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| Staff | |
John Roberts
Director
Jeanette Montour
Senior Planner
Dawn Baird
Associate Planner
Joey Shearer
Associate Planner
Brenda Jenkins
Planning Coordinator
Keith Cleveland
Code Compliance Officer
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| Disclaimer | |
The Wasco County Planning Department has provided this electronic newsletter free of charge. The items contained herein are published as submitted and are provided for general information purposes only. Readers should not rely solely on this information, but should make their own inquiries before making any decisions.
We work to maintain up-to-date information, however, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omission or results of any actions based upon this information. If you have any questions regarding any of these items, contact the organizational representative of that source/information.
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Dear Brenda,
It's been a busy month for the Wasco County Planning Department. We are are rolling out new initiatives and making efforts toward some important changes, particularly in the area of improving communication with the community -- our customers.
We held a focus group on September 27th which generated a great deal of input from the community. We really appreciate the 22 individuals who took the time to participate, as well as those who supported our efforts and involved themselves in other ways, including one of our facilitators, Wasco County's own Christa Rude of the Commission on Children & Families.
These types of efforts allow our planning department to hear firsthand the variety of perspectives and recommendations that are critical to our operations. In that regard, a Development Review Improvement Process (DRIP) Advisory Committee is being formed and is slated to meet in mid-December. If you have an interest in serving on this important committee, or know someone who might, please let me know.
I hope you enjoy this second issue of Connections, and please don't hesitate to forward it to others who might like to stay better informed of our activities.
Thanks, 
John Roberts, AICP
Planning Director |
| FOCUS GROUP | | |
On September 27 at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, the Wasco County Planning Department organized a focus group in order to gather community opinions, priorities and values related to planning and development in Wasco County. The majority of the 22 residents who participated in the focus group had experience working with the county's planning department on planning or development issues.
Participants were divided into two groups, each with a facilitator, and initiated discussions revolving around four main topics: 1) customer service, 2) development review processes, 3) land use and development ordinances, and 4) economic development. Four members of the Wasco County Planning Department were also on hand to listen and take notes.
The focus group successfully raised awareness around important aspect of these four main topics. Themes and key findings that emerged from the discussion will be synthesized by the Planning Department and used to develop overarching goals and specific tasks. The goals and tasks will be prioritized and codified in the strategic plan currently being drafted.
Finally, focus group discussions made Planning Department staff more aware of the need to proactively communicate and educate the public about the Department's core functions and responsibilities, as well as the content of the land use and development ordinances (LUDO). |
| COUNTY RECEIVES GRANT | | |
In October, the Planning Department was awarded a grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development (DLCD) to pursue process improvements. The grant request was titled, "Streamlining Development Review & Land Use Approvals: Processes, Procedures & Strategies," and will provide funding towards a project to improve the Planning Department's operational functions.
The project will focus on concrete steps, including an audit and evaluation of development review procedures. The Planning Department will also examine differences that exist between the Wasco County LUDO and state or federal regulations. Finally, identified improvements will be implemented and department functions upgraded. The results will benefit the Planning Department and the community of Wasco County.
Next steps include formalizing paperwork with the DLCD and developing a request for proposals (RFP) to be sent out by January 2012. The DRIP Advisory Committee will help steer these efforts and provide valuable input as the project progresses.
Please contact the Wasco County Planning Department if you would like to be involved! |
| NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE | |
The Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience and the County are initiating a review and update of their Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). The NHMP forms the foundation for the community's long-term strategy to diminish any losses from a potential natural disaster. 
Jurisdictions with mitigation plans approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may be eligible for federal grant funding to impliment those identified mitigation items.
Opportunities for public input, including public forums and a survey sent to a random sample of residents, will be sought in the coming months.
You can contact Will Clark, Resource Assistance for Rural Environments participant at MCCOG for more information. |
| REMINDER - NEW HOURS! | | |
The October 7 kick-off BBQ for the Planning Department's new Friday hours was a fun event that brought folks from across Wasco County down to the Planning Department for hotdogs and hamburgers. As a reminder, the new Planning Department hours are:
10am-4pm, Monday through Friday OR by appointment.
The Department hopes people bring their questions when it's convenient and take full advantage of the opportunity to make appointments. |
| IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES | |
December 7 - Wasco County Board of County Commissioners hearing on proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendments
December 8 - Dept of Energy open house in Shaniko regarding renewable energy proposals January 18 - Wasco County Board of County Commissioners hearing on proposed Energy Ordinance Update |
| GOT A TOUGH QUESTION? ASK US! | |
If you have a question about anything in this newsletter, or if you have a general question about zoning, developing your property, floodplains or any other planning-related question, please let us help. You can send your questions to wcplanning@co.wasco.or.us. We will research your question and help you find the answer. |
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Please pass along this newsletter to anyone who may be interested in planning, land use and development in unincorporated portions of Wasco County. Archived editions of the newsletter will be posted to the Planning Department website. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click the "Join Our Mailing List!" button in the sidebar running down the left side of the newsletter.
Sincerely,
The Wasco County Planning Department |
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