Washington County

The meeting focused on the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget, emphasizing themes of stabilization and sustainability while continuing affordable housing development. Key agenda items included the review and unanimous approval of the consent agenda, which covered minutes, updates to the Housing Choice Voucher Program, updates to the Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan, and acceptance of the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Housing Authority financial report. Discussion of the operating budget highlighted plans for expanding housing opportunities, preventing homelessness, preserving affordability through asset management and acquisitions, and advancing equity. The budget presentation detailed significant undertakings, such as the planned sale of 60 Public Housing units (Section 8 disposition) due to management difficulties and the strategic repositioning of the portfolio to diversify income streams and address a projected $1.6 million deficit. Financial data reviewed included total operating revenues projected at $61.8 million and expenditures at $60.9 million (excluding standard charges). Furthermore, the board reviewed progress on regional affordable housing bonds, noting they are exceeding goals for new affordable homes. Staffing adjustments included rightsizing and reducing five full-time positions, with further alignment planned for the FY 2025-2026 budget cycle. The Housing Choice Voucher program funding was noted as not keeping pace with current market rent rates.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a public communication period where residents addressed concerns regarding Project Homeless Connect, specifically citing issues of continuous yelling, trash, human waste in parking lots, and requesting relocation to a less congested area. Concerns were also raised regarding property damage associated with individuals near a business and the need for enforcement in the Good Neighbor Agreement. The board reviewed and unanimously approved the consent agenda, which comprised 21 items across various departments, including Clean Water Services, facilities, housing services, and land use. Appointments were made to the Garbage and Recycling Advisory Committee. A joint quarterly update was presented regarding the Metro Affordable Housing Bond and the Supportive Housing Services Program, highlighting the opening of nearly 200 new affordable homes and exceeding mandated unit metrics. Additionally, the grand opening of the Just Compassion Resource Center and groundbreaking for the first year-round permanent shelter in Hillsboro were noted. Discussions also covered potential new funding tranches for affordable housing development and administrative costs.

The meeting segment involved the proclamation of March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. A significant portion of the discussion included a personal narrative from Ahmed al-Zubedi regarding his family's experience navigating developmental disabilities services, specifically highlighting the positive impact of receiving support from an Arabic-speaking case worker, which removed language barriers for his non-native English-speaking mother. Key discussion points emphasized the theme "Nothing About Us Without Us," stressing the need for accessible and culturally responsible services, and the ongoing reliance on state and federal funding to support these essential community services.

The meeting included public comment procedures, followed by a program update from Katie Gentry. Key discussion points involved the status of the RFPQ which opened a month prior and is due April 6th, affecting agencies wishing to contract with Washington or Clackamas counties for the next five years. Another forthcoming RFP for case management services for a site-based project in Forest Grove, focusing on behavioral health providers, was noted for a mid-March release. Updates were provided on community engagement efforts for two projects: the central county safe rest village opening in late spring/early summer and the Cornell Road recovery project opening in October, both involving a good neighbor process. Contract renewals for Washington County providers, scheduled to be sent out in early May for a July 1st start, were also discussed, including new performance metrics developed from a recent supervisor workshop. A significant portion of the meeting involved a detailed presentation on regional health housing alignment work, focusing heavily on improving coordination for hospital discharge and medical access for people experiencing homelessness, involving Metro, counties, and HealthShare.

The meeting commenced with roll call and an overview of the agenda, which included presentations on the Service District for Lighting number one (SDL) budget and deliberations on county budget amendments. Key discussion points for the SDL budget presentation included details on assessment areas, cost sharing, the current number of active assessment areas and street lights, and anticipated utility cost increases of approximately 10%. Committee members reviewed expenditure breakdowns, noting utility charges as the largest component, and discussed the status of the LED conversion project. Public comment included questions regarding the projected utility cost increase disparity (10% versus 5% cited in one document) and concerns over light pollution from LED lights, leading to a question about mandating light shields. The committee subsequently approved the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget for SDL in the specified amount. Discussions then moved to Washington County budget amendments, focusing on an amendment proposed to retain funding for eight full-time equivalent employees (FTEEs) in the District Attorney prosecution unit within the general fund, arguing that prosecution of serious crimes is an essential core service. The implications of funding these positions via temporary strategies, such as the Public Safety Local Option Levy (PSLA) or one-time SIP funds, regarding staff retention were highlighted.