Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to Administrative Issues and Updates on August 4th, 2026. County Administrator Gary Schmitt, would you please call the roll?

Thank you, Gary. Before we begin, I want to remind my colleagues we have a land use hearing that must begin at 11, so we'll return to finish the issue agenda after the hearing if necessary. Gary, you want to introduce the first agenda item for us?

Thank you, Evelyn colleagues any questions as I look to the left and right I All right. Doesn't look like there's any questions. There's no motions necessary since this is already on the agenda of our business meeting this Thursday, August 6th, for our final approval. Gary, do you have anything else to add?

All right. One of the questions I had, I think that a lot of employees would also be curious about is their primary care provider. For example, if they were Providence, is the likelihood, as I understand what you just explained, the likelihood they'll be able to continue with that primary care provider. Is that correct? That is correct. Okay, that was, I think, a lot of issues that employees have concern about. Commissioner West, our nurse over here, had a lot the other day, so go ahead.

is closing its commercial doors for health insurance, probably to help shore up the issues they're having with the expenses around their hospital system. I know they're separate entities, but I think they're having to consolidate. It's a little alarming. It's a massive disruption for this county, but the third largest insurer in the state means there's probably hundreds of thousands of people that were reliant on this service. That's more of a regional entity than a national entity. I don't know if they, I don't know, I mean, I don't know their business plan or what restructuring they tried to

We're not we're ending a relationship at OHSU with one of these is it regions are united Regents, right so that has been a massive disruption also within the healthcare system that we're all acutely aware of where I when I'm not sitting at the styus Which is a major I mean the health care provider really in in Oregon that most prominent one so and so that to me that gives me pause too with regions just so you guys know that that's a major fracture also happening is with regions um uh okay i think that answers my question um I know we've had some internal labor issues that are having some red f

Does that audit carry forward to the new, or do we have to go through the whole audit again? No, that is transferable in our knowledge of what we learned from that.

You're getting more accurate numbers based on that audit because you really cleaned up whatever our rules were. Yes. Okay. Yeah, I'm just concerned. I think, like, we only have three choices. That's crazy to me. Like, we're, I mean, we're a guaranteed great client or customer, right? Like, I mean, you would think that insurance companies, if they could, would be vying for our business. This is a huge delta between Aetna and Regent. It's massive. Um, and Regents already has some issues showing. I think that's, we can see that with their own eyes, with their relationship with OHSU. That's, that'

Thank you for the presentation and I again I don't in view you having to go shop this it's it's been I'm sure it's been a real challenge Heather you mentioned in 2028 they're going to do something like re-look at the Providence providers? And so what does that mean then? They're going to, we're going to renegotiate whether they'll still let us use Providence providers?

Yeah, I got a few things to say and a couple comments, so I'll start with whether it was the two previous items with the labor contracts, which I do want to say we've, understanding the finances with the county, we held a line on those, so... in kind. We have control over that, but it's not in kind here where we don't have control over the market on health insurance, right? So we have limited choices here. So that's the part that is a little troubling in a way. And I think almost everything out there, any commodity out there, is going up in price. But before I get too far off on the money, I j

Okay, so going forward as they're reviewing this and we're negotiating with that, now those are parallel processes where there's communication?

Thank you. That's what I was after. Okay. Yeah, so we'll be monitoring all that up. So thank you so I this is more of a financial question and maybe I'm looking to Gary on this and that is knowing what inflation is out there we have no control over, and then also the COLAs, which are based on inflation to some degree, and then our tax base, and knowing that delta, right? Our tax base increases three-ish, four-ish percent, less than four, I believe. And knowing that our employee costs are one of the highest costs on the county across the board, all departments for the most part. Do you know wha

Right. And then thank you for that. Ideally I guess my comment. I'll just no response needed on this one But ideally we get those all those different rates as aligned as possible, right? So we know we're not going underwater even though I think with those some of those baked in numbers with is underwater So you have to be really really careful, but as far as the choices here going forward with those numbers that you just shared with me, what are we, do you have a rough idea what the increase of the out-of-pocket per employee will be as we walk through this? I mean, I'm sure that's a factor, ri

Okay. Well, I guess the good thing here is that the committee will be opining on that, and they'll be aware, and hopefully they get the word out to their membership what's at stake. All right. Well, thank you. That's all I have, sir.

Can I ask another one? Can I piggyback on that because you got to that question? Yeah, go ahead. So when you see plan design changes, that means reduction of access to care. Or you're going to have more out-of-pocket expenses for that access to care. Am I right?

So you're scrolling all over my friend. Slow down, Andrew. So right now, the 5%, if they were to reduce, to get to match that, they would have to... increase out-of-pocket expenses somewhere else within the plan. That's increasing deductibles, that's saying we're only paying 50% of out-of-network labs or something like that, correct? Okay. And all these plans have that. This is the one with the least disruption towards that. So you're making really tough decisions about this is really hard decisions because this will impact somebody in our community here at Clackamas County about how their hea

And that's the one we're currently using, correct?

No, I have a short memory. I can remember yesterday when we were in contract negotiations and there was a temporary similar monetary value increase and our hearing rooms were full. They were full and it was temporary until we got to a negotiation. I see you looking at me. I want to be sensitive to that, but I want to be sensitive also to how we're communicating this ethically and in a way that's transparent, in a way that the people who work there that are going to have these increases have an ability to prepare. I know we're working with these boards. You've been meeting with these different

Okay, last question, I promise. We talked about that 8% to 10% that we kind of put in a buffer. Sometimes we need it, sometimes we don't. Do we have the ability to help a glide path to gradually, like, if we have to have increases, is there an ability? Do we have that set aside? Do we have a contingency with those monies that we collect, that 8% to 10% that we were just talking about or something like that? Is there a glide path possibility for these changes? Just because it's still an abrupt change. We've had that interest for 20 years, just being cognizant of, like, where people are at.

Yeah, like even for a year, we're just kind of gliding into it, or do we have some wiggle room because we haven't had maybe the increase? Maybe we have had them, and which direction has that gone? Do we have any ability to kind of soften the blow?

All right. Not seeing anything. There's no motion needed today. This is set up for our business meeting this Thursday and for our final approval. So if there's no more questions, we'll go ahead and move on. And I want to thank you all for coming today and all your hard work. Thank you.

Thank you. Colleagues, is there a motion?

Can I just ask? Okay, I'd second on that. But you'd said, Andrew, you said there's seven, but the packet says eight. We're recommending eight for appointment?

Well, that's right. Thank you for the clarification. I just wasn't sure if we were missing a name.

All right. So as we have it now, Commissioner Salvas has moved to appoint Michelle Savanich, Bishop Dixon, Tanya Kindertruck. Georgia Ullman, Lindsay Ost, Sunny Olsen, and Shi-Rou Shi-Yang to the Public Health Advisory Council. It's been seconded by Commissioner Helm. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, clerk, will you please call the poll?

Chair, I move to appoint Michelle Barrera to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council.

Commissioner Savas has moved to appoint Michelle Barrera to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. Commissioner Helm has seconded that. Any further discussion? Seeing none, clerk, will you please call the poll?

Thank you, Gary. And just for colleagues and anyone who's listening, a few weeks ago I brought up data centers and the fact that we have not talked about them at all. And in light of what happened with our neighbors to the west out in Washington County, I thought it best we talk about it. We have gotten a lot of constituent engagement on this. I've gotten calls, I've had a couple of really good phone calls with people, interestingly, who have been in the AI and data center businesses, Highly recommend we don't allow them in Clackamas County. So I want at this point, just so that we know, we're

Yeah, well, I appreciate Commissioner Hellen bringing that forward. I just want to build on that. And I know that, was it next week, Gary, we have this topic coming back to us?

Well, I guess I would, I think the word moratorium is a technical word that can be misunderstood. So not that it's bad or good, but... I would like our staff to be prepared to say what are the ramifications of a pause versus a moratorium? What' s the most appropriate mechanism? As I stated back when we first Maybe I didn't use these words. I can't remember exactly, but I know what I was thinking is that I'm more anxious to do something rather than do nothing. At the time, the state was only looking at the aspect of whether or not to give tax benefits or not. Now I'm hearing that there's potent

Commissioner West. Thank you, Chair. Yeah, I have so much to learn, and this is going to far outlast my tenure here on the board. I think maybe giving Clackamas County a timeout so that they can pause, study, review, get their handle around something new and large. Land use laws are already complicated here. It's a massive piece of technology infrastructure. Those facilities do consume critical local resources. To what extent and how that can be mitigated or adapted to, I honestly have no idea. And so... Showing that restraint to also work with the state and be partners with the state on like

Yeah, we have a policy session coming up on that. So, yeah, I support that. I think thanks for bringing up, and thanks for kind of spearheading this and helping us be more aware of it, Commissioner Helm. I know it's been on your radar, and you've been doing good work with this, so thank you.

I just a suggestion I perhaps wait till next week and make sure we have all the information before us nobody's applied unless you saw the urgency for it.

I think if we're stating some of these newer concerns and ideas, stating that now so staff can come back next week and touch it, I don't think there's an urgency to do it today. But I think the benefit of today is that here's what we're thinking. Make sure you address those. Is that fair, Commissioner?

That's fair, and I agree. There is no urgency, but there is an urgency. Not today, but knowing I just want people to know we are addressing this and that we are going to come back and make a decision next week on it. Okay.

The Hillsboro pause example is one I'm looking at, too, by the way.

Thank you Thank you for that update. That was important

If you guys wouldn't mind, how about we just do this kind of one important update. We'll take a short break and come right back here at 11.

If you're in one of those areas, that oftentimes includes your medication or other important things you might want to take with you. Would just encourage folks to just be prepared there's not intent to alarm everyone, but preparedness is Helps if you do get notified so once again Thank you for the update Gary, and we'll keep you informed as we kind of move ahead so with that being said we'll take a very short four-minute, 45-second break, and we'll be right back here. So with that, we'll be adjourned. All right, welcome back again, everyone, to Administrator Issues and Updates for August 4th,

Here. And I'll turn it back over to you again, Gary.

All right. So that was... So we're going to go to Mr. Savas on Commissioner Communication.

Yeah, well, I'll just start with last night. We've been working for about... County staff assisting ODOT with and also Multnomah County, Hood River County and Washington County assisting ODOT staff in preparing the Region 1 Act materials because of the layoffs and the exodus and the financial situation that ODOT is experiencing they are having staffing issues which has been affecting us for over a year now and they're multiplying, it's just getting tougher and so our meetings have been struggling because they haven't been properly prepared and are adequately prepared as well as adequately staf

Well since we were last here, a lot has happened in the county. We did the groundbreaking for the recovery campus, Clackamas County Recovery Campus. Governor Kotick was there. All of us were there at the event. Senate President Rob Wagner was there. Many of our delegations, members of Congress, fellow commissioners from neighboring counties, staff, friends, family. It was a really great event. That project is a county project. It is the crown jewel of what we've been working on. I'm building on a recovery-oriented system of care, the whole care continuum. And it took some funding to get Breda

I don't have a lot. I will say the Recovery Center groundbreaking was a very touching moment, and I know it's been long awaited by you, and kudos to you, Commissioner, for being the dog with the bone with that. You know, when I came into this last year, and I thought it was so strange that there was a policy to build this thing, and we didn't have the money, but dang it, we found the money. We didn't quit. You and Commissioner Salvas cornered the governor at the stadium. Literally. literally cornered her at the Stabilization Center, and we're able to get an additional 10 million. So it's very

Okay, just a couple quick comments. Today's Recognize National Night Out, an annual event that reminds public safety and the importance that having law enforcement know their local neighbors is a tremendous enhancement to recognize who's in your community. So there's a number of events around the county, and some of them might be canceled.

Double check. Some of them are getting canceled because of the air quality, so...

So you might check on that. But I also think it's a great time to thank not just our law enforcement folks, but the firefighters that do their job and paramedics and those on first responders to take the time to thank those. Commissioner Hill and I were out at Mount Angel Fire Department. They had a meeting with... joint meeting with the Monitor Fire Department, and I'm always just blown away about the number of volunteers they have out there. Well, these folks have farms and businesses, and the sound goes off, they drop everything, and they respond. And so, anyway, a big thanks go out to thos

Thank you. I was following that farm stand legislation pretty closely. Thank you for that update. Now, it's my understanding that there's something called a farm impacts test. Can you explain that, and does that apply here? Because you said weddings, and I was like, wait a second. Like, maybe I'm thinking around my neighborhood even. Maybe, like, a corn maze in the fall. But that's different than a wedding venue, and that is clearly agro-tourism, and a wedding isn't necessarily its venue. So, like, what is that farm impacts in that surrounding area? How is that balanced?

So I know a lot of these were operating in my neck of the woods of the county and it was complaint driven and then they would you know, have to stop, but there was quite a few of them. So currently farm stands, there's no permitting process, right?

Okay, so does a farm stand include when I drive down the street and they're selling their eggs and you put the honor system, like is that a stand or you drive by seasonally and you grab some cherries? Can you define a stand?

Okay. Um, next thing you talked about was the shed, the famous shed issue. Um, that area doesn't feel very rural to me at all. That property is not at all. It's like, it's like suburban total neighborhood. It's not even, it's already feels urban.

It might be technically in Oregon city or right on the edge of Oregon city. It's very suburban neighborhood. It's like a big, it's a really big lot. Um, and, uh, like a subdivision is, yeah, it's a really, it's a really well constructed, beautiful structure. Um, and,

Okay. So I've seen the shed, I've been on the property. what they want to do and we know the story. I'm going to advocate that we do come back and figure out what would be appropriate. As you showed us, what could be an option and then consider that. The property actually does remind me a little bit of properties you might see in Oak Grove. And then right across the street are newer suburban homes. And then this is an older home in the area now that they built up around it. And I don't know, it might be, it's not even an acre. I don't think the property. I don't think so. Yeah, I think it's li

Yeah, I just wanted to make a comment, too, that when the farm store bill was being passed, the question or the, I would say the ask from the proponents to pass it was at least get something on the books. There was nothing on the books. and that we could tweak it later if need be, kind of like we're doing with STRs. We're giving them six months or a year to find out what needs to be adjusted once it's been in effect for a while. So they knew it was not perfect going in, but at least it was something. They had a guidebook, and that's exactly what they got. And then, Jennifer, as far as the poli

Right. And, and in addition to that, so we could also cap like, so for noise management, yeah, they can't have a concert every weekend, right? Because that's going to Annoy all the neighbors, but maybe a cap on like four per year or something. Or if they want to have more than that or something, then there is because we do give noise variances out to when people are having an event. But I would say maybe a cap on it or something just so that people kind of are aware. yeah, you can do it, but here's a few rules to go with it.

That fall is a super busy season for harvest. We're talking like pumpkin patches and corn mazes potentially. It's a lot.

Yeah, it gets crazy, right? And they love it. They love it. I know. But that's traffic. That's noise. That's access to aggressive parking. It's hours of events or operation. It's sanitation. It's all those things, right? Yeah.

A few questions. Believe it or not, I know we never talk about parking, but we'll talk about parking. So I'm looking at number one, for example, and I guess I wish there was a column that had the consequences of some of these changes that are, again, top-down to us, not that we created. But before I go there, I really want to talk about what triggers a traffic study?

Okay. Um, So 20 trips or whatever per hour, is that what you said?

So if it's a subdivision, it's just really a question, is it enough, right? And so is parking part of that traffic study? I mean, it's got to relate to it, right? I mean, in a way, if you think about it, if there is no parking, then is there not really trips?

At least locally in this region Transit is contracting contrary to the big picture of the big design and I see the way it seems to be playing out. I do not see a financial path to Get us even anywhere close to what that vision is for you know, a transit everywhere. As a matter of fact, I don't even see how we get back to where we were, which was woefully insufficient in the first place. So I'm sitting here thinking, I really don't want to do this. I'm looking at number one particularly. I really don't want to do this without having a responsible parking plan, but yet I know we all can't do any

Yeah, well, yeah, that Maple Lane area, but that street going out there is Flores. Beaver Creek? Beaver Creek Road, thank you. Beaver Creek? Yeah. I wanted to say 212, but I knew it wasn't 212. I think I'm tracking with you.

I think I'm tracking with what you're talking about.

Well, yeah, so just down the street, yeah, you got the Maple Lane one. I mean, a lot of complaints there, a lot of complaints down over there behind, off the freeway, behind the Oregon City Shopping Center where that new development went in with more complaints there as well. And it's a sea of cars, especially on the weekends. It's literally a sea of cars. And... We've got other neighbors that are complaining that nearby they're living in either an old subdivision or nearby that they're absorbing the parking consequences of that, which is, you know, fights and disputes about, hey, you're block

Okay. Now, is that statewide or is that more local?

Okay. So is a jurisdiction like Clackamas County can just waive that entirely? Like some jurisdictions do?

Thank you Anything else? I mean, I just totally agree with Commissioner Savas. Do we have to adopt those amendments?

The only way to protest is to change the law.

All right. Well, is there a motion on the amendments?

I move to direct staff to draft amendments consistent with attachment A and initiate the amendment process.

I'll second for the purpose of discussion. I have a question.

Okay, Commissioner Hillman has moved to direct staff to draft amendments consistent with the Attachment A and initiate the amendment process. Commissioner West has seconded and further discussion starting with Mr. West.

Clarification on the motion. Does that include us coming back on ordinance changes for the issue that prompted that with like the shed in Oregon City and the other items in which we wanted to have more detail or nuanced or... Just a. Regarding setbacks. Yeah, regarding setbacks, but you know, just making it more tailored.

Yeah, more tailored to those specific needs that we have concerns about. If that motion includes that.

November 9th, right? Do you need an amendment to the motion?

Okay, so can I make a friendly amendment to your motion? I'd like to make a friendly amendment to the motion to bring back a policy session in the next, do you want a time frame? Do I need a time frame, Gary?

Before it goes to the Planning Commission to bring tailored options back on dealing with shed setbacks. And there was another issue on here that I think that was kind of a choose your own adventure.

The farm store one, too. Standards, I'd say. Yeah, farm for standards. I guess I can't second my own amendment.

I'll ping pong back. You can't second your own amendment. Can I second? I can? Okay. Well, Helm did, so we're okay.

All right. I'll take my best. Go ahead. Were you drafting or should I take a best stab at it? I can. No. Sorry. Go ahead, please, Chair. Okay. So I'll just repeat the whole thing, make sure I get this straight, hopefully. Commissioner Helm has moved to a direct staff to draft amendments consistent with attachment to initiate the amendment process. Commissioner West has seconded it with an amendment indicating to bring back policy session before going to the policy session on the farm store and setbacks. For sheds. For sheds. Yeah. Is that close? Yes. Yeah. All right. Did you get it? We got it.

Didn't we or can't we write a letter about the parking issue that we keep talking about? I know I've been talking to our state legislators about it and about addressing this in the long session because, like you said, what had been mandated to us is not working in reality and it needs to be addressed at some point. So I kind of thought we had... talked about sending a letter to our state reps or something.

I thought we did for this piece of legislation when they were considering it. I think we're on the record with the concerns. I might be wrong, but Trent's not here, but... Yeah, I think we did.

I thought we did too. But anyway, yeah, it's an ongoing issue.

You were part of that, Commissioner Savas, right? I remember, but I don't think we drafted a letter per se. I remember having the conversation. I remember trying to lobby for that, but I don't recall a letter unless Martha.

Okay. Okay. I remember something. like a little more formal, so.

Okay. Commissioner Sebbins, do you have anything else?

Well, I just have my light on. I just, I mean, it's not, I don't think it's applicable today. Maybe I will abstain from this, but I just want to forewarn you all, if this comes back in a package, just be prepared because of, I'm so passionate about number one, I'm inclined to just dig in and vote no. I don't want to vote no on everything. There's some good stuff in here, right? So I'm just giving everyone advance notice that when it actually comes to us for approval after it goes through all the processes, I don't want to have to vote no and reject all the good stuff that's in there when there

I'll leave it there. So with that said, because I also feel like it's in state statute and then it's just a kind of a reality nightmare for planning staff to not be incongruent. However, if we were to separate If this motion was to fail and we were to make a different motion, do you have a different idea, or should we just move forward with this one? Do you want to have something where this separates out, where you can protest publicly on this one issue? There's other really good stuff in here I'm sure you'd like to be on board with, like farm stands. And farms, you care about that. So I don't

Yeah, there's more in here that I like than there is I dislike, right? So I don't think it's today that we need to make that exception. So I don't want to belabor this anymore. I just want to give you all a heads up that come in processes going forward. I'll abstain today for simplicity's sake. Okay. You know if I just I just don't want to have this package together in a way. I need to vote no on it, okay?

Absolutely. Now recesses. Board of County Commissioners, convene as the Housing Authority of Clackamas County.

Did I hear that right, that the way it's crafted to bring back one name, not choices?

Yeah, it just seems from a process standpoint that having, I wouldn't want to have a name maybe that maybe we weren't, you know, enamored by to, you know, belabor the process and have to go through another process, right? So it just seems that that's not necessarily a, I don't know, I struggle with that one. That's just me, one of the people up here on the dais. I do have a, put that aside for a moment. I brought a couple issues to Gary, but that hillside project, that's a HACC project, correct? That's ours, that's Housing Authority project?

We cut the ribbon on here earlier this year.

In May. Correct. I believe it was May. Okay. No.

Okay, so we own the land underneath it. Just real rough, what's the percentage of funds from all the jurisdictions that braided all that funding together? Well, the ones that are forward toward the street that we cut the ribbon on in May.

I'll just say this. I'll just keep it short, and I'll just yield back here in a moment, and that is that it seemed that at that ribbon-cutting in May and also the groundbreaking here a week or so ago, it feels as though that... Maybe we were just not, had nothing to do with this. It just felt as though we were, and I would say probably our staff, but it just felt as though it was not our process. So I was a little bit put out by both processes, by the way, frankly. The ribbon cutting and the groundbreaking. I just thought that we were an important partner, but it didn't feel like it.

Seriously, and yeah, so as it relates to the naming policy. I'm just concerned that you know You know are we a partner or not?

I am so excited about Bridge Meadows coming to Clackamas County, but that is not what we're here to talk about today. But I am super jazzed. They are so awesome. They do great work. Sorry, I got distracted. So I think you mentioned something. Just clarify. So I think of public names, naming public buildings, and I often think of them being named after somebody. I mean, most schools are named after somebody. But these are housing authorities. So is there something unique to a housing authority that individuals or historical names aren't used where on many public buildings on every sector of gov

Okay, can I have a follow-up? I want to make sure I heard it. Sure. Historically, if it was named, I'll use Ida B. Wills because it's a school, but I could hear something like, I live at Ida B. Wills, but that doesn't sound as mainstreamed or as... as mainstreamed as somebody who says, I live at, you know, something that's named after, sorry, I'm losing my words, that's named after some type of, like, landmark, right? Because most private sector entities are named in that capacity when you're making it overly obvious that this could be public housing by saying a name, and then that can bring s

I agree. I thank you for clarifying that. Yeah. Sorry, I was tired. I'm getting tired. Spit it out. That's right.

I have one more question if I could. Is there a reason why you would not bring us three names to choose from rather than just one?

Well, and only, yeah, only because like even with the recovery campus was three or four very similar names. And it was just, it was just a matter of the words. And even if they are similar, it like kind of helped. I like menus, choices, you know, where you can go, oh, that's an option. But then, you know, if you don't see the other ones, you're, you're not sure what, what might've been out there that, and for reasonings of, of like just a simple word choice here and there. one word in front of the other or something. Yeah, I prefer choices.

Mr. Salas. Yeah, well, I would advocate for changing that to, you know, more than one at least, you know, maybe at least three. I don't recall a time, I'm sure it happened somewhere where people struggle to name something and there's only one name submitted. Typically, it's too many names and you're trying to narrow it, right? Exactly. And just for the record, I think having some relationship to the community is important. I do have heartburn when a person is recognized or names on the building. That's not... That's not usually my preference at all. I think it needs to be more community and br

Chair, I move that we approve the Housing Authority naming policy as presented with the change to bring a minimum of three names forward in the naming process.

Commissioner West has moved to approve the Housing Authority naming policy as presented with an amendment of bringing three names forward. Commissioner Helm has seconded that. Any further discussion? Clerk, will you please call the poll?

All right, I'll now adjourn as the Housing Authority of Clackamas County Board and reconvene as the Board of County Commissioners. Gary, anything else before we wrap it up? That is all for today. All right, with that being said, we're adjourned. Thank you.