Community members urge clearer public-involvement plan as county reviews CPO/CCI structure

Bruce Bartlett, chair of the Washington County CCI, used the public comment period to press the commission for clarity about changes to the county's public involvement structure. "My name is Bruce Bartlett. I am the chair of the Washington County CCI," he said, and added that after five years of engagement he found it "somewhat amazing" that "the grama was just decapitated" and that another eight months would pass before community participants would know what the new public involvement program will look like.

Bartlett said the CPO program previously provided a formal avenue for residents in unincorporated areas to gather and raise long'range planning issues and that the planned merger of the CCI component into the Planning Commission raised concerns about maintaining opportunities for resident input. Staff in the director's report acknowledged the open house and said written comments and dot'exercise results would be summarized and provided to the Planning Commission and Planning Commission work sessions.

During the public comment period Mary Manso also confirmed logistics for the county's volunteer appreciation event on April 29 at PCC Willow Creek and noted there will be a live band.

Commissioners did not take action on the comments during the meeting; staff committed to summarize public feedback from the CDC open house and to bring that summary to subsequent Planning Commission meetings and work sessions.