Board of County Commissioners

Coordinating Committee Agenda

CLACKAMAS COUNTY COORDINATING COMMITTEE (C-4)

THURSDAY – NOVEMBER 1, 2007
6:45 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

SUNNYBROOK SERVICE CENTER
9101 SE SUNNYBROOK BLVD.
MAIN FLOOR AUDITORIUM
CLACKAMAS, OR.  97015

“Draft” Meeting Minutes

Attendees:  Martha Schrader – Clackamas County, Carlotta Collette – Milwaukie, Dick Jones – OLWD,  Linda Malone - Sandy, Doug Neeley – Oregon City, Jay Harris – Tualatin, Donna Jordan – Lake Oswego, Randy Shannon – Damascus, Deb Leighton – Molalla, Barb Ledbury – Damascus, Jim Wright – Damascus, Scott Burgess – West Linn, Doris Grolbert – Clackamas County, Rob Wheeler – Happy Valley, Kim Anderson – Sunrise Water Authority, Thelma Haggenmiller – Citizen, John Atkins – Molalla, Paul Savas – OLSD, Jody Carson – West Linn, Bob Austin – Estacada, Doug McClain – Clackamas County, Hal Busch – Gladstone, Steve Wheeler – Clackamas County, Gary Barth – Clackamas County, Dan Zinzer – Clackamas County, Nancy Newton – Clackamas County 

During introductions each attendee spoke briefly about general items from their jurisdictions.

Minutes of the October 4, 2007 meeting were adopted unanimously.

Doug McClain, Department of Transportation and Development – Clackamas County, provided handouts and ongoing information about Rural/Urban Reserves.  After a brief review of what was discussed at the October 4th C4, he provided updated information:

• Rural and Urban Reserves
• LCDC rule-making committee timelines with meeting and hearing dates and final rule adoption expected at the January 24th LCDC hearing.
• Little has been added to the rule that is different from SB 1011
• Requires Metro and counties to agree on designations, requires simultaneous adoption and one set of legal findings
• Requires a public involvement program
• Some Factors for Rural Reserves
• Area threatened by urbanization
• Capable of sustaining long term ag or forest operations
• Suitable soils
• Water to sustain long-term ag operations
• Provides separation between cities
• Landscape features that limit urban development (i.e., rivers that are a natural boundary to urbanization)
• Some Factors for Urban Reserves
• Can be developed at urban densities making efficient use of infrastructure
• Can be developed  supporting a healthy economy
• Can be efficiently served
• Can be designed to be walkable with well-connected streets, bikeways and trails
• Can be developed enhancing natural systems
• Can provide enough land for a range of needed housing
• Martha stated she wants ongoing conversation with the C4 members that will provide the information needed for negotiations at the table.  She said that the county has provided funds for staff to work with the cities technical groups in order to gain the needed input and information.  Doug advised that he’s had conversations with most jurisdictions and that policy discussions are happening now.
• The first big step is a clear public involvement program.  In thinking about how C4 reaches decisions begin to thin of innovative, successful ways to involve the public.  Doug would like to have input from the members.
• Doug explained that the designation of “rural reserve” does not impose additional or new rules of zoning on a piece of land.  It merely clarifies that for the next 40-50 years of the agreement the land cannot be included in an urban reserve.
• Some issues are:
• Balancing.  For example, the many nurseries in Clackamas County and not all are on the most excellent soil, but they still represent a thriving ag business.
• Where are the lines to be drawn?  Is there a need for a tie breaker?  Looking at maps and overlaps that will certainly exist and how to resolve those conflict areas.
• The public involvement process.
• Questions asked of Doug:
• How far will Metro reach out?  One version shows a possible five miles outside of the existing Urban Growth Boundary, but no definite answer can be given.
• Will Urban, but not developed be discussed?  Yes.  Imbedded in urban areas will be areas that may have some rural or landscape characteristics.
• Is the expectation of the law that expansion will take place only in Urban Reserves.  Yes.  Expansion to Rural would only occur if it could not be supported in the urban area.
• Can the Urban boundary be adjusted?  It is unlikely that adjustments would happen for a fairly long time (i.e., 15 to 20 years.)
• Bob Austin offered to provide Doug with PGE information to aid in Public Involvement.  Additionally, Carlotta Collette will provide information from the City of Milwaukie.
• Doug advised the group that the focus of public involvement (i.e., for Hamlets, Villages, CPO’s) is to gain Community buy in and support of the process.
• There were comments about the number of critical water areas in Clackamas County.
• A question was asked about this effort and if Metro will look at the Regional Transportation Plan.  Doug advised that they will update the plan every two to four years and that planning for reserves and the transportation plan can’t legally be reviewed together.

Dan Zinzer and Gary Barth of Business and Community Services provided a presentation on the status of the Library District.  They provided a handout to the group and discussion included:

• Martha explained the history of library levies, funding, and funding trends.  She discussed reductions in funding if the Library District formation fails to pass.
• Dan Zinzer briefly explained the levels of services and that the charts provided explain costs and funding to provide library services at the Oregon Library Association’s Threshold Level at 39 cents per 1,000.
• Dan explained that the distribution formula is simple and fair and everyone will get more dollars than they have today.
• Eventually, the county would be out of the library business and the cities would become the providers of libraries to the citizens.
• A question was asked about whether it is part of the process to determine what cities would be taking the county libraries that are being eliminated.  Dan advised that has been part of the discussion (i.e., Hoodland to Sandy.)
• Dan stated that IGA’s will include dollar amounts and what the capital improvements will be in the libraries and when those improvements will happen.
• A question was asked about how the process works for those cities with existing libraries.  Dan advised the formula is based on assed value and population served.
• A comment:  Public transportation will be a concern in some communities – like Oak Grove.
• A comment:  Urban renewal district in Oregon City – that location is not central to the population that is served in that community.  Doug Neeley commented; is the county willing to dedicate land close to Beavercreek.
• Paul Savas asked how ORS 451 will be governed and Dan advised it would be governed by the county with an advisory committee.  The district would be provided by a city plus the county Library Boards representing a service area.
• Dan advised that the next step is IGA’s.  The question was asked if the service areas would be included in the document and Dan responded that the areas would be included.

The group discussed the Legislative Forum meeting in January and decided on January 10th and the location will be at the Public Services Building in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room.  Cheryl will send out a list of local legislators and will send it to the C4 membership.  The list will be used to determine who (which city) will make the initial invitation to the Legislative Forum.

At the December meeting there will be no Sustainability discussion as Susan Ziolko will not be available.

Cheryl asked all members to send her their Legislative Issues and she will prepare one chart to be used at the Legislative Forum.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.