Since the passage of Senate Bill 762, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has taken an active role in ensuring implementation information from state agencies is provided to county elected officials and staff. Over the summer, AOC hosted webinars regarding the wildfire map required by SB 762. AOC’s Annual Conference programming also included a panel discussion entitled “Wildfire and the Changes Brought by SB 762.”  

The AOC conference panel moderated by Baker County Commissioner and Wildfire Programs Advisory Council Chair Mark Bennett featured four speakers. 

  • Wildfire Programs Director for Governor Kate Brown, Doug Grafe, spoke on the implementation for all agencies. 
  • Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Director, Brenda Bateman, reviewed the DLCD wildfire report. 
  • Oregon State Fire Marshal, Mariana Ruiz-Temple, covered the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant as well as other grants available from her department – these grants are aimed to help protect people, property, and communities from wildfire through various forms of risk reduction programs. 
  • Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire Chief, Mike Shaw, discussed the wildfire risk map and the department’s decision to begin that process again, as well as a recap of the  public hearings the department held throughout the state after the map was released. 

After the panel presented, Commissioner Bennett provided Senator Jeff Golden (D-Ashland), the senator who helped shepherd the legislation through both chambers, the opportunity to address those in attendance on the implementation of the bill. Due to limited time for questions and answers following the conference panel, AOC organized a virtual question and answer session on Tuesday, December 13.

At the December 13 virtual meeting “Wildfire Meeting – a Q & A with Commissioners,” those in attendance were joined by original panelists, Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) Policy Advisor, Palmer Mason; Sen. Golden; and State Forester, Cal Mukumoto. After a few introductory remarks by the panelists, the remainder of the meeting was spent answering questions. 

Grafe made reference to a report from the Rogue Forest Partners regarding their resiliency efforts underway in the Rogue Basin, Commissioner Bennett, referenced the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council’s final 2022 Report on recommended changes, and Chief Shaw shared the “Key Issues Identified in Review of the Wildfire Risk Map Feedback.” 

One issue that got a lot of attention during the December 13 meeting was the inability of counties to implement SB 391 (2021), which allows for the rural residential Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), due to the statutory requirement that statewide risk maps first be adopted. AOC staff is working with DLCD, county planning staff, and legislators on a legislative concept that would decouple rural residential ADU authority from the wildfire risk map, while maintaining appropriate wildfire risk mitigation measures

All of the panelists asked that their contact information be shared as a way to be available to answer any additional questions that might arise:

Because of AOC’s continued engagement and direct dialogue with our state partners and legislative leaders, Sen. Golden has ensured AOC that advanced notice will be provided to commissioners, judges, chairs, and counties when wildfire related items are coming before the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery Committee, which he chairs, in 2023.  

Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager