[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648672,"mediaKeyId","2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86","parentId",2627231,"title","Chair announces extension of severe‑weather shelter activation; 462 people sheltered overnight","audioSeconds",468,"startMs",4932000,"endMs",5400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86&start=4932&end=5400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86/thumbnail_4932000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648672/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Chair-announces-extension-of-severeweather-shelter-activation-462-people-sheltered-overnight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648672-46dea02cde45da15b14f201b44236228/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523582&Signature=FN3q8r2mHwGz1jWfjWZmfKL~Xuk-5X0jtp4CmF3QkYTrZ2F~DqB4Q5-l6WttVGuPBviYR~O8ZbAHDXBKDAde4KF2jUMiyENzMri0q8X~FuHeQFSFggnJ6zS8tFzifqr2A9qhO5XrGSHk2MKaKtY~q73WXpWbLI8mB1bJ81iSqgZ0ijJ5gV-Fqp8ns9fQROyergg50gzykpKC6jtoWQ9yPGyDcDJhWLRQ7Bi-LUrMSoZD9oQL2wZsHYsT2pEFjC4ngMqW4yzgP8cP5Jl3RTG00oqQw1O1MuamwrYXI5xq~o35UhAEpzLM8HyVe1PdO22v9KxBvsLjMlFvJmENxxJ~nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Multnomah County","date","2025-02-12T13:43:40.837Z","article","Multnomah County leaders announced an extension of a severe‑weather shelter activation and opened multiple sites after an overnight surge in people seeking refuge from cold temperatures.

The county’s presiding officer (Chair) said the state of emergency for severe weather was extended so shelters and warming stations would remain available through at least 6 p.m. the following day. “Shelters are open until noon today and are going to reopen at 8 p.m. tonight and will be open at least through noon tomorrow,” the Chair said during the briefing.

County staff reported that the previous night’s response provided refuge to 462 people. The Chair said the additional capacity is in addition to more than 3,000 shelter beds normally available each night in Multnomah County. The county listed five locations that would be open for the severe‑weather activation: Cook Plaza (19421 SE Stark St., Gresham; future site of the East County Homeless Resource Center), Hollywood Shelter (1815 NE 43rd Ave.), a provider‑run site at 600 NW 14th Ave., and county‑run shelters at Ascension Church (743 SE 70th Ave.) and Grand Oak (324 SE Grand Ave.).

Officials urged people experiencing homelessness to call 211 for transportation and shelter referrals and asked the public to share staff shift sign‑ups to ensure shelter coverage. The Chair said county and city partners were coordinating staffing and that volunteer signups and training were being posted for several days to ensure continuity if activation continues.

Ending: County staff said they will host an early‑morning planning call to determine whether to keep shelters open beyond the announced extension and will continue to update commissioners and the public through offices and social media.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02.11.25 Board Briefing","oneSentenceSummary","Multnomah County extended a severe‑weather shelter activation for at least one additional day, opening five locations and reporting 462 people sheltered the previous night. Commissioners were urged to share shift sign‑ups and staff said shelters would reopen at 8 p.m.","taxTitle","Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2759,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648676,"Commissioners consider separating proclamations from regular board business and holding monthly ceremonial session",1544,3346000,4890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86&start=3346&end=4890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86/thumbnail_3346000.jpg","/articles/6648676/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Commissioners-consider-separating-proclamations-from-regular-board-business-and-holding-monthly-ceremonial-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648676-560121f3d84e65978bff6b0006434661/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523582&Signature=HJq7MaXf9If3p7XtO-gHtqfKk20wEsmbYYnY2QNtz64wEHQ0UhnfkQywponQUrLIHnluzh2romvhBJe79lem85OjaBJsHAY0gKpQC5C-2k7RIRdwe4tWcLHpordbUEbR5bGrPFkcI1KRbyS~d2e1TN~6am0MfgmFhv1mi6e1xkcDdt6bPDKp~qNtYlkL11WjLSOZiz--ly0HL6KTuz6PHUoL~74yY5cqQZUX-Yflz8AUIuwT1-NeDlhVCGRs9wSFWwBlW7ry~rAo1s4Db9Dr9S11wRWa9gvG~4V-fvbozaOr97ryX0WKF~3LVEVsDWW8lEa94Bh9do-RhgbERmoUFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multnomah County commissioners weighed changes to the county’s proclamation process on Tuesday, including a proposal to hold proclamations on a separate day or at a regular monthly ceremonial session rather than during routine board meetings.

Chief of Staff Jenny Smith told commissioners proclamations are currently requested by employee resource groups, department directors or a sponsoring commissioner and are posted as board‑adopted documents, but timing and ‘run of show’ responsibilities have been inconsistent. “Often proclamations take longer than there's time available in a board meeting and presenters feel rushed or disrespected,” Smith said.

County Attorney Jenny Madcore told the board that proclamations are currently considered board‑adopted documents under existing rules, but the board could change that practice. “Public meetings law doesn't necessarily apply to the adoption of proclamations because it's not a matter of board authority,” Madcore said, adding that the board could make proclamations more ceremonial if it chose to.

Commissioners suggested several options: (1) dedicate one weekday each month to ceremonial proclamations and photos so presenters and staff know the timing in advance; (2) encourage community groups to hold their own celebrations with a commissioner representative reading the proclamation; and (3) retain official board recognition while scheduling the formal ceremony separate from business meetings to avoid conflicts with heavy agenda items such as budget votes.

Commissioner Jones Dixon and others favored a separate ceremonial day, modeled on state practice where proclamations and signing events include a short program and photo opportunities. Staff told commissioners they would seek further feedback from employee resource groups, the Office of Diversity and Equity and county communications on formatting and logistics.

Ending: Staff will prepare a proposal that lays out options for a ceremonial proclamation day, the mechanics for formally recognizing proclamations and whether board adoption rules should be changed, and will return to the board with recommendations.","The board discussed proposals to standardize how proclamations are scheduled and presented, including consolidating ceremonial readings to a separate day so community honorees are not rushed by competing board business.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648680,"County commissioners discuss limits on public testimony, propose 20‑minute nonagenda period",1255,1441000,2696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86&start=1441&end=2696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86/thumbnail_1441000.jpg","/articles/6648680/Multnomah-County/Oregon/County-commissioners-discuss-limits-on-public-testimony-propose-20minute-nonagenda-period","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648680-223303c2555a03083ffe0bbc4f60b8c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523582&Signature=TcstLISxz2vkbaEyzTy6GIOrPF0RdCASeMr5t2SvA-e2myCvXy-DO1hLRw3uMrfHzR1jkwd2WM21rTAL5tVkFcfJikh~0WPSkrr9DDO3emkZ1KCcvJZKJhZ~IcBNJ2GKozzJ6NNL150gdn30MZYF9YZ5fdTlzCb5WZ8HndiVggMteeKtmGJz~LwBfchWT2OpTImSaDWNPok~7h06ytjQLGDeRY-s4~1MaESa96qzRvuP~mjP3GgzuyqNZmy01b05YivicAncmVXEPhAq6x37v8e43S4RLD4dvxfEXVo20GrPuiCGdHqQr1oB-4sDJU2MEKRELS4ZMRIuqqq1i6QkEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multnomah County commissioners debated how much time to allot for non‑agenda public testimony and how to structure testimony on agenda items so community input can meaningfully influence decisions.

Chief of Staff Jenny Smith told the board the county currently allows signups for non‑agenda public testimony through the Wednesday before a meeting, accepts in‑person signups the day of the meeting and typically allows up to 12 speakers (three minutes each, reduced to two minutes if more than nine signups) to keep non‑agenda testimony to about 30 minutes.

“Currently Multnomah County's practice is to accept sign ups for public testimony…until the Wednesday the day before the board meeting,” Smith said. Christian Elkin, the county budget director, and several commissioners said scheduling constraints during the April–June budget period increase the risk that lengthy public testimony will truncate the board’s deliberations on complex agenda items.

Commissioner Moyer and others raised a related concern: when testimony arrives only at the meeting where the board is voting, there is limited opportunity for commissioners to revise proposals in response. Moyer said that practice can leave the public with little chance to influence final language unless the board postpones action or schedules multi‑step consideration (for example, first and second readings of ordinances).

Commissioners discussed specific proposals: shortening the non‑agenda period to 20 minutes, holding an explicit “AM/PM” notation rather than a fixed start time on the posted calendar, creating waitlists for speakers when slots are full and explicitly guaranteeing additional time for attendees who need interpretation services. Commissioner Jones Dixon proposed keeping board practice flexible for agenda items that draw sustained public interest (for example, allowing extended testimony for high‑interest votes).

The board directed staff to draft revised public testimony guidance for commissioners' review; staff said they will update the county website and the sign‑up confirmation messages to reflect any new rules. Commissioners asked staff to include accessibility language (reserved additional time for people who require interpretation) and to set clearly what happens when speakers do not appear or when requests exceed allotted time.

Ending: Staff will circulate a draft of revised testimony procedures and post changes to the public website after board review.","The Multnomah County Board debated capping non‑agenda public testimony to 20 minutes (three minutes per speaker with provision for interpreters), and discussed options to improve the influence of testimony on agenda items and to stage prior briefings for contentious items.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648685,"Multnomah County commissioners seek clearer annual calendar, budget season spacing",639,266000,905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86&start=266&end=905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2627231-8fbf8eafac2f81e73c71f13fa1081f86/thumbnail_266000.jpg","/articles/6648685/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Multnomah-County-commissioners-seek-clearer-annual-calendar-budget-season-spacing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648685-46f3d512e0b3c5aad06c97044c4332e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523582&Signature=bpItT5Mp5SkQSHSgUKB7canb--LRrzgMLYKLO1RHcyCQyjt4EVUzpp0E54o7dON6Q6Gx3eTZ03AjgZOG5xcQtIu5Vd2l12pii7oJEnA3jnZSbdL4q1vJZtoHRSVtk9QPmjGUBapuT02OCw1b6~2iWcW0plCI6X2bEw-E3Op-lkMJEsz2-pOPh6BiCTHQfFJaPOLG2e0o-fRZQbP3MEaNrcFXVO89V7tP0VW3qKolgp7dY0Wrv-PFjznkQZgD1Dx8OfQeAZ6VWUfTdb3PcHw-HthAqbZrfrjgJZ5G5eIn195N0IXngQwba7uNI2qOygyqojBCCvNUpSZQzigyMn-6JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multnomah County commissioners on Tuesday discussed a proposed annual board calendar and how to coordinate it with a forthcoming work plan to reduce last‑minute scheduling, give staff clearer notice and make meetings more predictable for the public.

Commission Chair (identified in the meeting as Chair) said the work follows the board’s December retreat and is meant to “bring transparency to this kind of discussion,” and Commissioner Julia Bridal Edwards, who co-led the governance work, urged the board to adopt a calendar that signals when meetings will and will not occur so departments can plan ahead.

Chief of Staff Jenny Smith walked commissioners through the types of meetings the board holds, saying the county schedules briefing/work‑session meetings typically on Tuesdays and voting meetings on Thursdays, with an expanded block of budget hearings from April through June each year. “In later spring from April through June every year we have budget hearings and work sessions…to inform your decision on the final county budget for the year, which is adopted in mid June,” Smith said.

County Budget Director Christian Elkin said the budget season has been reworked to avoid “overstacking” presentations early and to add an extra week of deliberation so the board will have more time for discussion. Elkin said the team will publish a more detailed version of the calendar showing individual topics and time allotments before budget votes.

Commissioners asked staff to use flexible labels (for example, “AM session” rather than a fixed start time) on the public calendar to reflect the reality that some meeting start times shift during heavy budget weeks. Commissioners also discussed practices for notifying staff of planned absences and for routing items that need to be moved earlier or after budget season so they do not get lost during a period of heavy scheduling.

Next steps: staff said they will revise the draft calendar to reflect commissioner feedback, circulate it again for comment and then post a basic public calendar soon while continuing to layer in a synchronized work plan.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to send the updated calendar and the more detailed budget schedule to their offices as soon as it is ready, and to coordinate with department directors and board clerks to reduce last‑minute agenda changes.","Multnomah County commissioners discussed a draft board calendar and related work-plan scheduling to reduce last‑minute meetings during the April–June budget season and improve predictability for staff and the public.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Chair announces extension of severe‑weather shelter activation; 462 people sheltered overnight

Commissioners consider separating proclamations from regular board business and holding monthly ceremonial session

County commissioners discuss limits on public testimony, propose 20‑minute nonagenda period

Multnomah County commissioners seek clearer annual calendar, budget season spacing