Naomi Hunsaker

The committee reviewed and approved several agenda items, including amendments to the Transportation Development Tax project list and expenditure requests for Washington County and the City of Cornelius. The committee also authorized the MSTIP large project match fund expenditure for the 170th Avenue project, as well as opportunity fund expenditures and letters of support for grant applications from the City of Tigard and Washington County. Finally, an update was provided on the Tualatin Valley Highway Transit and Safety Project.

The committee reviewed the budget for the housing, health, and human services portfolio, focusing on significant changes in functional area budgets. Key topics included the financial impact of contracted services for recovery centers, the reduction in staffing for certain housing rehabilitation programs, and the strategic approach to budgeting conservatively for metro supportive housing services. The committee also discussed the ongoing management of federal HUD funding, the transition from building homeless services to ensuring sustainability, and the distribution of metro supportive housing tax allocations among counties.

The meeting included a director's report highlighting updates on development forums, beta testing of online building permit application processes, and ongoing permitting software improvements. Key discussions focused on the Community Development Code (CDC) assessment project, including feedback from online and in-person open houses which emphasized the importance of neighborhood meeting requirements and higher density housing affordability. County staff provided updates on ordinances concerning Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), significant natural resource regulations, and community involvement programs. The commission also engaged in a work session regarding the CDC assessment project, outlining a framework for future code amendments and prioritizing them into specific packages.

The board conducted a work session focusing on the medical examiner facilities feasibility study. Key discussion topics included the county's responsibilities under state law for death investigations and facility requirements, the lack of dedicated county facilities for forensic services, the current reliance on external partners for cold storage and examinations, and the anticipated operational challenges due to the upcoming closure of the private transport company utilized for deceased individuals.

The town hall meeting focused on the proposed fiscal year budget, highlighting the county's structural gap between general fund revenues and expenditures due to the state's property tax system. Key topics included the importance of board principles and priorities in shaping budget decisions, an overview of diverse county services, and the impact of mandated responsibilities. The discussion addressed significant ongoing cost pressures, such as labor agreements, public safety investments, and facility maintenance. Strategies for long-term fiscal sustainability were discussed, including a reliance on local option levies and potential adjustments to other revenue sources.