Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to Administrator Issues and Updates on September 9th, 2026. County Administrator Gary Smote, will you please call the roll for us?

All right. Thanks, Cindy. Go ahead, Commissioner Hill.

How long, Cindy, how long would you expect each, if we were to have monthly meetings, how long would you expect them to last? We're looking at two hours.

I support it. So I think there's a lot we need to know about the budget. And I think getting a little more deeper into it is a benefit to us and to our constituents. So I'm totally on board. Finding two hours in a month shouldn't be that hard, right?

Commissioner yeah, so just to make sure I understand so this gives the opportunity for a department to come to us month or whatever department it is and do what we used to do which was at the Budget Committee meeting present what they're doing what their progress are what their needs are so it would be something like that right this is that opportunity but broken up in the 12 sections

Okay. So there will be an educational element to it, obviously.

Yeah, I think one of the things I'd like to see too is just addressing some of the performance measures at the same times and how those are connected to the budget and kind of so we can see the impact on staff and resources would be beneficial, I think. Absolutely. If there is a motion, I think we're pretty close to move forward on this.

I move to direct staff to develop a schedule and agenda for monthly budget committee meetings from October to April. Second.

All right. Commissioner Helm has moved approved to direct staff to develop a schedule and agenda for the monthly budget committee meetings from October to April. Commissioner Schrader is second to that. Any further comments or questions? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the poll for us?

Thank you. Gary, what do you have next for us?

Thank you, Cindy, so much for your work on that. I think that I'm pretty excited about this. That was one of the hopes that I was to be able to bring together. number of entities to help educate and bring us all together on the same this county's huge and trying to message across the county really having one united voice on this issue to make sure that we're collectively putting out the correct information and then working together to create that message of what we're trying to accomplish and the outcome measures of it too. So just wanted to say thank you. I know early on I reached out to my c

Yeah in a way you know this is somewhat similar to the work group that we kind of put together prior to the budget and the levy and the math and all those things that we discovered during that period of time has been extremely valuable so I would really like to see us really continue on that path and I don't know if the makeup of the makeup you're suggesting for the composition of this group, would it be similar to the, I mean, what similar people would be at the table that were at the work group? It would be basically the commissioners and finance staff. Okay. It wouldn't be anyone else? The

Yeah, well, I'm looking at, so thank you, I'm looking at, just to verbalize it, two commissioners, the sheriff, which we didn't have in the work group at the time, acting sheriff, right? CCSO finance, which we did have in the work group, county finance, which we did. And I think county admin staff yourself. Right. Right. So there's some similarities there. Correct. Right, right. Well, I like the structure. I'm good with it. But I really feel that the errors that were made were more mathematical in the levy. they were the content of the levy so I really think that that's really imperative so I

Well, I was the one that wanted to continue the work group because I thought that we had started something really good. And those were really intense meetings that I learned so much from everyone in the group. I think we all were kind of surprised at what we learned. So I'm happy to be on that. But what I'm questioning here, so I don't see on the external committee anyone, a commissioner, on that. So you don't want a crossover of commissioners on the external committee as well?

Because I would think that you would want someone from here also out advocating so that it's kind of coming from all of us. But I'm fine to continue on to do the internal committee and if needed on an external committee as well, just because I think that I would. having been a mayor, having been in the public, seeing it from that point of view, I think gives me a unique perspective in trying to get our other electeds on board for this. Because this is a communication strategy, not just from us, it's from them as well. So it all has to kind of filter down to the public. So, yeah.

Yeah, I think that... when I kind of look at the two different committees, the last committee was really to help educate and make sure that the union and others were all on the same sheet of music, understanding the budget, and this I really feel is a different focus. The focus really is taking a look at how do we make this successful, and I really believe that EXPERIENCE IN PASSING EVERY PUBLIC SAFETY LEVY THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD. I DID SEE SOME CONCERNS IN THE LAST ONE. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES. It's important to work with

Yeah. As my memory serves me I know the first came on the Commission I forgot exactly what year it was that the levy was up for renewal Chair you were the sheriff at the time and I Was learning and I was learning about e led in the budget and the shortfalls and why e led was not penciling Budget Committee members had brought forward the fact that were underwater meaning we weren't collecting enough money and to meet what was promised in the measure that created ELED and I immediately went to the levy to say are those same mathematical problems exist there as do the levy and the answer was that

And I love the robust conversation as we kind of go back and forth. And I think that I'm always happy to kind of openly discuss kind of the challenges. And let me kind of take you back in time on the Enhanced Law Enforcement District because I'm very familiar with it. You're right, it did not keep pace. But the problem is when you do things that take money out of that taxing district, it impacts it, right? And so that's where I firmly believe you have to live within your means. And if the county makes other decisions to fund other things, There was a consequence out of that. And the consequenc

I DON'T, NOT AT THIS POINT BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING. Let me use on this a little bit longer. Okay. Can I? And then I can maybe have a sit down with you and just see where we are with this, okay?

All right. Well, as we sit here, we haven't really come to a conclusion, I guess, as to Gary.

I think both of you folks have expressed an interest. I'm fine with that. I would be happy to serve on an external committee. because I think that would be a better use of my gifts because so. Commissioner, we can't hear you.

I said I would support my two colleagues being on the internal committee. Yeah, which two? Paul and Diane. Okay. I would be glad to serve on an external committee. if that is a possibility, which is probably a different role.

All right. I'm fine to be on the internal.

Go ahead. Chair, thanks for the history lesson on ELD. I think those are relevant arguments regarding ELED and the tax base and our ability to... what funds we have for general fund. My point specifically about bringing up ELED is the, you know, the disparity in math was a means of discovering the fact that the levy was been off for all this time and every year that delta grew and grew and grew. So I don't know what analogy to use if, you know, if we're I'll just use, top of my head here, if we're going to charge, if you're going to pay $50 for a gallon of paint and you walk home and you're on

Okay. It sounds like that's... Is that what you wanted? That's right, yeah. All right. And I did want to kind of respond to the last thing because I do feel like it's... I really want to make sure that there's accurate information put out there because I do wholeheartedly disagree with you on it. That county finance, the sheriff's office finance, spend hundreds of hours going through the cost model before it goes to the public safety levy. And that what you cannot do is... You pass a public safety levy, here's how much it costs for the deputies to do their job. Partway through, before that lev

Thank you for the presentation and update. When you say that most of the calls are covered by insurance, a small percentage, private pay, do you know that percentage?

I would like to know what that is eventually. Yeah, I'm just curious because I do know that most of it is covered by insurance, but I just wondered... small to some people is not small to others so definitely yep.

Yeah, I appreciate the report and as I'm reading on the KPIs I'm glad to see things are falling in line and falling in compliance that's great. Just to build on Commissioner Helms question that 90% Whatever that number is I am a little bit curious about the impacts. I know we were put in a very tough spot is either signed the contract or lose ambulance services, so it was like It was a very duff and I you know I know that and I apologize to staff that you know I was I Was really struggling with this and I was really trying to figure out a way to negotiate something better right because of thos

Okay, yeah, I just like to know what that number of people are that are impacted by that. I don't need it now, of course, but yeah, thank you.

I am. There's a policy question or two in all of this and appreciate the history. And I was watching some of this work. And again, most significantly since COVID, there's been a very difficult for some of these committees to fill vacant positions or positions, period. And I'm now rethinking, frankly. this thing about how many terms a citizen can hold on a committee. But maybe instead of asking that question, maybe the best way to ask the question is, why would we have a term limit? for advisory committee people? Because I'm seeing where it's not working out so well on a couple committees where

Yeah. you know, I appreciate staff's input on that, and sometimes it's, you know, some of these advisory committees are more about the community than they are about, you know, staff, let's just say. Maybe they're not even staffed at all, for example. I think that we need to revisit that one. Again, on the term limit thing, I can see where, obviously, If the term is, let's say, three years and it's up for the board to reappoint, then the board has an opportunity and so does the incumbent to know that they're up for renewal or not. And I think that's an appropriate check-in, whether that's a two

That's the way we've done it. I don't see any reason to change it.

And I don't recall ever saying we wanted to have term limits for all our ABCs. So I think you characterized it correctly. So yes, define the terms, but not have a term limit.

Well, I'll be up for the board to reappoint.

So let's just say someone can't attend a meeting or whether it's a disruptive or whatnot, the board has that opportunity, whatever that term is, two years or three years, to say, hey, there's someone who really wants this seat or maybe we can make that call. So it's not an automatic, you're on the board, you're on the board forever. It comes up for renewal, so to speak. That's not the exact term I wanted to use, but yeah, you get the message.

I just, I have a question. Can I just ask a quick question? Go ahead, Martha. Thank you, Chair. Are we doing anything with the community planning organizations? Right now, we're just concentrating on the ABCs. Are we doing any... I'm sorry, did you? Go ahead. Go ahead. I didn't hear the whole question. Oh, I said, are we doing any work of this kind with our community? Organization that's kind of like that the unincorporated areas that have those is that just gonna be We're gonna be working on this now and maybe taking a look at those other organizations So right now we're this is just looking at the ABCs.

I move to appoint Lawrence Kruegel and Ashley Doty to the Property Values Appeals Board as recommended. Second.

Commissioner Schroeder has moved to appoint Lawrence Kruegel and Ashley Doty to the Property Values Appeals Board as recommended. Commissioner, I'll second that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, please call the poll.

We have a motion. I move to appoint Allison Linford to the Clackamas Workforce Partnership.

Commissioner Schrader has moved to appoint Alison Linfoot to the Clackamas Workforce Partnership. Commissioner Helm has seconded that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the poll? Commissioner Salvas.

Chair, I just want to just point out an error in the packet. The packet for the matrix of the ABCs for the two are identical. We don't have the matrix specifically for the workforce. I support the action, but every time I click on the workforce matrix, it comes up to have the property values matrix. Okay.

Yeah, thank you, Chair. I just want to say I'm glad to be back. I had a wonderful opportunity to visit grandchildren, which was pretty fabulous. But I've also missed the folks here and all the work. And I think I left little somethings on your desk, I think, from Chris. Yeah so yeah just glad to be back you know back at the back at the table again keeping things going so.

As they say in Greek thank you is a sorry fall so for the for the gift. Yeah, I appreciate the recess to some degree. I did do a lot of county stuff. during that period of time, but certainly we didn't have a lot of meetings like we typically do, but I was able to get a lot done. It was nice to be out at the fair, see things going on there, but life still goes on in August, and there's a lot of good things that are taking place. Oddly enough, just kind of bringing up the speed, there's been transportation meetings that did not take a break, especially on the state side, so been working hard at

Yeah. Um, it was, uh, it was, I would say nice to be away from the office, but I'm really glad to be back in the office. Um, I had a couple of, uh, very busy weekends with friends and family and granddaughter's first birthday party with all the grandbabies and kids and in-laws and it was a great time. I did attend the Beaver Creek National Night Out last week. That was the rescheduled one because the first one on the National Night Out, they were smoked out. And weirdly, the night before this rescheduled one, that was a Monday when all the smoke came in back into the valley here. And they were

Right, I will go ahead and say my comments for tomorrow So this concludes our administrative issues and updates and we'll go ahead and move on you ready Gary. Yes. All right I'll recess as the Board of County Commissioners convene as the Housing Authority of Clackamas County Board of Commissioners Gary Thank You chair and commissioners.

So your earlier statement, I can't remember the exact language you used, but as we phase out of public housing, that was the term, right? Correct. So is this Clackamas Heights property and the buildings, right, the homes, is that going to stay in our ownership? Okay, unlike the hillside, right? Correct. Okay. So we'll have a permanent presence there?

Okay. All right. I was just concerned that if it was going to be phased out and then it would be a stranded investment to put another building on this property at 30 years. So I'm okay with that. And I can see that the hallways are pretty tight. And I think anyone in a wheelchair or whatnot or trying to move around through that hallway would be pretty tight. So, you know, in respect to the... to the residents there? How many residents are going to be there at the village?

It's good to see that project underway. It's been something we've been working on well before I even got here. But you and I had that HOPE grant and a number of other things that ultimately didn't come through. But, yeah, I support it. Thank you.

All right. Well, it looks like we need a motion then.

I move to direct staff to continue to develop architectural plans and bring a final contract back to the board for review and approval. Second.

Commissioner Hall is moved to direct staff to continue to develop architectural plans and bring a final contract back to the board for review and approval. It's been seconded by Commissioner Schroeder. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the poll?

All right, thank you all for joining us this morning. Our next meeting will be our business meeting tomorrow.

Chair, real quick before you gavel down, just because we got a blurb in from the city of Malala for all you friends in Malala that are out there, you have a boil water notice due this morning, so hopefully you've been notified. to boil your water due to a turbidity issue.

FYI. Thanks for the information. All right, we're adjourned.