Committee for Community Involvement - Dec. 16, 2025

Agenda

Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Minutes

CCI Attendees: Karen Bjorklund (Chair), Stephanie Carkin, Marrion Kaufman, Bill Merchant, Brent Parries (Vice-Chair), and Gordon Slatford

Absent: Pat Erdenberger, Amy Nichols, Danielle Weber

Attending PGA Staff: Tonia Holowetzki, Ed Nieto 

1. Welcome, Introductions 

Chair Bjorklund welcomed CCI members and PGA staff. 

2. Approval of Meeting Minutes

Vice-Chair Parries motioned to approve the November 2025 meeting minutes, and Bill Merchant seconded the motion. The committee unanimously approved the minutes. 

3. Public Comment

CCI received emails from Pamela Burback and Pat Erdenberger, both of whom expressed interest in becoming candidates for CPO Representative on the Clackamas County Coordinating Committee (C4). Ms. Burback is the incumbent Alternate. Ms. Erdenberger is also a candidate for the Alternate position.

Members said that current CPO Representative Kenny Sernach informed CCI that he would prefer not to seek re-election due to new family obligations but would remain on C4 if there were no candidates to succeed him.

4. From CCI Bylaws: 
   Update on CCI biennial process for CPOs to select the CPO Representative to C4 (Clackamas County Coordinating Committee)

Members agreed on a PGA-developed SurveyMonkey voting system for the CPO Representative and Alternate election.

Members decided that a ballot with options to vote via SurveyMonkey or by email will be sent to CPO leaders in early January.  Members also agreed that a reminder message to vote, along with information about the importance of CPO participation, will be included in the January CPO Notes Monthly bulletin before the voting deadline. Chair Bjorklund and Vice-Chair Parries will work with Ed Nieto on the ballot format and language. 

5. From CCI Bylaws: 
   Create 2026 one-time plan to catch up CCI officer terms to the schedule in the CCI Bylaws

   Members discussed options for the Chair and Vice Chair, who have served two consecutive terms but for only three years, instead of the maximum four. One option discussed is a one-time extension of the current officers’ terms to three years.

   Bill Merchant made a motion to extend the current CCI officers’ terms for one year to bring CCI into compliance with its bylaws. Stephanie Carkin seconded the motion. The committee unanimously approved the motion.

6. From CCI Action Plan: 
   Goals and planning for the CCI February 2026 CPO Listening Session on protecting/addressing elements of neighborhood/community livability in the Zoning Ordinance

   Marrion Kaufman suggested exploring ways to possibly convert subjective neighborhood livability concerns into zone-specific standards. Members then discussed the various challenges of translating subjective livability issues into state-required objective standards, which could prove effective with hearings officers.

   Based on members’ comments, Chair Bjorklund recommended changing from a listening session to a work session, in which CPO members would bring specific livability examples to discuss with DTD’s Jennifer Hughes and Karen Buehrig. 

   The goal of the meeting would be for DTD Planning staff to brainstorm and work with CPO representatives on how subjective livability issues could possibly become objective standards. It would also provide Planning staff with direct access to CPO members and their communities’ concerns.

   Tonia Holowetzki mentioned that moving the meeting to March or April might be necessary for preparation, and members agreed. She added that she and Ed will contact Planning staff with a proposal for the meeting, which would be moderated by CCI. 

7. PGA Update

   The update about new details regarding the upcoming election of a CPO representative to C4 was shared during the discussion of the fourth agenda item.

8. New business for future agendas?

   Chair Bjorklund reminded members that work on the 2025 CCI Annual Report and the 2026 CCI Action Plan needs to begin soon. Vice-Chair Parries suggested further discussions about following up on CCI’s recommendations for updating the county’s facility-naming policy.

The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Next meeting: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6–8 p.m. via Zoom.