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Deschutes County board backs staff work to finalize Core 3 lease, accepts $300,000 cleanup commitment
Summary
County commissioners heard an update on the Core 3 regional training and resiliency project and gave staff support to draft a lease with COIC and an MOU to fund relocation and debris cleanup on the site; presenters said partners have raised about $35.8 million to date and COIC has committed roughly $300,000 toward site cleanup and outreach.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on June 17 heard an update on the Core 3 regional training and resiliency project and signaled support for staff to draft a lease and memorandum of understanding that would allow construction preparation to begin.
Project leaders told the board the Core 3 site will host an emergency vehicle operators course, a driver skill pad, a flex emergency coordination center and other Phase 1A elements. Shelby Knight, community development programs administrator with the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, said the partners have assembled about $35.8 million in commitments so far and identified about $1.1 million for legacy‑site remediation within the initial phase.
Why it matters: Presenters described Core 3 as a regional asset for law enforcement, fire and first‑responder training that could also flex into a state‑level resiliency center for events such as a Cascadia earthquake. Commissioners pressed on funding, ownership and timelines knowing the county currently holds title and COIC would steward early construction.
Details of the next step: Christy Ballinger, Deschutes County property management, described a near‑term plan to enter a lease with COIC so construction activities (fencing, site prep, remediation) can begin while the project transitions to a future operating entity. Ballinger said the MOU would document current conditions on the property — including homelessness and debris on the Core 3 footprint — and that COIC has committed about $300,000 to fund outreach, relocation to a managed camp or green‑zone options, and contractor cleanup work.
Board questions focused on sufficiency and timing. Ballinger said staff will provide 60‑ and 30‑day notices to encampments within the roughly 300‑acre footprint; she estimated roughly 40 encampments and about 65 people are currently in the area. She also said the county obtained a remediation quote from an environmental contractor (Bio Solutions) and that language in the draft documents would address potential cost overruns and how any additional funding would be handled.
Funding outlook and ownership: Presenters confirmed the county donated the land and currently holds title while COIC manages project stewardship. Commissioners discussed prior state appropriations and the prospects for additional state funding: presenters and Mayor Fitch said they anticipate pursuing an estimated $30 million appropriation in a future legislative session to build the resiliency center component, and that Phase B long‑range work would be larger (presenters estimated roughly $56 million for certain priority B investments).
What the board did: Commissioners indicated majority support to have staff prepare the lease and MOU and return for formal approval. Staff said they will bring the draft lease and MOU back to the board at an upcoming meeting for formal action and noted some right‑of‑way and easement matters related to nearby road work will also return to the board for approval.
Next steps: Staff will draft the lease and MOU for formal board approval, proceed with the pre‑construction notices and work with COIC and partner agencies to mobilize remediation and site fencing.
