Clackamas County staff: $12.5 million in grants secured for recovery campus; community meeting, good-neighbor agreement planned
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Summary
County staff told neighborhood partners the project has a $10 million governor ward and a $2.5 million federal earmark, is finalizing designs and expects demolition in June and construction in July with completion targeted for 2027; staff also outlined community outreach, a Good Neighbor agreement and supports for pets and families.
Clackamas County staff told a neighborhood working group that the county has secured two major funding commitments for a planned recovery campus and is preparing to finalize design work and move toward demolition and construction.
A county staff member said, “We got a $10,000,000 grant from the governor about 2 and a half weeks ago,” and that “we also got the grant for a federal earmark of 2 and a half million,” confirming the two major awards. The staff member added the county did not receive a $300,000 energy grant but called the overall package "great news."
Why it matters: The funding commitments narrow the financing gap for a project county leaders and community partners have discussed for years. Staff said the county will still borrow to cover remaining costs and intends to use opioid-settlement dollars to repay that loan, preserving other local programs.
Project schedule and approvals County staff said the design is being finalized. "We're going to submit the final designs for approval," the staff member said, and described an expected schedule: demolition of the existing school likely in June, construction starting in July and a target completion in 2027. Staff cautioned that demolition requires review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) because the building is older than 50 years and that removal of lead and asbestos will be part of the work.
Financing and fiscal details Staff said the county will take out a loan to cover remaining costs and noted opioid-settlement funds will be used to repay that borrowing and then be reinvested in the community. The transcript contained inconsistent references to the remaining financing amount (the staff member referenced both figures that sounded like "about $7–8 million" and later said "about $78,000,000"); county staff said they will provide clarified figures to the group.
Community engagement and Good Neighbor agreement Staff proposed a larger community meeting to share details and answer questions after prior meetings produced many unanswered concerns. The working group reviewed prior outreach efforts (initial mailings of roughly 300–350 feet radius and a later expanded 500-foot postcard) and discussed expanding outreach through local businesses and churches. Staff said they will circulate a flyer and asked the core group to help spread materials.
On neighborhood protections, staff introduced the idea of drafting a Good Neighbor agreement that would set expectations for the facility and neighborhood interaction. Staff said they would prepare a questionnaire of standard GNA topics for the core group to refine, and shared example agreements used elsewhere for the group to review.
Operations, safety and supports Attendees asked for copies of the facility's rules (smoking policy, security procedures) and staff said state administrative rules and a patient handbook address many operational questions; staff offered to distribute the handbook and links. The group also discussed supports for people entering treatment who have pets or children. Staff said they are exploring volunteer- or foster-based options for animals and coordinating with the Department of Human Services to ease family transitions.
Open space and partnerships Staff noted an approximately one-acre strip of open space along Tolbert that the county will retain and said routine maintenance will remain a county responsibility. Participants suggested coordinating planning with North Clackamas Park & Rec (NCPRD) so the site is not planned in isolation; staff said the county purchased the property from NCPRD and that the agency has limited funds.
Next steps Staff committed to sharing the patient handbook and state rule links, circulating the project flyer and Good Neighbor agreement questionnaire, and scheduling the community meeting (potential local venues discussed included the church across the street). No formal votes or policy actions were taken during the meeting.
The county and community partners said they will reconvene after staff circulate materials and set a date for the larger community meeting.
