The Washington County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 voted unanimously on a series of procedural and land-use items: the board approved transferring a portion of Southwest Elsner Road to the city of King City, continued an engrossed public hearing on Ordinance 897 (the River Terrace 2.0 urban growth boundary expansion) to Jan. 28, and approved several administrative items including advisory council appointments and the 2025 vice chair designation.

County engineering staff told the board the segment of Southwest Elsner Road under consideration runs from Beefe Bend Road south to the King City limits and lies within the city boundary. Staff said the section is not on the county's long-term jurisdiction map in the county Transportation System Plan; the county mailed notice to affected parties "per the statutes," and staff reported no known opposition at the time of the hearing. The board then approved a resolution to transfer jurisdiction to King City; the motion carried 5-0.

In land-use business, staff summarized proposed engrossed Ordinance 897, which would update Washington County comprehensive plan documents to reflect the Metro-approved River Terrace 2.0 urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion (approximately 500 acres) and related changes adopted by the county in late 2023 and 2024. Because the county has scheduled a second engrossment hearing, the board closed the public comment portion and continued the hearing to Jan. 28 to allow further review; the continuance passed unanimously.

On administrative matters the board authorized recruitment for multiple boards and commissions openings; appointed Eman Abbas and Wagner Diego Ferreira Palazzi to the Advisory Council on Racial Equity; and designated Commissioner Pam Treece as board vice chair for 2025 under the county's rotating procedure. All motions reported on the record for the county business session carried by unanimous votes (5-0).

Separately, when meeting earlier as the Washington County Housing Authority Board of Directors, the board approved the minutes of the Dec. 3, 2024 meeting by a unanimous vote of directors present (7-0).

Votes at a glance:
- Transfer jurisdiction: Approve resolution to transfer portion of Southwest Elsner Road to King City. Outcome: approved, vote 5-0. Reason: segment within city limits and not on county long-term jurisdiction map; no known opposition reported by staff.
- Ordinance 897 (River Terrace 2.0 UGB expansion): Hearing continued to Jan. 28, 2025. Outcome: continuance approved, vote 5-0.
- Advisory Council on Racial Equity appointments: Appoint Eman Abbas and Wagner Diego Ferreira Palazzi. Outcome: approved, vote 5-0.
- Vice chair designation 2025: Designate Commissioner Pam Treece as vice chair. Outcome: approved, vote 5-0.
- Consent agenda (county business): Approve consent agenda of 10 items across multiple departments (minutes, Clean Water Services, emergency management, county counsel, land use and transportation, health and human services, human resources). Outcome: approved, vote 5-0.
- Housing Authority minutes: Approve Dec. 3, 2024 minutes. Outcome: approved, vote 7-0.

Staff and commissioners noted next steps and meeting dates. The board plans to resume consideration of engrossed Ordinance 897 at the Jan. 28 public hearing.