Board work session presses for measures on eviction prevention, behavioral health and district-level data

After the strategic plan presentation the Board of Commissioners reconvened in a work session to finalize a board work plan and set timing for future agenda items.

Chair opened the work session and Commissioner Singleton led discussions about timing and staff capacity. Commissioners used the session to press for specific board priorities to be calendared and sequenced so staff can plan resources. "I think it's time to really nail down some of the timeline pieces," Commissioner Singleton said, urging clarity over what will be done when and how staff will support projects.

Several commissioners proposed specific additions or clarifications for the board work plan. Commissioner Brim Edwards asked for more district- and geographic-level indicators for public safety and homelessness and flagged the need to measure access to behavioral health and substance-use services. Commissioner John Stickson asked how the plan will track internal staff impacts and whether the county will measure improvements to internal silos.

Commissioner Singleton explicitly called out a missing metric: "it's missing eviction prevention metric, and that's a really big 1 for me to make sure that we capture." Commissioners also urged that contracted providers be supported in training and data reporting, and that the sheriff's pretrial services — which one commissioner said serve "over 600 people" — be included in relevant measures.

Board members debated process questions: when a work session is sufficient versus when to require staff resources or a formal budget ask; how to sequence board-driven items alongside the strategic plan; and how to use the work plan to make it easier for commissioners to get topics on agendas. Commissioners proposed concrete items and timing, including a January ordinance or resolution for board rules, a February office-of-board-clerk resolution, and follow-ups on the adult addictions treatment continuum and CEI Hub ordinance.

The chair asked commissioners to send specific language to the chair's and Commissioner Singleton's offices for exact capture; staff said the CEO's office and COO will coordinate calendar and resource checks. With calendar conflicts noted, commissioners agreed the board should adopt a version of the work plan so staff can begin scheduling briefings and work sessions. The meeting concluded with a proclamation-signing announcement and adjournment.