TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 11, A

003

Chair Metsger

Calls the meeting to order at 10:02 p.m.  Welcomes the audience members to the first road committee of the session.  Invites the public to testify and get involved.  Introduces committee staff members Theresa Van Winkle and James Goulding.  Asks the other committee members to introduce themselves.

020

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Senate District 25.  Introduces herself and offers a brief overview of her district.

025

Rep. Chuck Riley

House District 29.  Introduces himself and offers a brief overview of his district.

035

Sen. B. Starr

Senate District 15.  Introduces himself, welcomes his constituents and voices his approval of taking the process to the people.  Discusses some of the issues being faced in the county.  Makes additional remarks.

060

Chair Metsger

Senate District 26.  Introduces himself and outlines the purpose of the meeting.  Opens the informational hearing.

WESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – INFORMATIONAL HEARING

070

Larry Pederson

Economic Development Director, City of Hillsboro.  Begins testimony on Western Washington County economic development.  Gives overview of the county and business status.  Discusses growth and difficulties faced over the last few years.  Outlines economic changes and outlook.  Points out the composition and population changes.  Expounds upon the entrepreneurial spirit and the possibilities for growth.  Cautions the technology sector is still fragile. 

180

Chair Metsger

Thanks him for his testimony and recognizes Tom Hughes.

185

Mayor Tom Hughes

Mayor of Hillsboro.  Welcomes the committee to Hillsboro.  Gives an overview of the general economic situation of the city.  Lauds the tax code changes as a major source of economic development.  Discusses water and land use issues.  Outlines technology-related industry issues.  Talks about Intel development plan of new plant and the cooperation provided. 

300

Hughes

Continues testimony, discussing frustrations that some legislative rulings have hampered the flexibility they need to develop new business planning.  Provides details on zoning difficulties.

375

Chair Metsger

Thanks the mayor for his testimony.  Asks Mr. Otterman to testify.

380

Don Otterman

City manager of North Plains.  Begins discussion of his small city and the major issues being faced.

TAPE 12, A

005

Otterman

Describes the environmental problems, especially with water quality.  Talks about city efforts to improve the area.  Expands on the proposals for urban renewal and the problems with getting the program launched.  Ventures his opinion on urban growth boundaries and potential legislative remedies.

100

Chair Metsger

Thanks him for the testimony.

105

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Wonders what the land he proposes to be incorporated into North Plains is currently being used for.

110

Otterman

Replies that the land is about 144 acres of high and low level farm land.

115

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Asks if the lack of increase in the city’s urban growth boundary is due to the current use of the land.

120

Otterman

Replies about the use of the land that is currently zoned for farmland.

150

Chair Metsger

Thanks Mr. Otterman for his testimony.  Closes the informational hearing.  Opens a public hearing on SB 367.

SB 367 – PUBLIC HEARING

155

Theresa Van Winkle

Committee Administrator.  Explains the measure.

160

Ron Louie

Hillsboro Police Department.  Testifies in favor of requiring seatbelts in privately-owned commercial vehicles such as taxi cabs and shuttle vans.  Explains the positive impact of prior seatbelts requirements.

205

Sen. Deckert

Asks if he is presenting the view of the chiefs of police association.

210

Louie

States it is his personal view.  Outlines his experiences with accidents that could have been prevented by seat belts.

225

Chair Metsger

Thanks him for his testimony.  Voices that this issue came about with the death of a figure skater’s mother in a vehicle that was exempt from seat belt use.  Expresses his concern about this loophole. 

245

Marian Gaylord

Supervisor, City of Portland.  Submits written testimony in favor of SB 367 (EXHIBIT A).  Proposes they consider adding language to the measure that would allow for local exemptions or ordinances on the use of child safety seats.

325

Justin Dune

City of Portland.  Testifies in favor of SB 367.  Points out that the risk of a belligerent passenger attacking a driver is far less than the potential for injury of a driver not wearing a seatbelt.  Reiterates that seatbelts save lives.

335

Chair Metsger

Replies in regards to exemptions for child safety seats.  States he is interested in their approach. 

360

Steve Entler

General Manager, Radio Cab Company.  Testifies neither for or against the bill.  Voices his experiences with cab driver safety and expresses his support for an amendment to the bill making seat belts mandatory for passengers and voluntary for drivers.  Outlines the need for drivers to be able to vacate a vehicle quickly in the event of an emergency.

TAPE 11, B

005

Chair Metsger

Asks if any sign is posted in the cab recommending use of seatbelts.

010

Entler

Replies that they had discussed the possibility.  Describes the enormous amount of decals already posted inside most cabs.  Notes that a proposal for such a notice is in the works.

015

Sen. B. Starr

Wonders if there are records of incidents involving taxi cab drivers.

025

Entler

Replies that cabs have an advantage in that they are larger than the average car.  Discusses the high standards for hiring drivers with good driving records and ensuring proper training.  Notes that most accident figures are kept by the insurance companies.   

040

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Asks if he has any data on the number of altercations between drivers and passengers.

045

Entler

States they do more evening business, which increases the likelihood of picking up a dangerous passenger.  Offers that they have not kept specific records.  Acknowledges that the frequency of those types of incidents has come down in recent years. 

060

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Wonders about passengers too large to fit in a normal safety belt.  Asks if they have extenders to accommodate such passengers.

065

Entler

Replies he is not aware of any occurrences where a passenger could not fit into a seatbelt.

070

Sen. Deckert

Contrasts the high quality of taxi service in Oregon to the service he experienced in a recent trip to Mexico.  Wonders about infant passengers needing car seats or otherwise.

085

Entler

Replies that it should be the responsibility of the parents to provide protective seats for their children.  Remarks that it would be difficult to require drivers to carry additional equipment or pick up equipment for passengers.

100

Sen. Deckert

Asks how often parents bring children with them in cabs without a car seat.

105

Entler

Replies that it does occur, but he does not have specific data on it.

110

Chair Metsger

Thanks Mr. Entler for his testimony.  Commends Committee Administrator Theresa Van Winkle for her work in contacting people in the taxi industry.

115

Rep. Riley

Takes a moment to recognize Richard Kidd, Mayor of Forest Grove, who is in attendance.

120

Cathy Bowles

Lake Oswego resident.  Presents written testimony in favor SB 367 (EXHIBIT B).  Presents a handout on Injury Prevention (EXHIBIT C).  Details her experiences while riding in an airport shuttle van.

180

Sen. B. Starr

Asks if she is a participant in the Trauma Nurses Talk Tough (TNTT) program.

183

Bowles

Responds that she is a member of TNTT, and primarily teaches the young driver program. 

185

Sen. B. Starr

Offers that he once attended TNTT and points out it is a very valuable resource, which has increased his awareness.  Wonders if it should be the parent’s responsibility to carry a car seat as opposed to making the cab company provide one.

205

Bowles

Replies that parents are legally responsible for providing safety for their children in their own vehicle.  Points out the problem is some parents do not provide their children with safety seats.   

220

Sen. B. Starr

Thanks her for her comments and offers that there will be additional testimony on this issue.

225

Chair Metsger

Asks Troy Costales and Tamara Franks to testify.

230

Troy Costales

Manager, Safety Division, Oregon Department of Transportation.  Provides written testimony (EXHIBIT D).  Presents a research report (EXHIBIT E) and a data chart of accidents (EXHIBIT F).

335

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Points out Oregon has the second highest seatbelt fine in the nation.

345

Costales

Discusses fines and citation laws.

370

Chair Metsger

Submits that there are no exemptions in California and other areas.  Wonders if other neighboring states have the requirement to use their safety belts.

380

Costales

Clarifies the laws in neighboring states.

395

Tamara Franks

Child Safety Seat Resource Center.  Submits testimony in favor of SB 367 (EXHIBIT G).  Also submits testimony from Ruth Harshfield (EXHIBIT H).

TAPE 12, B

005

Franks

Continues to present her written testimony.  Encourages inclusion of safety provisions for children of all ages in the bill.

045

Jeannette Thibert

Radio Cab, taxi owner and driver.  Points out the importance of using a seatbelt from personal experiences.  Makes the case that not using a seatbelt can also be an important safety measure.  Relates an incident where she picked up a dangerous passenger and had to bail out of a vehicle for her own safety.  Voices her opposition for the bill, in light of passengers that have criminal intent. 

100

Thibert

Continues to testify on additional incidents where not wearing a seatbelt can be valuable.  Relates the difficulty of low income families in being able to afford one or more child safety seats.

150

Elliot Eki

Public Affairs Director, AAA of Oregon.  States his endorsement for the bill as written.  Asks that they keep the public safety as a main priority.  States local cab drivers, and all over the country, are among the most aggressive drivers of all.

180

Sen. Deckert

Comments that Ms. Thibert’s testimony was very helpful.

185

Chair Metsger

Feels the bill needs some more work, and that they now have a framework to build on.  Closes public hearing on SB 367.  Opens a public hearing on SB 196 and SB 259.

SB 196, SB 259 – PUBLIC HEARING

245

Bill Cross

Oregon Landscape Contractor’s Association.  Asks that they address SB 196 first.  Introduces John Gawlista.

255

John Gawlista

President, Oregon Landscape Contractor’s Association.  Submits written testimony for Michael Snyder in favor of SB 196 (EXHIBIT I).  Testifies in favor of the SB 196, feeling that having clearly marked vehicles increases the professionalism of the industry. Discusses the work involved to become licensed.

270

Lee Stevenson

Vice-President, Oregon Landscape Contractor’s Association.  Concurs with Mr. Gawlista’s comments.  Asserts his support for SB 196.

280

Cross

Submits written testimony in favor of SB 196 (EXHIBIT J).  Notes that most licensed contractors already have their vehicles marked.  Feels that requiring signage would assist in reduction of contractors operating without a license.

290

Chair Metsger

Asks if there are other contractor groups with similar requirements.

295

Cross

Responds that he doesn’t know of any other group that requires that information on their vehicles.

310

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Notes her desire to know the specifics of the problem that the bill is fixing.

315

Cross

Replies that it addresses problems with unlicensed contractors.  Notes consumer problems with unprofessional and uninsured work.

350

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Asks if there is data on problems that are being experienced.

365

Cross

Responds that there are about seven cases a month filed regarding issues of this nature.  Offers that they don’t know for sure how many problems are going unreported.

375

Sen. Monnes Anderson

Asks for clarification on the complaints received.

380

Cross

Clarifies the complaints are usually with unlicensed contractor work harmful to a consumer.

390

Sen. B. Starr

Wonders if a homeowner hires a maintenance worker to do a small amount of landscaping on the side, would they be in violation of the proposed law.

400

Cross

Replies that there is an exemption for maintenance work.  Offers that if more than five hundred dollars worth of unlicensed landscape work is performed annually it would be a violation.

TAPE 13, A

003

Chair Metsger

Closes the public hearing on SB 196.  Continues Public hearing on SB 259.

SB 259 – PUBLIC HEARING

007

Bill Cross

Oregon Society of Association Management.  Submits written testimony in favor of Senate Bill 259 (EXHIBIT K).  Submits written testimony of Jessica Harris Adamson in favor of SB 259 (EXHIBIT L).

030

Chair Metsger

Asks if this would change the bylaws of any organization as it would only allow electronic participation. 

035

Cross

Clarifies that organizations would have to amend their bylaws to accommodate the change.  Notes they would not be required to, but would now have the option.

040

Chair Metsger

Thanks him for his testimony.  Closes Public Hearing on SB 259.  Opens Work Session on SB 259.

SB 259 – WORK SESSION

042

Sen. B. Starr

MOTION:  Moves SB 259 to the floor with a DO PASS

                     recommendation.

VOTE:  4-0-1

EXCUSED:  1 – Atkinson

045

Chair Metsger

Hearing no objection, declares the motion CARRIED.

SEN. MONNES ANDERSON will lead discussion on the floor.

047

Chair Metsger

Closes work session.  Recognizes the testimony of the mayor of Forest Grove.

CITY OF FOREST GROVE – INFORMATIONAL HEARING

060

Richard Kidd

Mayor, City of Forest Grove.  Offers informational hearing on status of Forest Grove.  Talks about urban growth boundary jurisdictions.  Continues to outline the status of Forrest Grove and future industries.

165

Chair Metsger

Thanks him for his testimony and patience.

170

Sen. Deckert

Relays the problems with the Portland Metro area encroaching on smaller cities.  Feels there is a need for reform.

180

Kidd

Replies he is a member of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC).  Describes the reporting needed for funding of different programs.  Voices how difficult it is for smaller cities to complete the reports with such limited staff.

200

Sen. Deckert

Comments they need to get MPAC back to their mission.

210

Kidd

Remarks on the slow “creep” of urban development.

215

Sen. B. Starr

Voices that this is a clear example of the interplay of land use, transportation, and economic development. 

235

Kidd

Concludes by stating that this issue is happening all over the region.

240

Rep. Riley

Echoes the comments of Sen. B. Starr.  Adds that he agrees that there needs to be a limit to the creep.

250

Chair Metsger

Adjourns the committee at 12:11 p.m.