Commissioners pressed county leaders on Oct. 30 for a prompt response after several public speakers and community members described increasing food insecurity and fear in immigrant and refugee communities.

Commissioner Jason Snyder, Commissioner Jerry Willey and others described cases of families avoiding grocery stores and of schools and nonprofits scrambling to provide weekend food. Snyder and Willey urged rapid action to direct funds to community‑based organizations that already deliver food, rental and legal supports, saying local partners can act faster than a new county program.

Commissioner Willey proposed preliminary dollar figures for discussion: $250,000 targeted to food distribution efforts and $200,000 to support community‑based organizations aiding immigrant and refugee residents. Commissioners emphasized these as starting points for staff analysis, not final commitments.

County Administrative Officer Tanya Angie and finance staff said they could present options but warned that repurposing county operating dollars or reserves carries tradeoffs. Angie reminded the board of the county’s reserve policy and that shifting contingency or reserve funds would require the board to accept replenishment obligations in future budgets. Staff also flagged that many local programs already experienced recent cuts or fund volatility and that a short list of targeted asks from CBOs would help staff craft an effective and timely response.

On legal authority and process, county counsel referenced the county ordinance (Chapter 8.36) and a state statute cited in the meeting transcript as ORS 401 (as discussed on the record). Counsel advised the board that a county emergency declaration is permitted when an area faces a natural or man‑made event that causes or threatens injury, death or disruption of critical services, and that the ordinance gives the board broad discretion to adopt response measures and set a timeline.

Chair Catherine Harrington asked Commissioners Snyder and Willey to work with county counsel to draft a proposed emergency declaration for board consideration; Harrington also asked CAO Angie to return with mechanics and options for near‑term funding and a delivery plan that prioritizes trusted local partners. Angie agreed to bring options and noted Centro and other regional partners were meeting Nov. 3 and could provide additional perspective.

Ending: The board did not adopt an emergency declaration or approve funding at the Oct. 30 meeting. Instead it gave staff direction to return on a rapid timetable with options (including dollar amounts, delivery partners and source-of‑fund recommendations) and asked two commissioners to help draft a declaratory template for the board to consider at a subsequent meeting.