[{"_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",6628474,"mediaKeyId","2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad","parentId",2716511,"title","Commissioners authorize preliminary planning for new Multnomah County animal services facility","audioSeconds",2841,"startMs",4063000,"endMs",6904000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad&start=4063&end=6904","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad/thumbnail_4063000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6628474/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Commissioners-authorize-preliminary-planning-for-new-Multnomah-County-animal-services-facility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628474-2c4b279d6cff687f6d1486b436d56829/orig.mp4?Expires=1770579884&Signature=cudjibbdrlLfxGK1QfYzfdns68MYVkJH~TNMqdzCQ6wh3jyzT~xKLGbPNJxbpVZ~wBJ3bl~ObPpqfZxDXAPsM1ZXrAkkrIQzvS9BX81UG2G4WBfKrF8H8p6YoSrp8MtSoFJRrMqtH3JTnofJkVriPUqz47PvhXqhsviuV9a6TUJBpTbHCtO7WPBF4wDUyQMaAihPgFB93DgvRywTbx7B720jzUHHnoNbPEXG~vnKAHIxvdK6haQKWmXRLsulTwoFJxfqcfnQ2Sb-7~hBI~kDoKeVb1oBTrvqlGZ4p2Ln5MenGfU6DSeUN9FG8cYBamdb~3oeNXnhy2W4v3mpU5EZnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Multnomah County","date","2025-03-20T19:34:35.037Z","article","The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a FAC‑1 preliminary planning proposal that authorizes siting analysis, community engagement and procurement of architectural and engineering services for a potential new county animal services facility.

Commissioners and staff described the existing Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) shelter as outdated, undersized and unable to meet industry standards for medical isolation, quarantine and humane care. Erin Greyheck, director of MCAS, cited the 2022 Association of Shelter Veterinarians guidelines and said the current facility cannot meet multiple \"must have\" standards, including adequate quarantine space and avoiding the use of offices and hallways for animal housing.

\"Our current isolation area can only support cats and does not allow for isolation for multiple diseases at one time,\" Greyheck said, describing a shortfall flagged in a 2024 warning from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. She and other presenters also said the shelter’s location and lack of public‑transportation access create equity barriers for owners trying to reclaim lost pets.

Staff presented conceptual programming and preliminary cost ranges. Department of County Assets staff said past programming work suggested an ideal facility footprint of about 45,000 square feet and a minimum of 35,000 square feet. Two early cost estimates produced a conceptual range in current dollars of roughly $55 million to $70 million; county financial staff later showed an expanded conceptual range with example estimates of about $62 million for a 35,000 sq. ft. option and $84.6 million for a 45,000 sq. ft. option, noting these are conceptual numbers produced without a selected site, contractor or detailed systems.

Eric Arellano, the county chief financial officer, told commissioners $3.5 million in proceeds from a 2014 surplus property sale (sometimes called the “pig farm”) is reserved for this project. He said the board’s action authorizes using roughly $660,000 of that balance for the next phase of planning work; staff said the remainder would be available for the project’s short‑term planning tasks but that a larger funding strategy will be required if the board advances to full design and construction.

Public testimony included multiple volunteers and regular shelter supporters who described crowded kennels, inadequate clinical space, animals housed in staff offices during high intake periods and serious accessibility problems for people who rely on public transit. Volunteer Diane Zitlowski told commissioners: \"How is it possible that a vibrant, modern, progressive community that loves its cats and dogs presents such a squalid and desperate picture when it comes to animal care?\"

Commissioner Brim Edwards, who sponsored the FY25 budget note that launched the project leadership team, said the FAC‑1 action is an initial step that does not commit the board to a site or final budget. Commissioner Moyer noted she toured the shelter and said she was \"very supportive of the project,\" but asked for a future board work session to discuss decision points — for example size, capacity and delivery method — before design locks in high‑cost decisions.

The FAC‑1 approval authorizes: a siting analysis and land‑use review, a community engagement and design advisory group that will include community and professional expertise, procurement of an architect/engineer to produce conceptual designs and cost estimates, and further work on financing options. Commissioners voted to approve the FAC‑1 preliminary planning proposal. The roll call vote was Commissioner Moyer—Yes; Commissioner Singleton—Aye; Commissioner Brim Edwards—Yes; Commissioner Jones Dixon—Yes; Chair Vega Peterson—Yes.

What’s next: staff will begin the site analysis and community outreach, bring a funding strategy and refined cost estimates back to the board, and return for future FAC‑1 and subsequent approvals if the county pursues design and construction. Staff emphasized this FAC‑1 does not authorize construction or final contracting; those steps will return to the board for approval and a formal funding plan.

All direct quotes in this article come from speakers on the record at the meeting and are listed below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03.20.25 Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved preliminary planning for a replacement county animal services facility, citing an outdated, undersized shelter that staff said fails to meet several industry‑recommended standards for quarantine, medical care and humane housing.","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},6628480,"Multnomah County commissioners approve 2025–2029 area plan for aging, disability and veterans services",3240,1447000,4687000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad&start=1447&end=4687","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad/thumbnail_1447000.jpg","/articles/6628480/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Multnomah-County-commissioners-approve-20252029-area-plan-for-aging-disability-and-veterans-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628480-f659e3f25dee15a02aae68273d849b64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770579884&Signature=mlinUGyenKBpZzwHe9xE5RI-w9KPlRuKNODIITo57gqcTV~jrPaQq~X2uhJ-3d3NR~QtPbXP6XVTYIkClyleRqKQ2xwMj2Q6jASVvxQYX8mFkzQaCbpnjf3IRN8F3vhWR5yfXEdLQbxfTj7bpfwgo0LbFRB7ME3F4~JLpi80rkB~QNFdLQBSEEL50wsxypaLoVeE~fUBB~QARQj9XiB04vJjhiS2MlwCwAozPpSc-0~85NTYfFEEoqzkTSnqL7C3MluSpkjAjWjMB9MByQzSR2NEqeYlaEmE17P4ArjltE569XT2Xpp5VaWpAPE1yv8BHRCG8h02FM6hx~tRBMYwRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division (ADVSD) 2025–2029 area plan, a federally required road map for distributing Older Americans Act funding and coordinating services for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.

The plan, adopted by unanimous roll-call vote, maps priorities and measurable objectives for the next four years and will be submitted to the Oregon Department of Human Services for state review and federal funding authorization.

County officials said the plan was built from extensive public outreach and a data-driven needs assessment. \"We offered the survey in 14 languages and received 2,410 responses,\" Alex Garcia Luba, the division’s project manager, told the board, describing the outreach and focus groups used to identify needs. The plan’s priorities include expanding information and referral services, nutrition programs, caregiver support and culturally specific services.

Irma Jimenez, division director for Aging, Disability and Veterans Services, said the area plan is the mechanism by which the county secures Older Americans Act funding from the state. \"This plan is due to the state on March 31; we are on task to submit it,\" Jimenez said during the briefing. County staff described a multistep planning process that included advisory council review, targeted focus groups, community listening sessions and a partnership with Portland State University for population analysis.

Public commenters endorsed the plan. Scott Moore, co-chair of the Portland Ryan White HIV Services Planning Council, told commissioners he supported the plan’s explicit commitments to diversity, inclusion and services for LGBTQIA2S+ older adults. \"By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, this plan demonstrates a commitment to create a safe and supportive environment for all older adults in Multnomah County,\" Moore said. Longtime community volunteer Charles Johnson urged commissioners to visit service centers and make them welcoming, saying residents sometimes do not know where or how to access county services.

Commissioners thanked the division for outreach efforts and for early engagement with advisory councils. Commissioner Jones Dixon moved approval; Commissioner Brim Edwards seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Moyer—Yes; Commissioner Singleton—Yes; Commissioner Brim Edwards—Yes; Commissioner Jones Dixon—Yes; Chair Vega Peterson—Aye. The resolution was adopted.

What the plan does and why it matters: the Older Americans Act requires a four‑year area plan to channel federal funds to local providers. ADVSD officials said the plan will support roughly 160,000 county residents and direct funding through 16 community partners, many described as culturally specific or culturally responsive. The plan sets time‑bound objectives with measurable tasks, and staff told commissioners they will return with annual updates on progress.

Next steps: with board approval, ADVSD will submit the plan to the Oregon Department of Human Services and begin the plan’s first-year implementation and reporting cycle. Staff said they will provide yearly updates to the board.

Speakers quoted in this article are people who appeared on the record at the meeting and are listed below.","The Board voted unanimously to adopt the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division area plan required by the Older Americans Act; plan authors said public outreach produced 2,410 completed survey responses and set measurable goals for information access, nutrition and caregiver support.",{"_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},6628464,"County transportation briefing: aging roads, bridge program gaps and a one‑year shift for the Earthquake‑Ready Burnside project",1905,6843000,8748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad&start=6843&end=8748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad/thumbnail_6843000.jpg","/articles/6628464/Multnomah-County/Oregon/County-transportation-briefing-aging-roads-bridge-program-gaps-and-a-oneyear-shift-for-the-EarthquakeReady-Burnside-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628464-8c63c8d3ed56bc6fd42da8e63cac90c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770579884&Signature=d1bdtOul5zw~7qwTMydQQIrmYdfPNVyQChFl218Rqc-3AAu4H~awBKhgzgBP3mRTta3nZdPzUDHPfWraNRaaofpzx1rAaONEz70S-e3en4EG6joFNubAH36ewtS8~R77h1jWMtrbwNWVjUFHDLpgqcDeG4ozUzuelTyFEil0FsA3G-AJt13J0LEyHljAeCvrxywI67dk-dCNmaAICfNGjmZQQV~DZ2FsshrSyNiBYUjhgW~BYfz03r83bvK28UP9449VFSS4flZPLMbWaDGeWw-J7hTf4UDhJwK7~IKYwZQ1MONsyI~XGI~YSmjJqhB3NgnNJDIEHftwIPU~ASJNaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County transportation officials briefed the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on the Transportation Division’s capital needs and funding outlook, describing a deteriorating asset base, large funding gaps in a 10‑year needs assessment and an adjusted schedule for the Earthquake‑Ready Burnside Bridge project.

John Hendrickson, county engineer and transportation director, told the board the division manages roughly 270 miles of county roads outside the cities of Portland and Gresham, about 1,690 culverts, 23 small bridges and six large bridges. He said current asset conditions are poor: \"Thirty‑six percent of our roads need complete replacement\" and the preliminary estimate to keep large bridges operating as they are (excluding Burnside) is about $840 million over the next 20 years.

Deputy director Jessica Berry walked commissioners through a recent needs assessment that modeled five scenarios. The study found a \"status‑quo\" scenario left a 10‑year funding gap of roughly $63 million and that a full \"needs‑met\" scenario would increase costs materially — staff reported an estimated funding gap of about $647 million over ten years to meet all identified needs. The assessment also shows tradeoffs among rural road needs, bridge replacements and equity‑focused investments.

Hendrickson and Berry described how revenue is allocated: state highway funds and local gas tax flows are split with the City of Portland and cities that previously received transfers; the remaining funds support county road operations and capital match. The county’s local gas tax revenue has declined (staff cited a drop from about $7.0 million in 2017 to $5.7 million most recently), and staff warned that without a new transportation funding package at the state level the county can expect further declines.

The briefing included an update on the Earthquake‑Ready Burnside Bridge, the division’s largest capital program. Staff said the project has reached 30% design and that work on pricing and an extensive risk assessment is underway. Because of uncertain federal funding and materials costs, staff recommended delaying right‑of‑way purchases and detour construction by one year; the revised schedule shifts detour construction to 2027 and main bridge work to 2028.

Commissioners asked for additional analysis and asked staff to coordinate with state and regional partners. Several commissioners emphasized the importance of prioritizing maintenance and operations funding as revenue streams shift and grant availability changes.

The briefing did not require a vote; staff said they would return with more detailed funding analysis and programming recommendations that tie to the county’s capital planning process.","Multnomah County Transportation Division briefed the Board on asset conditions and a 10‑year needs assessment showing large funding gaps; staff said recent federal/state uncertainty prompted a one‑year delay to major purchases and detour construction for the Earthquake‑Ready Burnside Bridge.",{"_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},6628469,"Parents, clinicians and advocates urge Multnomah County to preserve school‑based mental health and STI clinic services",1199,240000,1439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad&start=240&end=1439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716511-f5ef936c182a5e343bc360e844fcc1ad/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6628469/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Parents-clinicians-and-advocates-urge-Multnomah-County-to-preserve-schoolbased-mental-health-and-STI-clinic-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628469-0db7483e7f57fbbfd780846e70e6e26c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770579884&Signature=fh9zrpY3Kxob9AWzNOmqnYN6~s4RkNprc1bnuhBVnTWeOJSK7xg7HmDlJvhu2qpnvDmsBf3KsFYzmOVC9jN4dXQlJx7PDEmf1hQW9hN8aNnR6CfGe~EATP6sin4McbqVBe5PHoQNCKiHNTlmxA9wNpUQq6ODJa4TrrtMgvzjkf0Q5ZAk4jtweG8ZsIKVs9GTp9W~KXXYj6lUmwsoNbdveg77RtzPMnDOidKqjBsS6xlO-Dv05N4ZzDk4RLs8UTjZqEqEnsRogpahR14ObNxo2qgT4gELwMEoY8sAD~PlHmMRfQjt3tA8rSw8c68d~3tdvrXmBcihYmCWkF-yLFnzsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A string of public commenters at Thursday’s Multnomah County Board meeting urged commissioners to preserve funding for school‑based mental health clinicians and to avoid cuts to the county STI clinic, which a local HIV planner said is a critical element of prevention and continuity of care.

Erica Larson, a clinician who identified herself as working for the Multnomah County School‑Based Mental Health Program, described services for children in bilingual elementary schools and urged commissioners to \"prioritize the Multnomah County School‑Based Mental Health Program.\" Larson described providing culturally specific services for young students and said clinicians create \"a safe place for them to talk and express feelings they might not be otherwise able to.\"

\"Elimination of this program will cause irreparable damage to so many within our community,\" Larson said.

Dr. Austin Burris, also representing the school‑based mental health team, told the board that program data do not capture the full scope of clinicians’ work. \"It's not just a number. It's not just a data point. It's real lives. It's children,\" he said, describing efforts to increase program sustainability through enhanced billing and an electronic health record transition.

Amy Griffin, a Multnomah County direct clinical services employee and District 2 resident, told the board she had tried community mental health providers for her child and encountered long intake waits. She said the school‑based program is a \"vital lifeline, especially for Black, Brown, and TGIQ+ youth and families,\" and warned that cuts would endanger children who lack access to private care.

Scott Moore, co‑chair of the Portland Ryan White HIV Services Planning Council, urged commissioners not to dismantle services at the county STI clinic. He said the clinic bills for nearly half its budget through reimbursements and warned that dispersing services or reducing funding would disrupt continuity of care for people living with and at risk of HIV, worsen health disparities and increase long‑term costs to the health system.

Public testimony was followed by items on the board agenda. Commissioners acknowledged the testimony; some asked staff to consider coordination and access gaps among county programs. No board action on health program funding was taken at the meeting; the speakers were urging the board as it develops budget and policy choices.

Speakers quoted in this article are listed below and reflect the public testimony given at the meeting.","Multiple public commenters told the Board that proposed cuts to Multnomah County Public Health and school‑based mental health could end services for vulnerable youth; an HIV services planning council leader warned cuts to the STI clinic would increase long‑term costs and health disparities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners authorize preliminary planning for new Multnomah County animal services facility

Multnomah County commissioners approve 2025–2029 area plan for aging, disability and veterans services

County transportation briefing: aging roads, bridge program gaps and a one‑year shift for the Earthquake‑Ready Burnside project

Parents, clinicians and advocates urge Multnomah County to preserve school‑based mental health and STI clinic services