06/03/2026 - Board of Commissioners - Wednesday Meeting

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners held a meeting on June 3, 2026, addressing several procurement and policy matters. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the approval of contract number 20260327 with Axon for the procurement of body worn cameras, tasers, and fleet cameras for the Sheriff's Office, totaling $2.4 million over five years. The board discussed concerns raised by citizens regarding privacy, automated license plate recognition (ALPR) capabilities, and compliance with Oregon laws, with the Sheriff's Office clarifying that ALPR functionality would not be activated under the current contract. The board approved the contract with assurances of transparency and future policy development if ALPR is pursued. Additionally, the board reviewed and discussed the Community Development Department's draft fiscal year 2026-27 work plan, including housing strategies, groundwater protection, and childcare regulatory considerations, with public input and plans to keep the record open for further comments. The board also approved an amendment to the L3 Harris managed services contract for emergency communications infrastructure maintenance, increasing the annual cost by $118,436 due to added sites. Furthermore, the board voted to withdraw from a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant for fuels reduction due to changed grant requirements, including a shift from in-kind to cash match, and capacity constraints, while noting other secured grants supporting similar work. Other agenda items included receiving the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council annual report, supporting a lease agreement for a homelessness service center, and discussing wildfire mitigation efforts. The meeting concluded with executive sessions on labor negotiations.