HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-2007 Work Plan & 2005 AccomplishmentsDESCHUTES COUNTY
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
WORK PLAN
2006 - 2007
The Community Development Department mission is to facilitate orderly
growth and development in the Deschutes County community through
coordinated programs of Planning, Environmental Health, Building Safety,
Code Enforcement, education, and service to the public.
Coordinated Services and Administration
Building Safety
Environmental Health
Planning
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Work Plan 2006-07
COORDINATED SERVICES AND
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
The Community Development Department (CDD) Coordinated Services and
Administration Division is managed by Tom Anderson, Director. Operations within this
division include satellite offices in Redmond and La Pine as well as the Bend office. In
addition to an Administrative Analyst and Administrative Supervisor, there are 10 Permit
Technicians who serve customers, handle phone calls and process related paperwork in
support of each technical CDD division.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1. CDD customer service will continue to be the highest priority in FY 2006-07.
Management will continually assess customer feedback to ensure that the “front
counter” is run efficiently, wait times are minimized and comprehensive and
accurate information is provided. CDD’s goal is to improve the overall customer
service rating by 2.5% and develop a means to obtain a greater number of
customer survey responses.
2. Develop additional improvements to quality customer service of the past,
including analysis of ways to improve turn around times and decrease customer
waits. Benchmark other jurisdictions for best practices. Develop flow charts of
the various permit processes and analyze for efficiency improvements. This will
include surveys of other jurisdictions and research of existing data.
3. Provide phone coverage Monday through Friday; returning all calls within 24
hours.
4. Implement additional elements to CDD’s scanned image database. In addition
to scanning all new files received or generated on a daily basis, the next major
objective is Long Range Planning files, with particular emphasis on major
subdivision/destination resort files. This will not only give staff instant access to
historical files, but will potentially further reduce customer office visits by
allowing internet access to the files. This project will require a system to be
developed that will link subdivided properties to the original parent property.
5. Enhance CDD’s strategic plan to utilize new Internet and other technology for
improvements to CDD customer service and operational efficiency. With the
purchase and implementation of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system,
CDD will obtain the means to achieve a number of technological improvements.
Purchasing and implementing the IVR system will:
Allow for an automated inspection request system. This will
streamline the inspection request process currently used, freeing up
Permit Tech staff time from data entry. Customers will call in to a
central number. Using a series of menu options, customers will be
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Work Plan 2006-07
able to request, cancel and obtain the results of inspections. It is
possible that this feature will be expanded to the website so that
customers can use the internet to request, cancel and obtain the
results of inspections as well.
The development of website applications will be extended to online
transaction development, giving CDD customers the ability to apply
and pay for building/septic permit or land use applications, or other
informational requests requiring fee payment, etc.
The IVR system will provide CDD with the capability to enhance field
communication by giving field personnel access to resources,
including LAVA, scanned records and the CDD permit system.
Research into the best means and proper tools to accomplish this
goal will be required.
The Phoenix System is an application developed by the State and
used by all but two Oregon Counties to collect, tally and report data
collected for licensed facilities such as restaurants, pools, and
cafeterias. The State is in the process of beta testing a new version
of this application. Deschutes County IT will be conducting their own
beta testing to determine the capabilities of their system through
Citrix. Implementation is expected in early 2006. This will allow
restaurant inspectors to conduct and record inspection information in
the field using a laptop or tablet and print the results for the licensed
owner at the time of the inspection. Upon returning to the office, the
field equipment is docked and data on the base station is updated.
6. Maintain seamless customer service associated with administration of the City
of Redmond building program. Ensure responsiveness to informational
requests on plan review, inspection request status, and overall permit status.
7. Evaluate the effectiveness of CDD’s permitting system and evaluate the need to
enhance, modify or terminate certain features within the system to meet current
needs and expectations without adversely affecting the original data. This will
streamline our applicable applications, making it easier to find and process
information.
8. Implement the Strategic Plan for the ultimate disposition of all of CDD’s records.
The major emphasis of the plan is to minimize hard copy storage while adhering
to Oregon Administrative Rules record retention schedules. The plan contains
both short and long term objectives. Approved scanning and/or microfilming
methods for retaining documents and records will meet the new constraints of
limited space after moving out of the Greenwood facility and the need to make
information available and accessible to staff and customers. The plan also
includes outlining new concurrent procedures for future records management.
As we move forward with the document management plan and broaden the
scope for the types of documents that will be scanned, additional program
development or modifications are expected.
9. Implement a means to better communicate and publicize the accomplishments
of CDD during the prior year. Develop a document similar to Juvenile Justice’s
“Report Card to the Community”, and publish as an insert in local newspapers.
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10. Evaluate and implement a program to begin accepting credit cards in all CDD
business transactions.
PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION
1. Provide ongoing support to the Building, Environmental Health, and Planning
Divisions in assisting in the achievement of their work plan objectives.
2. Improve team building and internal CDD communication and training
opportunities. Document bi-monthly focused training sessions and post on the
CDD Intranet. Provide more ongoing training opportunities to the Permit
Technicians and provide customer service coaching.
3. Implement basic cross-training classes for enhanced mutual coordination of CDD
divisions among staff (i.e. train inspectors to better understand land use
parameters; planners to better understand the building code, etc.). This effort
should make the services of CDD more seamless from the customer’s
perspective and help ensure that the customer is receiving the most complete
information possible.
4. The CDD Technology Team will continue to assess the equipment used by CDD
staff, including computers and software, printers and scanners, audio visual
equipment, etc., to ensure that operational needs are being met. The
Technology Team will evaluate new and emerging technologies to assess their
benefit to CDD, including cost analyses.
5. In addition to ongoing facility inspections and accident investigations, the primary
objective of the CDD Safety Committee will be to finalize an Emergency Action
plan for the department. Upon completion of the Emergency Action Plan, the
Committee will draft a charter which will document the Committee’s purpose,
goal(s), objectives, specific representation, roles and responsibilities and term
limits of members, expectations, etc. The Committee is committed to
maintaining CDD’s exemplary safety record while complying with all applicable
OSHA regulations.
6. CDD will continually evaluate available space at the Bend and both satellite
facilities to best accommodate the changing needs and staff sizes. A major
effort next fiscal year will be the relocation of an expanded Redmond staff to a
new location in the downtown area. The goal of accomplishing any and all
physical objectives will be the lowest cost with the least amount of disruption.
7. OSHA training for Field Inspectors will be conducted and video taped for future
training sessions. Craig Hamelund of OSHA will conduct the training session
which will include a question and answer segment.
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Work Plan 2006-07
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The Code Enforcement program consists of two Code Enforcement Technicians working
in coordination with law enforcement personnel from the Sheriff’s Department, supported
by CDD management and the CDD operating divisions. Code Enforcement is
responsible for investigating code violation complaints associated with the building, land
use, environmental health and solid waste codes, with the overriding goal of achieving
voluntary compliance.
1. Continue to implement a monthly statistical reporting system. Through frequent
statistical analysis, areas which require improvement will be identified and take
steps taken to correct problems. The objective is to maximize program efficiency
by reducing the length of time cases remain in the pipeline.
2. Survey other code enforcement jurisdictions and incorporate innovative practices
where appropriate. Efforts will include additional involvement with the State level
Oregon Code Enforcement Association (OCEA) as well as the OCEA Central
Oregon chapter, including conference participation and networking.
3. Continue the thorough review of the Code Enforcement Procedures Manual,
including input from the Board of Commissioners, and update those sections to
reflect current practices, delete those no longer appropriate, and add provisions
for updated objectives.
4. Persist in the investigation of feasible, proactive means of identifying potential
code violations, including follow-up on conditions attached to conditional use
approvals and use of barns for which agricultural exemptions were issued.
5. Develop a voucher and community service plan for solid waste cases and fee
waivers. This will facilitate our efforts to resolve code enforcement cases for
situations with special and specific circumstances.
6. Continue to work with the Legal Department on innovative methods of resolving
the most serious and difficult code enforcement cases, including injunctions, daily
fines and foreclosure.
7. Establish a relationship between CDD Code Enforcement and the various rural
subdivision homeowners associations. Code Enforcement Technicians will make
themselves available to speak at association meetings to share Deschutes
County Code Enforcement information and processes.
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GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
In addition to supporting the mapping and geographical analysis needs of each of the
operating divisions in CDD, the GIS program’s Analyst/Programmer is responsible for
the development and maintenance of the County’s digital spatial database and for
providing state-of-the-art mapping and data services to local governments, citizens, and
businesses. In addition, GIS supports CDD’s customer service applications.
1. In conjunction with the Information Services department, implement a new
organizational structure for CDD GIS. Many web application functions and
associated programming will be transferred to IT, while a new GIS Analyst
position in CDD will focus on data maintenance, customer support and special
projects.
2. Educate CDD staff on the use of GIS data and products in their work objectives,
and identify areas where current or modified GIS capabilities may assist those
objectives, including enhanced linkages between the GIS and permit systems.
Areas of particular emphasis include:
a. Digitizing Certificates of Satisfactory Completion for Environmental Health
b. Create Depth to Groundwater Atlas/Maps for Environmental Health
c. Update the Zoning Atlas for Planning Division/Public Use
d. Digitizing areas covered by Conservation Agreements for Planning
e. Provide LAVA 5.0 Training and assistance for CDD employees
f. Create GIS Application for Inspection Routing
3. Work with Information Technology staff to help design and implement the Data
Warehouse and Land Information System for improved access to countywide
databases.
4. Provide technical support for personal computers, printers, projectors and
computer systems.
5. Provide technical support, including mapping and analysis to the cities of Bend,
Redmond and Sisters for future UGB/URA expansions.
6. Provide customer service and technical support to CDD customers.
7. Convert current GIS data/applications from existing GIS formats (coverage/shape
files) to ArcGIS Geodatabase format.
8. Through IT, complete enhancements in the following areas of the CDD Internet:
a. Environmental Health On-site Systems web page
b. Subdivision Public Access Application
c. Online inspection request application
d. Unincorporated Community web pages
e. La Pine Groundwater Program website
f. Additional projects as identified during the course of the year, as time
allows.
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Work Plan 2006-07
9. Update and enhance the Land Use Tracking System (LUTS) to incorporate GIS
data.
10. Continue to analyze data collected from customer Internet usage (web page hits)
to determine which areas of the CDD website should receive the most focus for
future enhancement.
11. Work with the Building, Planning and Environmental Health Divisions to identify
possible permits which may be offered over the Internet. Develop a pilot
program for less complex permit applications to test effectiveness of and interest
in the concept. The objective is to enhance customer convenience and also
reduce customer office visits, keeping lobby wait times down for others in CDD
offices.
12. Continue to provide GIS support of the South County Groundwater Protection
Project. Compile data/reports/technical analysis for Environmental Health/USGS
Optimization Modeling and potential load reduction scenarios.
13. Work with Planning Director to integrate the County’s land use GIS databases
into the County Code by adopting an ordinance which will adopt one set of data
for all internal/external County Information Systems, including, but not limited to
GIS, LUTS, LAVA, DIAL.
14. Complete Metadata for all Geodatabases.
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Work Plan 2006-07
BUILDING SAFETY DIVISION
The Building Official, Dennis Perkins, 2 assistant building officials, 17 building safety
inspectors, and support staff provide construction plan review, consultation and
inspection to assure compliance with national and state building, plumbing and electrical
codes. Deschutes County's Building Safety Division interprets and enforces the state
mandated Building Codes for the people of the community through a process of
education and a clear and fair application of the Specialty Codes. The Division provides
all of these services to the City of Redmond through a contract and provides various
services to Lake, Crook and Jefferson Counties and the State of Oregon Building Codes
Division on an “as needed" basis.
1. Continue to maintain 10 day maximum turnaround time for all plan reviews.
2. Continue to maintain 24 hour inspection turnaround time.
3. Continue to maintain a close working relationship with all the Fire Departments in
the County. These relationships must be maintained during all commercial plan
reviews and inspections to ensure both building code and fire code issues are
being addressed.
4. Continue to maintain services as outlined in all Intergovernmental Agreements
(IGAs) currently in effect with the State of Oregon, Lake County, Jefferson
County, Crook County and the City of Redmond.
5. Support the Redmond City Building Department as needed to ensure their
operating plan remains in compliance.
6. Continue efforts to ensure local continuing education opportunities are made
available. This is done primarily through participation in the Central Oregon
International Code Council (ICC) Local Chapter Education Committee.
7. Provide training in our methods of commercial structures permitting and plan
review. This training will be specific to Permit Technicians and Plan Reviewers,
with the goal of becoming consistent in commercial building procedures
throughout the various permitting offices.
8. Complete installation and initiate training in and operation of an Interactive Voice
Response (IVR) permitting system.
9. Continue to attend monthly ADA meetings with the goal of attaining ADA
compliance in new commercial construction.
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10. Continue to work with the Central Oregon Builders Association:
Conduct monthly meetings to discuss issues and concerns and
problem solve
Continue to serve on the committee for Master Builder Certification
selection
Continue to participate in the local COBA Spring Home and Garden
Show
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Work Plan 2006-07
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
Provide and promote protection of Public Health and the Environment through
education, consultation, and regulation.
The Environmental Health Division (EH) provides plan review, consultation and
inspection of regulated public facilities (restaurants, pools, tourist facilities, schools and
day care centers) and on-site wastewater and dispersal systems. The Division also
regulates public water systems for safety and works with the County Health Department
on a variety of epidemiology programs and issues. The Division is working with the
Planning Division on a special project funded by an Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) grant to identify solutions to protect and improve the quality of the sole source
aquifer in South Deschutes County
ADMINISTRATION
Growth in Deschutes County and the increasingly technical aspects of each of the EH
fields has brought a multi-headed approach to managing the division.
Eric Mone was promoted to Supervisor of the Food Inspection Protection Program, John
Mason manages the Pool, Spa, and Tourist Facility Programs, and Jeff Freund manages
the Drinking Water Program and administers the contracts for Day Care and School
inspections. Garth Cook is the Restaurant Plan Reviewer and responsible for the
Redmond area On-Site. Jerry Kathan is responsible for the La Pine area On-Site and
Todd Cleveland has taken over many of the On-Site supervisor responsibilities. Barbara
Rich coordinates the new Groundwater Protection Program, while Mike Obereigner,
specializes in the Food Inspection Protection Program.
ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Goal: To provide homeowners who are served by On-Site Wastewater Treatment with
an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) oversight program that is practical and
effective.
Objectives
• Create data base and office processes to efficiently track O&M activities.
• Create information handouts which clearly explain the program.
• Create or copy reporting checklists for certified O&M providers.
• Provide fee incentive for certified O&M providers to do the reporting.
• Research and plan the most efficient method of tracking real estate transactions.
• Provide fee incentives for homeowners who properly do O&M.
• Create an O&M web page.
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Goal: Maintain service turn around goal average of 7 calendar days for permits and 21
calendar days for site evaluations.
Objectives:
• Hire two more sanitarians. With the increased work load due to many more new
proposed subdivisions to be served by on-site septic systems and the potential
start of the retrofitting of the old septic systems in south County, more help is
needed.
Goal: To better communicate with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Objectives
• Amend contract and/or a memo of understanding with the DEQ to agree on a
process to come to a resolution on several issues.
• Work with DEQ to craft a Local Rule for the South County.
Goal: To communicate better with our customers
Objectives
• Design an “easier to read” permit format.
• Design an application questionnaire to better understand what the applicant is
proposing.
• Design an application checklist and information package for new proposed
subdivisions.
• Print and mail two newsletters to the installers.
• Clarify easement procedures by creating an information sheet.
• Create an information sheet concerning RV waste.
• Research ways to provide treatment and disposal of low volumes of animal
enclosure waste and water softener waste, which are not now regulated.
Goal: Communicate better with each other.
Objectives
• Provide two sets of south County water table maps.
• Create a complete book of all Alternative Treatment Technology information.
• Create a matrix application for permit applications and feasibilities
GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR SOUTH DESCHUTES COUNTY
Goal: Apply the tools, experience, and information gained from the La Pine National
Demonstration Project and the County’s Regional Problem Solving Project to
identify and implement solutions to protect and improve the quality of the sole
source of drinking water in south Deschutes County.
Objectives
• Use state of the art tools and information to protect and improve the quality of the
sole source of drinking water serving the residents of south Deschutes County.
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• Implement county code and CDD program amendments to change the focus of
development in the Neighborhood Planning Area of La Pine to assist with the
retrofit or replacement of existing conventional wastewater treatment systems
with nitrogen reducing systems.
• Implement county code and CDD program amendments to require the use of
nitrogen reducing wastewater treatment systems in south Deschutes County
based on the United States Geographic Survey (USGS) model results for the
region.
• Coordinate with the USGS on the Near-Stream Environment Study to
characterize the impacts of nitrogen enriched groundwater discharges on the
rivers and streams of the La Pine Basin.
LICENSED FACILITIES
Goal. To provide operators of food service facilities with the education and tools to
protect the public from food borne illness.
Objectives
• Standardize staff on identifying risk in food handling practices.
• Standardize one inspector per year according to Department Health
Services(DHS)
• Implement Phoenix system for licensed facility inspections. This will provide
better communication with operators and DHS.
• Create a more consistent and easier to manage temporary restaurant program
by hiring designated part time staff.
• Implement on-line food handler training.
• Participate in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Voluntary National Food
Regulatory Standards Program.
• Continue to send our Food for Thought newsletter to licensed restaurants and
mobile food units twice annually.
• Perform two yearly inspections on all school food service facilities, with one of
the inspections being a verification of the required Hazard Analysis Critical
Control Point program, which the schools are required to implement per the
Oregon Department of Education mandate.
Goal: Provide oversight to all public pools and spas to protect the public from water-
borne disease.
Objectives
• Provide clear and detailed handouts to help educate pool and spa operators on
troublesome issues regarding pool and spa maintenance.
• Create an educational approach to routine inspections.
• Provide EH staff with contact information for further self-education.
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Work Plan 2006-07
WATER PROGRAM
Goal: Provide efficient technical and regulatory assistance to approximately 184 public
water systems
Objectives.
• Increase sanitary survey (complete inspections of water systems to identify
potential hazards to water quality) rate to approximately 33 per year in response
to increased required inspection frequency.
• Earn at least 90% of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) allocation,
up from 73% for 2005-06.
• Continue to decrease the number of systems that are Significant Non-Compliers
(SNCs) or do not meet federal drinking water standards.
• Reduce response time for SNC and water quality alert follow-ups to a minimum.
• Receive and review remainder of required Emergency Response Plans for public
water systems. Currently 98 of 130 have been submitted and approved (76%).
• Increase attendance to annual water system operator workshop.
• Negotiate a customized work project with the Oregon Department of Water and
Power (ODWP) to develop and implement electronic forms (including sanitary
surveys) that can transfer water system information and report directly to the
ODWP to improve efficiency.
• Continue to meet increasing workload. The current staffing level is approximately
.8 full time employee (FTE) and A 1.4 FTE is needed.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Goal: To aide the Deschutes County Health Department in their mission to provide
public health services to the community.
Objectives
• Maintain the high level of communication with the Health Department by
continuing to attend meetings with them to discuss public health needs and how
the Division and Health Department can work together to meet those needs.
• Collect epidemiology data on food borne illness complaints, licensed facility
complaints, animal bites, and mold complaints and enter data in Environmental
Public Health Tracking (EPHT) database.
• Perform the follow up on food borne illness and licensed facility complaints, and
animal bites.
• Aide the Health Department in food borne-illness investigations.
• Maintain Division representation on the West Nile Virus (WNV) Task Force.
• Provide public education this spring and summer on WNV prevention.
• Continue staff education on Rabies/Animal Bite protocol; provide copy of
Department of Human Services (DHS) Animal Bite Algorithm to all Central
Oregon Veterinarians and Animal Control officers.
• Train another staff member in the rites of epidemiology.
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Work Plan 2006-07
PLANNING DIVISION
PROVIDING COURTEOUS, TIMELY, AND PROFESSIONAL LAND USE PLANNING SERVICES
THROUGH INNOVATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.
The Planning Division consists of 17 employees under the supervision of the Planning
Director, Catherine Morrow. The Current Planning section is managed by Kevin
Harrison, Principal Planner and includes 6 associate planners, 3 assistant planners, 1
full-time and 1 part-time secretary. The Current Planning section handles individual land
use applications, zoning review and sign-off for building and septic permits and
information to the public on all land use related issues. The section is also responsible
for all addressing and road naming in the rural County. The Long Range Planning
section includes, 2 senior planners, 1 associate and 1 assistant planner. Long Range
Planning conducts public involvement to consider land use policy, updates the County
Comprehensive Plan and zoning regulations and coordinates with the cities and
agencies on planning projects.
CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR CURRENT PLANNING
1. Processing Current Planning Applications
Meet 150-day time limits for processing all current planning
applications.
Issue all administrative decisions for land use actions that require
prior notice within 45 days of determination of complete application.
Issue all administrative decisions for development actions (sign
permits, lot-line adjustments etc.) and land use actions that do not
require prior notice (non-visible landscape management and
abbreviated Surface Mining Impact Area site plans) within 21 days of
determination of complete application (Note: We expect about 1000
applications next fiscal year).
Process applicant initiated code amendments to change land use
regulations to fix problems, clarify regulations and allow new uses.
This averages about 8-10 amendments each year.
2. Public Contact
Counter duty, phone duty, and appointments. Counter planner
available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Wednesday
(9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Provide for customer appointments with individual
planners as needed. (Note: We expect about 4,500 Planning
customers next fiscal year.) Provide phone coverage Monday through
Friday; return all calls within 24 hours.
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3. Monitoring Conditions of Approval and Assisting Code Enforcement
Work with Code Enforcement to respond to code complaints and to
monitor conditions of approval for land use permits. Staff: Current
Planning and Code Enforcement.
4. Administration
Continue cost accounting system for current planning section and
analyze data from that system. Information will be used to review
fees and to quantify work tasks not directly tied to land use permits.
Increase opportunities for customers to access information through
use of technology. Areas to explore are:
a. Design and function of website
b. Readability of information
c. Monitor “hits” at CDD website to determine most popular sites
LONG RANGE PLANNING
MAJOR PROJECTS
1. SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING IMPLEMENTATION
A) Administer $400,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grant
Use the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Optimization model to
develop an incentive program to use innovative on-site septic system
technology for replacement and new systems.
Work with Environmental Health Division, and the Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) to provide incentives to install innovative septic
systems as a means to address groundwater pollution reduction goals.
In addition to the previous goal, staff will continue to work with the DEQ to
adopt a permanent local rule to require innovative on-site septic system
technology for new systems in the south County.
Continue implementation of the Transferable Development Credit (TDC)
program. Develop amendments to the program to implement a nitrate
reduction credit tied to installation of new on-site septic system technology.
Conduct regular TDC Advisory Committee meetings to monitor progress and
develop new direction for the program.
Continue efforts to educate the public and respond to public information
requests about the County and state efforts to reduce groundwater pollution
in the south County.
Seek grant funding to continue project implementation.
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B) Administer $159,800 EPA / USGS Water Quality Cooperative Grant
This Water Quality Cooperative Grant will enable Deschutes County to
collaborate with the USGS and DEQ to assess the potential for onsite
wastewater nutrient loading to the groundwater that affect water-quality
impaired reaches of the Deschutes and Little Deschutes rivers.
Work will result in a refined mechanistic understanding of the linkage
between onsite management zones and receiving river bodies. This
quantitative understanding will be described in an USGS report, and this
report will be the primary deliverable.
Results will then be used by Deschutes County to revise the La Pine nitrate
transport and fate model prediction for total nitrate loading to the Deschutes
and Little Deschutes Rivers by accounting for near-stream denitrification
processes.
This improved estimate of onsite nitrate loading to the rivers could be used by
DEQ in the TMDL development process that is scheduled for these rivers in
the near future. Deschutes County is committed to working with DEQ to
attain Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) goals by seeking wetland
restoration projects in vulnerable river reaches and by using TMDL goals as
part of the overall La Pine aquifer management process. Thus, the proposed
work will allow river water nutrient TMDLs to be incorporated into the La Pine
groundwater management process.
The results of this analysis will also enable Deschutes County to partner with
other environmental organizations to incorporate strategies that protect
surface water resources through riparian area conservation and restoration.
This understanding will allow Deschutes County to adjust management plans
to either (a) take steps to improve near-stream nitrate attenuation capacity
(e.g. through construction of wetland habitats or other denitrifying structures
in vulnerable river reaches) and (b) constrain nitrate loading to groundwater
recharge areas up gradient from vulnerable river reaches.
C) La Pine Neighborhood Planning Area
Work with the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Development
(OHCD) to develop a plan for affordable housing and other compatible uses
on the County owned community facility zoned property. OHCD will develop
a request for proposals and/or solicitation of a master developer.
Work with the Bend La Pine School District to adopt an agreement regarding
a proposed school site.
Amend Neighborhood Planning Area code as necessary to implement a park,
open space and trail plan based on principles of the La Pine Neighborhood
Forest Plan and “Fire Wise” community standards.
Administer La Pine New Neighborhood Fuel Treatment project, a Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) National Fire Plan Grant to thin and mow
approximately 393 acres of county owned land in the Neighborhood Planning
Area.
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2. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Work with the Planning Commission to reorganize the existing
Comprehensive Plan in order to make it easier to use and understand as a
written and web based document. The update will correct outdated
information and provide a consistent style for tables and maps but will not
change any goals or policies.
Work with public and Planning Commission to craft a work plan to update
Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. Coordinate any goal and policy
update with Measure 37 outcomes and the State review of comprehensive
land use planning – a.k.a. the “Big Look”.
Assist as required with destination resort policy development and remapping,
if it is incorporated into the work plan by the Board of County Commissioners.
3. TRANSPORTATION
Provide comments and expertise to current planning.
Participate in the annual County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process.
Continue work with the County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee,
including completion of the GIS-based regional bike guide.
Coordinate with local, state and federal agencies through the Deschutes
County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to develop a regional trail
plan. Upon completion of a trail plan, amend the Transportation System Plan
(TSP) to include the routes. Also work with the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee to develop an online trail guide.
Continue to pursue opportunities for grant funding for transportation projects.
Prepare and administer grants as needed.
Adopt Transportation and Growth Management program Main Street Plan for
La Pine. Amend TSP and Comprehensive Plan as necessary.
Develop project scope and development/adoption process and schedule for
an update of the 1998 County Transportation System Plan (TSP). Update
will be funded in-house or positioned to be at least partially funded from a
possible 2007 State Transportation and Growth Management (TGM) grant.
4. COUNTY INITIATED CODE AMENDMENTS (* PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO
AMENDMENT WITH AN *. THE REMAINING AMENDMENTS WILL BE COMPLETED AS STAFF TIME
ALLOWS.)
Continue as the coordinator for County Code Review Committee.
TITLE 15 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Amend code to distinguish between properties with highway access and
those without.
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Work Plan 2006-07
TITLE 17 SUBDIVISIONS
(*) Modify Table A road standards for La Pine Neighborhood Planning Area.
Amend code to change “in lieu of dedication fees for park land” to a Systems
Development Charge (SDC) program.
Amend code to address the creation of flag lots and standards for such lots.
TITLE 18 ZONING
(*) Amend Forest 1 (F1) and Forest 2 (F2) zones to conform to state rules.
(*) Amend code to allow use of Recreational Vehicle as a medical hardship
dwelling.
Amend code to provide authority and standards for lot line adjustments.
Review and revise site plan review criteria to make standards more clear and
objective, and to increase the utility of the review and processing time for
Industrial Development.
(*) Review and update telecommunications facilities code sections to reflect
changes in other related code sections and to incorporate experience with
implementation.
(*) Review and update home occupations code sections to reflect experience
with implementation.
Add guidelines to code for alternative energy sources.
Review need to amend list of roads designated as “Landscape Management”
roads.
Amend code to change flood plain zone to a combining zone.
Review need to change solar setback requirements for property adjacent to
Federal lands.
Review need to add “Itinerant Merchant” permit inside certain unincorporated
community zones.
Amend code to eliminate reference “…prior to the date the conditional use
permit was submitted…” from the “relative farm help dwelling” criteria since
such dwellings are no longer subject to a conditional use permit.
Review need to amend code to ensure that signs in the LM zone are not
identical to signs in urban commercial core areas.
TITLE 19 BEND URBAN GROWTH AREA ZONING
Amend code to adopt City of Bend Area of Special Interest standards.
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Work Plan 2006-07
TITLE 23 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Upon direction from the Board of County Commissioners, amend Destination
Resort code section to provide process for map amendments consistent with
revisions to Oregon Revised Statutes.
Amend Neighborhood Planning area code as necessary to modify the
Comprehensive Plan non-motorized plan.
Add standards and criteria that require defensible space for wildfire
protection.
Add criteria for open space management in the Neighborhood Planning Area
as part of developing subsequent quadrants/subdivision.
Update Goal 5 Surface Mine inventory list.
Update code to reflect changes regarding Guest Ranches pursuant to SB
538.
5. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Continue creating and updating CDD web sites that provide information on
specific planning-related programs and opportunities for public participation.
Provide training opportunities for the Planning Commission and staff that
enhance communication techniques.
Provide training for the Planning Commission and the public on Statewide
Planning Goals.
Monitor State Task Force work on the review of the State planning program
(the “Big Look”). Keep planning staff, the Planning Commission and the
public informed and engaged.
Complete the 2005 Community Involvement Report and submit it to the State
Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee.
Provide opportunities for the Planning Commission to host land-use related
seminars.
COORDINATION WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND AGENCIES
1. BEND PROJECTS
A) Urban Growth
Participate in Bend Technical Advisory Committee for Residential Land Study
and Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and Urban Reserve Area (URA)
planning.
Collaborate with City to complete UGB amendments and URA.
Execute new intergovernmental agreements for URA and urban
unincorporated area.
Amend County Comprehensive Plan and TSP as a result of Bend’s URA and
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Work Plan 2006-07
UGB amendments.
Coordinate with the Department of State Lands (DSL) on the master planning
of Section 11 (east of 27th, south of Stevens Road). Include the master
planning of the northern section of the County Landfill site, to allow for
integration with the DSL land.
B) Transportation / Land Use
Continue working as requested with City of Bend on Public Transit
Implementation (Oregon Department of Transportation grant-funded).
Coordinate with the City of Bend and their consultant on master planning the
city owned Juniper Ridge property.
Assist the City of Bend with Safe Routes to School (SR2S) efforts in the
Bend-La Pine School District, and County schools (Tumalo Elementary) as
needed.
Participate in Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Technical Advisory
Committee.
Participate in Bend Traffic Safety Committee.
Participate in Bend Transportation Technical Advisory Committee.
2. REDMOND PROJECTS
A) Urban Growth
Participate in Redmond Technical Advisory Committee for UGB
Amendments.
Amend and execute new intergovernmental agreement for urban
unincorporated area.
Amend County Comprehensive Plan and TSP as a result of UGB
amendments.
Assist as requested by the Board of County Commissioners on planning for
the County owned property east of Redmond.
B) Transportation / Land Use
Participate in the South Redmond Area Collaborative Planning Group to
address transportation and other issues in the Redmond Area, including
Pronghorn secondary access. Coordinate with City of Redmond, Oregon
Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon Department of Land
Conservation and Development (DLCD), National Guard, Governor’s Office
and BLM.
Participate in Highway 97 Redmond to Deschutes Junction refinement plan
(includes Quarry interchange).
Assist Redmond in addressing and street naming update.
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Work Plan 2006-07
3. SISTERS PROJECTS
A) Urban Growth
Coordinate with City as needed for any urban growth boundary amendments.
Coordinate with City of Sisters and U.S. Forest Service on relocation of
Sisters Ranger District Office.
B) Transportation / Land Use
Work with City of Sisters and ODOT on alternative routes (bypass) around or
through Sisters.
4. LA PINE PROJECTS
A) Transportation / Land Use
Convene stakeholders to develop a solution for the Taco Bell site in La Pine.
Contingent on funding, continue work on the Environmental Assessment
phase of the La Pine Airport Feasibility Study.
Contingent on funding, assist in the creation and implementation of a La Pine
storm water management plan.
Continue coordination with La Pine Community Action Team (LCAT).
Participate in La Pine Transportation Advisory Committee.
Assist as requested on Regional Problem Solving projects related to
development plans of the Neighborhood Planning Area as needed.
B) Environmental
Coordinate with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council, Deschutes Basin
Land Trust, Deschutes River Conservancy and County Property Management
on management options for County owned land adjacent to Deschutes and
Little Deschutes Rivers in the South County.
5. ODOT / BLM / USFS PROJECTS
Participate in ODOT funded refinement planning projects for Highway 97 and
Highway 20. These projects may include planning for the Quarry Road
interchanges and the Wickiup Junction interchange or bypass.
Coordinate road issues with BLM and US Forest Service (USFS) for urban
interface plans.
Coordinate with the Oregon Division of State Lands (DSL) regarding potential
interest in BLM properties throughout Deschutes County, presently under
public ownership and recognized in BLM’s Upper Deschutes Resource
Management Plan.
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Work Plan 2006-07
OTHER PROJECTS
1. HISTORIC
The Deschutes County Landmarks Commission serves Deschutes County,
and the cities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters. A city of Bend Associate
planner staffs the Landmarks Commission for all the jurisdictions. The historic
planner will meet requirements for Certified Local Government for Historic
Resources including:
Implement County Comprehensive Plan and historic code.
Accept applications and fees for alterations of Goal 5 Historic Resources and
National Register for Historic Places Historic sites.
Amend Section 2.28 of the Deschutes County Code to be consistent with
provisions changes to state administrative rules and as appropriate with
provisions in the historic codes of Sisters, Redmond and Bend.
Develop and execute new intergovernmental agreements (IGA) with the cities
on historic resources planning and funding.
Work with the City of Bend to establish archiving and record management
program.
2. ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECTS
Convert CDD Archive materials to electronic format and microfiche.
Establish a pre-application process for land-use applications.
Coordinate with the Environmental Health and Building and Safety Divisions
for expediting zoning confirmation of building permits.
Adopt GIS data so Comprehensive Plan and Zoning maps are officially
recognized.
Establish a procedure and process for verifying and amending GIS data.
3. MISCELLANEOUS
A) Projects
Continue to assist the public in the process of forming Restricted Firearm
Areas.
Provide addresses as required by County Code. Work with Project Wildfire
and local fire departments to change road names as needed.
Coordinate with Information Technology (IT) and the Assessor’s Office to
ensure reliability of situs addressing data layer. Review list (2100) of
unaddressed properties.
Administer programs, policies and procedures associated with the processing
of Measure 37 claims.
In coordination with County Legal Counsel and Property Management,
identify County owned property suitable for auction.
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Work Plan 2006-07
B) Other Committee Assignments
Association of Oregon Planning Directors
Commute Options Working Group
Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Deschutes Mitigation and Enhancement Committee
Employee Benefits Advisory Committee
Project Wildfire
Safety Committee
Deschutes Water Alliance
Planning representative on the Statewide Safe Routes to School (SRAC)
Advisory Committee
Planning representative on the State Aviation Technical Advisory Committee
Planning representative on the Governor’s Oregon Solutions Deschutes
County Transportation Coordination Project
Deschutes County
Community Development Department
Accomplishments – Year 2005
The Community Development Department mission is to facilitate orderly
growth and development in the Deschutes County community through
coordinated programs of Planning, Environmental Health, Building Safety,
Code Enforcement, education, and service to the public.
♦ Coordinated Services and Administration
♦ Code Enforcement
♦ Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
♦ Building and Safety
♦ Environmental Health
♦ Planning
Community Development Department Page 2 of 15
Accomplishments 2005
BUILDING SAFETY
The Building Official, Dennis Perkins, 2 assistant building officials, 17 building safety
inspectors, and support staff provide construction plan review, consultation and
inspection to assure compliance with national and state building, plumbing and electrical
codes. Deschutes County's Building Safety Division interprets and enforces the state
mandated Building Codes for the people of the community through a process of
education and a clear and fair application of the Specialty Codes. The Division provides
all of these services to the City of Redmond through a contract and provides various
services to Lake, Crook and Jefferson Counties and the State of Oregon Building Codes
Division on an “as needed" basis.
1. The 10 day turn around time for all plan reviews has been met. This goal is a
continuous goal for which we strive. A state regulation mandates that if we do not
maintain a 10 day turn around time, the applicant can seek a third party plan
review. This past year, no one has asked to use a third party review.
2. Telephone calls have been returned within the 24 hour time frame.
3. Field inspectors have been able to meet the projected “next day” turn around
time on nearly 95% of the requested inspections. We have completed 60,000
inspections over this past year. In order to meet this goal, temporary/part time
employees have been hired in both the electrical and building programs.
4. The Division has continued to maintain close working relationships with the local
fire marshals. This has been a very successful endeavor. The fact that one
inspector has been assigned to do commercial inspections has improved
communication with the fire departments. Increased email communication
between agencies has also helped identify problems and solutions more
efficiently.
5. All Intergovernmental Agreements for inspection and plan review have been
serviced and all are being renewed for the coming year. The Building Safety
Division currently has five separate agreements with neighboring jurisdictions to
provide the ongoing or “as needed” plan review and inspection services.
6. The Redmond City Building Department program has continued to be maintained
to ensure their operating plan remains in compliance with State regulations.
7. Continued attendance and participation in the Central Oregon International Code
Council (COICC) Education Committee and utilization of the education offerings
has been attained and remains ongoing.
8. Continued to provide in house training for changes to the State Building Codes.
Consistency in code interpretation and application is critical to our purpose
statement and we continue to strive for that goal.
9. Some advances have been made in providing training in our methods of
commercial structures permitting and plan review but this has been difficult due
to staff turnover. This will need to be an ongoing effort.
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Accomplishments 2005
10. Options for Intervoice Response (IVR) permitting systems have been reviewed.
An IVR permitting system is scheduled to be purchased in the next few months. It
is estimated to be installed and operating by the end of this fiscal year (05-06).
11. The Building Safety Division has continued to maintain a solid working
relationship with The Central Oregon Builder’s Association (COBA):
Continued to meet with COBA monthly to discuss issues and concerns
and problem solve.
The County Building Official was asked by COBA to serve on the
committee that reviews and approves the local builders who seek a
Master Builder Certification. This past year eight builders were approved
to take the test.
The County Building Official was named Public Official of the Year 2005
by COBA.
The Building Safety Division has continued to participate in the local
Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) Spring Home and Garden
Show.
12. Building Safety Division staff has continued to attend Building Codes Division
(BCD), Oregon Building Officials Association (OBOA) and Oregon Building
Industry Association (OBIA) activities.
13. Attended monthly ADA meetings with the goal of attaining ADA compliance in
new commercial construction. To help achieve this, Building Safety Division staff
completed specialized training provided by an ADA trainer/consultant.
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Accomplishments 2005
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The Environmental Health Division (EH) provides plan review, consultation and
inspection of regulated public facilities (restaurants, pools, tourist facilities, schools and
day care centers) and on-site wastewater treatment and dispersal systems. The
Division also regulates public water systems for safety and works with the County Health
Department on a variety of epidemiology programs and issues. The Division is working
with the Planning Division on a special project funded by an Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) grant to identify solutions to protect and improve the quality of the sole
source aquifer in South Deschutes County
ADM INISTRATION
The year 2005 has been one of transition in the Environmental Health Division. Dan
Haldeman was appointed Director in February when the previous Director retired after
twenty years of service and a shift in style and organization followed. Growth in
Deschutes County and the increasingly technical aspects of each of the EH fields has
brought a change in organization among the staff.
Eric Mone was promoted to Supervisor of the Food Inspection Protection Program, John
Mason manages the Pool, Spa, and Tourist Facility Programs, and Jeff Freund manages
the Drinking Water Program and administers the contracts for Day Care and School
inspections. Garth Cook is the Restaurant Plan Reviewer and responsible for the
Redmond area On-Site. Jerry Kathan is responsible for the La Pine area On-Site and
Todd Cleveland has taken over many of the On-Site supervisor responsibilities. Barbara
Rich was hired to coordinate the new Groundwater Protection Program, while Mike
Obereigner, was hired in July to specialize in the Food Inspection Protection Program.
ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT
1. Assessed 507sites for feasibility for on-site wastewater treatment and disposal
systems, a 6% decrease from 2004.
2. Issued 1,778 permits and authorizations for new and existing on-site wastewater
treatment and disposal systems, an increase of 4 % from the permits issued in
2004.
3. Performed 4063 inspections to ensure proper installations of on-site wastewater
treatment and disposal systems, a 5% increase from 2004.
4. Created a float setting/septic tank matrix for sanitarians, designers, and installers
to apply to all pressurized systems.
5. Established a procedure to eliminate substandard drain fields in South
Deschutes County and replace with the best available technology.
6 Applied the new Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rule revisions for
OAR 71.This required interpreting rules, changing procedures and processes for
siting, permitting and inspecting several different types of on-site wastewater
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Accomplishments 2005
treatment systems. The main emphasis of the new rules is to allow more on-site
waste treatment options for residential homeowners.
7. Added property comments to Accuterm screen to reflect status of past blanket
site evaluations. This reduced the amount of time permit technicians spend on
research.
NATIONAL DECENTRALIZED WASTEWATER TREATMENT
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
The La Pine National Demonstration Project was funded by the US EPA to identify
effective on-site wastewater treatment technologies to reduce nitrogen loading to the
aquifer serving as the region’s sole source of drinking water. Additionally, the project
allowed the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the US Geological Survey,
and Deschutes County Environmental Health Division to evaluate impacts to the aquifer
from conventional wastewater treatment systems and develop a state of the art three-
dimensional groundwater and nutrient transport model. The 3-D model has been further
enhanced as local decision making tool by a corollary project funded by the National
Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project to develop the Nitrate
Loading Management Model.
1. Presented project findings in papers and presentations on results and findings of
the project in compliance with EPA grant requirements at the:
a. Washington On-site Sewage Association meeting; Bow, Washington
b. Utah On-site Wastewater Association meeting; Ogden, Utah
c. Northeast On-site Short Course; Groton, Connecticut
d. Oregon On-site Wastewater Association conference; Redmond, Oregon
e. North West On-site Wastewater Treatment Short course; Seattle,
Washington
f. Groundwater Under the Pacific Northwest conference; Stevenson,
Washington.
2. Provided tours of the project sites for 45 to 60 attendees of the Oregon On-site
Wastewater Association conference. A separate tour and presentation of the
findings was provided for staff supporting the Willamette Groundwater
Management Area steering committee.
3. Completed data analyses for all the wastewater treatment systems monitored
during the project.
4. Completed data analyses for drain field and network monitoring wells sampled
during the project.
5. Repaired malfunctioning systems at three private properties where the
inadequately performing system was replaced with another type of alternative
treatment technology.
6. Compiled the information, data and findings of the project into a final report and
submitted the final report to US EPA for review.
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Accomplishments 2005
7. Applied the USGS developed Nitrate Loading Management Model to apply the
results of the 3-dimensional groundwater and nutrient fate and transport model
produced with La Pine Project funds. This model defines the treatment
standards for distinct management areas in south Deschutes County that are
required to protect and improve drinking water quality in the region.
GROUNDWATER PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR SOUTH DESCHUTES COUNTY
The County applied and received $417,684 in funding for the project entitled “Protection
of Groundwater Resources in the Upper Deschutes Basin” from Region 10 of the US
Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This project applies tools, experience, and
information gained from the La Pine National Demonstration Project and the County’s
Regional Problem Solving Project to identify and implement solutions to protect and
improve the quality of the sole source of drinking water in south Deschutes County.
1. The first task undertaken for this project was the revision of the County’s
Transferable Development Credit (TDC) program to a Pollution Reduction Credit
program with the goal of using the economic potential of development in the New
La Pine Neighborhood Planning Area to help fund the upgrade of existing on-site
wastewater treatment systems to systems that will reduce the nitrogen loading to
the drinking water aquifer.
2. The TDC revision advisory committee provided substantive input to the form and
content of a local rule that would require the use of nitrogen reducing wastewater
treatment systems.
3. A related project entitled “Characterization of Redox Conditions in the Near-
Stream Environment to Improve Understanding of Ground-Water Nitrate Fluxes
to Rivers in the La Pine Basin, Oregon” is a cooperative program between
Deschutes County and the US Geological Survey to study the impacts of
discharging nitrogen enriched groundwater to the rivers and streams of the
Upper Deschutes Watershed. The project has been awarded $185,859 by the
US EPA and work is scheduled to begin in early 2006.
LICENSED FACILITY INSPECTION PROGRAM
1. Performed 1,011 semi-annual inspections on restaurants, mobile units,
commissaries, warehouses, and bed and breakfasts.
2. Provided Public Health plan reviews on 64 full service restaurants and 4 mobile
units with an average turn around time of 7.1 days from submittal to response.
This met the goal of a two week turn around time and represents an increase in
the full service plan review work load of 39% from 2004.
3. Attained 90% inspection rate for licensed public swimming pools/spa facilities.
This met the 90% goal set in 2004.
4. Tested 1,696 food handlers, 67% of which were tested by computer.
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Accomplishments 2005
5. Hosted a workshop for swimming pool/spa operators that was attended by 36
local operators. Reviews on the workshop were very good and this will be
continued on an annual basis.
6. Attained an inspection rate of 77% for Recreational Park inspections and an 89%
inspection rate for Tourist Facilities. This represents a decrease from the 2004
ratios of 91% and 100 % respectively.
7. Hosted a regional workshop on problem solving and consistent interpretation of
the new state food code for eastern region sanitarians. This class was led by
the Oregon Health Division and was attended by 15 regional sanitarians.
8. Performed 239 inspections or consultations on Temporary Restaurants out of
267 applications received. This is a 90% compliance rate, well above previous
years’ rates.
WATER PROGRAM
1) Conducted 30 sanitary surveys (complete inspections of public water systems to
identify any potential hazards that could affect water quality).
2) Investigated 23 water quality alerts associated with bacterial contamination (3 of
which were confirmed E-Coli and issued boil water advisories).
3) Investigated 15 significant non-compliers (SNC = systems with histories of non-
compliance) and resolved/removed 11 systems from the EPA SNC list.
4) Reduced response time for follow-up and corrective action for water quality alerts
and SNCs.
5) Assisted 13 water system operators in developing and implementing required
Emergency Response Plans (ERP) and Vulnerability Assessments (VA) through
on-site and phone consultations.
6) Received and reviewed 40 completed ERPs and VAs.
7) Provided technical and regulatory assistance to 184 public water systems in
Deschutes County. Examples include, but are not limited to rules/interpretation,
monitoring, violations, public notice, complaints and enforcement.
8) Hosted an annual workshop for approximately 50 small community water system
operators for more than 5 counties.
9) Continued to improve Internet Water Program web page and received several
inquiries from the public via the Internet.
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Accomplishments 2005
EPIDEMIOLOGY
1. Formal communication between the Environmental Health Division (EH) and the
Deschutes County Health Department (DCHD) meeting every month with Dan
Peddycord.
2. The Division received and responded to 90 food borne illness reports and/or
complaints from the public.
3 Received a grant of $11,000 with the DCHD for increased surveillance and
Environmental Health tracking efficiency. Developed an Environmental Public
Health Database in connection with the Health Department.
4. The Division received over 30 animal bite reports from veterinarians and over
110 animal bite reports from animal control officers. Each report required a call
to the bite victim, the animal owner (to verify quarantine procedures) and/or
return calls to the veterinarians.
5. Investigated outbreak of E coli 0157:H7 where over 90 patrons were sickened at
a local restaurant. Worked closely with the DCHD, Oregon State Department of
Health Services (DHS), media and corporate restaurant management to
minimize public health risk.
6. Together with the DCHD, we provided information and education to St. Charles
Hospital Emergency Room staff on animal bite protocol and procedure. Animal
Control officers were asked to inspect animals at the end of the 10 day
quarantine and provide necessary reports, which they are now doing.
7. Assembled and distributed educational material on mold control, hazards and
proper abatement. Provided referrals on many other environmental concerns
such as indoor air contamination, blue-green algae and others, in response to
over 90 telephone inquiries from citizens.
8. The Division continues to provide these valuable public health investigation
services without collecting fees from the general public to offset the commitment
of staff resources on these projects. This part of the division work is subsidized
by fees collected in the on-site sewage disposal and licensed facilities programs.
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Accomplishments 2005
PLANNING 2005
Providing courteous, timely and professional land use planning services through
innovative, cost-effective, and community-based solutions
The Planning Division consists of 17 employees, managed by Planning Director
Catherine Morrow. The Current Planning section includes a Principal Planner, Kevin
Harrison, 6 associate planners, 3 assistant planners, 1 full-time senior secretary and 1
part-time secretary. The Current Planning section handles individual land use
applications, zoning review and sign-off for building and septic permits as well as
provides information to the public on all land use related issues. The section is also
responsible for all addressing and road naming in the rural County.
The Long Range Planning section plans for the future needs of the County by
conducting community involvement programs, updating the County Comprehensive Plan
and zoning regulations and coordinating with other jurisdictions. The Long Range
Planning team includes two senior planners, one specializing in transportation issues
and one in special projects, one associate planner and one assistant planner.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1. The current planning section received 1,019 land use applications in the year
2005. This compares with 994 applications for the year 2004, a 2.5% increase,
and 972 in 2003.
2. There were 19 appeals filed in the year 2005. This compares with 12 appeals in
the year 2004, a 58% increase, and 15 in 2003.
3. There were 48 applications reviewed by the County hearings officers in the year
2005. This compares with 26 in 2004 and 26 in 2003. Thirteen decisions were
appealed to the Board of County Commissioners in 2005. This compares with 7
appeals in 2004, an 86% increase, and 2 appeals in 2003.
4. There were 5 appeals to the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) in 2005. This
compares with 4 appeals to LUBA in 2004 and 4 appeals in 2003.
5. The current planning section met with 5,448 customers in 2005. This compares
with 4,726 customers in 2004, a 15% increase, and 4,220 customers in 2003.
6. A primary accomplishment was the successful transition to the new County web
page, improving the Community Development Department web page by posting
meeting material on the calendar and regularly updating “In the News” items. All
Current Planning documents are now scanned and accessible through the use of
the web page.
PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
1. The Planning Commission met on second and third Thursdays to conduct
business including public hearings on amendments to the County Zoning and
Subdivision Ordinances and Comprehensive Plan. Meetings were held in Bend,
La Pine, Sisters and Redmond.
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Accomplishments 2005
2. The Planning Commission reviewed and made recommendations about the
2004-2005 Community Development Department work plan.
3. Public awareness of Planning Commission activities was increased through
updates on County web page with press releases, project materials, and posting
commission agendas and packets on the calendar.
4. Planning Staff made presentations to:
League of Women Voters -Destination Resorts
Library Board - Population Forecasting
Association of Oregon Realtors – Training on LAVA 5
Century 21 Realtors – Community Development Department Services and
Planning Issues
5. Two planning commissioners attended planning commissioner training. Staff
also provided training on comprehensive plan and zoning regulations, urban
growth boundaries and urban reserve areas, conflict of interest and Robert’s
Rules of Order.
6. The Commission held a joint work session with the Board of County
Commissioners and took public comment on destination resort remapping.
7. The Commission requested a panel of experts on water resources which was
organized by long range planning staff.
8. Following pubic notice and hearings before the Planning Commission, the
Commission recommended approval and the Board of County Commissioners
adopted the following county code amendments:
TITLE 2 HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
COMMISSION
Amended the representation of the Deschutes County Historical Landmarks
Commission and the Landmarks Commissioner appointment process.
TITLE 18 ZONING
Amended the setback criteria in the Landscape Management Combining and
MUA zones.
Amended zoning map designations on various county properties.
Amended the Tumalo Rural Community zone to add an Industrial district (TuI).
Adopted the Redmond Urban Reserve Area boundary and zoning.
Amended the allowable uses and setback criteria in the Residential Center
District of the Neighborhood Planning Area in the La Pine Urban
Unincorporated Community.
TITLE 21 SISTERS URBAN GROWTH AREA ZONING
Amended the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary map.
Rezoned land in the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary.
TITLE 23 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Amended the Plan designation on various county properties.
Amended the Plan and took exceptions to Statewide Planning Goal 3
(Agricultural Lands).
Amended Tumalo Rural Community to include policies for an Industrial District.
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Accomplishments 2005
Adopted the Redmond Urban Reserve Area boundary and adopted Urban
Reserve policies.
Amended the Goal 5 Inventory of Historic and Cultural Resources to correct
errors, and add the Agnes and Henry J. Sottong House and Barn to the List of
Historic Resources.
Amended the Mineral and Aggregate Resource Inventory and adopted an
Exception to Goal 3 to change the Plan designation for certain property from
Surface Mine to Rural Residential Exception Area.
Amended the Plan Map and took exceptions to the Statewide Planning Goals to
amend the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
ORDINANCES PENDING ADOPTION BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Amendments to Titles 15, 17, 18 and 22 to make technical and minor code
revisions – County initiated.
Amendment to Title 23 (Comprehensive Plan) to facilitate vacation of a portion
of E Avenue in Terrebonne – County initiated.
Amendments to Titles 17 (Subdivision) and 18 (Zoning) to provide standards for
Traffic Impact Studies – County initiated.
COORDINATION WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND AGENCIES
BEND COORDINATION
1. Participated in technical advisory committees analyzing housing need and
developing proposal for urban reserve and Urban Growth Boundary.
2. Participated in the Juniper Ridge Technical Advisory Committee to master plan
property.
3. Participated in the Technical Advisory Committee for the Bend Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO).
REDMOND COORDINATION
1. Prepared a PowerPoint presentation and schedule used by County and City staff
at planning commission meetings for urban reserve planning.
2. Coordinated with Redmond planning staff to prepare findings to support urban
reserve boundary for the City of Redmond. Provided GIS analysis for findings.
3. Assisted in preparation of the scope of work and consultant selection for
Redmond Lands needs analysis.
4. Continued South Redmond Collaborate Planning Group meetings regarding
transportation, Bureau of Land Management and Division of State Lands issues.
REDMOND COORDINATION
1. Completed final review of Sisters Comprehensive Plan update. Sisters adopted
new comprehensive plan.
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Accomplishments 2005
2. Conducted public hearings before the joint Sisters and County Planning
Commissions and Board of County Commissioners leading to adoption of an
amendment to the Sisters Urban Growth Boundary.
LA PINE COORDINATION
1. Coordinated with Oregon Housing and Community Development Department, La
Pine Community Action Team, and non profit affordable housing advocates to
develop a proposal for affordable housing on county owned property in the La
Pine Community Facility Zone.
2. Coordinated with Bureau of Land Management and James Young to facilitate a
land exchange resulting in transfer of land to Deschutes County, Central Oregon
Community College, and the La Pine Park District.
HISTORIC RESOURCE PROGRAM
1. County led coordination with cities of Bend, Redmond and Sisters to modify the
make up and appointing authority for the landmarks commission and the funding
formula for historic resources program. The changes better reflect the
distribution of historic resources and work load for the planner. The new funding
formula was effective for Fiscal year 2005-2006 and resulted in a reduction of
expenses for the County.
2. The associate planner, who is staff to the landmarks commission, was
transferred to the City of Bend effective July 1, 2005.
3. All of the codes for the jurisdictions were amended to reflect the new structure of
the landmarks commission and the appointing authority.
PROJECTS
REGION AL PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECT - SOUTH COUNTY
1. Initiated work on a $396,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to continue
ground water quality protection and monitoring work and create an incentive
program to install innovative on-site technology.
Hired a project grant manager
Convened a 15 member Technical Advisory Committee and held 6 meetings
to reach a consensus on a program to modify the Transferable Development
Credit (TDC) program to a pollution credit program tied to retrofitting existing
on-site septic systems
Held discussions with Department of Environmental Quality on
implementation of on-site waste treatment facility administrative rules
Worked with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to review and run
optimization model for groundwater
2. Worked with County forester to hire a contractor under the National Fire Plan
Grant to complete thinning on 393 acres of county owned land in the
Neighborhood Planning Area.
3. Obtained a $159,800 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund a
Community Development Department Page 13 of 15
Accomplishments 2005
U.S. Geological Survey study of effect of riparian area on water quality for the
river.
4. Transferable Development Credit (TDC) Program:
Worked with Property Management to prepare auction of 79 county owned
properties that have Transferable Development Credit covenants.
Responded to public inquiries regarding the TDC program.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. The Address Coordinator and Project Wildfire continued to work to create a
countywide address data layer in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Contracted with the City of Redmond to have county address coordinator work
on City addressing.
2. Established a process for receiving and processing Measure 37 claims.
Coordinated with County legal counsel and surveyor to prepare staff reports and
Board orders for Measure 37 claims. Received and opened 77 Measure 37
claim files and obtained final Board of County Commissioners Orders on 55
claims.
3. Assisted the public with Restricted Firearms District formations and annexations.
4. Worked with Information Technology (IT) and the Assessor’s office to ensure
reliability of situs addressing data layer through conversion to the Oregon
Counties Taxation and Assessment System (ORCATS) for Assessor’s records.
5. Submitted a successful challenge of the Portland State Population and Research
Center’s July 2005 population estimate. Resulted in a change in the certified
population of unincorporated Deschutes County from 50,377 to 51,445. Provided
information regarding population to various agencies.
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
1. Provided comments and expertise on land use applications and code
amendments.
2. Completed a $66,943 Oregon Transportation and Growth Management (TGM)
program grant-funded “Main Street” Plan for La Pine. This project included
working with a consultant and ODOT to plan for an ODOT Special Transportation
Area Management Plan and streetscape design for Highway 97 in La Pine.
3. Coordinated with Redmond and other County staff on necessary TSP
amendments to adopt and implement the Redmond Urban Reserve Area.
4. Worked on projects that require coordination with ODOT, Redmond, Sisters, and
Bend. These included the City of Bend Juniper Ridge project, review of
proposed UGB amendments for the cities and their effect on County
transportation facilities.
5. Developed a La Pine System Development Charge (SDC) program to fund traffic
light improvements. The SDC program will implement the existing ad hoc traffic
impact analysis policy and procedure.
6. Provided comments to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), City of
Community Development Department Page 14 of 15
Accomplishments 2005
Bend, Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, Bureau of Land Management,
County Road Department, La Pine Community Action Team and other agencies
on transportation issues, refinement plans and policy.
7. Assisted the City of Bend with public transit issues.
8. Completed Highway 97 Sunriver interchange planning.
9. Initiated contact with all elementary and middle school principals in the
unincorporated County to solicit ideas for improving student access and safety
around their schools. Any school-related improvements can be programmed
(within 2 miles of the school) and be eligible for 100% state SR2S funding.
10. Submitted applications for the following grants:
$32,000 from Oregon State Parks for an ADA accessible trail in La Pine
$202,165 from ODOT for a shoulder bikeway on 3 miles of Old Bend-
Redmond Highway
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Steve Jorgensen
Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee
Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Advisory Committee (alternate) -
Steve Jorgensen
ODOT US97 / US20 Refinement Planning Project Management Team -
ODOT US97 Wickiup Jct. RR Over crossing Refinement Planning Project
Management Team
ODOT US97 Redmond Re-Route Refinement Planning Project Management
Team
ODOT US97 Lava Butte to Sunriver Refinement Planning Project Management
Team
La Pine Transportation Advisory Committee - Steve Jorgensen
Bend Traffic Safety Committee
Commute Options Working Group
Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Sisters Community Action Team Trail Committee
South Redmond Collaborative Planning Group
Christy Morgan
County Code Review Committee
Employee Benefits Advisory Committee
Transferable Development Credit Technical Advisory Committee
Cynthia Smidt
Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Peter Gutowsky
Deschutes Mitigation and Enhancement Committee
Project Wildfire
Bend Technical Advisory Committees for housing needs analysis and UGB and
urban reserve planning
Community Development Department Page 15 of 15
Accomplishments 2005
Redmond Technical Advisory Committee for UGB amendments and urban
reserve planning
Transferable Development Credit Technical Advisory Committee
Kathleen Stockton
Community Development Department Safety Committee
Catherine Morrow
Association of Oregon Planning Directors
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) Deschutes County
representative on Board.
South Redmond Collaborative Planning Group
Transferable Development Credit Technical Advisory Committee