2025 Accomplishments and 2026 Action Plan

February 18, 2026

Clackamas County Committee for Community Involvement (CCI) 2025 Accomplishments & 2026 Action Plan

Overview of 2025 CCI Accomplishments

In 2025, the CCI accomplished the following initiatives based on the CCI 2025 Action Plan:

1. Planned and invited representatives from all CPOs to an April 15, 2025 virtual Listening Session. Based on feedback from CPOs the previous year, we not only asked CPOs about issues and challenges they were facing in 2025, but also:

   • What was their CPO's main focus for this year?
   • What was working for their CPO with the County?
   • What else could the County do to make CPOs feel heard?

   Seven CPO representatives spoke at the meeting, and others sent in written comments. The main focus of each CPO varied greatly, as did what was working for them with the county (school safety improvements, and positive relationships with certain county departments were mentioned). However, there were two concerns that more than one CPO shared: the need for county-provided training on CPO matters (which we understand Public & Government Affairs - PGA is currently working on); and the need for improved communication (especially with the Planning Dept. in regard to land use applications). PGA staff at the Listening Session were to provide details of the praises and concerns to the relevant departments.

2. Carried through with plans for an in-person Community Leaders meeting that provided a two-way communication forum between CPO/Hamlet leaders and the Board of County Commissioners. The Community Leaders meeting was held on July 22, 2025. 
   Members of 11 CPOs and two hamlets attended the meeting. Of the 24 attendees, excluding the five commissioners, and county staff, 13 filled out some portion of the evaluation forms, with five completing the entire form and eight partially completing it. The average rating was eight out of ten for content; seven out of ten for format; and ten out of ten for meeting space.
3. Completed work in November 2025 to revise the CPO Handbook in partnership with PGA, and invite public comment to ensure it is a simplified, updated, clear, and more useful tool for CPOs and county staff based on fair and understandable procedures and requirements. 
   We would like to acknowledge the big effort on the part of PGA Director Tonia Holowetzki and her staff to bring all elements of the process and feedback together into an electronic document on the CPO webpage that provides links to information that can easily be read on any device, in a format that allows keeping it up to date as things evolve.
4. Supported ongoing efforts to improve relationships between CPOs and Code Enforcement and work most effectively on behalf of unincorporated communities. Code Enforcement Supervisor Michael Barnes had requested to meet personally with leadership from each CPO starting in 2024. In 2025, we asked CPOs for feedback on those meetings and got collective positive feedback from the CPO Summit. Mr. Barnes also updated us at our June 2025 meeting. He reported that he had met with the majority of CPOs, outlined major issues for CPOs he had learned about, and recent Code Enforcement improvements and collaborations with CPOs because of what he learned. We want to acknowledge and express our appreciation for Mr. Barnes’ proactive approach.
5. Pursued addressing how to protect elements of neighborhood/community livability in the Clackamas County Zoning & Development Ordinance, based on 2024 feedback from CPOs. This topic was the center of at least seven CCI monthly discussions during 2025. After working through several different ideas, including whether having a definition for neighborhood livability in the Zoning & Development Ordinance would help, we invited Planning staff to our November 2025 meeting to discuss the bigger picture of what could be done, with CPOs encouraged to attend. As a result, focus shifted to whether any subjective elements of neighborhood/ community livability could be addressed in the Zoning & Development Ordinance through the objective standards required by state law. We are now working to host a 2026 virtual meeting for Planning staff and CPO representatives to explore the possibilities together.
6. Continued working with PGA on exploring projects that could support active CPOs and encourage greater community involvement in CPOs. This led to PGA’s 2025 Summer CPO Awareness campaign to promote involvement in CPOs, the CPO Notes Quarterly electronic newsletter, and the CPO Quick Notes Monthly electronic bulletin with relevant, timely information to CPOs.
7. Planned 2026 biennial process for CPOs to elect their representative and alternate to C4 (the Clackamas County Coordinating Committee)
8. Reviewed CCI candidate interview questions, interviewed two CCI candidates, and recommended both to the BCC for appointment.

2026 CCI Action Plan

1. Carry out 2026 biennial process for CPOs to elect their representative and alternate to C4 (the Clackamas County Coordinating Committee) (This was accomplished in January 2026.)
2. Establish and carry out a role in launching PGA’s Volunteer Recognition Program
3. Plan a 2026 Community Leaders meeting that provides a two-way communication forum between community leaders and the Board of County Commissioners. Under discussion since August 2025 are possible subject themes, schedules, and formats with different added values for CPOs and BCC members that could enhance other BCC public outreach.
4. Continue holding listening sessions or work sessions with CPOs
   Based on providing even more value to CPOs, the plan for a 2026 listening session has changed to putting together a work session with CPOs and Planning staff on creating objective standards that carry out subjective goals. This is primarily in service of developing some ways to protect elements of neighborhood/community livability in the Zoning & Development Ordinance, but can apply to other goals that CPOs have.
5. Continue pursuing ways to protect elements of neighborhood/community livability in the Clackamas County Zoning & Development Ordinance (ZDO) See #4 above for the first of the related 2026 plans.
6. Evaluate the County’s Public Involvement Program
   Based on an annual report from PGA about the public involvement program, provide the Board of County Commissioners with an evaluation of how well the county public involvement program achieves the goals and policies in Clackamas County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 2 on public involvement; the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum of Public Participation standards; any applicable county community engagement standards; and the requirements of State Goal 1. PGA has said they will provide the foundational report in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
7. Continue to support ongoing efforts to improve relationships between CPOs and Code Enforcement and work most effectively on behalf of unincorporated communities.
8. Review & update CCI Bylaws per PGA audit recommendations to all Advisory Committees
9. Review the CPO Handbook annually
10. Address other issues that arise