the correct number of inspections should be done, and the cost needs to be covered. He said that the event vendors are asking to pay less than the restaurants in the same area that pay the full amount. The fees need to be covered. The bigger restaurants should not have to subsidize the temporary vendors. The cost of the employees has to be averaged out Commissioner Baney stated that it is not that cut and dried. The question is whether the fee structure should be adjusted to eventually be a one-time fee each one. Commissioner Luke stated this is being addressed at the legislative level, and any change in the law would take some time to be effective. The County has to follow State law. Commissioner Baney said that restaurants often benefit from the event activity. The vendors ask, is the food less safe if there are five vendors or twenty. Commissioner Unger stated that the small businesses have a hard time with other fees as well, and it needs to be affordable or they will not participate. The event organizers might consider reducing costs as well, or figuring out how they can have enough vendors to lower the cost to each one. Commissioner Baney stated that they say they have cut their costs by at least 30%. There is a possibility of bundling or the organizers working together to cut down on costs. Also, there is the problem of other groups wishing to be subsidized in some fashion. However, if it is allowable and does not burden the County, some kind of help should be considered. Commissioner Unger said that there is not much profit for the small vendors. It does not help the organizers if they cannot get participants, and the public misses out. Benevolent organizations already get a break. Eric Mone said that a vendor could sell hot dogs at the Les Schwab amphitheater on three different nights for three different venues, and ends up having to buy three permits. A burrito vendor has to get a permit every week for a Saturday market. Even though that might be the cost of the service, it is cost prohibitive to many of these small vendors. If there are too many vendors, none of them will make enough money at some of these events. Minutes of Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Page 6 of 7 Pages Commissioner Baney asked if the food is any safer if there are six or more vendors. She said that perhaps some of the transient lodging tax might be used. These are community events and should be supported. Commissioner Unger noted that people often come to the area to attend these events and people who live in the community go there as well. Commissioner Baney feels that these events and vendors do not have a big negative impact on established restaurants and, in fact, they may benefit overall from people coming to the area. Commissioner Luke said that room tax revenue is down also, and that may be having a general negative impact. Commissioner Unger stated that costs keep going up, fees keep going up, and there is a point when people will stop participating or making those investments. Mr. Kanner suggested a meeting with the Bend City Council to address this issue. Most of the events are held within the City of Bend, and that is who should be approached by the vendors and promoters. The City of Sisters already has handled this issue without County involvement. 7. Other Items. Commissioner Baney previously brought up a loan program for small businesses. She met with EDCO and Clark Jackson, and the State had introduced House Bill 98 establishing funds for small businesses. She was told it would not fill the gap of what is needed. She would like to look at ways to assist by perhaps running the funds through a bank or credit union, so that it can help businesses. Commissioner Luke stated that he would like to talk with EDCO, the Chambers of Commerce and others about this issue. Emphasis needs to be made on retaining small businesses. Commissioner Baney said that the County is the next opportunity to do this. She encouraged a group setting to discuss this further. Commissioner Unger said that COIC has a fund to support small businesses. They have had to write off loans, however, for businesses that were thought to be stable.