Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

the stuff, uh, chocolate. You're broke. You too. Yes.

Well, good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. I will now call to order the Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners' business meeting for September 10th, 2026. Start off with County Administrator Gary Schmett. Would you please call the roll?

Here. All right thank you if you would please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance if you' re able. First up we have public communication and as as always testimonies limited to three minutes per person I always ask your comments be respectful and courteous as a reminder You can also email submissions for public communication at BCC at Clackamas us and they'll be accepted as a part of our public record I'll take in-person testimony first and I'll turn to our clerk that will help us moderate the in-person and virtual testimony for us. I

All right. What I think... Oh, go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. Typically, we hold our comments to the end, and I'll make an exception here. And I know you've been in here several times. We appreciate all your effort. Commissioner Estavista, do you want to go first?

Yeah, thank you, Chair, for accommodating that and making a special exception. Steve, I just want to just say thank you for you and the Boren community for all you do. You have done an extraordinary amount of work in that area. I feel really bad about the irrigation thing we learned, you know, very, very late about, but I just want to just personally share my gratitude on behalf of your community, our community, for what you do. You're a model, and I just really appreciate the work you've done.

I echo those sentiments, Steve, and thank you for being so persistent. You know, it's very hard. We have some issues and some challenges with the park, and we're working on it, but I appreciate your persistence, and I'm thrilled for this building you're going to do, and the location is fantastic. It's in the heart of Boring, and your volunteer groups and your community are just amazing. So kudos to all of you for taking part in this.

Yeah, I just have a question, Steve, and thank you for all you do. I echo the sentiments. You've been a real, just a stellar citizen, you and your family, for the whole area for years and years and years. But have you folks ever contacted the National Guard at all to do any work on the parks there? We have a close relationship with them, and at one point we had a conversation with where they look for projects to do. And I remember years ago, we had the climbing wall project that we had, and they actually were the ones that went out there and, you know,

Thank you for the presentation, Catherine. I had heard on the news the other day that Secretary of State Tobias Reid had requested...

Yeah. I think I know the answer to this, but it'd be great to hear it from you directly. Um, I'm noticed the August 13th deadline for people to register to vote, correct? Yeah. 13th. And then next day the ballots are dropped in the mail and maybe people don't realize until maybe a week afterwards, you know, or towards the election, a couple of weeks before the election, I didn't get my ballot. I didn't get my ballot and maybe they were registered or maybe they're not. Um, But really if they discover that they're not registered or assume they were registered Really that October 13th is the drop-dead date if they were never registered, right?

That's what I want you to say. Thank you.

The only question I had was you mentioned 10 local measures, schools and some other ones, and I wondered if you could talk about what those are. Do you have that available? If not, I can get it from you later.

Okay, all right Which one monitor? Yes. Yes.

Well and you were at this meeting too. So just a comment to the our constituents, so the Mount Angel and Monitor Fire Districts are merging. So it is a two-part vote. One of them is to dissolve the Monitor, and you have to have both of them be a yes in order for that measure to pass. So it's just a very tiny portion of Clackamas County in that, but just so people understand, they both have to be yes in order to actually pass, so.

And I think there's a money component to it as well.

Yes. Oh, yes, because they're voting on a new rate as well.

Right, so they're also asking for that. What impressed me when I was out there, well, both of us were out there, was literally, I mean, they have, I don't want to over-exaggerate, but a lot of volunteers. All the farmers out there, when they have fires, all come in. They have a siren that goes off, and the number of volunteers is really incredible. Yeah. If they had to pay for all that service, it would be

So that South County better pay attention. A lot on the ballot. So, okay. Well, if there's no other questions, thank you for the information. You're doing a great job, and we sure appreciate your hard work. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

All right, thank you. Questions? Commissioner West has his hand raised. Yes, go ahead Commissioner West. Can you guys hear me okay? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Terrific. This is really exciting, Mary. Great presentation. In 2023, the Board of County Commissioners made a bold step and we implemented a recovery-oriented system of care. Anybody can go to the website and they can see what a recovery-oriented system of care looks like in Clackamas County. They can find the original resolution that we passed to make sure that our interventions as a county fit this policy prescription. And over the last few years, we have been wildly successful. And for those in the public that are new to understanding what a recovery-oriented system of care is, i

Yeah, I just want to thank everyone here today and others that are out there that have, in particular, dedicated their lives after recovery to this cause and helping others. And I think those personal experiences are powerful, and I think that is something I've learned over my years of service here, is meeting people, seeing people who dedicated their lives to helping others and are the walking, living example of success, of recovery. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here and others out there that are doing that work every day.

So I understand Catherine would like to read the proclamation. Are you ready to do that?

All right. Colleague, is there a motion?

I move we adopt the proclamation declaring September 2026 as recovery month.

Second. All right, Commissioner Schrader has moved to adopt the proclamation declaring September 2026 as recovery month. It's been seconded by Commissioner Salvas. Is there any other further discussion? I think I'd just like to make a short comment and... that I kind of come from a different world of public safety, right, and really got to see firsthand, really, the impact of addiction and mental health. And unfortunately saw folks cycling through the system, really. completely thrilled to see the recovery campus and as a step that for non-justice involved people, which is really important to

Motion passes 5-0, Mr. Chair. All right. Thank you both very much.

Fantastic. Again, great video. And I guess, Trevor, I'd love to hear from you. And boy, how did you get into this? Very innovative. So love to hear from you.

Yeah, fantastic. And you got my curiosity up as I'm watching this grow in seven days or whatever, and very impressive work. Any other comments from my colleagues? Go ahead, Commissioner Hill.

Well, first of all, when I saw the heading, I kind of wondered what kind of mushrooms you were growing. Then it said culinary, which I love mushrooms of all kinds. I just am one of those. The stranger, the better. I will say that you just brought up educational and I'm hoping that maybe one of your agritourism or you can probably have, hopefully it's allowed, to have school tours and stuff through your plant because I think you have a lot to offer children who are learning about this. And then one more question, it mentioned farmers markets and I recently had a friend who bought a block at a f

Okay. Okay. Very cool. Yeah. So you can buy a block and take it home and put, you missed it. I think she said you missed it and then you put it in the garage or something. And then in seven to 12 days you have your own mushrooms. So very cool. And tell me where farmer's markets you might be at.

Cool. Thank you. I've seen you at Lake Oswego. All right. It does. I know. I know. Very good. Thank you.

Yeah, just curiosity about two things. Number one is your availability. You probably don't use a lot of water, probably. That's one question.

Yeah. And the other question I have is on the air quality side. I mean, is there a humidity factor, a temperature? I'm sure that's ideal.

Are mushrooms light sensitive as far as timing? You know, the long days, short days, typical crops, you know, grow and harvest a certain time. Do mushrooms have that same kind of sensitivity to light as far as timing and harvesting?

Well, thanks for that. Appreciate you investing in Clackamas County as well. Thanks. Yeah.

One last question before we move on. Where'd you go to school?

Yeah. I can tell you're very bright. I was curious where you went to school. So thank you very much and all our best to you and your business and glad to have you in Clackamas County. Thank you very much.

I think you're talking to the right people here. So if we can help us follow up on that, would you?

Okay. All right. Great. You're on it, right, Laura?

No chair just a comment. I you know I got way back on the council wanting to transfer some of their roads over the city can be City Council, so It just goes to show that progress sometimes is inches along, but we eventually get there, so thanks for all the great work All right, I'll now open the public hearing on this item and clerk you want to help us moderate that

All right, I'll close the public hearing and check with the commissioners. Anything else? Seeing none, is there a motion?

I move we adopt the board order transferring jurisdiction of Ivy Street to the city of Oregon City.

Okay. So then I will amend my motion to... move this to jurisdiction of Ivy Street to the City of Canby, or? Second.

All right. Commissioner Schrader has moved to adopt the board order transferring jurisdiction of Ivy Street to the City of Canby. And then Commissioner Helm is second to that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, could you please call the poll? Commissioner Sadas?

Why was the word indefinitely added to this one instead of not the other one?

All right. I'll open the public hearing on this item. And clerk, do you want to help us moderate that?

All right, I'll now close the public hearing. Check with our commissioner, see if there are any other comments. Seeing none, I'll ask for a motion.

Chair, I move we adopt the board order transferring jurisdiction of the designated portion of Old 82nd Avenue to the City of Oregon City. Second.

All right, Commissioner Elm is moved to adopt the board order transferring jurisdiction of the designated portion of Old 82nd Avenue to the City of Oregon City. Commissioner Schrader has seconded that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the poll? Commissioner West.

Good job there, young man. All right, any colleagues wish to remove any item from the consent agenda?

I don't want to remove anything, but just a clarification, Tony. Under E10, you said Do Good Northwest, and our packet says Do Good Multnomah. Is it one and the same?

Okay, thank you. I just wanted a clarification.

All right. All right, is there a motion then? Move to approve the consent agenda.

Excuse me. Commissioner Savas has moved to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Helm has seconded that. Any further discussion? Clerk, please call the poll.

Aye. Motion passes 5-0, Mr. Chair. Thank you again, Tony. I'll now recess as the Board of Commissioners convenes the Water Environment Services Board of Directors.

Right anyone wish to remove anything from the consent agenda. Seeing none, may I have a motion?

I move we approve the West Consent Agenda. I'll second.

Director Helm has moved to approve the West Consent Agenda. It's been seconded by Director Schroeder. Is there any further discussion?

Yes, Chair. I just want to make a comment on this effort. We have been very deliberate in trying to encourage our partner agencies, as well as our own WES in this case, to develop and support low-income programs for rate relief. And that's what this is about. And this partnership with Portland General Electric, as they are agents so to speak to do that billing directly through PGE. So I just want to just acknowledge that partnership and our deliberate efforts to try to in these very difficult times to for low-income families and households to offer that discount program and also take this oppo

All right. Clerk, will you please call the poll?

Chair Roberts? Aye. Motion passes 5-0, Mr. Chair. Thank you. I'll adjourn as the Water Environment Services Board of Directors reconvenes the Board of County Commissioners. Gary.

All right. Thank you, Gary. So we'll move on to Commissioner communication and I'll start with Commissioner Schrader.

Yeah well Congratulate that was remarkable Craig. It was an Italian restaurant Probably when I go to I'm glad you were there In any case, I'm going to do one of my favorite things today. I think Paul and I, I think some of us are going to the Jennings Lodge Park. And it's always great to have a new park in our system. And this is important because we are trying to move with our North Clackamas Parks and Rec District into a phase where we're really going to make an effort to serve the underserved areas in the unincorporated area, and that is, you know, for a long time, when I was first here, we

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Salvas.

On a similar note, as far as 9-11, I was in my elected position in 2001 on the Oak Lodge Water Board. I had signed up for the AWWA conference in Washington, D.C. It was a pre-conference class that I had also signed up for. on domestic and international terrorism. And it was quite the weekend, actually. It was a two-day pre-conference. And the whole theme there was, we know something's going to happen. We just don't know what and where it's going to be. And they had a lot of the, you name it, anyone involved in the national security or security services around the country and abroad was in that

Thank you, Chair. Sorry I cannot be there today, but I am grateful to be here in the meeting virtually. 9 11 is uh always a difficult time of year for me and some of my friends i had a high school buddy a friend of mine in my younger years who was in the second plane that hit the second tower um and every year we we take time to remember eric um and so it's very sombering and you know my son and many young people today don't have that same familiarity about what that event was like and how it not just rocked the entire country and galvanized us together in a very unified way, but it really imp

First of all, I want to thank Steve and Betty Bates for sticking around, and I want to address your request that we sign this letter, and I'm hoping the Board is on board with that as well. Supporting the Boring-Oringan Foundation I think is really important, and thank you for coming before us today with your letter. Virginia, if you're listening, your letter really hit home yesterday. I did read this in full. And you warned us, it's long. It's full of a lot of really great information. Thank you for the history lesson. It explains a lot. It explains where we're at today and why it is pretty m

Back to you. Thank you. So a follow up on the note of the 25th anniversary of 9-11. And I think many of us know exactly where we were standing, what we were doing when that hit. I can just tell you, I was getting ready for work. I was a detective. I actually had the television on, and I saw it. And I thought, wow, immediately we're under attack. And it was shortly after that, actually, A longtime friend of mine, he had worked for the NTSB. He was air traffic controller. He was since retired and called me and said, listen, whoever was in that plane, it was not a pilot that would ever intentiona

I'm sorry, I'm having a hearing challenge. I'm working on it. What'd you say? What part were you anxious to hear?

About the numbers were to include the public safety levy where we over-promised and under-delivered. We didn't ask for enough. You've talked about some other numbers that you have. NOT CHARGING THE CONTRACT CITY'S APPROPRIATE NUMBERS. SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS PERHAPS JUST BRING SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FORWARD SO I THINK WE CAN KIND OF COME TOGETHER. YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT I THOUGHT, WELL, HEY, LET'S TRY AND FIGURE THIS OUT, RIGHT? SO IF YOU CAN BRING THAT FORWARD TO THE BOARD THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN KIND OF IDENTIFY WHAT MAYBE WE'RE M

Yeah, well, I'm happy to, and it'd be actually even better maybe to even have a small work session and bring Patrick from CCSO Finance and bring whoever might want to be, whether it's Cindy Becker or others from County Finance or who help with that. We did discussions at the work group. There was consensus on that, understanding. So it was no disagreement on the staff side of this. Math is math. I love math. And dollars are math. So it all reconciles. And I think the... In hindsight, maybe if that work group was public and everyone could have participated, then yourself and others and Sheriff

Likewise. So that's why I think if you can bring that forward, it'll help us, right? So look forward to seeing that. I think we can move ahead. And I think that it's be a great opportunity. So sounds like Gary will help work on bringing that information forward. And it's been a long day. And with that, I'll go ahead and adjourn this group. And thank you and have a great rest of your day.