What OAPA Should Seek from Legislative Outcomes?

2012 Legislative Agenda

Guiding Principles for Legislation

What OAPA should seek from legislative outcomes?

Benefit – Is the proposal beneficial to land use planning in Oregon? Will the legislation advance the goals of the Oregon land use program and the APA objective of “making great communities happen”?
Clarity - What will the proposed law require? Is it clear? What are the outcomes/products expected from local governments, state agencies, business, and private citizens?
Diversity – Is the proposal helpful to a broad range of citizens rather than narrow special interests? If the law applies to all cities and/or counties how will different local governments in different parts of Oregon satisfy the law?
Cost – How much will the proposal cost, to the state, the public, local governments or others?
Creativity – Can we come up with a different, more creative proposal that accomplishes the same purpose? If a proposal has negative impacts, can we come up with a less harmful idea? Can we think of a way to accomplish the purpose in a way that gets broader legislative support?

It is expected that much of the 2012 short session will be focused on budget issues. OAPA will continue to monitor bills consistent with its 2011 Legislative Agenda, with the following modifications:

Urban Issues

Follow and participate in efforts in the Governor’s office and courts to address the UGB process. Discussions include how to keep the Court of Appeals from being bottle neck on land use issues focusing on the (1) appeals process on land use cases and (2) process for UGB amendments. This work is targeting legislation in the 2013 legislative session. Because it is expected that this work will include addressing the priorities in ORS 197.298, we are tabling our proposed legislation on this topic.
Follow work on the Transportation Planning Rule and Oregon Highway Plan. While this work is expected to result in rulemaking by the end of 2011, there may be follow up work. Also, given efforts to weaken the TPR during the 2011 session, we will monitor bills on transportation.

Rural Issues

Agri-tourism activities: Monitor the implementation of SB 960 to ensure that the permitted events do not become the primary use on farms and that the new standards prevent or limit impacts to surrounding farm and forest operations.
Wineries – Monitor the implementation of HB 3280, especially with regard to its allowance of expanded food service and promotional activities. Support the establishment and participate in any work groups that oversee this work in progress. Continue to support legislation to limit wineries to the same limitations on other special events, promotional activities and food services as other farm operations and to ensure that such activities individually or cumulatively do not harm surrounding farm or forest operations. Coordinate legislative with the Wine Industry, Farm Bureau, 1000 Friends of Oregon, AOC, DLCD and ODA.
HB 3615 (2011): This bill would have authorized establishment of regional definitions of “agricultural land” and “forest land” for purposes of land use goal setting and appropriated money to Department of Land Conservation and Development to make grants to Jackson, Josephine and Douglas Counties to pursue regional definitions of “agricultural land” and “forest land.” If efforts are made to revive this bill, OAPA will encourage delay of adoption to allow DLCD to undertake a farm/forest mapping effort pilot project (HB 2229). OAPA will also coordinate with AOC to see if common understanding can be reached on this issue.