Aug 29, 2024 | AOC News, Events
The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), the League of Oregon Cities (LOC), and the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) are co-hosting a webinar on Sept. 18, 12-1 p.m., to provide a forum for city and county representatives to learn more about DLCD’s Goal 5 Cultural Areas rulemaking process. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) initiated this rulemaking in November 2023.
Register for the webinar here.
DLCD staff also will hold office hours for informal discussion in September and October. Please sign up to receive additional information on the rulemaking and implementation processes by signing up for emails here. Staff anticipate the first hearing on the draft rules to be held during LCDC’s September meeting on Sept. 25. The period for formal written comment on the draft rules will be Sept. 1 to Oct. 16. DLCD staff are recommending an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.
Background: while statewide land use planning Goal 5 includes reference to the inventory and associated strategies to protect cultural resources, the goal does not define or operationalize protections for these areas. In 1996, the LCDC adopted rules for inventorying and protecting other resources in OAR Chapter 660 Division 23. Developing similar guidelines for cultural areas was postponed at this time until statewide government-to-government relationships were better established.
Additional materials are online here.
DLCD encourages comments submitted to dlcd.goal5CA@dlcd.oregon.gov. Questions are also welcome to Amanda.Punton@dlcd.oregon.gov.
Oct 27, 2023 | Events
Online registration closes Monday, Oct. 30, for AOC’s Annual Conference, held in Lane County, Nov. 14-16. The annual conference draws together a cross section of elected officials, county staff, partners, and other participants for educational opportunities, leadership development, and networking. Attendees from rural and urban counties, large and small, participate in the three-day event aimed at improving residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.
AOC President and Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot played an integral part in developing this year’s educational programming and finding ways to unite county officials and connect throughout the event. “My focus as AOC president during the 2023 legislative session was to improve the status of counties in the state capitol,” said DeGroot. “Spending six months in Salem reaffirmed my belief that building meaningful relationships is critical to strengthening the state-county partnership and achieving policy solutions that result in efficient and effective delivery of services to the public.”
Concurrent sessions will cover topics ranging from preventing wildfires and cyberattacks to exploring solutions for homelessness, the opioid epidemic, and the mental health crisis.
Also during the conference, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Wyden and Merkley will both step off of the Senate floor for a “couch session” live from Washington D.C., and Brian Miller, a magician turned international speaker on human connection, perspectives, and understanding, will talk on “Connecting with Purpose: How to Magically Connect with Anyone.”
“AOC’s Annual Conference has continued to provide education and networking opportunities for counties for over a century,” commented AOC Executive Director Gina Firman Nikkel, Ph.D. “This unique gathering offers commissioners, judges, chairs, county staff, and partners across the state to come together and explore innovative solutions to county issues, learn from their peers, and develop key relationships. I look forward to this year’s programming lineup which will focus on preventing and solving the top issues that impact counties.”
Online registration closes Monday, Oct. 30.
Please register before Oct. 30, to secure the reduced rate. After Oct. 30, prices will go up, and registration will have to be done on site. Find registration fees and more information on AOC’s conference webpage.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
