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Agenda
CALL TO ORDER
- Roll Call
- Pledge of Allegiance
- PUBLIC COMMUNICATION (The Chair of the Board will call for statements from citizens regarding issues relating to County government. It is the intention that this portion of the agenda shall be limited to items of County business which are properly the object of Board consideration and may not be of a personal nature. Testimony is limited to three (3) minutes. Comments shall be respectful and courteous to all.)
Please note, the ideas expressed during public communication do not necessarily reflect the ideas or beliefs of Clackamas County or the Board of County Commissioners. - HOUSING AUTHORITY CONSENT AGENDA (The following Items are considered routine, and therefore will not be allotted individual discussion time on the agenda. Many of these items have been discussed by the Board in Work Sessions. The items on the Consent Agenda will be approved in one motion unless a Board member requests, before the vote on the motion, to have an item considered at its regular place on the agenda.)
- Approval to Apply for the Family Self Sufficiency Grant. Total Grant is estimated at $382,140 for the term of January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027. Funding is through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. No County General Funds are involved.
- PUBLIC HEARINGS (The following items will be individually presented by County staff or other appropriate individuals. Persons appearing shall clearly identify themselves and the department or organization they represent. In addition, a synopsis of each item, together with a brief statement of the action being requested shall be made by those appearing on behalf of an agenda item.)
- CONSENT AGENDA (The following Items are considered routine, and therefore will not be allotted individual discussion time on the agenda. Many of these items have been discussed by the Board in Work Sessions. The items on the Consent Agenda will be approved in one motion unless a Board member requests, before the vote on the motion, to have an item considered at its regular place on the agenda.)
- Elected Officials
- County Counsel
- Acceptance of Engagement of Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer LLP for Joint Representation of Clackamas County, Clackamas County General County Employees Personal Option Plan, and Providence Health Plan Regarding Personal Litigation, Barbara Simpson V Providence Health Plan, et al. Total Agreement Cost is yet to be determined since litigation is pending. Funding, if any, through the County’s Risk Fund. No County General Funds are involved.
- Transportation & Development
- Approval of Personal Services Contract #1964 with DOWLL, LLC for the Land Suitability Assessment. Total Contract Value is $560,000 through December 31, 2027. Funding is through Metro. No County General Funds are involved.
- Authorization to Purchase 6 fully uplifted Chevrolet Tahoe 4X4 Police Pursuit Vehicles from Dick Hanna Chevrolet utilizing the Master Blanket Purchase Order #PO-10700-00012917 through the State of Oregon. Total Contract Value is $524,725.08. Funding is from Contract Cities and Asset Forfeiture. No County General Funds are involved.
- Health, Housing & Human Services
- Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement from Oregon Department of Human Services for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Training and Employment Program. Grant value is $174,997.53 for 1 year. Funding is through Oregon Department of Human Services and a required match of $174,997.53 in Budgeted County General Funds.
- Approval of Amendment #1 to a Revenue Grant Agreement with Oregon Department of Transportation for Preventative Maintenance for Transportation Reaching People, Last Mile Shuttle, and Mt Hood Express. Amendment Value is $27,500 for 3 months. Total Agreement Value is $247,500 for 2 years. Funding is through the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Federal pass-through Funds. No County General Funds are involved.
- Approval of a Board Order authorizing issuance of a Purchase Order with Robert Half Inc for the purchase of temporary staffing to fill case manager positions for Health-Related Social Needs and Short-Term Rent Assistance programs. Agreement Value is $600,000 for 1 year. Funding is through the Oregon Health Authority and Metro Supportive Housing Services funds. No County General Funds are involved.
- Approval to apply for Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies to Strengthen Vaccine Uptake and Confidence in High-Risk Communities Grant. Total Award Value is $40,000 and the award period is 9 months. Funding provided by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). No County General Funds are involved.
- Approval of a Federal Subrecipient Agreement with Cascade AIDS Project for HIV Prevention Services. Total Agreement Value is $65,000 for a 12 month period. Funding is through the Local Public Health Authority Agreement with the State of Oregon. No County General Funds are involved.
- Approval of a Grant Agreement with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care for Clackamas Early Learning Hub. Total Agreement Value is $755,087.81 for 9 months. Funding is through Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care. No County General Funds are involved.
- COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION
NOTE: Regularly scheduled Business Meetings are televised and broadcast on the Clackamas County Government Channel. These programs are also accessible through the County’s Internet site. DVD copies of regularly scheduled BCC Thursday Business Meetings are available for checkout at the Clackamas County Library in Oak Grove. You may also order copies from any library in Clackamas County or the Clackamas County Government Channel.
Minutes
Call to Order
The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners meeting was called to order on October 22, 2026; all five commissioners were present, with Chair Craig Roberts attending online and Vice Chair Martha Schrader presiding at Chair Roberts’s request.
Chair Craig Roberts - present online
Vice Chair Martha Schrader - present and presiding
Commissioner Ben West - present
Commissioner Paul Savas - present
Commissioner Diana Helm - present
Public Communication
Renel Muro - Continued the voter-roll presentation, arguing that voter registration increased sharply after 2014 and attributing the change to centralized registration through DMV and public agencies.
Jacqueline Arn - Presented county-level voter registration charts and argued that Clackamas County has more registered voters than justified by population growth, supporting a return to local control of voter rolls.
Dr. Douglas Frank - Claimed Oregon voter rolls are flawed, cited a Judicial Watch settlement and alleged non-citizen and deceased voters on the rolls, warned of county liability, and offered assistance to the county.
Stephen Hunter - Raised concerns about former Sheriff Brandenburg’s resignation, appointment of an interim sheriff, alleged electioneering, and requested an outside investigation involving state or federal agencies.
Brainard Brauer - Alleged that campaign signage by Commissioner Savas and appointed Sheriff Rhodes was placed illegally in public rights-of-way, said a public records request would be submitted, and urged integrity and respect for the law.
Marti Bowne - As Hoodland CPO Chair, described an alleged unlawful wedding and event venue on the Sandy River within the Principal River Conservation Area, cited unresolved code violations and an unfulfilled hearings officer order, and requested enforcement and court action.
Pat Erdenberger - Argued that reliance on a levy creates uncertainty for Sheriff’s Office employees and residents, and urged the county to establish a stable annual funding approach for police protection.
Gerald Murphy - Described ongoing events and alleged unpermitted structures despite a cease-and-desist order, questioned whether county code and hearings officer orders are enforceable, and said lack of enforcement affected support for a sheriff’s levy.
County Administrator Gary Schmidt and staff indicated that the Brightwood matter was in Circuit Court, that the county was working on the legal matter, and that information would be provided to affected community members.
Housing Authority Consent Agenda
The Board recessed as the Board of County Commissioners and convened as the Housing Authority of Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
The Housing Authority considered one consent agenda item: approval to apply for the Family Self-Sufficiency Grant, with an estimated grant value of $382,140 for the term January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development with no county general funds involved.
Commissioner Helm moved to approve the Housing Authority consent agenda. Commissioner Savas seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner West Aye
Commissioner Helm Aye
Commissioner Savas Aye
Chair Roberts Aye
Vice Chair Schrader Aye
Public Hearing - Data Center Moratorium
The Board reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners and held a public hearing on a proposed data center moratorium.
Staff presented the proposed moratorium as a temporary suspension of county approval of land use and building permits for new data centers or expansion of existing data centers as primary uses in unincorporated Clackamas County. Staff stated that the moratorium would last up to 120 days, with a possible six-month extension only after another public hearing and findings that the need still exists and reasonable progress is being made.
Staff described the proposed moratorium as based on a “compelling need” rationale and identified potential public harms related to noise, heat, air impacts, water demand, electricity demand, proximity to residential areas, low employment density, and limited vacant industrial land. Staff also stated that the moratorium would affect only one type of industrial use and would allow staff time to develop possible ZDO amendments, if the Board amended the long-range planning work program.
Stephanie Hill - Supported a temporary moratorium, citing concerns about electricity, water, infrastructure, noise, environmental impacts, tax breaks, enforceable protections, and long-term effects on families and communities.
Jan Lee - Speaking as a Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District board member, said the board unanimously supported the moratorium and raised concerns about water allocation, unknown withdrawals and discharges, drought planning, cost shifting to residents, and diesel generator emissions.
John Charles - Opposed the moratorium, arguing that there are no data centers or pending applications in unincorporated Clackamas County, little suitable industrial land, no compelling need, and that staff and public time would be wasted.
Tom Archer - Suggested the main issue is electricity generation and supply rather than data centers themselves, and proposed requiring data centers to build on-site fusion generators and share power with the grid.
Karen Odell - Supported the pause, expressing concern that data centers could use farmland, water, and public resources while benefiting few people; the clerk identified the speaker as Karen Odell, though the speaker did not state a name in the captured audio.
Stephen Hunter - Suggested the issue was politically motivated and should be tabled until the next year, argued some existing facilities may meet the definition of data centers, and said the county should distinguish among types and impacts of data centers.
Jennifer Brooks - Asked why data centers would be considered before impacts are definitively understood, including effects on health, land, water, trees, air, and the environment.
Les Poole - Supported the moratorium but urged simple standards focused on electricity use, proximity to neighboring properties, and power costs; asked whether applications would be accepted during the moratorium and cautioned against turning the work into an overly complex process.
John Vinje - Speaking as a Clackamas County resident and Sierra Club volunteer, supported the moratorium and raised concerns about utility infrastructure, higher customer rates, substations, transmission lines, and major water use by hyperscale data centers.
Lloyd Marbet - Speaking for the Oregon Conservancy Foundation, supported the moratorium for as long as needed to review AI data center impacts, including nuclear power connections and financial risks associated with AI infrastructure investment.
Larky Hodges - Supported the moratorium and raised concerns about evaporative cooling, chemicals concentrating in groundwater, diesel generator emissions during outages, and the risk that AI investments could become a financial bubble.
RJ Cook - Presented a poem supporting a long or permanent moratorium, emphasizing protection of farms, families, rural homes, and livability, and urged inclusion of battery energy storage systems in the moratorium.
During Board deliberation, commissioners discussed the moratorium as a temporary pause to allow additional research, policy development, and public engagement on land use, water, electricity, infrastructure costs, utility rates, economic opportunity, rural impacts, and potential future zoning changes.
Commissioner Helm moved to adopt the resolution imposing a data center moratorium. Commissioner Savas seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner West Aye
Commissioner Savas Aye
Commissioner Helm Aye
Chair Roberts Aye
Vice Chair Schrader Aye
Board of County Commissioners Consent Agenda
The consent agenda included prior meeting minutes; a legal engagement related to pending litigation; a land suitability assessment contract; Sheriff’s Office vehicle purchases; several Health, Housing, and Human Services agreements and grant items; and related funding details.
Commissioner Savas requested discussion of the Sheriff’s Office vehicle purchase item, and Commissioner Helm requested discussion of the Robert Half temporary staffing item.
Commissioner Savas moved to approve the consent agenda excluding item C2 and item D3 for separate discussion. Commissioner Helm seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner West Aye
Commissioner Helm Aye
Commissioner Savas Aye
Chair Roberts Aye
Vice Chair Schrader Aye
Pulled Item - Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Purchase
The Board discussed authorization to purchase six fully uplifted Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 police pursuit vehicles from Dick Hanna Chevrolet using a State of Oregon master blanket purchase order, with a total contract value of $524,725.08, funded by contract cities and asset forfeiture with no county general funds involved.
Commissioner Savas raised concerns about potential engine reliability issues, vehicle downtime, warranty limits, and the county’s financial exposure if failures occur outside warranty coverage. Sheriff’s Office fleet staff explained that the vehicles carry a five-year or 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty, that the vehicles were needed for specialized uses requiring a larger platform, and that the Sheriff’s Office was evaluating other pursuit-rated vehicle options for future purchases.
Commissioner Helm moved to approve item C2. Vice Chair Schrader seconded the motion. Motion passed 4–1.
Commissioner West Aye
Commissioner Savas No
Commissioner Helm Aye
Chair Roberts Aye
Vice Chair Schrader Aye
Pulled Item - Robert Half Temporary Staffing
The Board discussed a board order authorizing a purchase order with Robert Half Incorporated for temporary staffing to fill case manager positions for health-related social needs and short-term rental assistance programs, with an agreement value of $600,000 for one year, funded through the Oregon Health Authority and Metro Supportive Housing Services funds with no county general funds involved.
Health, Housing, and Human Services staff explained that the funding is short-term, that demand exceeds existing staff capacity, and that using temporary staffing is intended to help distribute program funds before funding deadlines while avoiding creation of county positions that would later need to end when funding expires. Staff estimated the additional staffing would help serve approximately 305 households through health-related social needs funding and up to 570 households through short-term rental assistance.
Motion: Commissioner Helm moved to approve item D3. Commissioner West seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner Savas Aye
Commissioner West Aye
Commissioner Helm Aye
Chair Roberts Aye
Vice Chair Schrader Aye
Commissioner Communications
During commissioner communications, commissioners discussed the recent Working Together conference, workforce and business regulation issues, childcare, economic development, AI policy concerns, affordability pressures, unemployment and job trends, utility costs, the data center issue, and the need to balance economic opportunity with protection of natural resources and rural communities.
Chair Roberts asked staff to follow up with community members who testified about the Brightwood event venue matter, and County Administrator Schmidt confirmed that information would be shared with the people who testified and with the community.
Vice Chair Schrader also highlighted the upcoming Green Light for Veterans initiative during the week of Veterans Day, noting that county buildings and other sites would be illuminated with green lights to support veterans and increase visibility of veteran services.
After commissioner communications, Vice Chair Schrader adjourned the meeting.