Community Input Summary...Washington County December 2015 Page 4 Community event: A five-hour...

Washington County December 2015

Summary of Community Input CPO Transition Process December 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The CPO Transition Planning Team is charged with developing several options for consideration by the Board of Commissioners so that a transition of the county’s community involvement program can be implemented in early 2016. As part of its process, the Team sought community input about possible alternatives they were considering. The community input will help Team members refine the recommendations they will forward to the Board of Commissioners. The Team sought community input via two mechanisms – an online survey and a five-hour community event. In addition, community members were able to submit written input throughout the year-long process via an email link from the County website or submission directly to staff. The survey was completed by more than 550 respondents. An estimated 25 people also participated in the community event. About a dozen others submitted written feedback throughout the year-long process. Feedback from survey respondents and community event participants is summarized below. Written feedback received throughout the process may be found in the appendix. Keeping In Touch: Respondents were asked how they prefer to hear from their county government. The most popular choices were online mechanisms such as email newsletters, websites, and online surveys, followed closely by newsletters delivered by the US Postal Service. The next most popular were face-to-face mechanisms such as town halls, CPO meetings, and info booths at farmers’ markets. The least popular were traditional media such as newspapers, radio/TV, or TVCTV. Preferred Engagement Mechanisms: When asked how they preferred to give input on decisions that affect them, the most popular response was surveys or polls followed by submission of written/emailed comments. Some said they would prefer to contact their local elected representative or provide comment at town halls or community meetings like CPOs or NACs. The least favorite mechanisms were public hearings and social media. Community Involvement: Over 60% of respondents indicated they were rarely or never involved in their CPOs. Another quarter said they were not often involved in their CPO. Only one in six said they were frequently or very often involved with their CPOs. In contrast, almost two-thirds said they were very or somewhat involved in community issues that affect their neighborhoods.


“Building Block” Strategies Proposed by Transition Team: Support for four “building block” strategies was tested via the survey and keypad polling exercise. All four strategies received support from a majority of respondents. Online tools were the most popular, followed by a coordinating/advisory committee recognized by the Board. The final two strategies – online community-building and size of geographic boundaries – received a lower level of support. What’s In a Name? Participants at the community event were asked what words they preferred when referring to the program. The two most popular combinations were “community engagement” and “community participation.” Demographics: Because this was not a random sample survey, it is important to understand how the demographics of this survey sample are different from the overall population of Washington County in order to better interpret the results. In general, those who answered the survey were older, had a higher level of education, were more likely to be Caucasian, and were slightly more likely to be female than the general population.


FULL REPORT PURPOSE OF REPORT Washington County initiated a planning process to transfer the programmatic support for Washington County’s community involvement program away from OSU Extension, the County’s contracted service provider for Citizen Participation Organizations (CPOs) and the Committee for Citizen Involvement (CCI). This effort began in the fall of 2014 after OSU Extension announced that it had re-evaluated its institutional strengths and role in this County program and would not continue to administer the program in the future. To facilitate the transition, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a process whereby a Board-appointed thirteen-member Transition Planning Team will explore a broad range of public participation models and strategies. The Team is charged with developing several options for Board consideration so that a transition can be implemented in early 2016. OSU Extension has committed to continue administering the program during this planning process. The Team began its work in July 2015. Facilitated by Solid Ground Consulting and supported by Washington County staff, the Team met seven times through December 2015. As part of its process, the Team sought community input about possible alternatives they were considering to the County’s community involvement program. The community input will help Team members refine their recommendations before forwarding those recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. The purpose of this report is to summarize community input received so it can be used by the Transition Planning Team and the Board of Commissioners in their deliberations. METHODS The Team sought community input via two mechanisms – an online survey and a community event. Community members were also able to submit input throughout the process via an email link from the County website or submission directly to staff. Survey: A survey was created in both English and Spanish. An online link to the survey was publicized through a press release, email blast, social media posts, networking through County departmental outreach vehicles, outreach mechanisms through County partners, and a variety of partner newsletters. More than 550 people completed the survey. Most surveys were completed online. A few respondents completed hard-copy versions of the survey, which were aggregated with the online results. A copy of the survey may be found in the appendix.


Community event: A five-hour community event was held on December 1, 2015, at Portland Community College –Willow Creek in Beaverton. The event was accessible by public transit. Spanish-language interpretation was available, and childcare was provided by Aloha High School students. Participants were offered a variety of options to provide input, including keypad polling, dot exercises, and submission of ideas via sticky notes. Miscellaneous input via email and letters: The County Administrative Office received about a dozen emails and letters from various constituents throughout the year-long process. Those emails and letters may be found in the appendix. FINDINGS Findings from the survey and community event are summarized here in the following categories:

• What are respondents’ community livability interests and concerns? • How do respondents prefer to hear from their county government? • How do respondents prefer to provide input on decisions that affect them? • How are respondents engaged in their communities? • What is respondents’ relative support for four strategies under consideration by the

Transition Team? • What words/terms should we use to refer to the new citizen participation program?

Community Livability: Respondents were asked an open-ended question about what interests or concerns them most related to their community’s livability. Their responses are summarized in the following “wordle” (where words that are mentioned more often appear larger than those mentioned less often):


The “wordle” illustrates that infrastructure is a key concern (e.g., traffic, congestion, safety, sidewalks) as well as housing, development, schools, and sense of community. Verbatim responses are available in the appendix. Keeping In Touch: Respondents were asked how they prefer to hear from their county government. They selected an average of four mechanisms each, indicating that most had multiple ways they prefer to keep in touch. The most popular were online mechanisms such as email newsletters, websites, and online surveys, followed by newsletters delivered by the US Postal Service. The next most popular were face-to-face mechanisms such as town halls, CPO meetings, and info booths at farmers’ markets. The least popular were traditional media such as newspapers, radio/TV, or TVCTV. The following table shows a breakdown of responses for each mechanism:

Preferred Engagement Mechanisms: When asked how they preferred to give input on decisions that affect them, the most popular response was surveys or polls. It is important to note that most of this sample came from an online survey, so it is not surprising that survey or polls would be their preferred mechanism. The next most popular response was submission of written/emailed comments. Some said they would prefer to contact their local elected representative or to comment at town halls or community meetings like CPOs or NACs. The least favorite mechanisms were public hearings or social media. The following table summarizes responses to all seven engagement options:

050

100150200250300350400450


Community Involvement: Over 60% of respondents indicated they were rarely or never involved in their CPOs. Another quarter said they were not often involved in their CPO. Only one in six said they were frequently or very often involved with their CPOs.

In contrast, almost two-thirds said they were very or somewhat involved in community issues that affect their neighborhoods.

050

100150200250300350400450

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Very often Frequently Not very often Rarely or never


“Building Block” Strategies Proposed by Transition Team: Four “building block” strategies were tested via the survey and keypad polling exercise:

• Geographic Size – “Geographic boundaries of public participation groups in my community should be small enough to reflect a real sense of community such as my extended neighborhood or the attendance area around my closest elementary school.”

• Coordinating/Advisory Committee – “Community groups should have the opportunity to work through a coordinating and/or advisory committee recognized by the Board of County Commissioners, but individuals and groups should continue to have direct access to the Board to bring issues forward as they see fit.”

• Online Tools – “Washington County should enhance its current community engagement program by providing online tools to help me learn about and weigh in on issues and concerns in my neighborhood.”

• Online Community-Building – “Washington County should enhance its current community involvement program by building an online environment allowing interactions with neighbors and groups that share my interests and identity, such as groups focused on cultural heritage, bicycling and walking, neighborhood beautification, or rural issues and interests.”

All four strategies received support from a majority of respondents. Support varied from 69% to 86% of respondents who indicated they strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement. Of the four strategies offered, online tools were the most popular (86% said they strongly or somewhat agreed), followed by a coordinating/advisory committee recognized by the Board

0

50

100

150

200

250

Very involved. Iregularly contributetime to improve the

livability of mycommunity.

Somewhat involved. Iwill devote time to

community interestswhenever an issue

comes up that mightaffect my

neighborhood.

Not that involved. I tryto stay informed about

my community, butmost of my time is

focused on my family,work or other

priorities.

Limited involvement.My focus is not on

community orneighborhood groups

or initiatives.


(80% strongly or somewhat agreed). The final two strategies – online community-building and size of geographic boundaries – received support by 71% and 69% of respondents respectively. Keypad polling discussion at the community event offered an opportunity to explore participants’ viewpoints. Comments by participants in the keypad polling exercises at the community event revealed a range of opinions:

• Online tools – Participants supported online tools for a number of reasons, including ease of access, inclusivity, and convenience. Participants also pointed out that some people cannot or will not engage online.

• Coordinating/advisory committee – While supportive of the idea, some participants emphasized the point that Washington County residents always retain the right to have direct contact with their elected officials. Others felt a coordinating group could help people with information and problem-solving in preparation for going to the Board.

• Online community-building environment – Some expressed concerns about the county’s role in this realm, and the fact that tools such as Next Door are already available.

• Size of geographic boundaries – Some expressed concern about the relative size of CPOs and felt that they shouldn’t be either too large (e.g., CPO 6) or too small (e.g., elementary school boundaries). Others felt that people should not be constrained by their geography, and that they should be able to engage regardless of their geographic location or on issues that go beyond a particular geographic area.

Participants were also given an opportunity to comment via sticky notes on the issue of CPO size. A full list of comments about CPO size from the community event may be found in the appendix. What’s In a Name? Participants at the community event were asked what words they preferred to use when referring to the program. They were offered iterations of the following combination of terms:

• Community, civic, or public • Engagement, participation, or involvement

The two most popular combinations were “community engagement” and “community participation.” DEMOGRAPHICS This survey used what is commonly known as a “convenience” sample, meaning that the survey was distributed through known networks of people (e.g., newsletter mailing lists) rather than through random sample survey techniques. Because of this sampling technique, it is important to understand how the demographics of this survey sample are different from the general population in order to better interpret the survey results. In general, those who answered the survey were older, had a higher level of education, were more likely to be Caucasian, and were slightly more likely to be female than the general population of Washington County.


Of those who answered the demographic questions: • Just over half (54%) were women. • Almost two-thirds were age 35-64. A quarter were age 65 and over. Only 10% were

under age 35. • 80% had a college degree or more. • 83% were Caucasian and 17% listed a race other than Caucasian. Only 8% listed their

ethnicity as Latino. • 19% indicated they spoke a language other than English in their homes. Of those, three-

quarters listed Spanish.


APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Survey Questions in English and Spanish

Appendix 2: Miscellaneous Input Appendix 3: Verbatim Answers to Survey Question #1 Appendix 4: Verbatim Answers to Survey Question #4 Appendix 5: Verbatim Answers to Survey Question #10 Appendix 6: “Sticky Note” responses and display regarding CPO size from

December 1st Community Event Appendix 7: Handout from December 1st Community Event Appendix 8: Comments from Keypad Polling Discussions at December 1st

Community Event

APPENDIX 1:

Survey Questions in English and Spanish

In Washington County, we’d like everyone to speak up and help shape decisions that affect ourlives. We hope you’ll take this quick survey that takes about 10 minutes to complete to share yourideas about the County’s ongoing public participation program. What do you think works best toengage people in community decisions that affect all who live, work and play in WashingtonCounty?

Welcome! (Spanish version here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ParticipacionenlaComunidad)

Community Involvement Survey

1. We want to hear what interests or concerns you most when it comes to your community’s livability.What’s on your mind?

2. There are many ways to stay in touch. How do you prefer to hear from your County government?(Multiple answers allowed)

Newsletters delivered to me by U.S. Postal Service.

Email newsletters, alerts and other information.

Social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.

Internet-based tools that allow neighbors to connect such as NextDoor.com.

Town hall, open houses and other community events hosted by the County.

Meetings of my Citizen Participation Organization (CPO), Neighborhood Association Committee (NAC), Citizen InvolvementOrganization (CIO) or similar community engagement group.

Presentations to community organizations such as home owners association (HOA), business association, parent-teacherorganizations (PTOs) or similar community engagement group.

Newspaper.

Radio or television news.

Tualatin Valley Community Television (TVCTV).

County websites.

Online surveys like Westside Voices and Metro’s OptIn.

Information booths at farmers’ markets, concerts in the park or other community events.

Other (please specify)

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3. How do you prefer to be involved in community decisions in which you are interested? (Multiple answersallowed)

Testify at public hearings.

Contact my local government representative (city councilor, county commissioner, etc.).

Submit written or emailed comments.

Respond to surveys and polls.

Comment at community meetings (such as CPO or NAC).

Comment at town hall meetings or open houses.

Post on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.


My primary areas of involvement include:

4. Speaking up and getting involved often means sharing time with other priorities. How involved would youdescribe yourself in your community or neighborhood?

Very involved. I regularly contribute time to improve the livability of my community.

Somewhat involved. I will devote time to community interests whenever an issue comes up that might affect my neighborhood.

Not that involved. I try to stay informed about my community, but most of my time is focused on my family, work or other priorities.

Limited involvement. My focus is not on community or neighborhood groups or initiatives.

5. The County government supports Citizen Participation Organizations (CPOs) that provide communitieswith the opportunity to learn about issues that may affect them and to give feedback to the Countygovernment and to other agencies. How often do you attend meetings of your local CPO?

Very often. I seldom miss a meeting.

Frequently. I attend at least three meetings per year.

Not very often. Perhaps one or two per year.

Rarely or never.

2

Washington County is considering strengthening our program of on-going community involvement,and we want to know what you think about proposed changes. Please indicate your level ofagreement or support for each of these statements.

Review of Options


6. Geographic boundaries of public participation groups in my community should be small enough to reflecta real sense of community such as my extended neighborhood or the attendance area around my closestelementary school.

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Not enough information to respond

7. Community groups should have the opportunity to work through a coordinating and/or advisorycommittee recognized by the Board of County Commissioners, but individuals and groups should continueto have direct access to the Board to bring issues forward as they see fit.

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree


3

Examples of online tools that would interest me include:

8. Washington County should enhance its current community engagement program by providing onlinetools to help me learn about and weigh in on issues and concerns in my neighborhood.

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree


Examples of groups I identify with or topics that interest me include:

9. Washington County should enhance its current community involvement program by building an onlineenvironment allowing interactions with neighbors and groups that share my interests and identity, such asgroups focused on cultural heritage, bicycling and walking, neighborhood beautification, or rural issues andinterests.

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree


10. Better decision making can happen when the public has an opportunity to be heard. What could theCounty do to make it easier to get involved in community or neighborhood activities and issues?

4

Please help us understand more about you.

Demographics


11. Please indicate your sex.

Female

Male

12. Please indicate your age range.

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 or older

5

13. Please indicate your zip code.

97003

97005

97006

97007

97008

97078

97106

97109

97113

97116

97117

97123

97124

97125

97133

97144

97223

97224

97225

97062

97119

97140

97229

Other (please specify your five-digit zip code)

14. Please identify the name of your community (examples: “Aloha” or "Tualatin")

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15. Please indicate your highest level of education.

High school graduate or less

Some college

College degree

Post-graduate degree

16. Please indicate your racial background. (Multiple answers allowed)

White/Caucasian

Asian or Pacific Islander

American Indian/Native American

Black/African American

Two or more races


17. Please indicate your ethnic background.

Hispanic/Latino

Non-Hispanic/Non-Latino


7

18. Please show what languages might be spoken in your home other than English. (Multiple answersallowed)

Spanish

Russian

Vietnamese

Cantonese

Somali

Mandarin

Japanese

Korean

No other languages than English are spoken at my home


8

We appreciate the time you have taken to complete this brief survey. Your point of view is importantto Washington County and will help shape how our ongoing public involvement program functionsin the future.

For more information about the process, please visit:http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition.cfm

To receive periodic updates about Washington County's ongoing community involvement program,please add your email address after the question below. Thank you!

Thank you!


19. Please add my email address to receive updates from time to time regarding Washington County'scommunity participation transition planning process.

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http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition.cfm

En el condado de Washington, nos gustaría que todas las personas hablen y ayuden a dar forma alas decisiones que afectan a nuestras vidas. Esperamos que usted tome esta encuesta rápida quele llevará unos 10 minutos para completarla, y que comparta sus ideas sobre el programa departicipación pública en curso del Condado. ¿Qué le parece que funciona mejor para hacer que laspersonas participen en las decisiones comunitarias que afectan a todos los que viven, trabajan yjuegan en el Condado de Washington?

¡Bienvenido! (English versionhere: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/InvolvedWashingtonCounty )

Encuesta de Participación en la Comunidad

1. Queremos saber qué es lo que más le interesa o preocupa respecto a la habitabilidad de sucomunidad. ¿Cuál es su opinión?

1

2. Hay muchas maneras de mantenerse en contacto. ¿Cómo prefiere saber del gobierno de su Condado?(Se permite múltiples respuestas)

Boletines entregados a mí personalmente por el Servicio Postal de EE.UU.

Periódico.

Boletines por correo electrónico, alertas y otra información.

Presentaciones a organizaciones de la comunidad, tales como la Asociación de Dueños de Casas (Home Owners Association oHOA), asociación empresarial, organizaciones de padres y maestros (Parent-Teacher Organizations o PTO) o grupo departicipación comunitaria similar.

Las redes sociales, como Facebook o Twitter.

Noticias de radio o televisión.

Reuniones de mi Organización de Participación Ciudadana (Citizen Participation Organization o CPO), Comité de Asociación deVecinos (Neighborhood Association Committee o NAC), Organización de Involucración Ciudadana (Citizen InvolvementOrganization o CIO) o grupo de compromiso comunitario similar.

Tualatin Valley Community Television (TVCTV).

Ayuntamiento, jornadas de puertas abiertas y otros eventos comunitarios patrocinados por el Condado.

Herramientas basadas en Internet que permiten a los vecinos conectarse entre ellos, como NextDoor.com.

Cuestionarios en línea como Westside Voices y OptIn de Metro.

Sitios web del condado.

Puestos de información en los mercados de agricultores, conciertos en el parque o en otros eventos de la comunidad.

Otros (favor de especificar)

3. ¿Cómo prefiere participar en las decisiones de la comunidad en la que usted está interesado? (Sepermiten múltiples respuestas)

Comunicarme con mi representante del gobierno local (concejal de la ciudad, comisionado del condado, etc.).

Testificar en audiencias públicas.

Hacer comentarios en las reuniones de la comunidad (como CPO o NAC).

Responder a encuestas y sondeos.

Hacer comentarios en reuniones del ayuntamiento o jornadas de puertas abiertas.

Enviar comentarios por escrito o por correo electrónico.

Publicar en los medios sociales, como Facebook o Twitter.


2

Mis principales áreas de participación incluyen:

4. Hablar y participar a menudo significa compartir el tiempo con otras prioridades. ¿Qué tan involucradose considera a usted mismo en su comunidad o vecindario?

Muy involucrado. Por lo regular, dedico tiempo para mejorar la habitabilidad de mi comunidad.

Algo involucrado. Dedico tiempo a los intereses de la comunidad cuando surge un problema que pudiera afectar mi vecindario.

No tan involucrado. Trato de mantenerme informado acerca de mi comunidad, pero la mayor parte de mi tiempo se centra en mifamilia, trabajo u otras prioridades.

Muy poco involucrado. Mi enfoque no está en los grupos o iniciativas comunitarias o de vecindario.

5. El gobierno del Condado apoya a Organizaciones de Participación Ciudadana (CPO) que proporcionana las comunidades la oportunidad de aprender acerca de los problemas que les puedan afectar y ofrecerinformación al gobierno del Condado y a otras agencias. ¿Con qué frecuencia asiste a las reuniones de suCPO local?

Muy a menudo. Rara vez olvido una reunión.

Frecuentemente. Asisto al menos a tres reuniones al año.

No muy a menudo. Tal vez una o dos por año.

Rara vez o nunca.

3

El Condado de Washington está considerando fortalecer nuestro programa de participacióncontinua en la comunidad, y queremos saber lo que piensa de los cambios propuestos. Indique sugrado de acuerdo o apoyo a cada una de estas declaraciones.

Revisión de las opciones


6. Los límites geográficos de los grupos de participación pública en mi comunidad deberían sersuficientemente pequeños como para reflejar un verdadero sentido de comunidad, como mi vecindarioampliado o el área de asistencia alrededor de mi escuela primaria más cercana.

Muy de acuerdo

Parcialmente de acuerdo

Neutral

Algo en desacuerdo

Muy en desacuerdo

No hay suficiente información para responder

7. Los grupos comunitarios deberían tener la oportunidad de trabajar a través de un comité decoordinación y/o asesor reconocido por la Junta de Comisionados del Condado, pero las personas y losgrupos deberían seguir teniendo acceso directo a la Junta para llevar adelante cuestiones según lesparezca oportuno.

Muy de acuerdo


Neutral

Algo en desacuerdo

Muy en desacuerdo


4

Algunos ejemplos de herramientas en línea que me interesarían son:

8. El Condado de Washington debe mejorar su programa actual de participación de la comunidadmediante la proporción de herramientas en línea que me ayuden a conocer y opinar sobre temas ypreocupaciones de mi vecindario.

Muy de acuerdo


Neutral

Algo en desacuerdo

Muy en desacuerdo


Algunos ejemplos de grupos con los que me identifico o temas que me interesan son:

9. El Condado de Washington debe mejorar su programa de participación de la comunidad actualmediante la construcción de un ámbito línea que permita la interacción con los vecinos y los grupos quecomparten mis intereses e identidad, como los grupos centrados en el patrimonio cultural, el uso de labicicleta y caminar, embellecimiento de vecindarios, o cuestiones e intereses rurales.

Muy de acuerdo


Neutral

Algo en desacuerdo

Muy en desacuerdo


10. Una toma de decisiones más acertada se puede producir cuando la opinión pública tiene laoportunidad de ser oída. ¿Qué podría hacer el Condado para que fuera más fácil involucrarse enactividades y asuntos de la comunidad o del vecindario?

5

Favor de ayudarnos a entender más acerca de usted.

Demografía


11. Favor de indicar su sexo.

Femenino

Masculino

12. Favor de indicar su rango de edad.

18 a 24

25 a 34

35 a 44

45 a 54

55 a 64

65 a 74

75 o más

6

13. Favor de indicar su código postal.

97003

97005

97006

97007

97008

97078

97106

97109

97113

97116

97117

97123

97124

97125

97133

97144

97223

97224

97225

97062

97119

97140

97229

Otros (favor de especificar su código postal de cinco dígitos)

14. Favor de identificar el nombre de su comunidad (ejemplos: “Aloha” o “Tualatin”)

7

15. Favor de indicar su nivel más alto de educación.

Graduado de escuela secundaria o inferior

Algunos estudios universitarios

Título universitario

Título postgrado

16. Favor de indicar su origen racial. (Se permiten múltiples respuestas)

Blanco/Caucásico

Asiático o de las Islas del Pacífico

Indios americano/Nativo americano

Negro/Afroamericano

Dos o más razas


17. Favor de indicar su origen étnico.

Hispano/Latino

No-Hispano/No-Latino


8

18. Favor de mostrar qué idiomas se hablan en su hogar que no sea el inglés. (Se permiten múltiplesrespuestas)

Español

Ruso

Vietnamita

Cantonés

Somalí

Mandarín

Japonés

Coreano

No hay otros idiomas aparte del inglés que se hablen en mi hogar

Otros (especificar)

9

Le agradecemos el tiempo que ha tomado para completar esta breve encuesta. Su punto de vistaes importante para el Condado de Washington y ayudará a dar forma a cómo funciona nuestroprograma actual de participación pública en el futuro.

Para obtener más información sobre el proceso, favor de visitar: http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition-espanol.cfm

Para recibir actualizaciones en inglés periódicas sobre el programa actual de participación de lacomunidad del Condado de Washington, añada su dirección de correo electrónico luego de lapregunta a continuación. ¡Gracias!

¡Gracias!


19. Favor de añadir mi dirección de correo electrónico para recibir actualizaciones en inglés de vez encuando respecto al proceso de planificación de la transición de participación de la comunidad del Condadode Washington.

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http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition-espanol.cfm

APPENDIX 2:

Public Comments – December 2014 through December 2015

As a courtesy, contact information (e.g., email addresses) have been deleted. In some instances, names of specific people within the body of the email or letter have also been deleted. When a letter or email addresses multiple topics, input that is unrelated to the CPO transition has not been included.

Washington County CCI Steering Committee Stan Houseman, Kathie Koellmann, Sebastian Lawler, Jim Long, Henry Oberhelman Washington County Committee for Citizen Involvement 155 N First Avenue, Suite 200, MS 48 Hillsboro, OR 97124 503‐821‐1128 December 31, 2014 To: Sia Lindstrom, Senior Deputy County Administrator Philip Bransford, Communications Officer, Washington County From: Washington County Committee for Citizen Involvement Steering Committee Re: Proposed Plan for CPO Program Transition The CCI Steering Committee met this week to discuss the County Administration Office (CAO) proposal for transition of the Washington County CPO Program administration, following the December 16 meeting of the CCI. Thank you for joining us in that worksession to discuss this plan. From its inception more than 40 years ago the Oregon Statewide Planning Program established a broad legal framework placing requirements on local governments to make plans, and to subject those plans to review by the State for compliance with the State’s laws and policies. This unique Oregon system developed numerous Statewide Goals, of which special significance is given to Goal 1: Citizen Involvement. We do not feel the CAO proposal meets Goal 1, which calls for “a citizen involvement program that insures the opportunity for citizens to be involved in all phases of the planning process.” Goal 1 exists to put people in planning in a meaningful way, such that the quality and durability of decisions is enriched. We see the need to more clearly articulate the role of citizens in this process and call for it to be citizen‐centered in its design, recognizing that the Board of Commissioners (BOC) makes the final decisions. The Steering Committee would like the proposal be reworked before being presented to the (BOC) to incorporate the following and make for an improved process: 1. The proposal calls for a consultant that may appropriately employ the roles of process facilitator and/or content expert. In that event, it is mandatory that the Planning Team partner with the consultant and collaborate in the joint presentation of the findings to the BOC. 2. Among the participants in the planning process, the most significant role should be given to the Planning Team to whom, together with the CAO, the consultant

would report. 3. The committee sees that volunteer citizen leaders and participants in our community organizations are among the most valuable experts in the subject matter of how the program ought to work best. Citizen leaders know which people are best qualified to be invited to participate in the Planning Team’s citizen positions. We object to the BOC making direct appointments of citizen members of the Planning Team. More appropriately, the CCI should appoint the citizen members of the Planning Team. Recommendations from individual 2 Commissioners would be welcomed and appreciated. The number of citizens should make up the majority of the team’s seats. In addition, the CCI requests an opportunity to give input to CAO on the composition and design of the entire Planning Team, whose agency staff and public official members would rightly be appointed by the BOC. 4. Provisions for transparency and visibility throughout the process are lacking in the proposal. Specific additional public involvement efforts and events, identified in number, quality and methodology, should be added throughout the process. For example, public hearings with the BOC should be included, as well as a variety of activities patterned after those used in the County’s recent processes with robust efforts including the 2035 Transportation System Plan Update and the Aloha‐Reedville Study and Livable Community Plan. 5. The proposal contains no references to how the process will elicit a much broader range of community involvement through engagement with more than the limited, familiar stakeholders currently identified. For example, the process needs outreach mechanisms and ways to gather input from a wide variety of community members using several sources and methods: surveys, online engagement, or other modes to attract a greater scale and diversity of participation, which can also have the direct benefit of creating positive energy for revitalizing the program. In particular, this process presents a special opportunity to demonstrate how future projects can extend engagement to youth, people of color or immigrant communities, and people with limited English proficiency – three demographics that are underrepresented in CPOs. These five changes are identified with a note of recognition that the proposal is termed a transition because of the administrative changeover ahead. In fact, the plan and the predicted outcomes, as described by its language and references, reflect a profound movement away from a community based civic engagement effort with its attendant autonomy and diversity, to a rigid and carefully controlled organization strongly influenced by Washington County’s government and elected Commissioners. Citizens are understandably anxious about the outcomes and impacts on their communities that will result, and the proposal process justifies those anxieties. We appreciate the jarring nature of this transition between institutions and grasp that this can provide an opportunity to significantly improve the program. The process used in the recent Boundary Change Task Force is considered in some quarters to be a worthwhile and positive effort and there have been some references to using that methodology for this process. We jointly recognize that the forthcoming work is of much

larger scope and scale and your recognition of a need for a consultant (which the Boundary group did not use) supports the contention that this Program Transition ought to be recognized as a larger, multi‐faceted effort and supported accordingly. Based on feedback we’ve heard, we ask you and the Board of Commissioners as appropriate to consider these additional points as you move forward: A). It appears there will be more to this process than accomplishing the changeover from OSU Extension’s administration of the program to a new administrator. “Best/promising practices for county‐level public involvement methods” is included in the proposal. Once the Commissioners formally express what they may have in mind for directions to 3 restructure or reorganize the program beyond the administrative and staffing changeover, we ask for engagement quickly with the CCI to discuss it with us. B). Might there be other candidates to manage the program for Washington County that should be considered? Will support be strongest for keeping it “in‐house?” If that model of County‐provided administration wins support, we have heard from citizens to emphasize the importance of the principles and practices of neutrality the program has succeeded in using for its entire existence. The CCI and citizen leaders should be fully engaged in finding the proper balance of independence and autonomy of the citizen groups, and a smoothly functioning level of interdependence with program administration, support, and official County recognition. In closing, we’d like to see the outcomes of this “transition process” provide a robust Washington County program that reaffirms Goal 1 and is more clearly understood and valued by all levels of County government. There are myriad reciprocal benefits–including value propositions–that need to be articulated and put forth as a result of this effort. A core group of volunteer leaders has been instrumental for 40 years–the program has made citizen leadership development and education a priority, and it delivered. We realize the need to reach larger, broader constituencies and diverse populations. This presents an opportunity to arrive at a renewed, revitalized point in the program. Thank you, and we look forward to your reply on our before January 9, 2015, or at such time that the CCI can see a revised proposal in advance of its submittal to the BOC. Sincerely, CCI Steering Committee: Stan Houseman Kathie Koellmann Sebastian Lawler Jim Long Henry Oberhelman cc: Washington County Committee for Citizen Involvement Patrick Proden, Oregon State University Extension Service Dan Schauer and Beth St. Amand, CPO Program Coordinators, OSU Extension Service

From: Henry Oberhelman Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 1:17 PM To: Barbara Hejtmanek Cc: Sia Lindstrom; Philip Bransford; Stan Houseman; Sebastian Lawler; Kathie Koellmann; Jim Long; Mary Manseau; Patrick Proden; Dan Schauer; Beth St. Amand Subject: Request for letter distribution Hi Barbara: Your receptionist (I'm sorry, I forgot her name) suggested that I forward the attached letter to you for distribution to the commissioners. The letter is the CCI Steering Committees response to the latest CAO proposal for the redesign process of the CPO Program. Would you mind printing the letter and distributing it to each commissioner for their review for the work session tomorrow? Thank you! Henry Oberhelman

January 12, 2015

To: Washington County Board of Commissioners

CC: Sia Lindstrom, Phillip Bransford, OSU Staff, CCI SC

Subject: Transformation of the Washington County CPO Program (Plan for CPO Program

Transition.

Proposal from County Administrative Office)

Dear Commissioners:

The following is written on behalf of and with the full knowledge of the CCI Steering Committee

(SC) and is our response to the latest proposal for redesigning the Washington County CPO

program. We learned late last week that the County Administrative Office (CAO) would be

presenting their proposal at your work session on Tuesday January 13, 2015 and thus there has

been no opportunity for discussion with the CAO of our comments as we would wish.

For many years, the CPO program has delivered value to the citizens of Washington County in

the form of information regarding changes in the county environment as well as opportunities

to provide input to county decision makers regarding the impact of those changes on the lives

of citizens in the county. At times, that value delivery has been controversial, ill formed and

perhaps flawed, but it has retained its essential autonomy and independence as befits any civic

engagement process.

The proposal from the CAO effectively emasculates the CPO program by eliminating that

autonomy and independence through moving the program design and its operation into the

decision arena of the Washington County Board of Commissioners (BOC). The CCI SC is very

concerned about the form and effectiveness of civic engagement in Washington County that

would result from such action. We've expressed our concerns and requests to their office yet

those requests, in any substantive sense, have been largely ignored.

While it is beyond the scope and reach of this document to cover all of the content of those

requests, the following illustrate areas that need significant revision.

The work for a new Civic Engagement program is clearly driven by the BOC and the CAO

office yet there is no statement of vision by which the new program will be

guided. Such a statement, aided by a discovery process engaging the community at

large, must be in place before further work proceeds. The expressed rush to hire a

consultant precludes this essential deliberative work.

Appointment of the members of the Planning Team solely by the BOC means that the

results of the redesign effort will be carefully scripted and biased for the BOC interests

rather than for the interests of the community. As was suggested in the CCIs first

response the planning team's composition must be the result of a joint selection effort

largely based on community involvement.

There is great diversity in many dimensions in Washington County. Selecting

just two "representatives from under‐represented communities" fails any reasonable

test of inclusivity for the program.

As written, the proposal represents a formulaic and mechanistic approach to a civic

engagement program. A broad survey of other approaches should be completed

before the course of a final design is selected.

We fully recognize that change will happen and that it is essential to stay focused on the future

while using the understanding gained from the past. With that philosophy in mind, we urge

that you return the CAO proposal for further development, perhaps in close engagement with

the CCI, before authorizing county funds for the proposed program redesign effort. (Forestalling

such engagement with the statement “that the consultant review will address these concerns”

is patronizing and effectively means those issues will not be addressed.)

We look forward to the opportunity of further engagement with the CAO.

On behalf of the CCI SC and CPO community members,

Henry Oberhelman

______________________________________________________________________________ From: On Behalf Of Chas Hundley Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 10:03 PM To: County Administrative Office Subject: CPO transition process

Hello! I would like to provide input on two possible agencies that could provide similar structure and support that the OSO extension service has provided. My two recommendations are the Rural Development Initiative (rdiinc.org) and the Ford Family Foundation (tfff.org). Thank you!

From: Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 5:15 PM To: County Administrative Office Subject: Citizen Inquiry - Dick Schouten Email for: Dick Schouten Response required? no Issue: Suggestion

thank you for your work this morning at the Extended Work Session -I would like to point out that the CPO Programs and the CCI are sorely lacking a commitment to diversity, outreach, and inclusion. I have been waiting since last summer for a phone call or email from . of the CCI re: my desire to be on a task force to deal with these pressing needs. Nothing has been forthcoming. of the CCI has opposed such measures at every turn. For them to have 3 seats at the table in this new "process" is very troubling indeed. Bigoted outbursts have been tolerated at the CCI (and even the CP06, which I chaired last year) and witnessed by , , and / nothing has been done. My constituents have been profoundly insulted. My invited guests have been made to feel far from welcome - they have in some cases never returned. Highly offensive, bigoted flyers were left in the back of the room at a CP06 meeting on more than one occasion, left by the - this is outrageous. Simple attempts to refer to the group as "Community Participation Organization" as a gesture of good faith to the larger, more inclusive populations of Aloha have been rebuffed. This is a barrier to participation, and needs to be tackled head on. I thank you for your leadership, and look forward to a better tomorrow.

Constance Kosuda

From: Sent: Monday, January 26, 2015 5:36 PM To: County Administrative Office Subject: cpo forum Hi, Just a quick comment. The citizens of each neighborhood need the ability to weigh in and participate in their local government groups. We need to keep the county, city accountable to its citizens. I do not want policy made without having the opportunity to read it, evaluate it and speak with others regarding this. This would be a crime. (In my mind it would be taxation without representation). Please find a way to support local cpo organizations. Trudy Knowles ______________________________________________________________________________ From: Chuck Thompson Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 11:29 AM To: County Administrative Office Subject: CPO Transition.... The proposed transition seems to be an excellent opportunity to focus both the CPO and the CCI programs back on the reason for their creation. Both names indicate a measure of Citizen involvement. In the case of the CCI “involvement is actually used”. In the case of the CPO “participation” is used. Having once been a selected representative to the CCI, I can speak from direct experience. The Oregon State staff was putting together agendas that didn’t reserve any time for questions and comments effectively precluding “Involvement”. Their agenda construction effectively turned the meetings into a verbal white paper. The agenda construction and selection process remains a mystery to me. I quit going years ago because it became pointless. The CPO that I have experience with was ran without bylaws like a private garden club. There was no public structure and the participation was all a function of one individual and his cronies. I quit going years ago because it became pointless. The opportunities for actual participation ware limited and too sketchy to warrant the time even as the then Vice Chair. I would encourage a broad common set of bylaws be developed for all CPOs with some flexibility for any local specifics but not including not having bylaws. The lack of bylaws keeps virtually everybody except a few cronies out of the "participation" process. Part of those laws should encourage a limit on one individual’s term..... In CPO ‐ 1 Bruce has been doing it for years and any numbers of neighbors don't attend because of the leadership.

From:[email protected][mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2015 9:54 AM To: County Administrative Office Subject: Comments Box_830998_836626_836626 Form Submission Results

Email:

Comments: some initial concerns: nothing being done about the racist outbursts / the bigotry / the failure to engage in meaningful outreach to any but the usual suspects / and a rabid insistence upon the use of the word "citizen" instead of the long‐awaited, good ‐ willed "community member." so, transitioning into what is the question.

the entitled making believe that they are committed to inclusion, outreach, and meaningful engagement, with a genuine welcoming of the larger, usually ignored community ‐ without anything tangible being offered as proof of same /

the hiring of what outside facilitator, with what real‐world experience in transforming a climate of elitism and bigotry into inclusion, and a "sincere welcoming" to all ‐ (including racial and ethnic minorities)

and what "current" participants, when the "current" climate has created the festering problems inherent in the organization, briefly noted herein?

would be nice to know / without the rhetoric / without the empty promises / and with plenty of personal accountability and liability attached.

For the CCI to have any involvement whatsoever in this "plan" is an outrage / they tolerated the bigotry the overtly racist outbursts / gave little support to leaders with innovative ideas / and still, from the new crop of "documents" being churned out / are leaning heavily upon the use of the term "citizen" (more so than ever) when a more inclusive, good‐faith term "community member" was recommended for approval/same as is done in Beaverton so, what's up, Wash Co? __________________________________________________________________________

From: Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 3:46 PM To: County Administrative Office Subject: Citizen Inquiry ‐ Roy Rogers (Vice Chair)

Email for: Roy Rogers (Vice Chair)

Response required? no Issue: Suggestion

Commissioners: When Washington County was recently considering granting Intel property tax abatements to encourage continued investments in Washington County's economy, Chair Dyuckk had the integrity and the wisdom to recuse himself from the deliberations and the eventual vote. Chair Dyuckk recused himself because a significant fraction of his machine shop's business is with either Intel or contractors to Intel. Chair Dyuckk recused himself because he needed to ensure that he would not allow his personal vested interest in Intel to compromise his objectivity or influence County policy and that there would be not even an appearance of impropriety. While reorganizing the CPO system, the County needs to consider and perhaps confront the possible conflicts of interest that can affect the leaders of the County CPOs.

{Section Removed}

I offer these comments in the context of the ongoing process to reorganize Washington County's CPO system. In deliberating on the reorganization of the CPO system, I would hope that the County Commission would seize the opportunity to impose reforms. The same ethics and conflict of interest regulations that govern County Commissioners should govern the leaders of the CPOs. Given the extremely limited attendance at CPO meetings and the ease with which one individual or small clique can dominate the meetings and create a hostile environment for people with dissenting viewpoints, some regulations should also be enacted that would require a representative of the County to serve as a moderator of CPO meetings.

From: Kevin O'Donnell Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 6:52 AM To: Stephen Roberts <[email protected]>, Greg Malinowski <[email protected]>, Dan Schauer <[email protected]>, "Beth St. Amand" <[email protected]> Cc: Mary Manseau < David Shettles Subject: CPO service providers should provide basics for each CPO Please include this 2 requests in as my comments as WashCo is visiting how to support CPOs, and let me know if I need to get this on record in an alternative way. Thanks ‐ Kevin For each CPO, assume a new chair & new steering committee every year and allow easy 'plug and play' into an email, calendar, public web page and internal collab space for that CPO. Acceptance Criteria:

1. as the new Chair of CPO X, I need no more than 1 hour online training and 1 hour with CPO support to be fully plugged in with all tools needed to chair my CPO so that I can focus on being the Chair and not messing around with basic tools that should be automatic.

2. as a new Steering Comm member, I need no more than 1 hour online training to efficiently collaborate with my fellow steering committee members

3. as the support for every CPO, I need to spend no more than 10 hours every year to ramp up a new Chair in a one‐on‐one session for every CPO so that I can provide support on more important matters instead of these basic needs.

For each CPO, allow each CPO Chair to send an email to every member of that CPO that has opted‐in (currently controlled and hidden by OSU Ext.). Put a controlling mechanism in place that requires majority of Steering Committee to approve that message before it can be sent. This is a simple workflow using email authentication, and puts the control of the CPO in the CPO. Acceptance Criteria:

1. as the Chair of CPO X, I need to be able to communicate to my CPO without vetting/approval from a 3rd party. I do need majority approval from my steering comm. I need 'freedom' to work with the community.

2. as the Chair of CPO X, I do not want to know all email addresses. I do need to know those that reply so that I can follow up with them.

3. as a Steering Comm member, I need to review and approve/oppose mail blasts coming from the Chair so that we checks‐and‐balances in place.

4. as a member of CPO X, I need to opt‐out of these emails from the Chair so that I can easily control the email flow from my CPO. I also need an easy way to opt‐in and then immediately become part of that CPO email community yet my email is kept private.

5. as a member of CPO X, I want my email kept private unless I reply to the Chair's email. 6. as a Steering Comm member, I want visibility into every email in the Chair's email account.

Everything received and sent from the Chair email should be transparent to the Steering Committee.

{Remainder Removed}

CCI Steering Committee Stan Houseman, Kathie Koellmann, Co-Vice Chairs Jim Long, Chair Henry Oberhelman, Immediate Past Chair

Washington County Committee for Citizen Involvement

155 N First Avenue, Suite 200, MS 48 Hillsboro, OR 97124

503-821-1128http://extension.oregonstate.edu/washington/committee-citizen-involvement-cci-0

The CCI serves as the officially recognized citizen participation resource committee committed to the success of citizen participation in government decision-making processes. The CCI assists the County in complying with Goal 1.

Vision Individuals and their Washington County communities will be meaningfully engaged in collaborative, dynamic processes of open and responsive government.

Mission The Mission of Citizen Participation Organizations in Washington County is to encourage and empower public involvement.

Values Civility, Community, Compassion, Diversity, Education, Equity, Improvement, Inclusiveness, Information, Learning, Process, Respect, Transparency

December 3, 2015

Citizen Participation Organization Transition Planning Team c/o Joe Hertzberg and Sia Lindstrom Washington County Administrative Office 155 N. First Ave., MS 21 Hillsboro, OR 97124

RE: Transition Planning Team documentation, diagrams

Dear CPO Transition Planning Team:

In fulfilling its responsibility to provide advice to the Board of Commissioners, the Committee for Citizen Involvement discussed and deliberated at its November meeting the latest documents and diagrams of the CPO Transition Planning Team and consultant. Three motions were approved by the voting CCI members to let you know our initial responses.

Following are specific concepts supported by CCI as items that they want to see in the CPO leadership body referred to in the architecture as “Community Involvement Coordinating Committee,” and noted in the definitions document as “replaces CCI.” Numbering does not reflect priority.

1. The leadership group broadly represents CPOs and provides a placefor dialogue.2. There is two-way communication with the Board of Commissioners.3. It is advisory.4. There is parity with other advisory groups.5. Autonomy is important, and to be self-selected.6. It should be structured to interact with staff and the Board ofCommissioners to gain the most benefit.7. Retain the existing acronym CCI.

The CCI did not support these concepts regarding the Community Involvement Coordinating Committee:

1. Having a liaison filter between it and Board of Commissioners.2. Having it be subordinate to Community Involvement Advisory Board.3. Having community-initiated groups register.

Architecture diagram: The CCI directed the Steering Committee to submit a redrawn diagram with the Board of Commissioners at the center, for consideration by the Transition Planning Team.

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/washington/committee-citizen-involvement-cci-0

CCI Steering Committee Stan Houseman Kathie Koellmann Jim Long Henry Oberhelman

Washington County Committee for Citizen Involvement


The Steering Committee participated with three fellow CCI members, including two members of the Transition Planning Team, to consider multiple concepts and iterations for diagrams. A version of the diagram to propose as the CCI’s preferred option was approved by a majority of the CCI Steering Committee’s officers at their meeting today, December 3. An electronic copy of the diagram will be submitted promptly, to be attached with this letter.

Thanks for considering our initial responses. We look forward to continuing to be involved as the transition moves forward.

Sincerely,

Committee for Citizen Involvement Jim Long, Chair

Votes to issue from CCI Meeting November 17, 2015 1. That the CCI provide a specific chart to the Transition Planning Team and redraw the diagram

with the board as the center and recipient of the other groups.Passed: 12 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Abstentions

2. That the chart shows CCI in the same hierarchy as the appointed Boards and Commissions.Passed: 9 Ayes, 1 Nay, 2 Abstentions

3. That the CCI Steering Committee write a letter that reflects the wants/don’t wants (tonight’ssummary discussion chart) to the Transition Planning Team and copy the Board ofCommissioners. Passed: 12 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 Abstentions

cc: Board of County Commissioners


APPENDIX 3:

Verbatim Answers to Survey Question #1

1

APPENDIX 3

Survey Monkey results as of 8am on 12/1/15 and “Sticky Note” responses from Community Event

Q1: “We want to hear what interests or concerns you most when it comes to your community’s livability. What’s on your mind?”

Open-Ended Response

traffic congestion, vacant homes not kept up, loud car stereos day and night disturbing the peace

~20 years ago, predictions were made that hundreds of thousands would move into the Portland area. The predictions proved true. The same prediction is again in place and appears to be holding true. I find the lack of building infrastructure disturbing. (i.e. freeways and major thoroughfares) we added a Max/pedestrian bridge across the Willamette and a third lane to part of the Sunset highway. Is that really the plan to accommodate growth? Projects like the Westside bypass, a freeway that parallels HWY 26, etc... need to be undertaken to prevent us from mirroring traffic-clogged Seattle to the north.

My apartment rent has gone up $200per month in three years. I am almost priced out of Tigard. Where can I go?

Traffic Road/sidewalk/ pathway improvements for pedestrian And cyclists

Urban growth, and what Metro is doing to our city.

City sprawl, schools, taxes

Crime/Gang's

Live in a safe area. Good schools. A road system that works for commuters. A board of Commissioners that will listen/work with the people.

Traffic congestion, crime and increased taxes

housing density, roads/traffic, quality of life, preparation for The Big One earthquake

Traffic safety, planning, school overcrowding.

1. Walkability builds community. There are vast parts of urban Washington County with culverts, no sidewalks and dangerous conditions for pedestrians. 2. Traffic

High property tax rate and with so many non-owner residents, it seems they keep going up.

cost of housing, safe and efficient transportation options Urban growth boundary issues are important. Road improvement. Burn bans/regulations. Water issues (well testing...etc.) Changes in regulations regarding rental property..etc.

new housing for incoming new families new housing for seniors rec center accomidates senior and new families groceries near senior housing

1) Traffic and congestion; 2) Protecting the Urban Growth Boundary from expansion; 3) Global Warming and Climate Change. Traffic; population density; fireworks (watched a fire ignited by young men riding bikes); Property Taxes are on an ever increasing upward spiral. We need pedestrian bridges across Hwy 26 to connect the neighborhoods to shopping and entertainment without always driving. More trails and parks!

2

Schools, public transportation, bike paths, parks, cleanliness.

--density of new housing / lot sizes --retention of green spaces --minimizing through traffic in residential areas --maintenance/improvement of infrastructure

Traffic, parks and trails, safe / aesthetic road improvements that support multi-modal use. Public safety (sheriff, police, fire, CERT), land use and development, legislative action, local community interests

better bus service on Oleson Rd. I live inside a city limits. Density is increasing but parking is so limited problems occur. People are running businesses in residential areas. Junk is accumulating on properties.

I just received your 18 point questionaire several days ago and you expect a reply by today. Obviously you don't expect us to put too much thought into our answers. By the way, what is an extended neighborhood (item 6).

bike cycle riders on back roads

Our failing schools. Connecting people through food to create a truly resilient community. Giving all the groups who are working to enhance livability a view into each other's work.

Traffic congestion - I don't like the one way streets becoming both ways - more traffic concerns!!!

Abuse of planning in a way that allows development without addressing infrastructure, maintenance of green spaces and wildlife habitat. Continued offer of welfare to corporations.

road / highway planning and maintenance - police and fire fighting support

Crime, Traffic, Noise, Schools, Costs-fees-taxes-etc In an age where conservatives (49% of the country) and liberals (49% of the country) are at war with each other we risk a government that is ideologically focused rather than truthfully focused... where emotions rather than facts guide our decisions. I hope that Washington Co. is the exception rather than the rule. Because livability is a pond that has many streams flowing into it and when we ignore any of these streams in the short term we risk a polluted pond in the long term.

I'm interested in hearing how Washington County is going to prepare for the continual increase in population as well as how we can do a better job of helping our homeless population.

Road access - Baseline expansion is a great project!

Traffic & ugly high density developments water/environmental,native protection; affordable healthcare; access to safe walking options for daily errands;over population Traffic. Unwillingness to really commit to basic infrastructure improvement/maintenance. Allocation of resources.

Need better sidewalks or road shoulders, also safe bikeways. Live ability increases as we get around without cars as much as possible, and in rain & dark it's just not safe enough.

Having Washington County support urban services in our neighborhood rather than a city and be a master planner working with oversight over the cities planning or lack thereof.

3

Developers aren't paying the full cost of the necessary infrastructure to support their developments. This has resulted in bond measures to cover some of it which has increased the cost to the taxpayers while increasing developer profits. When bond measures haven't covered the necessary infrastructure, the taxpayers are forced to approve some sort of tax increase, or do without road improvements, traffic controls, sufficient schools etc. This isn't right. Those who will benefit should be paying, not all of us!

There is a significant lack of visibility for veterans issues in the county. We have many veterans service organizations who want to help, but they need to be better organized. Many of us are working to fix this, but we need more coordination with the county.

Traffic! Especially light cycles making it more challenging Homelessness I'm concerned that it appears the main goal in my area by the county is to increase high density housing. This has caused a major increase in traffic on the road I live on. When contacted about increased traffic and the speed of traffic the county has not shown any interest in protecting the existing residents. It seems the county's only concern is increasing the population and tax base.

Confused about the plans for development for the agricultural property south of TV Highway, west of 209th. Seems like there should have been more activity with it by now. I like the blinking yellow lights. I think the change in traffic/road structure at 185th and TV Highway is very welcome.

Making our neighborhoods more friendly for walking & cycling is the most important thing to me. Most new construction tends to be last single family homes, which contribute to car dependency and sprawl.

Traffic, mass transit options

We are in unincorporated Washington County. Concerns about being annexed by Tigard or Beaverton.

My major concern is administration spending money on useless (e.g., downtown grid elimination) or unnecessary (e.g., baseball stadium) projects that take away resources from more basic and necessary needs.

Overcrowded schools Overcrowded traffic

Who voted for CPO, NAC, and CIO and why do they have power to do anything?

Transportations; growth issues; governance issues I Love programs on schools and community area. I work at School in Maine for 25 years

My concern is that commercial & residential expansion is being permitted without improvements in the regional transportation infrastructure such as TV Highway & Highway 26. The MAX is running at capacity & has frequent breakdowns & cannot support the expansion.

Authorize private company build toll road Wilsonville-Sherwood-Forest Grove-Helvetia-Sauvie Island-(tunnel) Vancouver Lake-Hazeldale. No tax money, no government liability. Condemnation compensation paid not to exceed Washington County Assessment previous year,plus five per cent. Don't like it, don't drive it.

More public transportation, light rail to Portland.X

4

speeding traffic on Blooming-Fernhill Rd. The people having adopted this road as their personal freeway while avoiding city traffic

Traffic, noise and walkability. We live in a society dominated by cars. I would like to see that change. I would like to see not just the new neighborhoods focus on that but to go back to the older ones and make them more walking friendly and safe. For example, people live on the North side of Hwy 26 yet most stores are on the South side. What can be done better to make it safe for people to walk over and to encourage people to do so.

Fix the traffic problems! I have lived in Tigard for 37 years and nobody is thinking clearly about how to survive the expected population growth! I took the bus for 33 years to downtown PDX, so I see transportation from a different perspective. Now that I am retired I drive, but wish I didn't have to. So when and how can we fix this mess? Is the west-side bypass really dead? Fixing 217 is not the solution. What a mess.

Kids can't walk west from Barnes School on Walker, according to the school because there are no sidewalks, making it unsafe for kids to walk home. Kids need to get from Barnes to the apartments at Murray and Walker. That means school buses are required. Surely sidewalks are less expensive, and greener, in the long run that school buses.

Traffic planning--why does it take place after development- when there is limited options and only expensive options Planning for safety of bicyclists and walkers on roads with no shoulders. I think the county needs more very affordable housing. I think for Aloha-Reedville, we need more sidewalks, safe bike lanes and a preference to walkable neighborhoods and retail centers. I think local housing developers must become focused on generating workforce and very low income housing units. The portfolio of moderate to extremely low housing is a fraction of the real need in the county. Low income residents cannot afford a car in addition to high rent as a portion of income. Therefore, walkable and bike ridable neighborhoods and retail centers are central to creating healthy communities.

Managing urban sprawl, growth boundarys and traffic congestion to keep neighborhoods liveable

TRAFFIC!

More affordable and low income housing need to be built in the neighborhood. Family members have been priced out of the market and are couch surfing. Finding a job seems to be quite difficult for those who have poor internet skills. Traffic gets heavier, more congested. Impatient drivers ignore good driver laws.

Natural resource stewardship, traffic, congestion

Hillsboro's obsession with growth at any cost. Taking money from our schools to subsidize unneeded industrial growth. Listening to developers, not citizens. Industrial pollutants from Intel and others. Airport noise.

bike routes and bike lanes. traffic flow and mass transit

Area Development- property taxes North-South traffic in Hillsboro. No good route

5

Too many new homes with not enough schools, roads, gas stations, and other services north of Highway 26 (near PCC Rock Creek)

Recycyling, composting pickup, protecting natural resources, protecting nature, clean water, air quality.

I am concerned that with the building of the new Beaverton High School and South Cooper Mtn, River Terrace, and South Hillsboro communities that there are not enough roads to haul all those people around the county, particularly in a north-south direction. And traffic along Scholls Ferry to Hwy-217 is already bad, but add another 6,000 homes and we'll have gridlock.

Danger on local roads due to speeding, lack of control, and heavy trucks on residential streets

excessive traffic, local government too involved in business and industry--they DO NOT need subsidies and tax advantages, especially not in the North Hillsboro Industrial area. We managed without help to this point. Too many houses are built and we are not building schools or other infrastructure needed.

inadequate roads.. need infrastructure before development Loss of agricultural land to unnecessary residential/commercial development without regard for under-utilized and under-developed urban space. Unenforced laws on pet owners who walk their pets without leashes and allow the spread of bio-hazardous pet fecal matter on neighbors lawns. Unregulated and unenforced laws regarding feral cats and "outdoor" domesticated feline pets.

More, improved, and safer bike/ped routes accessible to people of all ages and abilities, with a commitment to Vision Zero.

Ability of the area to provide for the common needs of the residents, either through standard infrastructure (Water, Sewer, gas, roads, public transit) or "non-standard" (Ag intrastructure: Feed stores/Tractor stores)

More regional trails - connecting with existing trails Tree preservation, road improvements, sidewalks, homeless resources.

Too much expansion out of the urban growth boundary Not having access to hi speed internet. I live south of Cornelius in the country and there is NO access which is very inconvenient in this day and age. (Ag/farm land area)p

Too much traffic. It is not safe for pedestrians. It wastes time and resources and adds to the pollution of our environment.

Cost of living too high. I want to have ways for everyone to learn about what is happening in the county, and to have a voice in decisions. I want everyone to feel welcome and heard.

Infill density too high. Not every development needs to be R15!

Controlling development boondoggles like River Terrace.

Traffic, walkability of neighborhoods, mass transit

Land changes in our community. Safety/police issues. Disaster planning. First responder training. Community programs for the elderly. Volunteer opportunities

Open up Gales Creek Elementary School again.

Freedom. Metro's land-use planning takes away my freedom to live how I want to live.

6

Livability? Stop developers from building 3 story box houses with no yards so they can double their profits! Make them pay for road improvements around their projects. Stop dense over populating -promote real livability!

I am over 80 and try not to drive at night. I have lived in Wash County 46 years and as a volunteer founded the Hospice program and worked with Head Start and researched the program for pregnant teenagers to complete their HsS education and graduate.

Maintaining infrastructure, especially roads and bridges.

climate change the Hillsboro School District needs some serious changes in administration.

Education, transportations, climate Infrastructure as so much high density in residential building is going on.

How can homeowners have input re immigrant issues? Very critical that legislators (& Governor) do not make "executive decisions" contrary to public interests and are held accountable for their primary responsibility to keep us safe, rather than endangering American lives.

Safety, schools, traffic.

Too many apartments and condos and not enough parks. How to get more cars off the roads. Preserving and restoring the natural environment Preserving our farms

We are not planning and expanding are roadways good enough for the amount of traffic we have. The Board should be more aggressive in expanding and building new roads.

Beef Bend Rd is too narrow for the amount of traffic it carries.

High taxes and bottle-necked roads are a big concern. Traffic is becoming a big problem. Also- we need a trimet bus route that goes up Cornelius Pass Road to West Union!

Transportation, arts and culture, poverty

Traffic congestion, anything that would help traffic flow better, like synchronizing traffic lights.

I have no concerns. I'm very happy with the livability in my neighborhood (Garden Home/Raleigh Hills)

Lack of shelter and affordable housing.

Traffic in suburban areas is getting worse by the year. Planned changes (e.g., adding signals on Roy Rogers Rd.) will only make it worse.

homeless, low income Transportation

I live in a high growth area - fields to homes and business...so the impacts of growth that aren't being well attended to concern me the most.

7

Traffic speeding through neighborhoods, housing for elderly and disabled.

Land use and road construction/changes.

Traffic continues to be difficult Keep the creeks, rivers and parks green with environmental friendly products. Expand Max service. Continue to improve highways.

Organic farming support.

Schools and traffic

Sidewalks would be nice going to schools. I live close to Nike and the traffic is extremely congested. Are there plans to widen Walker Road? I am disappointed in how long it has taken the county to get the new FEMA maps in place. UGB 1) Building permanent microhouses near public transportation so we can end the epidemic of homelessness. 2) Traffic congestion in northern Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Bethany area

Traffic and transportation in the county

My family and I are particularly interested in access to parks close to our home as well as increasing the safety of roads nearby. Backed up traffic and safety is a concern for me. Hearing from others about traffic cutting thru neighborhoods because arterial roads are backed up.

Making sure road/pedestrian infrastructure is comprehensive and well maintained

Lack of sidewalks, car-free zones, bicycle paths. Need continuity of bike paths for commuting and riding longer distances. We need integration of plans between Portland and Washington County.

Affordability has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm relatively secure in my current place, but I fear that, if I do need to move, I won't be able to find a home that fits my needs without spending 30-50% of my income on rent. thoughtful decisions about growth management. Identify the problem before jumping to a solution.

transportation options, trails, parks

I want to know how Washington County is helping make walking and riding a bicycle for the purposes of commuting and running errands on WashCo streets a normal and healthy activity?

Roads not being improved to keep up with in fill development. being able to bike around town, being able to walk and go hiking, affordable living

Spending so much money on Main Street when no one will use it because the majority of it is car wash, paint stores and other unattractive businesses. We needed cafe's, coffee shops, a small supermarket or grocery store, outside tables and chairs to make it walkable and enjoyable.

Preparedness for earthquakes.

8

Everything sustainable, green, including fair trade, and new businesses

Overcrowding.

Over-crowding, over-population, too few greenspaces, too many huge and ugly industrial complexes and other large business structures with enormous parking lots, too many giant apartment complexes/assisted living centers, too little land set aside for roadways/accessways creating endless bottlenecks, too many large businesses relieved of paying their fair share of county, city, and state taxes (dumping their tax burdens on the rest of us who aren't raking in huge sums of money, like they are!), too few public contacts between the county leadership and the county residents, too many people from outside of Washington County commuting huge distances from other counties/states to work within our county (Washington County residents should have first dibs on the jobs here - a much wiser use of every sort of public resource), a completely disorganized and poorly planned shopping area in the Tanasbourne area (chaotic in design, poor access to facilities, very limited access to public transportation, no greenspaces/play places/parks, etc.), abysmal natural disaster planning and resources, under-use of the MAX and bus systems (along with almost no bus benches/lighting/weather shields/toileting facilities/drinking fountains/etc. - to make public transportation more appealing to all, in all types of weather), giant apartments built without play areas for children, severe lack of community services for those with major disabilities (who are forgotten, in nearly all planning, and kept isolated from the community), too much recruitment of out-of-state corporations and residents to move here (leading to the over-crowding and poor planning/designing, along with homelessness and joblessness for those citizens already here), etc.

More sidewalks in residential areas of the county. More opportunities to be involved. Committee meetings are during the day which is hard for working folks to be involved.

Concentration of power in Board of Commissioners with resultant loss of citizen engagement. Evolution into "Administrative State". False promises of economic development.

Housing crisis, child care crisis, individuals and families facing homelessness, services for new immigrants/refugees.

How is the county addressing traffic problems? Any plans for a bypass route similar to the Dundee bypass? Traffic, lower commute time, jobs, green spaces

No sidewalks in Aloha area, speeding in neighborhoods and people never stopping at stop signs.

9

1) What is the Sprawl versus Density plan and how does it address the complete lack of affordable housing? We have no walkable mini-centers to speak of and those that are focus on high end homes with people who drive (Progress Ridge, Peterkort). South Cooper is not any better after the Beaverton School District's mess. 2) What is the TSP that addresses those who live and work in our community who have to deal with drivers who neither live or work in the area. The focus continues to remain on single occupant vehicles. You removed the HOV onramp at Cornell/26 EB for single cars. We have too many people already and trying to solve single drivers is not going to work. Where is carpool/mass transit reoutes and more bike/ped options? 3) Unannexed areas inside the UGB cause so many issues. There are inconsistent building/road/planning codes. But many of those people already reside in a service district so what is their motivation to annex? The fear "midnight annexation" there are people (city of Fanno Creek, Oak Hills, Aloha) who want to remain islands, or fear the mammoth cities they border. How do we consolidate the area fairly if the only change to those people is a city tax? Exemption in exchange for boundaries. 4) Why is communication between the county and cities SO difficult??? See reason #3: Residence on one side of a project get a planning notice, but homes on the other side do not. The county says an issue is the city's because its in their area, but the city says its county because they own the road to it. It's on a corner where one road is county the other is city. Why isn't an impact in a clear 360 degree area not punch holed by jurisdiction boundaries. Please help us!

I think about how to keep us safe as we grow towards a more walkable city: sidewalks, lighting, crosswalks, etc. Affordable housing, rising rents, community policing

I am most concerned by the lack of affordable housing and emergency shelters in the county. I think that positive efforts are being made to centralize/coordinate social services across the county but there is certainly more work to be done - communication, networking, housing services in one centralized location, etc. transportation Lack of sidewalks, especially on Johnson and Drake. Quick response to graffiti. Friendly neighborhood sheriff patrol (Aloha), not because of a call.

Overcrowding Has become ridiculous is this area. The building plans for new neighborhoods have people practically living on top of each other. Too much traffic because city planners refuse to expand boundaries due to environmentalist propaganda.

Washington County really needs to address traffic problems and focus more on Auto traffic needs--not so much about bikes. The amount of funds addressing bikes relative to the actual bike traffic is really out of touch!

The children's activities are limited on times open. It is hard to take your child if it closes at 5 and you are not off work till. I am also missing Hanks being gone. Now I have to go to Albertsons or Safeway. I wish there was something closer and reliable.

Hmmm. How about that the village of Hillsboro is owned by three rich white men, has a schizoid identity, and no freaking grocery store or bakery now. We have an historic overlay that allows any numbskull with money the latitude to screw up the character of the neighborhood with utterly butt-ugly houses that are too big for the miniscule lots. First Avenue is a hazard trying to cross because the County does a crummy job of regulating traffic, ostensibly because there's no money. And finally, the long term plan seems to be founded on build, build, build and make it bigger and more ugly if possible. I used to love Hillsboro, but not so much now. Oh ... and I loathe the School District ... I really wish Thomas Middle School had been turned into a community center. Now we just have a big lot with grass and padlocks on it. Yay. Thanks. All because they were a bunch of greedy idiots ... that building could have been repurposed pretty easily. (They'll yammer on about how it has asbestos and was falling apart ... but that was pretty bullshit.) So let's start with addressing the food desert.

10

I liver in rural Washington County and the county takes HORRIBLE care of its rural roads. This includes grading, gravel, snow removal, pot holes, and other driving issues.

The clustering of social services in dowtown Hillsboro to the exclusion of other areas of the county. The Community Corrections Center threat caused by poor management. Two murders in Hillsboro by residents in the past year. The poor management of the youth department that resulted in murder and rape in Beaverton and Eugene. Stacking County board with personal friends of commissioners whose sole purpose is to advance a predetermined agenda.

Infrastructure -- roads, parks, schools, ...

Providing adequate emergency shelter and temporary housing for homeless, located throughout the county.

Too many houses, too much traffic. Developments built which only make traffic worse, don't help alleviate it (provide alternate through routes).

Development - location, codes, costs, approvals, hearings Transportation - traffic, improvmt of mass transit, biking options and trails Open space

Traffic and roads not equipped to handle the influx of new residents.

Crime, human trafficking, the homeless, education, improving the lives of women & children.

Keeping developers in check. They make their money and are driven by their development work - thus they are able to focus their time influencing government entities to get what they want (for income). Citizens are impacted by developers' decisions - but our money is made and we are driven by jobs/careers we must focus on. This plus our familial duties significantly limits our ability to focus on developer actions which impact us and our livability. Naturally developers have the advantage. Government's role is to shift the balance back to the center which means a significant investment in looking out for representing the citizens (the other side is driven by money) It wasn't perfect, but the CPO program went a long way to help citizens with this, but defunding over time has seriously cut in the ability to help monitor these issues.

Road maintenance and expansion. Most of the roads around my home are undergoing major expansion at the same time. It makes it difficult to get around.

Education, job opportunities, transportation, art.

Safety, making improvements that make my community, Hillsboro, more attractive and vibrant.

The fact that there is so little opportunity for citizen input and the county commission and county government in general are unengaging and aloof. There's very little time to comment during public hearings and meetings and the commission is often unresponsive or clearly has already decided what they will do before the first meeting on a subject is held.

My biggest concern is the clustering of mental health and criminal halfway houses in the downtown Hillsboro area. Also of major concern is that sex offenders are allowed to be housed at the Restitution Center. I am not a NIMBY person, however it's unfair the clustering particularly when it's proven that rehab is better served in the same community the offender lives in.

Housing, healthcare and education for homeless and transition populations.

11

Easy access to rural areas; keeping rural areas rural--no development; recreational opportunities, particularly interconnected paved trail network for bicycling safely.

Walkability, locally owned businesses (not just chains), lack of crime, jobs, parks and trails

Engagement from more people in neighborhood & community issues & challenges.

Crime and traffic

Washington County is a great place to live.

How dangerous it is to walk or ride a bicycle most anywhere in Washington County, Oregon, and how poorly cities are planned - are there ANY restrictions or guidance when new buildings or houses are built? Infrastructure. Usable and resilient.

I would like to see INTEGRITY as the basis for decision making whether it is government, industry (think Intel) or school issues.

Providing for and integrating immigrant/nonEnglish community into WA County community.

N/A

Community safety Work experiences for youth the ubiquitous exposure to wireless infastructure being deployed in the interest of surveillance under the guise of "climate change" "transportation projects""energy efficient streetlights" and "utility infastructure upgrades" .i am now permanently reactive to such electric/rf fields as they are tresspassing on all biology here since the smartgrid/smartmeters came 4+ years ago and all bats fell from trees and died.as unacceptable as the public water supply being converted to recycled groundwater/wastewater to justify EPA wastewater treatment plant and "clean water services" who no longer protect creek habitat but drainage ditches instead to collect all groundwater to then add toxic chlorine,fluoride,and ammonia to sell back to us while we support them financially to poison us.ALL road work projects currently underway involve ecocide,wireless sensors and surveillance infastructure ,so do all the "sustainable" developments being stacked and packed where natural life used to be so we can all "sustain' our politicians and the "owner investor class" they serve with the rent we must pay to inhabit our own planet that is being converted into a controlled monitored lifeless cement international "smartgrowth " investment surrounded by poisoned "food" poisoned" water" and biocidal microwave spectrum frequency in our homes,in our schools,and even in our rivers

Affordable housing TRAFFIC I worry that my nice neighborhood of single family homes on large lots is going to be invaded by more of the "cram as many townhomes on a single lots as you can" infill projects. I chose to live in Hillsboro to avoid the crowded and oppressive feeling of Portland, but the desire to increase density is making me consider leaving the region.

Walkability and convenience.

12

how best to improve the County's livability - i.e. health, safety, economic viability and environmental resilience - for our children and grandchildren.

affordable housing, children's health and education

safer bike trails and lanes Road projects, new development (residential, commercial, and Industrial), new parks and trails, and other large issues that affect the county and my community.

Transportation and traffic issues are plaguing our county and all cities within. What is our long term plan and ???????

Driver's license discrimination Lack of children's levy here like Multnomah County has and we are a wealthier county Too much development. Too many tax breaks for large businesses

I would like to hear more about community events and partnerships with local libraries and schools. I usually hear about community events through postings at the library.

increasing traffic congestion and lack of focus on infrastructure (with continued approval of new housing) in the Bethany area; lack of public transit from Bethany to Sunset transit center (which lacks enough parking); traffic around Nike (need better traffic signals through that area)

Roads, I have no time at home if I can not get to and from work in a timely manner.

The cost of housing and skyrocketing rents.

Lack of planning for livable communities. There is only one restaurant in walking distance from my Hillsboro home, and nothing else like a grocery store, pub, etc. Many roads still don't have sidewalks or bike lanes. Bus service is infrequent.

care for kids after school and during the summer

More commercial and community spaces mixed in with residential development.

In my community, there are a lot of problems with drugs, and a lack of access to healthy food at a low enough price. Everybody is affected by it. But the people who are hurt the most are the poorest, and then they are discriminated against because people think their problems are their fault. A lot of things contribute to this problem. But I think we could do more to bring people together to foster better understanding.

Rising taxes Safety and traffic 1) Transportation -traffic, transit, pedestrian safety. 2) Affordable Housing 3) Maintaining natural areas

Traffic congestion, homeless in the county, lack of single level homes one third of the population is over 60. crime, housing, wages

13

Homeless, availability of fresh food Fodor, improve k-12 and higher education, getting books to children, t

Noise pollution! a. Gas leaf blowers b. Loud garbage trucks c. Unmuffled motorcycles. Apparently no excessive motor vehicle ordinance or enforcement.

Affordable housing is a huge concern and things are not improving - countywide

Traffic, roads, public safety Crime statistics and locations. Changes to zoning laws.

Traffic, how challenging it is to drive and walk because of cars. Need more shopping and service options closer to home.

Planned growth, safety

Availability homes with master on the main (lot size) . Sidewalks, Traffic, Public transportation,

Landlords pricing low income residents out of rental housing make Washington County unlivable for the poor, low income and disadvantaged. The county is not doing enough to control the rent hikes and secure housing for these citizens. The county is sitting by while an increasingly larger portion of the population becomes homeless.

Walkability in neighborhood and business districts.

The intersection of Tualatin Valley Highway and 209th Ave becomes extremely congested because there is no left turn lane. This occurs during rush hours and in exacerbated by school buses in the mornings. This intersection needs some serious attention.

I serve on the Beaverton Council on Aging. We are concerned about the livability of our cities as our populations age.

News feed / current events that relate to long term impacts vs just feel good news or a public evgent calendar The CPO program should only be a tool for residents of Washington County to share their thoughts about programs and services provided by Washington County, not the cities within Washington County as their have their own citizen engagement processes and programs.

Youth aged16-24 workforce programs

I think getting people involved makes them take more ownership of the events that happen around where they live.

Government encroachment on rural lifestyle. Density, zoning, public transportation

Livable wage jobs/skill gaps Road conditions, libraries, public safety, places & activities for individuals and families to connect.

14

Government transparency. Transportation. Sustainable growth. Limited growth.

Housing density--Density is getting too high for the infrastructure and liveability in general.

Taxes! Specifically, the unfortunate reality that I pay an excessive amount to the Beaverton school district, yet choose to send my kids to private school.

my biggest concern is when a decision is made by the few, without reaching out to the many for input.

Protection of large trees during development. Re-examine the policy of large development companies like Horton and Arbor homes of the failure to protect large trees especially groups of trees when plotting roads and buildings

Crosswalk from SW Huntington across Cedar Hills Blvd. for neighborhood access Cedar Hills Park and William Walker Elementary. Sidewalks. Speeding in neighborhood.

Assuring parents and youth are supported in home. Mental health is addressed.

For livability, I believe a community needs to address several issues on an ongoing basis: Health and Wellness – Ensuring public health access to those in need, birth through senior citizens, emergency access to mental health services, and treatment services for drug and alcohol. Education – Oregon ranks 46th in the nation for providing adequate early learning opportunities for preschool, meaning they are less likely to gain the social and academic skills they need to succeed in primary school. Anything the county can do to promote education and early childhood services will benefit youth in our community. Mentoring – There is significant research on the benefits of providing mentors for youth, promoting successful education, social skills, crime prevention, and transition to successful adulthood. Anything the county can do to promote mentoring programs for youth will benefit our community. Public Safety – Community based policing and events that promote positive interactions between police and youth will go a long way in promoting public safety. Transitioning from the hammer approach of the criminal justice system to treating drug and alcohol issues as a major public health crisis, providing treatment and therapy instead of incarceration, would benefit our community. Coordinating efforts with mental health providers will also benefit the community. Parks and Recreation – Continued support of parks and recreation promoting pro-social activities and cultural events will benefit our community. Agriculture – Promoting and supporting GMO free, organic farm to table programs, ensuring local support of farms and a healthy food supply will benefit our community.

More and more building going on, so there are more and more people all the time - leading to VERY CONGESTED roadways much of the time. I think we need to plan more road access or slow down development.

Cost of living is too high for wages paid Too many row houses packed in to land behind other homes, narrow streets so when cars park other cars can't get by, poor markings on the roads so you can't see clearly the middle, the bike area, left turn only, etc.

The building of large numbers of dwellings behind PCC Rock Creek without first improving the surrounding roads (185th, Kaiser, Springville).

15

This is a poorly worded question, but I would say it's scary how Hillsboro has given up on its' school system. They don't offer a TAG program, but they rank high with their "social justice" programs of not punishing bullies and the like, but rather sitting around a table and talking about their feelings. It's no wonder that they rank one of the lowest for test scores and graduation rates. There should be more emphasis on equal accountability and quality education for all schools in the county with nothing being "dumbed down".

The off ramp for cedar hills boulevard heading eastbound is a joke. How can anyone ever expect to make a left turn and live through it with the current setup? We shouldn't be waiting for someone to be killed before a change is made there.

Transportation and walkability. Traffic is increasing and the roads don't seem to be able to keep up, especially 217. Walkability is also an issue because many busy roads like Butner do not have sidewalks, or have inadequate ones as are those on Walker Road between William Walker school and Cedar Hills Blvd. We live close enough to many places to walk if it was safe.

School safety, traffic congestion and monitoring in neighborhoods, and animal control

To me, livability means protecting green space while also finding solutions to problems created by population density increases (like excess traffic!).

I'm still very upset about the clinic closing it's door and the county not taking into consideration the community's needs in its entirety. I want to be able to believe in and trust that our commissioners advocate and represent the whole community but when they are all Caucasian males it's hard to belive they do. I would like term limits so that we may have more chances to change the board to be more representative of our community. I think a board compromised of people from diverse backgrounds would offer different points of view and different perspectives that are often missed/overlooked.

The amount I pay for property taxes. I am retired, my income does not rise but taxes continue to outpace the rate of inflation. concerns about my home being made unlivable because of the new develop

We moved to our Cedar Mill to raise our daughter near some of the best schools in the state. While I'd like to see more road improvements to alleviate the congested lanes on NW Cornell we'd also like safer road for bike commuting and walking to local shops to stay out of the car. We heading in the right direction but it's taking too long!

Density, traffic, safety, walking paths. Access to public transportation.

The compaction of the uncontrolled and unaffordable growth without careful consideration of the existing and needed infrastructure, particularly the inadequate roads. Why are homes being built only 10 feet apart on lots that really have no room for yards as well as trees to replace all the ones removed for the home construction?

Affordable Housing Public Safety Traffic, bicycle safety, walkable neighborhood, crime in that order.

Roads blocked off during lunch/rush hour, crime, homelessness, domestic violence

16

Traffic is a concern I applaud the efforts, to date, to make downtown more inviting and want to see more of that.

Transportation

Crime, gangs and drug users are taking over.

Safety/Crime/Schools Driving/Traffic/Sidewalks/Lights/Flooding Homelessness and increase of camps along Fanno Creek. Walkability, bike safety

More livable communities (read: walkable). Less traffic (or more efficient traffic management)

A safe and clean community that’s free of gang graffiti. Enforcement of county and city codes. Example houses with a lot of garbage, abandon vehicles on the street. Things that would bring down a home value.

Development

I want to live in a safe, sustainable community Crowded roads. Run off from taking out trees and cramming in too many apts and houses.

The county needs to have more enforcement powers of ordinances as it relates the health and livability of the community. For example, a resident who has a rodent haven property should not be allowed to continue their filth for months on end. Additionally, instead of expanding the UGB, we should allow for high-rises and skyscrapers to be zoned this will bring in more business and getting a few five-star hotels to host the NBA playoffs would get Washington County out of the shadow of Portland. Furthermore let’s keep Washington County normal, not weird.

I would like to see Wash. CO be more active in planning to build or have them built, schools and widening of roads. Bethany, Kaiser, and springville need attention, traffic lights and so on.

We need a culturally specific CPO to engage and represent the interests and issues of communities of color. This CPO would represent all of Washington County communities of color (or specific groups) across the geographical WC area.

Traffic, traffic, and people not abiding by laws. Homelessness and crime are the most concerning Just want to keep our community safe and as crime-free as possible.

We have been begging for more road improvements before building all these houses you have planned. The WC grid lock that is becoming worse everyday. Sitting in your car cuts down on home time. Plus destroying all the family farm land to give way to houses and a data center that's not going to have any jobs is ridiculous I don't want food from China I want food from where I live .

Concerned about the County's focus on big box retailers thus eliminating the opportunity to create walking neighborhoods, and a greater sense of community.

The lack of sidewalks and accessibility within our built environment.

Affordable housing. Public safety and lower crime rates.

17

traffic has gotten bad on hwy 26 going west and east morning and night; housing costs are increasing and availablity is decreasing; no std clininc at the county seems to be missing a key element of service that CBO's can't provide. i am also frustrated by litter that i see in my neighborhood

Safety - Protection on persons or property. Alson concerned with rising mental health, as I feel it could compromise our safety.

Growth and changes to rural areas.

Public Transport in rural areas business corruption of politicians

Safe schools and large event safety, well lighted and maintained roads, fun events for family at places like fairgrounds, main streets, good bike and pedestrian access, safe crosswalks, and where is our patriotism for 4th of July. We don't have fireworks, celebration etc. Would like to see more local activities for kids during school breaks. Also affordable housing-really bad now. Housing authority needs more money. regulate rent increases, need grants for first time homebuyers and energy projects.

Road maintenance and traffic.

Traffic. affordable housing, safe roads for cars, bikes and humans, schools having the resources they need

Im.proved public transportation. Increased trails and public parks Too many streets without sidewalks. Rents are unaffordable for low-income families. Victims of Domestic Violence have no safe place to go with the unavailability of room in shelters or affordable housing options.

Park space, lack of good natural, dog-friendly trails near the downtown core. Walkability, lack of an affordable grocery store near the downtown core.

* Affordable living - property taxes, homes, rent, utilities, groceries, cost of living keeps going up, but income does not * Roads & congestion - very dangerous for vehicles, pedistrian, bicycles. Too many intersection lights. Too much congestion, takes forever to get anywhere. Need more sidewalks and street lighting to see. * Transportation/Transit - needs to be more convenient and faster, i.e. taking transit from Aloha to Tigard takes 1 1/2 hrs. * Mental Health Services - needs to be easily accessible and affordable to everyone. Alot of people that need help, don't go because they can't afford the services. * Theft/Vandalism - needs to be looked at to prevent it.

Traffic. Increase roads going east from 185th St north of Springville Rd. Still too much traffic on Joss in the area of Springville Elementary School. Big safety concern.

To offer more mental and physical services for the poor and/or homeless, affordable housing, temporary housing, more public transportation, more bicycle lanes, improvement of schools, especially those who are with more needs.

Lack of urban-level planning and community support in Cedar Mill and other Unincorporated Urban Areas.

land use planning Failure of TriMet to address public transit issues; a top-down approach by the City of Portland and Metro rather than our cities/county leading; failure to address congestion; a demand for light rail as the one and only "solution" to anything.

community planning, traffic arterials, support of education

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I feel that the government isn't listening to the people but are working on their own agenda. One that benefits them and not the public at large. Money is being spent with little accountability. Who is watching out for the publics interest to make sure funds are being spent in a way that is actually going to benefit more than a few.

traffic, roads, development

Resolving transportation issues for seniors. Not all seniors are disabled and do not qualify for the LYFT PROGRAM. still, having to walk a mile or more to access public transport can be daunting. We need a better neighborhood transport system to get riders to the transit stations.

Traffic through Cedar Hills neighborhood, and throughout Beaverton area.

More streetlights and more sidewalks!

The attitude that most government/public officials know have regarding public involvement - they don't want it and they don't want the public to be involved. It seems most want unfettered control over people's lives, livelihoods and dollars. Backdoor deals, such as the not so "Grand Bargain". Only doing the bare bones minimums (established as floors) with public notifications.

Land use & Transportation Traffic, gangs, graffiti removal, maintaining agricultural land. Libraries that make opportunities to engage community members. Combining city governments in some cases. Hwy from Beaverton/ Hillsboro area direct to I5. Small business support.

The continued lack of effort to decrease fossil fuel use and promotion of locally, including the user, produced energy sources. Promote car pooling to large employers.

I'm so concerned about the bldg. of big campuses etc on our wonderful farmland - specifically north of Evergreen. Food sources are shrinking, and we're bldging on our great Alfalfa, etc. fields??!!

Schools, Transportation, water

Financial impacts of new development of the long-term sustainability of our communities. Are we simply pushing too much of the infrastructure costs to the next generation ? Why does an acre of land with urban services sell at the same price as raw land without adequate infrastructure? Lack of focus on impacts of development on established neighborhoods, including (but not limited to) parking, traffic impacts, light trespass, tree removal, wildlife habit, removal of pervious surfaces,

transportation

Community cohesion and access to information at the most basic, neighbor to neighbor level.

Rosedale rd and Miller Hill Rd. They remain dangerous with cars driving too fast. River rd has been getting back to pot-holes again. Can you afford to fix them?

Traffic flow is a big issue. Knowing that the Sheriff's Office is listening to non-emergency reports is also important since after living in this community and being part of Neighborhood Watch for 20 years (??) it's evident that the "little" crimes or suspicious activity leads to worse )=

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Security in neighborhoods, Police behavior, education.

Clean air, water. Natural areas, with trees and native plants.

Infrastructure to support growth in WC particularly in South Hillsboro (TV Hwy-Farmington/209th-River Rd) Plans for unincorporated areas to reasonably regulate businesses, signs, access Long range planning for LOLs, etc in WC such as ESPD of the Sheriff's Office

Safety is key. Road condition, visibility clear for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. A safe place to walk off of the road. Stop signs in older neighborhoods that do not have them. All new communities have traffic plans, please help older communities, we've paid our taxes for a very long time.

Good Schools, sidewalks, traffic, new development, I'm concerned about homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. The county spends tons of money on road projects but a fraction of that on affordable housing. Obviously, "the market" is not going to provide a niche for low-income renters. The Board of Commissioners need to come up with ways to create more housing.

The horrible traffic.

What are the representatives that we voted in accomplishing. How are they spending money? How many people is that effecting?

traffic CPO has been a joke since its inception, I have not given it a second chance

Traffic -- too many cars; and cars not stopping for pedestrians Traffic Traffic increasing due to developments and the lack of sidewalks in the developed urban areas. We need to prioritize improving the infrastructure to handle the large increases in population.

Larger development plans that may affect my neighborhood, especially traffic and transportation.

I think you're doing a good job. People are too busy for community engagement it's not your fault.

Roads. Lack of planning for downtown Cedar Mill. Too much of the same kind of residential zoning (R-6, R-9)—varied density with more open space would be better.

Speed limits on rural roads especially around Cooper Mountain, Tile Flats, etc. The PD pulls wrecks out of the ditches here every week, esp Grabhorn, Gasner Roads. The road infrastructure - and you know this - is way too underdeveloped to deal with in-fill and new development. Roads have become very dangerous.

sidewalks, storm water management, residential density

Changes to UGB that would impact EFU designation.

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Traffic and road construction, parks and recreation, public events throughout the city, and land use decisions.

Roads! Way too many drivers, not enough infrastructure... Not just at commute times, but most of the time now.

interurban transportation / urban growth boundaries / watershed management

turnover in where people live; people who settle in are more likely to care about their community. The same can apply for small businesses

Traffic, petty crime, air quality

property taxes, traffic, over-development

1.The South Hillsboro Project concerns my wife and I very much. We have voiced our concerns at 4 different meetings, but the officials don't seem interested in our concerns at all. We are convinced that the addition of 25,000 people in a 2 square mile area is ridiculous, and the planners have in no way adequately addressed the traffic issues. There are only 2 viable streets out of the development: Farmington Rd. and TV Highway. These streets have not been widened. Some turns lanes have been addressed, but that doesn't address the huge increase of traffic that these 2 routes will see. Running Cornelius Pass Rd. through to Farmington will not relieve the traffic on Farmington and RV Highway. 2.We are concerned about the growing traffic on Highway 26, Highway 217, traffic near Intel and Nike. 3.We are concerned about the growth of the urban growth boundry. That should be a set boundary and no more extensions should be allowed - ever. Green space and bike/pedestrian assets. Examples of the future greenway along the Tualatin River from Hillsboro to the mouth. Extension of Banks/Vernonia RT.

Traffic is getting terrible especially on Scholls Ferry road and N/S roads

development on prime farm land and prohibited building on scrub land

I am concerned about the balance of development and growth, protecting natural areas and resources, maintaining viable ag infrastructure, and keeping our communities livable. It is a difficult balance between progress and preservation, but one that we can be proud of here.

Increased traffic on westside freeways (26 & 217); population growth without increasing roadways in response Improving roads.

Sustainability, non-drive alone transportation options, safe bicycle routes, community building through developing interesting neighborhoods and connected gathering places, wetland protection

polluted air (airport and fossil fuel)

traffic infrastructure roads are really bad especially in unincorporated areas such as Metzger

Keeping Hillsboro a clean, safe environment to live and raise a family or retire.

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Transportation; traffic; development

The amount of traffic on the existing roads is too heavy.

controlling sprawl

Schools, Economic development, livability, traffic, responsible government.

food banks

Loss of farm land is a huge loss long term. School over population. Roads and growing traffic congestion.

I am concerned about Syrian refugees coming here. I am concerned about homelessness and would like to participate in developing solutions

I am concerned about growth for growths sake. Quality of life and sustainable growth should be our focus. Just look south to California to see what too much growth can do to a community. We should also embrace and protect our agricultural base. some of the finest soil in the world is in our county. The cultural and economic diversity that ag provides is very important. Local and sustainable are not just words, we need to make good decisions so they remain a healthy and viable part of our economic base.

Gentrification. Area livability, in particular...traffic and density.

Transportation - maintenance of existing system; addressing safety issues; alternate modes Housing - ensure its attainable and affordable Education - improve quality; access; multi-cultural Senior services - available; affordable; easy to access Community services - library, parks, government services

We need to stop converting farm land to houses.

Since Washington County has grown up over the course of very different eras, some areas have great roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Others are barely removed from being 1960s farm roads. I would like to see more standardization of our roadways to reflect the County's changing demographics.

Overcrowding. I live in King city and we are overrun with traffic noise and crime . We are loosing our sense of community. The building boom needs to slow down.

Pedestrian access

Traffic, Nearby development, changes in zoning/regulation that might impact me

Traffic, feral cats

Transportation! It's very difficult to feel safe as a pedestrian and away from #57 and Max, transit in Hillsboro is not very good. It's difficult to get places just to do daily needs let alone 'be involved' in the community if it's more than a mile walk from my home. I really think car culture is ruining our livability!

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Make the roads big enough to handle the volume of people living in the county. Don't fall victim to the liberal/Metro agenda of artificially keeping them small trying to force mass transit on people. We don't want it!

numbers of people waaay too big! traffic, violence etc etc We have a couple issues within our immediate community that continue to go un-addresssed/un-disclosed by the local sheriff's office. In particular, we have a rehab house that continues to have police activity, but we can't get an answer as to what's permitted in the home, etc. that is next to a community park and in a small neighborhood with many children. Additionally, we have a few traffic concerns that are routine that the sheriff has not responded to.

Safety - specifically walking on road for children and vehicle enforcement at stop signs/lights Services - explanation of benefits provided by governments

198th between Farmington and TVwy needs to be widened sooner than what's on your site

traffic housing prices

Proximity of marijuana stores to my home Cost of living rising.

Reduce traffic, best use of $$, balance cars, bikes and pedestrians.

roads, transportation, jobs, recreational plans, water supply and usage.

Pedestrian and bicycle safety; police protection; police using restraint when possible

1) Speeding traffic on residential streets (I'm on 114th) and people use it to bypass 99W 2) Accessible, affordable housing for the disabled and elderly. I have a disabled son and with SSI only paying about $725/mo, I don't see how he can make it when I die (hopefully far in the future.) But this will be a fast growing problem as our population ages.

Mass transit improvements and improvements to walkability/bikeability Homelessness, lack of day shelters for the homeless. Sidewalks for safer travel. I do not like the Infill of houses being built on small lots or flag lots. There is no consideration of what is acceptable to the neighborhoods. We live in the suburbs for a reason!

Many older neighborhoods do not have sidewalks even close to schools. As we encourage people to walk more let's keep them safe (Specifically around HilHi for example)

Why does the county approve houses to be built in neighborhoods without consideration as to what the impact will be to existing home owners.

Traffic continues to increase. Planned bike paths may help but completion dates are not known.

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Growing traffic congestion and parking problems in the Raleigh Hills/West Slope neighborhoods. We need better coordination between Wash Co/Beaverton transportation, development, and public safety people. There are speed, volume and parking issues, but each jurisdiction points to each other or the state. Not cool.

Safety, overcrowding, home values.

Public input is ineffective. The CPO program, CCI, etc. are smoke screens that our elected official are listening. Conclusions are drawn prior to community involvement. Too many people, too much congestion, too much traffic yet the community planning of mixed use and mass transportation will solve all. Washington County is too big now to listen to individuals. Back when the County was smaller Commissioners like Virginia Dagg listened and got involved. Roy Rogers refers everything to his staff…..goes nowhere. Too late but nice survey. Keep up the great work of making us think you care.

We have too many illegal aliens and druggies. I think we should have a day to round up and turn in illegals and druggies and have them all sent back to Mexico.

Density-nowhere for kids to play or people to garden or visit nature. Lack of connecting paths for people to bike who would like to develop that ability.

Medical marijuana dispensary being put in our neighborhood, I DO NOT agree with the decision. It belongs in a strip mall or similar with adequate parking and lighting. I absolutely cannot imagine the reasoning for such a decision.

Traffic jams on highway 217 and the Sunset!

Weak/lack of planning negatively impacts quality of life in unincorporated areas of Washington County.

affordable housing--need to be in-filling with small plexes, not just single family.

jobs,formost,it's a must in our comunmity,that our leaders stay out of buisness leads groups that is not the place ,at all,our leaders,show biazasm when that happens,our leaders need to have a place,at least once every 3 months a plublic town hall should be the way,that way sherrifs department as well as others,keep their integartiy, leads groups, buisness groups usually have membership dues,that is no place for our plublic oficers.

Police and sheriff dept's accountability for safe and fair treatment of the public: - civilian direction of law enforcement, public oversight, public review of events in which law enforcement harms people, independent investigators and prosecutors - get input from residents in neighborhoods near proposed projects about the proposals and get county or city commission review of public suggestions and final direction. My neighborhood is saddled with sidewalks, a line of domesticated trees planted in sidewalks, and street lights on all night, ruining natural night conditions in the only public woods in our local park instead of having motion detectors for pedestrians, since only they need street lights at night, and some street lights are on during the day, so we are paying for a lot of counterproductive and wasted electricity use.

Illegal immigration is a serious problem here. Insanely dense housing is another problem.

Protecting rural land and rural reserves, transportation issues, commercial events on farmland

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fixing the eastbound Cedar Hills Blvd Exit ... turning left onto cedar hills blvd. Turn light at Butner Rd...intersection of Cedar Hills Blvd

Traffic congestion continues to worsen. We need a long term plan to mitigate.

Traffic safety, reducing traffic congestion, expand and improve public spaces, parks and recreation,

Our County never seems to do much to better the lot of its residents. It does a lot for industry, but not much for people.

High-density living is not good. Poor road planning has so much congestion.

Public Schools and Farmland vs.Urban Growth Boundaries with regard to new industry

Crime, Road Safety/Efficiency, new development

1. Drastically reduce mass shootings, particularly against children and students. Mass killings of innocent young people is unacceptable, and we should work toward prevention. 2. Rise in homelessness in the Portland area, and the metro area's overall crunch in housing affordability. Decent housing is a basic human right. 3. Lack of funding for public infrastructure, combined with overuse of tax incentives for businesses and economic development. 4. State of Oregon's structural budget problems that lead to perpetual fights over funds for critical services, especially safety, health and human services, and K-12 education and higher education. 4. Lack of cohesive government, business, hospital/health care, education and community strategies and planning for emergency preparedness and the next Cascadia earthquake. 5. Our culture needs to become more open, inclusive and affirming of differences and diversity. We have to learn from each other, have tough conversations, and tolerate discomfort on certain issues.

Cramming too many homes into small spaces. We need some neighborhoods with yards large enough for kids to play in.

Traffic bottlenecks, large housing developments leading their infrastructure development

walkability in Bonny Slope-how unsafe it is with piecemeal development and many roads without sidewalks. Development taxes the system, is not held closely to long range planning or made to contribute its fair share to schools and other infrastructure.

an end to civil rights abuses ; truly affordable rental housing for low income and extremely low income individuals ; an end to racial profiling by the police ; an end to abuses by the police; more and better resources for the mentally ill so that they avoid jail time / incarceration ; street lights ; sidewalks ; better public transportation ; bus shelters with benches; safer crosswalks ; bicycles off the major roads completely.

transportation, congestion, traffic safety, growth, protecting the rural area, environment

Stormwater pollution, homelessness 1) Better sidewalks on the streets, many have danger of causing falls. 2) create sidewalks in many streets with a lot of pedestrians, for example 24th Street between Main & Maple. 3) more housing opportunities for families with very little resources. 4) college scholarships

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Problems in living places, stringent laws Homeless/more housing; we need more jobs; don’t raise the min wage Need for inclusionary housing! Low income housing (more) Resources & Options; rent is getting outrageous too! Homeless and low income families Housing for young and old combined; inclusionary housing Affordable housing Support/ allowance for low impact eco villages Poorly paved roads are damaging my car Time commuting to work excessive. Traffic. New developments going without associated infrastructure improvements i.e. new Nike buildings, no new roads Lighting on highway marking Hillsboro’s Minter Bridge/TVHwy connection by railroad track is confusing, indistinct Transportation infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with development Parking considerations; safety in neighborhood trafficking Roads – Aloha Area with S. Hill, Cooper Mt, etc. coming into play More better transit, bike & ped facilities, attractive downtowns, job & town centers well served by above Sidewalks; TV Hwy to Elmonica MAX station needs bicycle/pedestrian paths on 170th Ave. Paths should have gone in during apartment construction. Developers must plan around the land purchased and not make the plan work through variances and hardship. Developers should be vetted by the County to be required to follow community wishes & purchase

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protection Developers must be responsible for the increased traffic on unimproved streets without proper width and sidewalks for safety Neighborhood commercial areas make communities. There are virtually no such areas in new developments. Seas of houses and no gathering spots locally. My community expresses: “We want new development to reflect the neighborhood into which infill is happening.” Me too! Our Washington County has changed for the better in the 25 years that I have lived here and known of the CPO & CCI. 1) MSTIP 3 was approved in 1993 or 1995 – 25 years ago. Our Board needs to fund transportation investments that use 21st century technique solutions not 20th century engineering standards. [Transportation] 2) Unincorporated WA Co has a number of town centers and the cities have more. The Board needs to support all of them with countywide money to support livable communities [Town Centers & Quality of Life]. 3) The demographics of WaCo have changed a lot in 30 years. WaCo should not abandon its responsibility for public health. Affordable living! Pedestrian Safety! Schools having the resources they need! Yes, traffic sucks, but there are bigger problems! Lack of affordable housing options. Planning of economic development options. Affordable Housing; Good Road System; Park/Trails; United Community; Walkability; Good Parking; Safe DITTO -Transparency of Govt. -Air pollution -too much traffic -Gain Share -Improvement of Public Involvement -Responsiveness of elected officials Tree code; noise code HAIR – Hillsboro Air ?? Need for better tree code

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LUT testimony by citizens be sent via EMAIL. Both Multnomah and Clackamas counties allow email testimony. Having a vibrant community ready to be engaged. But first we need to educate them. Mandatory mediation for neighbor disputes; no citations between neighbors unless egregious Mental Health Resources!!!! (timely matter for emer. Meds) Mental health trainings for police, firefighters, etc. City puts too many regulations on dayly living in Wash. county. Too many rules. (noted on hard copy that age and racial and ethnic backgrounds "should not matter"; not enough time to take the survey and have a "ballot".) Any new laws in county that concern property owners. Reminders of things that city and county ordinances require such as abandoned cars or grossly unkempt yards (fire hazard). Wider shoulders on rural roads to facilitate parking, passing & safer cycling We have a serious problem with meth users/dealers in the Mountaindale area. I'm concerned about the increase in unpleasant odor coming from the recycling place near Holladay St. and 4th avenue? (in North Plains). Some days it's pretty ripe. I also would like to see more lanes added to main roads and less attention towards MAX and other public transportation. Excessive taxation so that I or others can not live here after retirement Roads! I have lived here for a long time. Our roads have become completely inadequate for the movement of cars. Not happy when laws are disregarded (speed limits, e.g.) and drug deals seem to be going on at our park. Happy to see neighbors band together in times of need and, also, make the effort to meet new neighbors. *The new Beaverton District High School will border Tigard District at Scholls Ferry Rd and 173rd. The Tigard boundaries should be moved South for livability of families. *Will Bethany become a city? Traffic, traffic & more traffic. Rising taxes *Safe bicycling on main streets. *Can't wait to have MAX in Tigard! *Love the Farmer's Market - would love to see an indoor space for year-round. *Would love to know if I have a Neighborhood Association. *Pedestrian & bicycle path connectivity. Earthquake preparedness. Traffic safety, roads, & signs Sidewalks, parks, bus service, safety, good schools, environmental safety I think it's important to cut as few trees down as possible, and to replace trees that are cut down with new ones. Trees are a key element to enhance the livability of a community. *Solutions for transportation that is based on 21st century techniques (solutions) and not 20th century transportation (engineering) standards. *Community land use for unincorporated areas and for cities. The unincorporated urban areas are 'being left behind' by virtue of their own non-funding decisions and will ultimately degrade. That's a hard sell though, I know. *Community diversity - 2015 different composition that 1980/1990's and equity must be in our minds. I recommend Wahington County engage the communities in the development of a livabiliity work plan with performance measures and timilines. The past several decades have seen county aggressively

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suuport rapid and expansive growth that can threaten community scale, identity, and encouraging public subsidy of the corporate sector (infrastructure, tax abatement) and we lack ordinance for tree protection, have an archaic and unenforceable noise ordinance, have increased light pollution, increased air pollution, traffic enforcement, among others. We are becoming a generic 'Beaverboro' which is not a healthy basis for the development and maintenance of community identity. We need a more positive culture for civic engagement. Too many houses being built Cedar Mill needs sidewalks all over Tuga Area - Not just along Cornell, 113th & 119th (N.W.) No golf courses should be converted to housing or any other use other than a golf course. Losing the Orenco Golf Course greatly diminished the community. There are many dead-end streets that have not been abandoned. These street provide a quiet & safe neighborhood for the residents. The county insists on pushing these streets through therefore destroying the livability of these neighborhoods - this practice must stop I'm most interested in property development within or near my neighborhood 1. Make public parks smoke/vape free -- these are areas set aside to enhance the health and well-being of the community. 2.More efficient connectivity of public transportation within and between Washington and Multnomah counties (so using public transportation does not take 3-4 times longer than driving.) 2. Give low income people a cost break on public transportation -- perhaps a program similar to the lower rates for seniors, or a nontransferable voucher, or a tax credit, etc. 3.Synch traffic devices to allow efficient flow at the appropriate speed (there are too many streets where the traffic lights seemed timed to stop the flow of cars going the speed limit -- which wastes fuel and adds to pollution.) I am disturbed by "infill" development with what appears to me to be deliberate exclusion of adjoining property owners from the details of development/ planning process and decisions rendered there in. Late arrival of any items sent by county. Today is 11/26. Dec 1 is less than a week away! Survey due Dec & meeting at Willow Creek. If I knew 2 weeks ago I would not have agreed to host a board meeting on 12/1! When will the listing of permit requests return to this? 1000 notification does not work in rural areas! Traffic 1) Too high a density of apts & condos with insufficient parking and dependence on tax payer dollars to support parks and recreation. 2) Lack of choice for home sites and high lit/land costs because of limitations on developing available land near places of work. 3) Inadequate road planning requiring expensive re-dos of roads for widening, bridges, etc. 4)Planners ignoring survey input/poor analysis!! How about a blinking light or a round-a-bout where old 47 meets Hwy 47? Bad, as traffic so bad - very dangerous! Provisions for infrastructure costs when granting builders permits to add more and more homes - existing roads and schools cannot handle exploding population. Builders need to provide land for schools and money is needed to improve traffic (roads) as more & more people need to use. Unchecked taxes: agencies such as Tualatin Valley Fire living like kings & vast increases in support staff over the years. Schools stating that they have high student ratios to teachers. In my school area, Chehalem, they have 25 classrooms, but 55 to 60 staff paid people. Every school is like this. I could go on forever. Traffic congestion 1) Much more effort to stop gangs - gang tagging, etc. 2) Too much $ spent to accommodate cars The blackberries were all cut down in the new underdeveloped Ash Creek Rock below our house a # of years ago, they have all grown back up & coming across the creek to our property. I know this is in Tigard city limits, but is is still in WA county & what a mess it is. My biggest concern is traffic on Schools Ferry. Once the new high school opens & River Terrace is built, plus the neighborhood surrounding the high school, there will be complete gridlock. As it is now, it takes

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longer to get from Murray to Scholls than from 217 @ 26 and in to town. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Infrastructure anyone?!!! Traffic Police, Fire, Utilities 1) Roads are not being improved to keep up with the congested living conditions. 2) Lots at new construction are too small for the numbers of cars people have including boats and other toys. 3) Too many vehicles left on streets with no place to park on private property. *It was dumb to send a survey out due on 12/1/15 that was received on 11/28/15. That leaves only one mailing day to get it out! This points up all of the poor planing that goes on in our Government agencies! You make attempts but you really don't want replies especially on Holiday weekends! Homelessness, Traffic We want to stay in unincorporated Washington County (survey form arrived on 11/28 so had to rush response) I miss the info that was once printed in this newsletter. Law enforcement. i.e. neighborhood speeding is out of control. Pheasant Ln. link from 170 to 185th.

APPENDIX 4:


APPENDIX 4

CPO Transition –Survey Question 4: “Speaking up and getting involved…”

Following are 219 responses to the open-ended question: “My primary areas of interest include…” in follow-up to the question, “How involved would you describe yourself in your community or neighborhood?” Responses sorted alphabetically. Where “CPO” or “HOA” were embedded in response, a qualifier was added to the beginning of the response such as “CPO – “ or “HOA – “ to facilitate review.

• active transportation, housing • addressing poverty and community engagement for communities of color • Advocacy for seniors and DD population • Advocating for inclusion and social justice for disenfranchised communites. • Affordable housing • Aloha & Pleasant Lane • Aloha Business Association, budget committee member for ESPD • Anixation • Anything that impacts my home and lifestyle of the rural community • Areas of Interest: Keeping rural areas underdeveloped & intact. • art walk, HACC, WC Museum, Downtown Assn, Chamber of Comerce • Arts advocacy and animal welfare issues • Attempting to move up the scale to 'somewhat involved' • Attending meetings, testifying at hearings, writing letters, volunteer work • aviation issues • avoiding incompetant governmental and private development • Bark Park Program, Food Pantry, Elsie Stuhr Center • Beaverton Council on Aging (Age-Friendly Beaverton sub-committee, my NAC

and my church • Beaverton School District, local school • being informed

• Being put in the urban growth area without being told until it was done & not being able to vote yes or no if want to be included in the first place. Street fix-traffic patterns.

• building community participation for sustainable living, protecting human rights, environment, economic fairness for all, not excesses for the rich and businesses, mostly not in my neighborhood.

• Cedar Mill North of NW Cornell • CERT • CERT • CERT and ARES

• CERT Team member for Tigard because Hillsboro's program is not as well organized and not as well established.

• CERT, HAM radio • Cert, land use planning (parks at present.) • CERT, other Volunteer opportunities, WCSCAAA • CERT, volunteer work and meetings • church, library, local art groups • City councilor, President of NPEA, Garlic Festival Arts Coordinator • College in McMinnville, Boy Scout's coed Venturing program, school Forensics

program • Community planning • Congregation, Cancer Recovery • Cornelius Library • County and City boards, commissions, and committees • CPO • CPO • CPO - Attending CPO meetings. Involved in local HOA. • CPO - I watch the CPO emails and attend when something interests me(pretty

rare) • CPO - I've just volunteered a few weeks ago to help run our CPO.

• CPO - joint CPO tree code group, advocacy group http://neighborsforsmartgrowth.org/, maintain neighborhood email list/group, regular nextdoor.com participant

• CPO - Local neighborhood association and attending CPO meetings. • CPO - participate in cpo • CPO - sometimes go to CPO meetings. • CPO - THPRD, CPO1, CCI, Cedar Mill News • CPO - URMDAC, CPO-6, CCI, A&RCC & others • CPO - Willing to be very involved in critical issues. Disappointed when CPO

president does not respond to matters of concern specifically directed to him. Used to attended every meeting but disappointed with leaders lack of response.

• CPO - work related interaction with the CPO organization • CPO 1 Chair, Behavioral Health Council, ESPD CAC, CCI, Food Web/Food Bank • CPO 3 • CPO 6 • CPO 8 (inactive) but I am involved in Helvatia Community Association, Save

Helvatia, Transition Team CPO8 • CPO 8, education • CPO Chair • CPO leadership, County advisory committees • CPO meetings, open meetings, getting physicaly involved with cleanup and

park/forest restoration/ maintenance

• CPO, contact of county commisioners Metzger Park advisory county parks people

• CPO, Education, political strategizing re: electing officials, passing legislation • Cpo, HOA committees • CPO, school-related issues • CPO, sustainability, live performance, community outreach • CPO, THPRD advisory cte, Cedar Mill News paper & Facebook • CPO1 and Washington County HAC • Curtailing Gun Violence. Housing Affordability and Fair Housing. Education

funding. • Debris pick up, Taggers of prosperity, Seniors welfare & health • development of land adjacent to my property • Development of North Bethany community • Development planning • Donating to local food pantries • education • education, air quality • Education, community outreach to minorities. • elementary school, nextdoor • Environment • environment and education • Environment, access, schools. • Environment, housing, homeless, mental health services. • environmental and rural issues • ESOL Classes • expansion of local boundaries, future of county • Fairness • Family • Family • Family and work. I would like to be more involved and have way to easily

express opinion. • Former Vice President of garden villa King city • Friends of the Beaverton city library, Nancy Ryles Scholarship at Psu • Gales Creek Elementary School when it re-opens • Gardening on Oleson Rd, paying attention to local issues. • getting info on the internet. Am elderly • grade school shelter for homeless • health care, social services, education, environmental issues, disability and

aging issues, • Help individual neighbors. Some political work. • Hillsboro CERT Team • Hillsboro CERT, Boy Scouts • HOA

• HOA - I am just starting to become involved in Cedar Hills HOA • HOA - On the board of our HOA • HOA- My HOA in Claremont (Bethany). Volunteer construction with Habitat for

Humanity in Forest Grove • HOA President and neighborhood spokesperson • homelessness advocacy • housing • housing, access to justice, land use

• I am president of Families for Independent Living. I am president of Daytime Enrichment Activities & Recreation. I participate in Housing and Supportive Services Network and the Coalition of Housing Advocates. I am an adult leader in the BSA Sunset Trail District and the charter organization for BSA Troop 618.

• I have voted,volunteerd at oregon food bank,pto,I love the idea of a town hall, every quater,my hubby and I are both self employed,high taxes, high health insurance, keeps us from getting to involved,

• I help in BSA, food bank and school activities. • I volunteer with Just Compassion to provide showers and laundry for the

homeless d"#x • I was intensively involved in the Tigard Comprehensive plan in the early 1980s

and several other activities. • I would be more involved if I could respond by survey or vote than going to

meetings. • I'd probably get involved with when a big issue came up but we're in a pretty

established neighborhood and other than traffic and coyotes there isn't much going on

• I'm very involved in my church activites & involvements • in-fill, building code enforcement, • Information Specialist for a Party • Interacting with local government on behalf of people in our community. • Interactions with neighbors • involvement is limited because county board meetings are held during business

hours • involvement limited due to physical inability to withstand exposure to wireless

devices and infastructure • Issues within my neighborhood.

• It would be nice if government was less a part of my life, not more! We all have work, family, health, home and pursuit of happiness to focus on. Not sure how a county government really improves livability around here.

• just about anything I can find online though minimally involved in social media • keeping informed on pending county actions eg. zoning • Keeping neighborhoods clean & safe. • land use and transportation • Land use issues

• Land use, road construction, and parks and recreation. • land use, water, transportation • Law and Crime • libraries,young people, affordable housing, industrial chemicals in the land,air

and water.

• livability and culture

• Livability issues • Livability, organic farming & stoping urban sprawl. • Local and national politics. I donate about 4 hours a week. • local environmental safeguards/senior needs • Local neighborhood school, NAC, & city • Local public educator • local volunteer organizations • Master Gardener, Washington County small wood lots association, Tualatin

River Keepers • Mostly I just try to stay informed. • My cities Active Older Adult Cneter as well as the City Budget Committee and

Our Visioning process • My husband and I went to public hearing when planners threatened to change

the size of the lots for home building. • My husband is in an adult care home & my time is limited as I spend time with

him. • My library work: inclusion, outreach, early literacy, visit migrant camps in the

summer for early literacy and storytimes for children. • My primary areas of involvement include: • neighborhood livability, wayward taxes • Neighborhood school, many committees in city of beaverton, neighborhood

association committee (NAC) • Neighborhood Watch and as a very observant (I didn't say snoopy {= ) citizen. • Nextdoor, volunteering my time and energy, responding to surveys, attending

meetings, etc. • not yet chosen • Now that I'm retiring I will be more involved • Participation as directory editor/producer and neighborhood watch chair for my

neighborhood of 60 homes. • Picking up litter while I bicycle, kayak locally and ride mass transportation. • Planning & recreation. • Planning and traffic safety • planning and transportation • planning commission • planning for developments, roads and sidewalks • Polotics

• Prepare for earthquake, Cedar Hills Home Owners HOA • protecting water & wildlife habitat; climate change; improving non-auto

transportation; developing mixed-use, mixed housing neighborhoods • Public meetings • Public recreation, public safety, schools and general livability • Public Safety Advisory Commission • reading local news. • Reading local papers. Watching 'well produce' local TV. Email and talking to

neighbors. • reading nextdoor.com postings • responsible development, community services • Road and school construction in my neighborhood. • road improvements • Roads • Safe walking and biking areas around schools, parks, shopping that the

communities surrounding it use for daily needs and also bus stops for schools and tri-met.

• safety, transit, traffic • School based projects • school involvement • school volunteering • schools • Schools • Schools • See #1 • Serve on WCVA & TRWC Boards • Service club I belong to. • Social services • SoHi • South Hillsboro and the congestion, crime and higher taxes it will bring • Student groups at my college and political campaigns. • Sustainability • Tigard downtown alliance • To communicate our community needs to the Hispanic community, in Spanish,

as I speak Spanish. • tourism, arts • Tracking sex offenders moving in/near my neighborhood, road improvements,

and school funding/new schools. • trails, transportation, ped access • transportation and infill • Transportation, livability • transportation; specifically public transit • Trap and release feral cats

• Tried to become involved with a neighborhood organization, but there was little interest in this area.

• Trying to establish my interest as a property owner next to infill development • Trying to make enough to pay the confiscatory taxes.

• trying to save Forest Grove from an over abundance of High Density housing, and tiney lots. trying to save Gales Creek from over building. Turning my neighborhood into a family safe place and keeping it that way.

• Trying to stay informed via these newsletters • Urban growth boundaries, changes Washington County implements • Used to be. Didn't make any difference • Veterans Services • Veterans, medical, emergency management, land-use • volunteer at library or senior center • Volunteering at Non Profit Organizations • Volunteering for those in need • volunteering to plant trees or other volunteer efforts. in the past I was on the

library board. • volunteering, and my job very much relates to my community • volunteering, fundraising • walkability, alternative means of transit • Was VERY involved, now less so with work/family demands • Watching how the city spends my property taxes • we are somewhat involved, mainly in voice concern over the South Hillsboro

Project • Winter departures limit my ability to participate from Nov-May • work • Work and my own service hours • Working thru my church

APPENDIX 5:


1

APPENDIX 5

Survey Monkey results as of 8am on 12/1/15 and “Sticky Note” responses from Community Event

Q10: “Better decision making can happen when the public has an opportunity to be heard. What could the County do to make it easier to get involved in community or neighborhood activities and issues?”

Q10 Better decision making can happen when the public has an opportunity to be heard. What could the County do to make it easier to get involved in community or neighborhood activities and issues?

Open-Ended Response

Ask for participation in a timely manner. This survey arrived in the mail Nov 27 or 28 over a holiday weekend. CPO meeting notices arrive a day or 2 prior to meetings.

Show that you are listening, even when proposals from citizens are not necessarily popular with current wisdom. (and thank you for for inviting me to participate in this survey)

I read eveything I receive from the city in a form of a newsletter. Like the League of Women Voters Pamphlet, I like to read the pros and cons of issues and respond.

More localized input (county seat is in Hillsboro) which is 30/40 minutes away by car

Perhaps set up a community bulletin board in the Stay Connected section of the County web site.

Have an online calendar with events & a click-on the get details, so when you had some time you could see what was available/happening at that time.

Online forums and surveys are the easiest way to connect with me. I have limited time to participate due to a busy work schedule.

Marketing

The county could actually listen to and positively act upon what they hear from the public. THAT would be a first and would encourage involvement!

continue and build on present outreach, CPO County Commisioner visits 3 times a year, clear info on who to contact at Washco for info/depts

Stop bowing to the interests of the developers.

I live within a half mile of Tigard city limits, and Portland city limits. Some of the roads near me are maintained by Washington County, Tigard, Portland, or Beaverton. I expressed a concern about a crosswalk at SW Olesen and SW Washington to Wash Co. and never heard back. I cannot tell if that was the incorrect jurisdiction or if it was simply ignored. Tools to find the appropriate jurisdiction would be helpful.

Offer more online information, and surveys.

2

There's no one single way to get the community involved. All avenues will have to be employed for maximum participation. Especially when there is a diversity of ages, backgrounds.

online, newsletter with response back, small neighborhood meetings at local church, business

We have a neighborhood group in Terra Linda. Perhaps the county could work through that group.

Mail newsletters directly to homeowners including information on public hearings and meetings.

Encourage busy people to get involved by giving more time during comment periods, allowing more time between receiving neighborhood meeting notices and the actual meeting allowing time to adjust schedule and attend, providing lots of online opportunities (such as surveys) to participate.

Provide open leadership access to all who are interested and willing to invest the time. Encourage cities to recognize CPOs, as the county issues relate to everyone, regardless of city boundaries. Cities need not be so threatened by the county citizen involvement process, especially if they ever wish for those residents to become part of the city.

If it is cost efficient, seeking internet input to issues that arise. Perhaps through news articles or local cities newsletters, or your own data base if you have one.

you figure it out. That's why you make the big bucks.

listen to the people! the majority !

Provide a platform that is largely self-organizing that gives all services-oriented groups visibility into each other's work. Provide formal membership slots on all county-appointed advisory councils for public to use on an as-needed basis. Strengthen the Planning Commission.

Communication

Do not allow the underhanded policies that let PGE "sneak purchase" inappropriate parcels, for one thing.

News letters via Postal The public will get involved when they have time and when they believe their voice makes a difference. And making the time will happen when people believe they are heard. My impression is that most of the people I know don't believe they are heard so they don't bother getting involved. And changing the venue will not change that.

3

Online feedback is a great way to get input from busy residents

vary the hours that town hall type meetings are held

Provide evidence that community input really matters, not just lip-service.

Surveys maybe.

Have information in the CPO Newsletter. Not everyone is computer literate or has access to the Internet.

Make more efforts to organize volunteer organizations. Take advantage of opportunities to use volunteers rather than spending more money. Let's work together to make our county better without more taxes please.

Make info available on social media, websites, etc. Who reads a newspaper anymore?

Increase web based programs to get people involved. Make it possible for property owners to register for email newsletters that can inform them of upcoming proposed changes to the area. Give more notice of possible changes. I often find out a few days in advance about major changes.

online options

Perhaps more emails about topics pertinent to specific neighborhoods.

Better use of internet to develop more robust communications between citizens and administration. More robust polling of citizens to get a better measure of public opinion.

the County is already doing a great job

Listen to the public not to what a few want to change to. The public isn't well informed before it's to late to develop strategies.

Had County Offices at some of Activities

More surveys like this one.

sponsor meetings on county issues closer to my community periodically.

4

continue support of CPOs for TWO-WAY communication with the county commissioners for our area (Bob Terry and Chair Andy Duyck)

Allow for commenting time for full time workers. Many times I can't get to the meetings due to work hours and traffic issues

I need a 26 hour day now that I am retired!!!

I thought the County was, and is, doing OK.

Implement the action issues published by the Aloha-Reedville Livability Study.

Keep public advised with news letters, e-mails on current issues being discussed

Reduce taxes to allow people to have more time for 'activities'.

National Night Out monthly neighborhood meetings like CPO's

The above suggestions are good. But what is most important is what officials do with the information. Too often citizen input is ignored because the County is paying too much attention to business and development interests.

Q & A site on local website; interactive website

online discussion groups. keep communicating

Be louder

More on-line opportunities for comment but Not Facebook

This CPO is great! More interaction on the web site would be nice. It can be hard to track down information about upcoming roads projects (e.g. 174th north of 26 needs sidewalks and traffic control to reduce the number of near misses and bad accidents, what priority is that in the county???)

Online collaboration and information sharing resource.

more pertinent emails

Online and poll opportunities

Not sure - it requires a commitment of time, which can be in short supply.

As a parent in a two working professional family, it is extremely hard to make CPO meetings. More online access is key.

Extend hi speed internet to rural areas so we can communicate online with email.

Online activity calendar filtered according to interests with links to "points of contact" and "rules of engagement" in simple to understand language. A tool which any member of the community can initiate the discussion of how to manage or resolve problems with activities of wide interest.

5

Improve the web site. It is hard to access information, and often the information is very old.

"Getting involved" means having real power to stop practices to which we object, not merely being told in a meeting the way it's going to be.

Do as little as possible. Cut back county government

Don't know

Not sure. Maybe try to have open houses on issues where the input received at the open house can affect the outcome.

Re-open Gales Creek Elementary School. I will say it again ... Re-open Gales Creek Elementary School.

All Commissioners should be present

email content -not social (gossip) media.

Hold meetings during the day for seniors . At a senior center before or after senior lunch.

Continue to keep us informed of upcoming hearings, plans, policy changes and give enough time to respond and be heard. Thanks!

more online interaction

Internet advertising about meetings.

email notices of activities & issues

Listen to suggestions made by NACS and CPOs. We give our priorities but planning boards do what they want regardless.

Act on input from the community instead of ignoring it. No one wants to spend time on providing input that the county board ignores.

Keep being available to the community when there are opportunities.

Listen to input. Don't patronize then vote as they already decided. Listen to all residents not just large tax paying industry.

Online resources such as newsletters, videos of meetings

I think the county does a good job. I need to make time in my busy schedule to be involved.

Exchanges should be in person. Not online. Send info online but host in-person exchanges.

email notification with links to obtain more details on specific topics and links to surveys to solicit opinions.

More online interaction.

6

Better publicize CPO Meetings via email or mailings.

Promote CPO'S as a conduit of advise to the county commisioners.

Local meetings in the neighborhoods involved.

Provide more newsletters to the public and more surveys.

Limit the big corporate interest lobbing. What local citizens want does not matter to the Board of Commissioners because more than half of them are cooperate shills.

Allow the community to be heard. So often the decisions are already made, before the mandatory community hearing. What's the point in that?

I am not sure. I read the emails. Life is so full with so many people wanting time. I think keep it simple works best.

Keep us informed and connected even if we are at the outer skirts of the County where we have little to no county support.

More online surveys like this.

hold open houses at various times, not just 4 pm until it's time for county employees to clock off. Some folks need later times in order to be more involved.

More electronic communications. Identifying strong leaders for areas to communicate to neighbors

I think there's a large demographic gap in public involvement that could be filled by a well-designed online/mobile app (I think Portland just launched a new community engagement app). Also, more diverse, frequent, and engaging social media posts would be appealing. It seems like the information in the emails I receive via County e-subscriptions could easily be replicated on social media for wider engagement.

redesigned website, the county's website is the most tortuously designed one I've ever seen - or attempted to use. You have to understand the government structure and funding for an issue before you can find it

not sure

Other than simple responses, I want to know how my comments actually sway/persuade actual decision and change? I'm not so sure I feel heard.

Have an online suggestion box that is always open and well publicized

Exactly this, weekly surveys or questionnaires that would be calculated and feedback given to us to assure us that the city read them and what their basic opinion was. And, what the feeling of the majority is regarding certain topics.

Advertise. Lots of people are unaware of opportunities.

I live in an incorporated city and I find it hard to find info out give input on county issues. Through this survey I realize where I can find info now. It seems county info is not prevalent in city limits. Unless I don't know where to find it, which is most likely true.

7

Push decision making into hands of citizens and away from BOC

Go where communities are. We always have to go to you. Elect more diverse members. City Boards should be more aggressive in finding candidates from communities of color with the right skills to advocate for those communities.

Continue to communicate with the people.

Raise the visibility of the decision making process. Point out where public involvement has made a difference.

Have police care about safety. Once in 2 years have they come out from the online complaints about traffic. I've almost been stuck several times as well as my son. I'm tired of it. Why am I paying taxes if you don't do your job.

Basically faster answers hopefully right when they come up. Could you explain how a process works from start to finish so the next time, everyone has a frame of reference. Otherwise there is a lot of confusion and churn just about where something is in the process. A county and city representative should attend CPO meetings (in addition to commissioners who vote). What would really help are engineers or planners who can explain the shear volume of information and questions that come up. When they do not, the CPO chairs end up collecting questions for later. Also, conversations easily digress and suddenly information becomes opinion often inferring a major problem where one might not even exist.

Meetings in the evening, after work would be nice.

Help the public to know what neighborhood or community they live in. I think I'm in one neighborhood, but I'm on the border, so it doesn't really feel like I belong.

Advertise for activities/issues in a variety of ways - social media, public places, community events, newspapers/local media

Local neighborhood meetings, meet at an elementary/middle school.

Give citizens a chance to be heard through means such as this, and really consider their opinions.

Many of the County employees have a hard time acknowledging points of view or ideas that have not been presented by the county. They are really not receptive to alternate ideas from citizens that can possibly have more education/experience about resolutions to projects/ideas.

Need to know when things are happening

They can clearly show past examples of how the public's issues have been incorporated into the County's policies or operations. It might encourage others to get involved as opposed to thinking "my opinion doesn't matter."

The county could be more transparent in its operations, seek authentic public input before decisions have been made. Empower local groups (CPOs or equivalent) to actively and effectively participate. Revamp the committee appointment process to include input from local citizens groups (CPO's or equivalent).

8

We live in a world where people are more connected electronically. The county needs to understand and embrace that -- I don't have the time to attend meetings, but I can look over websites & provide comments or participate in discussions.

Outreach to Churches, non-profit organizations, fraternal organizations, etc

The CPO newsletters were very informative and i miss them very much

Notices in the mail or emails.

Notify the public of events and topics, talk to more that a select few in making decisions that effect the general public. Business is not a priority or the public.

When I was younger and heading a joint-CPO group (tree code) I used to make a significant effort to attend my local CPO meetings. They are generally attended by 80% retired/older folk who do not have young children - people made comments they were surprised to see me present, a relatively young person passionate about my community. Due to the fact that CPO meetings are around 7pm during weekdays, you are naturally cutting out a good 50% of your prospective participants (young parents with families). As my family obligations grew, I could no longer regularly attend CPO meetings and my participation waned, but I'm still very interested in participating in these issues. it is just very difficult to access the local meetings due to the schedule and the fact that I have to leave the home. We have amazing and cheap technology now to bridge this gap. See some suggestions I provided above. As you re-look at how you interact with the constiuency, please consider how you can bring CPO meetings to our homes, without negatively impacting in-person attendance for those who are able to attend.

To have more community liaisons.

Be better at providing notice of opportunities to participate.

Actually listen and engage with the public.

Listen!!!! You haven't done a good job of that lately namely in the two way street debate. Andy Duyck and Bob Terry do not care about the community.

I live in Beaverton so I don't hear much from the county. Beaverton seems to buffer it all.

Support the current CPO system with a coordinator as OSU has done in the past. Make sure the county commissioner for each CPO is present at each meeting to hear what people have to say.

Notify by email

Do a better job of marketing, outreach to people to demonstrate the benefits of getting * staying involved not just when it directly affects you personally.

I have lived in Washington County for 25 years, but I have never heard of CPO, NAC, or CIO. I would appreciate better community awareness of these and other similar programs.

Allowing online interaction and feedback.

9

Use social media better! ENGAGE - ask questions, comment, invite discussion, don't just post ocassional updates about something.

Encouraging online activity is great.

Do not totally rely on electronic media. Some Wash.Co. seniors are not tied into computers.

continue email notifications

partner with the city of beaverton neighborhood office and get information to the local NACs, similar to what TVFR and THPRD do

Monthly town hall meetings?

E Newsletters

turn off the 70,000 wireless devices surrounding all public areas so those of us given permanent radiofrequency sickness from the smartmeters can also attend public meetings and public buildings

Social media. Email. Transparent online vote. Town hall meetings.

Better responses from the Board, indicating that they listen to -- and value -- citizen input

make sure the various advisory committees have sufficient access to get their views before the County Board of Commissioners

More open house type of events and short surveys.

collaborate with neighboring NAC's in Beaverton

Meetings in Spanish. Free Child Care. Paying its poorest citizens to give their time to these endeavors. Utilize high school kids

Hold meetings in the evening or weekend so working people can attend

Library events, using library conference rooms. Have roundtable talks, panels, interactive opportunities.

Better awareness of information

Remember the none vocal majority and do not put soo much in to one very vocal group. We are a society and we need to look out for the entire County and State, not just focus on one groups concerns.

Have forums closer to where people live instead of in Hillsboro. Inform by producing a newsletter like the City of Beaverton sends out, which is very well produced and an easy read.

The Board should actually attend meetings and listen.

CPO or neighborhood website administered by the county in regards to info or issues for the people.

Provide people with training on how to advocate for themselves in their community. Teaching them about local government is important.

10

Online tools. Weekend meetings.

Send out newsletter

First tuesday booth and Saturday market booths More frequent online newsletters

Hands on Portland approach or service to list volunteer opportunities

???

Be more open to diverse voices

Getting involved and being heard are completely different things.

Have meetings at places all around the county. I live in Sherwood and would be much more likely to attend a meeting out this way.

Use the community newsletter Cityscape.

Hold meetings on evenings and weekends. Publish issues in multiple language, send county wide fliers on the impact of the issues.

Make meeting dates, locations, website more advertised and available. Send out informational flyers about what each cpo or board is responsible for...

Allow for more informal venues for interaction such as booths at farmer's markets, online info and surveys, more published materials about what is happening and what is proposed.

Discontinue the CPO program or have County staff run the program to ensure that the CPOs are not ran by citizen activists.

Use existing community groups/organizations to add you as an agenda item. Don't re-create the wheel.

Highlight events to targeted areas.

One night a month doesn't all work with my schedule.

Focus on eliminating barriers to citizen participation

Improve awareness of these activities and issues by making them better known to the public.

I have seen an increase of information through the social/helpful neighborhood web site, NEXTDOOR. The should continue and expand, and provide lead time enough for open forum before major decisions are made. AND, those decisions should be reflective of the majority.

Reach out through Nike and Intel where there is a large influx of high tech workers who have NO CLUE about local land use and planning issues

more outreach to diverse groups of community stakeholders.

Send out paper newsletters/polls, but also provide online access. Perhaps send home info with kids from school.

11

Assure that schools and the county are always working together

Continue to provide Newsletter, opportunities to do onlinve surveys, and through social media

information via email Require that the real estate agents tell home purchasers what the county offers them to be informed about changes in their area. Can be a required listing in the MLRS system with a line for the CPO main contact number or email. Could be a one page introduction included in a welcome packet.

Get the word out. How can people get involved if they don't know they can? Marketing! Promote the website, meetings, discussion groups, etc through fliers and other advertisements. Not everyone is obsessed with Facebook and Twitter.

Ask us!

There needs to be an initiative for the community to feel necessary. The county also needs to do a better job to serve all of the community. As public servants it is your job to serve the community and if there are barrier it's your job to overcome those in order to reach ALL of your community. This survey for example is not even available in Spanish. Conservatively over 20% of the population in WashCo is Hispanic. Your alienating 20% of your community right of the bat by excluding them from this platform for them to voice their opinions.

County employees could really do something to correct a problem instead of just trying to act like they care

Email, text messages as reminders of opportunities to be involved

Ask for input. Listen.

The politicians need to attend more meetings where citizens are in attendance.

Online interactive tools are needed to enable working community members to provide input when Thierry schedule allows.

I don't know

the interactive online environment above (#9) is a good way start

Online surveys that are short.

get word out on social media, Facebook and Twitter have online access to everything involving decisions

Many times when there are meetings, I have other commitments, thus I like online input.

I love online tools that aren't social media

12

You could stop allowing developers to circumvent the formal citizen input processes and actually use the formal recommendations of the advisory groups instead of changing the plans (rural reserves, North Bethany). I don't trust that Wa. Co. actually cares about public opinion anymore.

Listen to residents. Don't let builders get away with changing the rules i.e. building on/in wetlands.

Make the process to be involved online easier, better website is a must. Do not create groups as mentioned in question 9, everyone needs equal and the same access, not special treatment (specific groups) for specific topics. Understand you are a government agency, not many people in the public really care about being involved in the long-term process of decision-making. No department or program is going to have more than 25 twitter followers / Facebook likes, but if you employ dancing cats and talking dogs than you might get involvement.

Have multiple times for meetings. Email is good too.

Hold Commission Meetings at venues across the county in the evening.

newsletters, newspapers, along with emails or homepage updates

Not sure.

Hard to suggest as my concerns are already well beyond the opportunity to correct, Washington Co, has little character or obvious culture to it.

I just dont know about them. That would be helpful.

support development of and ongoing activities of community groups:

I believe it would be easier to be involved if there were better communication about what the issues are and what opportunities exist. It would also be easier to give feedback if it could be email to one central location (i.e. vs trying to determine which county dept would handle).

Offer multiple times for the same meeting - day and night and weekend

better announcement of decisions to be made on issues. Less patronizing attitude of commissioners.

Somehow get the word out and make it easy. People are so often tied up with family and work, it's hard to squeeze anything else in. Maybe use the few neighborhood associations that exist?

i think the idea of being able to comment and engage online is great - but let's remember not everyone has access to a computer or has the skills to use one. what about those individuals?

Newsletters sent out by mail, not just emails. These days, I get so overwhelmed by emails, that I do not read most of them, even though I signed up for them. If I get mail through the Post Office from the county, I would be more likely to read and not "delete" it.

Again, back to an easy way to submit comments online about a specific issue or project.

13

Not always have the meetings/testimonies in the middle of the work day, provide more notice when whatever event etc will be going on

Continue the current process.

online awareness, fewer meetings, answer surveys at my convienience, rather than hard scheduled meetings

Promote more town hall meetings via newspapers, fliers, social media, emails, businesses, schools and libraries. Many people don't even have an idea that there are town meetings. Also, you can make the meetings less boring, less intimidating and more inclusive.

More information shared with radio, tv and conventional newspapers. Wider Neighborhood Meeting radii, and N'hood Meetings required for more types of development. Too much development happens without public input.

Right now there are way too many different groups, Boards, Committees, Organizations and Committees, and nobody knows who to talk to for what. This needs to be simplified, by "issue". If I have a transportation issue I should have one place to go; right now I have at least five places to comment to.

cultural/interest groups already exist; tap into these groups' meetings, communication channels

Listen!

County commissioners should be more accessible, attend local meetings, especially the CPOs

Surveys like this are a good start

Make sure everyone knows about the communication tools available. I found about this survey randomly - through NextDoor.

get the word out, more, about Nextdoor

Want, encourage and seek out community involvement - go above and beyond minimum notifications required by law. Recognize that they are public servants (as opposed to being served by the public).

I dont feel any connection to the county. What has the county done for my family....i couldnt tell you. Add Metro in and there are too many layers.

More obvious displays at markets and community events. More of these surveys.

I've gone to be hear,they say yes, we hear you, but nothing is every done about it ... or ...I;ve mostly given up going.

Communicate on my timeline--e.g. via online tools rather than meetings

Easier to access information on the county website. The online presence should not be looked at as a tool to market the public involvement program, but rather it should be viewed as a tool to educate and inform interested parties in how to get involved.

have more of a presence - what exactly does the county even do? I feel much better informed about what services my city offers than what the county does.

14

Continue to build community level engagement at the most basic, neighbor to neighbor level. Build on existing opportunities for elected leaders to be present in the community.

Easier access to weekly agendae and future proposals surveyd like this.

After all these years with Neighborhood Watch and observing people's reluctance to either make reports or get involved at all (even so much as providing an email address for communication within a relatively small geographical area), it makes sense that the County needs to make themselves more available and communicate they are "on the community's side". A lot of people I've heard from believe they have no voice and that most decisions that actually affect them are made by people who don't even live in the area.

listening what the community said.

Send out notices in the mail about when and where the community meetings are.

Develop process to actually accept public input. Currently the County appears to only be going through the motions to "check the box" on public input.

Debates or forums on pertinent issues - community members can hear both/all sides of issues

#8 seems the most important- information and education about those items that people complain about. Why no sidewalk/bike lane, stop sign/traffic signal, street lights, why won't the county pay for one? etc

Solicit input often Create a robust social media program.

If meetings had childcare in a room next door that would really be helpful. Having meetings right before our after local pso our ttsd foundation meetings might be useful as well or even using these community meetings to distribute information. Leveraging the "nextdoor" app and use polls and give meeting reminders as well

It would help if someone (who does not have their own agenda) would listen

Make effort to contact various community groups to do presentations are their regular meetings.

Broaden the marketing of the CPO program to all residents (not just property owners) through flyers in "welcome to the neighborhood" marketing packets

More details and transparency

Video cast participation in CPO meetings? I would try to physically go if meetings had a more social component perhaps before -- potluck or something, some live music.

Involve high school students in outreach - civics education based on local issues. Utilize local media more for outreach. (Valley Times, Oregon Live)

80-20 rules should be applied, e.g. listen to the do-ers and implementers most rather than the louder 20% who want to complain but not step up to do the work.

no opinion

15

Improved online input for those with irregular work schedules keeping them from attending meetings.

Wider reach for sources providing information to the community, maybe creating links betw. BSD's online outreach (like BSD Briefs, school newsletters)and the county's on topics that may impact one another.

Pay for mass transportation from a tax base. Make using all mass transportation free for everyone. Utilize this to get people out and about their neighborhoods.

I can't think of anything.

Make sure people understand how and when they can effect change, to often public involvement is an afterthought - a box to check and not given the time and staff to adequately address issues.

Develop and ADVERTISE tv or on line video streamed programs where viewers can call in questions or commenets.

More information on County website with notices of information/issues included in email updates.

Facebook that allows two way communication.

Make sure the public is actually heard. Frankly, I am a big proponent of the CPO program, it just needs a facelift. CPOs are the right size to make a real difference - get too local, and groups are too small to even be heard, make a difference. Some of the CPOs are doing a great job identifying what their constituents want addressed - find out how they are getting people to meetings and evaluating what is needed, then copy that. Some CPOs are doing a really good job partnering with local agencies and community groups like libraries, granges and parks - replicate that too. Whatever you do, be sure there is a direct community voice in development issues that doesn't get diminished to the point of being powerless. That was the original point of the CPO program and the only thing that will keep development within the urban growth boundary from destroying local community values.

I read the CPO newsletter every time it comes. But I wish that it covered a larger area. Things outside of my home CPO also affect me, and I would like to know about them.

As a whole, develop a stronger public engagement component to the County. Get out in the communities and connect with people on the ground. Hear their stories and give them a chance to provide feedback. Create more opportunities for communication via multiple fronts.

Listen to the folks and be respectful. I saw disrespectful behavior at several meetings.

remind people of meetings, have a presence in the community

Make itself even more available to the public.

More meetings in eastern Washington county.

Get out in the communities and talk with folks

Improve the Washington County website so it is public friendly. Also have a receiption desk at the Washington County PSB so county residents could figure out the correct office they need to visit for help with an concern/issues.

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doing fairly well in newspapers; not yet doing well in advance of issues on-line or other ways in which I obtain notification

Electronic communications on a regular basis with detail links on all relevant topics

Open electronic forums

Schedule more surveys and community meetings. Also, clearly communicate the issues and options the community faces.

Stronger social media presence and using online survey tools, this survey was easy to submit and took little time.

Provide opportunities outside the 8 - 5 schedule. Attending and participating at 10:00 a.m BCC meetings isn't an option.

Schedule group events through MeetUp.

Washington County is no longer a homogenous agrarian society. Involvement groups need to be specialized to their respective communities. What affects Cedar Mills is going to be entirely different than the issues in Gales Creek.

Notification, most people are not aware of the CPO Meetings. One suggestion would be to run a notice in the King City newspaper insert.

Create a top 5 or top 10 issues list based on Facebook feedback and establish a survey for where to focus community funds and involvement. Set up volunteer groups to support these top priorities.

Make the content of things(regulations for example) easier to understand. The notice of new regulations is often so arcane that it's difficult to determine what it actually means.

Make it worthwhile for participants. Don't make it all talk and no action. Moderate a blog.

Town Hall meetings on important issues such as road planning, re-zoning, etc.

Maybe start with listening and not using the approach that and yes, this is what a county employee told me "Hillsboro is not in Washington County". I think the current commissioners are only interested in hearing from certain (kinds of) people - people who think the way they do.

Online forums sound like a good idea.

send out expected agenda for meeting prior to meeting

While I haven't attended either Portland City Club or the Washington County Forum events (who has Monday lunches free?!?), I like the idea of getting together with others to hear a lecture from interesting speakers to learn about current topics. I attended a recent open house with our state legislators and found that really interesting. I like to be informed of what's going on, most of the time I don't have strong views but want to be kept up to date.

Not ignore requests brought up by citizens

local website of community/neighborhood issues

county does a pretty good job of keeping the people affected informed.

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on-line is best

reach out using social media and make it interactive (moderated) Really push it, make sure people get personal connections.

More online opportunities Farmers Markets, coffee events

More summarized online or mailed information like the format of the voter pamphlet. Along with that have an online resource for responding.

Listen to us

use existing social media forms like Nextdoor

Hold County meetings in Beaverton (at the library?)

Have the CPO's give the elected officials a grade very year on how accessible they were and how well they represented their constituents on issues that matter to the communities they serve.

Ask, Listen, Act.

Have more town meetings.

Public disclosure of the local issues and decisions that need to be made.

On-line forum

I've always appreciated the e-mail notices that online info was available.

Act on survey topics.

The county could commit to actually involving and welcoming community concerns/actions; rather than the long term culture of dismissing CPOs and other neighborhood groups

town hall meeting

HEED public input. Hearing and not changing after public input makes the input worthless. Announce via email, social media, website, news media, public signs prominent in neighborhoods.

A lot of people have become cynical and do not believe officials listen to what they say, so they do not want to take the time. It is important that offerings are "of the people" and do not appear to be a tool to influence people, but to let the people influence the county government. Elected officials need to listen and be responsive to public wishes. There is a disconnect between the public and decisions made in the county. Elected officials need to provide a more representative government.

Listen better.

Perhaps a softening of the attitudes of the Chair and the majority the commission. They deem to merely humor public comment, not take it in or learn.

While it seems like advice is asked for, WA CO has the reputation for not acting on the suggestions of citizens. Minds are already made up and the process may be just for looks and PR.

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Realize that community members care, but are extremely busy and typically prioritize work and family over attending county meetings.

I don't want the county's tax dollars going to support online tools for neighborhoods when there are plenty of free or low-cost programs out there, from Nextdoor.com to Facebook. It's the responsibility of communities to mobilize online. PCC or other organizations can provide trainings. I'd rather see Washington County, our Cities, Metro and the State of Oregon spend their public involvement technology budgets on tools for projects, and scale up the number of public participants there. That's where you should build your online environment. My favorite model: Metroquest.

Washington County already does a great job of operating transparently and soliciting public input. The problem is low public interest. The information is available, including EASY access for anyone who desires to provide input. You can't force people to care or become involved. The CCI has gotten carried away with its own importance; they are not elected, and represent no opinions beyond their own. And I'm pretty sure they like presenting their positions as that of "the people". The public currently has ample means to be heard. Let's move on.

attend pto meetings

Provide email, online commentary possibilities for those who can't attend meetings, but care about public input; put more weight on public opinion for projects instead of what seems like rubber stamping.

be truly welcoming and responsive to the voices of the community / not just the pinhead racists.

Develop email lists to inform more residents. Use postal service mailings to inform residents and to encourage more people to sign up for email.

offer more online opportunities to interact and get informed, put more topics out for public input before making decisions, provide more opportunity to meet with decision makers to discuss upcoming decisions

Public forums in places where the community is comfortable, like churches and recreational centers Hold meetings in community organizations Are you not interested in what English speaking people have to say?!?

Meet people where they are at. Find places where community members gather – church groups, coffee shops, community centers & strike up informed conversations that engage folks that wouldn’t normally be engaged/involved. Come to groups I’m already part of: church, school, business association. I appreciate having access to information via County website DLUT emails (weekly news) Desired – facebook (headlines that take me to news pieces on WaCo website) More online surveys, WaCo Westside Voices and quick polls

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BLOG. County could be the hub for a County-wide blog into which all CPOs can be heard/involved. A web portal with calendar, links to service districts, public agencies, food banks, oversight, budget, etc. Cloud sharing of future plans. A system in place to find and support advocates to help individuals with no voice, ex: Homeless. Have an online calendar with events and a click-on get details feature A portal website that connects all of the advisory & planning & action groups in the County. Perhaps set up a community bulletin board in stay connected. Emails tell us what is going on, Twitter too! Weekly or monthly email of County related activities including open houses and commission meetings. Links to agenda materials. Continue to make strides with information access for the community. Marketing $ to help find more people. USPS – include CPO info in change of address packet; include CPO info in CWS bills, water bills. Better communication meetings held early evenings in spring, summer & fall. i have no home internet service. Possibly some financial incentive thru tax deduction. Re: question 5-CPO attendance is rarely or never because meeting times collided with another meet Easy to use website Emails devoted to single topics (e.g. meth problem). Re: CPO attendance, question 5 - I rarely or never go because they are held in the late evening! Abolish Metro. Unable to attend meetings as I once did... Age??!! Participation by other members of the county to the CPOs Not sure - just, please, try to stay in touch w/ everyone Community parks and/or committee Increased presence on social media (Facebook, etc). Involvement with Pacific University (Forest Grove and Hilsboro campuses). Employe strategies that activate neighborhood groups

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Have a human being answer the phone on subject matter

Register voters I have become very skeptical of online comment tools. I do like 'comment' sections on structured surveys like this - but electronic blogs, Facebook comments, news article comment sections have turned out to be rant sections with one way input where folks say nasty things with zero accountability. Please do not waste our limited WA county managed staff. Neighbors can always self organize. You don't need to be the tool provider. I do want you to continue to have forums with people for the human interaction, the Q&A. We are all people, humans after all. Don't just be driven by ROI (# people who show up - staff lost) You've had me over the long-term via your people focus. It takes a lot of work to consolidate public input opportunities but it is so worth it because we live our lives as complete people - not be transportation today, land use, libraries, public safety... The CPO program has been my go to umbrella place. Either consolidate the program touch points of transition to another effective umbrella program for all county-wide programs & policies. Improved leadership coaching: annual conference for CPO members, training for those interested, possible term limits to assure circulation of leadership group and make themselves available to help train & mentor (Academy of Citizen Involvement), Harold Haynes award recipients should form a mentor-ship and do likewise. Recruitment of members: County has addresses/realtors have addresses. Budget for periodic mailings to invite in. Marketing: what topics will grab residents in certain areas? With good topics, they will come. Publish a hot topic bulletin similar to that which Land Use & Trans. puts out for a fee. a telephone hotline for issues Do not know - more face-to-face meetings! Divulge factually and totally, changes in the future conditions or needs well beforehand! 1.Make sure adequate notice is provided when there are opportunities. 2. Ensure those without computers have an adequate opportunity to comment. 3.Find ways to enable those without a computer to stay involved -- e.g., consider sponsoring a local/state government access computer in public libraries. Make the planning department actually follow the guidelines for keeping neighbors informed of decisions. Active listening before deciding issues Better notice and publicity about issues and time & place of meetings This newsletter is a good way! Listen & make decisions by prioritizing situations i.e., all the housing going on & around Bethany area - many roads (i.e., Saltzman/Laidlaw) are not made to handle as much traffic as it is going to have to very soon. Reduce taxes Host meetings where people already are to get their input Invite & respond to written email responses Put more online resources, so that if we cannot attend meetings we still have input. CPO groups publish minutes to residents Keep us informed I don't know

APPENDIX 6:

“Sticky Note” Responses and Display Regarding CPO Size from December 1st Community Event

Existing CPOs range in size. CPOs may serve rural areas, urban unincorporated areas, and /or may overlap city

boundaries.

CPO 13 – Gales Creek, Roy, Verboort, and vicinity Rural Size: approximately 71,671 acres Population: approximately 4,850

CPO 7 – Bethany, Rock Creek, Sunset West, and vicinity Urban, Urban unincorporated, Rural Size: approximately 11,018 acres Population: approximately 54,190

CPO 4K – King City and vicinity Urban, Urban unincorporated, Rural Size: approximately 879 acres Population: approximately 6,315

This illustration shows the relative sizes of three of the 17 CPO’s

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APPENDIX 6

Sticky Note Comments from Community Event regarding CPO Size: “Geographic boundaries of public participation groups in my community should be small enough to reflect a real sense of community such as my extended neighborhood or the attendance area around my closest elementary school.”

School Districts seem logical to me.

People I run into tat the store, whose kids go to the same school, who get impacted by the same construction projects. School district sized High school boundary

Neighborhood sized; small enough to go to the same school

City sized by jurisdiction or split into 2.4 groups on larger areas. School elementary size is very “community” sized About size of an elementary school boundary

The boundaries we have now are too large. CPO 7 goes from Multnomah Cty on the north to Baseline. We have become Bethany focused because that’s where the land use issues exist. It isn’t about the size in terms of acreage, it should be about a sense of community – Bethany, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills all are different communities Same population (about) in each CPO area

It should be sized not by members but spokesmen or spokeswomen that the groups involved appoint. This way the CPO stays small but carries a big voice. Large geographic CPO – one meeting – but break into discussion groups per rural/urban/city Rural is ok – urban areas could be somewhat smaller Small city – whole city – large city – Quads

Split up the new commissioner districts equally

Should be various sizes depending on area interests. A large rural CPO as a medium unincorporated area is part of a city. Break it down by social boundaries

I have lived in CPO 7 for 25 years, my entire time as a WaCo resident, and I have been informed by the CPO & CCI that whole 25 years. I find having a mix of urban and rual reas in a CPO has helped me better appreciate the wide nature of the County’s business and nature. However, with our geography I realized that some CPOs will be urban only, which is ok. CPOs in the unincorporated areas are generally the only means for those geographically based residents to come together. So all of this leads me to say if you decide to reorg CPOs to have just urban unincorporated residential areas that’s okay.

APPENDIX 7:

Handout at December 1st Community Event

Washington County Community Involvement Transition

We want to hear from you!

Thank you for coming to learn more about the work of the Transition Planning Team and for providing input about recommendations for re-shaping Washington County’s community engagement program.

Background The 13-member Community Involvement Transition Planning Team was appointed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners earlier this year to explore a broad range of public participation models and strategies. Oregon State University’s Extension Service staff support for the county’s Citizen Participation Organizations (CPOs) ends in 2016, providing Washington County with an opportunity to examine and invigorate our ongoing public participation program. More Information Learn more about the transition process at: http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition.cfm

What you will find here We want to learn about your perspective about what ongoing public participation should look like in Washington County. To get started, check the map on the back of this handout, visit the interactive displays, participate in real-time polling in the “Key Pad Area” and ask anyone in the Washington County or OSU Extension T-shirts for more information. Presentation Schedule Every hour, a short presentation will begin in the “Key Pad Area” where questions will be asked about the future shape of the community involvement program. Cast your vote with real-time balloting and compare your answers with our web-based polling.

http://www.co.washington.or.us/CPO/transition.cfm

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APPENDIX 8:

Comments from Keypad Polling Discussions at December 1st Community Event

APPENDIX 8

Comments from Keypad Polling Discussions – December 1, 2015

BOUNDARY SIZE Supportive of Statement

• Sub-areas should feed into a larger area (scalable) • Should be connected with high schools to get students involved and groomed as future leaders • Smaller is good but not too small—consider middle or high school boundaries instead of

elementary school • Elementary school boundaries are too small but combining at least three is a better size • CPO 6 is too large but a single elementary school is too small • Being associated with an elementary school is a good idea to be able to tie into high level of

participation and enthusiasm for community • Scalability is important. Some issues pertain only to a small geographical area while others go

countywide

Not Supportive of Statement

• Smaller groups mean more groups which would be harder for County staff to manage and make the rounds to meetings

• Breaking into smaller groups will dilute participation and not be as impactful as a larger group • School boundaries are often a mixture of County and City, creating jurisdictional issues • Many people transition too often between one area and another to have meaningful

boundaries. We need a way to engage people no matter what their geographic location.

ACCESS POINTS (Coordinating/Advisory Group & BOC) Supportive

• Agree if a CPO group is considered a coordinating/advisory group • Guidelines are needed to determine which issues should rise to BOC level • Citizens will always need a way to interact directly with the Board • If the coordinating or advisory group is not responsive to an issue, a person has recourse

through the Board • By bringing an issue to a coordinating group first, people can receive additional information and

problem-solve together before going to the Board

Not Supportive • Misleading/difficult question to answer • Real issue is that coordinating/advisory groups need marketing • Could be problematic if people circumvent the coordinating group and go directly to the Board

ENHANCED ONLINE ENGAGEMENT TOOLS Supportive

• Ease of access to information • Ability to submit email testimony is very important • County should utilize programming on public access TV to inform and engage the public • A Washington County app for mobile devices could be a portal for all sorts of information,

including emergency/disaster info • Surveys are a preferred way to give input but make them easy to find. (County website is not

user friendly/very difficult to find specific information) • The County should keep pace with technology and the change in information gathering

preferences of younger demographic • Good way to keep people broadly informed about a variety of issues • Social media is a good way to share issues and emerging situations • Online survey tools are convenient and more inclusive than CPO meetings which are difficult to

attend • Nextdoor.com mentioned a few times as a platform that some groups are currently using with

good success to share info about their local neighborhood as well as surrounding community. Some objected to overload of “lost cat” messages and items for sale but apparently that can be regulated.

Not Supportive

• Many people either do not have internet access or are not interested in online tools (X2)

BUILD ONLINE ENVIRONMENT TO IDENTIFY SHARED INTERESTS Supportive

• Needs to be issues related to County government • Use to better the whole community • Should be problem/issue oriented like air or noise pollution • Must be various and multiple platforms • A good way to locate others with common concerns/issues and build consensus • A way to give input “before it is all decided” • A good way to engage passionate people across various interest groups

Not Supportive

• Not the County’s role to split people up into interests • This already exists through platforms like Nextdoor.com

Community Input Summary...Washington County December 2015 Page 4 Community event: A five-hour...

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