Regional Solutions Office Governor Kate Brown

Regional Solutions Office

Governor Kate Brown

Mid-Valley Regional Economic Recovery Team (M-V ERT) July 7, 2020 ? Agenda

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3:00 PM 3:10 PM 3:35 PM 3:50 PM 4:00 PM

Welcome and Roll Call Mid-Valley Real Estate ? The COVID Breakdown - Sandi Elwood , Berkshire Hathaway Home Roundtable Governor Brown's Equity Framework in COVID-19 Response and Recovery. Adjourn

NEXT WEEK: No meeting on Tuesday, July 14 UPCOMING: July 21 at 2PM with Matt Green (Oregon Health Authority) and July 27 at 3PM with Josh Lehner with economic forecast. If you have additional comments, please send to jody.christensen@

Regional Solutions Office

Governor Kate Brown

Mid-Valley Regional Economic Recovery Team (M-V ERT)

July 7, 2020 ? Meeting Notes

Team attendance: Erik Andersson (Strategic Economic Development Corp SEDCOR), Kim Parker-Llerenas (Willamette Workforce Partnership WWP), Celia Nunez (Small Business Development Center SBDC), Renata Wakeley (Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Government), Pat O'Connor (Oregon Employment Dept. OED), Tom Erhardt (OED), Lane Shetterly (Oregon Community Foundation), Tom Hoffert (Salem Chamber),Theresa Haskins (PGE), Regional Destination Marketing Orgs Tori Middelstadt, Chemeketa Community College ? Diane McLaran, Yamhill Early Learning Hub Jenn Richter, Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub Lisa Harnisch, Chris Mercier (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Yamhill Commissioner Kulla, Polk County Commissioner Pope, Marion County Commissioner Cameron, Polk County Emergency Manager Dean Bender, Stacey Jochimsen (Merkley), Fritz Graham (Wyden), Alvin Klausen (Schrader), Al Bannan (Bonamici), Jody Christensen (Governor Brown's Mid-Valley Regional Solutions)

The meeting started at 3:02 PM with roll call.

Guest Speaker: Sandi Elwood, Realtor for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Erik Andersson introduced Sandi Elwood, a Principal Broker for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in the Mid-Valley Region. She has been a Realtor for 16 years. She is joining us today to share her perspective on the housing recovery, some opportunities, as well as a few challenges.

Sandi's Comments: Thank you for the invitation to join you all today. I do not know and cannot even explain what is happening in the real estate market. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the housing market supply is at near record low, and demand is near an all-time high. This combination means home prices are also near all-time high in most cities as many potential buyers are bidding on a limited supply (extremely low inventory) of homes for sale. Another challenge is that while mortgage rates have dropped, the pandemic has made mortgage credit harder to get. Some borrowers require borrowers to have a 20% down payment to get a mortgage.

Since interior appraisals were not allowed. Unfortunately, this was leading to delayed transactions. We are now back to allowing interior and exterior appraisals, following strict COVID-19 guidelines. When COVID-19 shutdowns first occurred, lenders were stopping the loans mid-way. Now, things have slowed down, but have continued.

Who is purchasing/selling? We are seeing a significant number of people moving within the state. COVID-19 has influenced many to consider the benefits of purchasing in rural communities, since they are working remotely. The sellers seem to be those that can afford to sell their homes and take advantage of low rates to get into another home. Some are selling considering their job loss and market forbearance issues.

How long is a transaction taking from purchase to closing? Depending on the finance company, it is usually taking 30-40 days, from beginning, to closing.

Roundtable Updates:

Polk County Commissioner Pope: Seen its numbers increase, not as much as others. Numbers have stayed flat. No increase in deaths. Not sure why. Polk County citizens are doing a good job. I spoke with my team about doing more contract tracing, investigations, and not doing a good enough job with contract tracing. That is frustrating. We cannot seem to communicate the importance of contact tracing. Community members need to answer the call. We have to get it identified. Unfortunately, we are accused of only doing half a job in the county. It all may be because people are not answering their phones.

Marion County Commissioner Cameron: Motel 8 is available to house positive COVID-19 cases for those who have no other location to quarantine.

Yamhill County Commissioner Kulla: I second Commissioner Pope. In our County, our contact tracing calls indicate that they are coming from the Yamhill Co. Sheriff. Because of this, folks do not want to answer the calls. Unfortunately, people are terrified. One thing that business leaders have shared with us is the difficulty to communicate to their patrons the important of wearing a mask. People have blatantly refused their request leading to exposing them and their employees.

Grand Ronde Tribal Council Vice Chair Mercier: We have one member of our tribe who tested positive with Covid-19. We also have a few family members of our employees who have tested positive. Aside from that, it has not hit us hard. We continue to follow strict preventative measures such as requiring the use of masks, temperatures taken, etc. Last week we made the decision to require masks of all of our guests. To my knowledge, there has been 2

no issues. We made that decision prior to the Fourth of July weekend. Overall things are going good. Unfortunately, we have had to cancel many of our big events, including our Grand Ronde Contest Powwow, and our first food seminar.

Dean Bender, Polk County Emergency Manager: We are reaching out to Chambers to distribute masks to small businesses.

Lisa Harnish, Marion/Polk Early Learning Hub: The Early Learning Division and Oregon health Policy Board have teamed to focus on health and emotional well-being of kids affected by COVID-19. In connections to that, an advocate committee, which we will be a part of the Early Learning Division, will keep the equity grant moving forward. Not at the level, we were hoping for, but it is something. More to come ...with all of the back to school and reentry. Lots of moving parts.

Theresa Haskins, Mid-Valley Utilities - Portland General: PGE is not at the point of disconnecting households. We are still offering assistance through our subsidized program. Frankly, utilities are struggling to identify the best time to start those.

Tom Hoffert, Mid-Valley Chamber Alliance - Salem Chamber: Addressing liability protection through the Oregon Legislature. As businesses continue to reopen, the draw is becoming more evident that they should be providing complementary masks. We continue to reach out to Marion County, which, unfortunately, has a limited amount and we continue to publicize the need.

Tori Middelstadt, Mid-Valley Regional Designation Marketing Org: Trying to support the reopening. There is a high concern around human waste and trash occurring in park areas. We have received concerns about the environment from the Willamette Riverkeeper, whether municipalities should share the cost of porta-pottys.

Erik Andersson, Strategic Economic Development Corp (SEDCOR): SEDCOR has been supporting the Telecom Broadband Program.

NOTE: Governor Brown's Equity Framework in COVID-19 Response and Recovery document.

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The meeting adjourned NEXT WEEK: No meeting on Tuesday, July 14 UPCOMING: July 21 at 2PM with Matt Green (Oregon Health Authority) and July 27 at 3PM with Josh Lehner with economic forecast. If you have additional comments, please send to jody.christensen@

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