Assistant Director Erin Wardell told the Washington County Planning Commission on Jan. 7, 2025, that the Board of Commissioners is considering a proposal to transition the county's community participation organization (CPO) program so there would be four CPOs, each aligned with one of the county's four commissioner districts. The board held a work session and a public hearing and postponed formal action to Jan. 27.

Wardell said the proposal would rescind older resolutions and orders dating to the 1980s and implement a new structure intended to modernize community engagement. "Based on the proposal that was brought forward yesterday, the board is considering transitioning the community participation organization program into a new structure where there would be 4 CPOs, 1 for each of the commissioner districts," she said.

What would change: Under the proposal the CPOs would remain formally recognized neighborhood organizations (relevant for land-use appeals) and continue to be managed by the Office of Access and Opportunity; the planning commission would assume the Oregon Administrative Rule responsibilities of the committee for citizen involvement (CCI), which includes assisting the governing body with community participation in land-use planning.

Commissioner feedback and staff follow-up: Commissioners asked whether the planning department would receive additional resources given the likely increase in agenda items and training needs; Wardell said staffing and resource decisions were still under discussion and suggested annual training and community engagement best practices for the planning commission. Commissioner Cross and others emphasized accessibility concerns (meeting times and locations) and Wardell said staff would pass that feedback to the Office of Access and Opportunity.

Next steps: Staff will discuss recruitment options and recommend reappointment or a broader recruitment process at a Jan. 20 work session; formal board action related to commissioner appointments and program changes was identified for early February and Jan. 27 for the pending resolution.