The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and OACES are excited to announce the addition of Malea Stockton, who joined the team Dec. 1 in the newly created role of Member Services and Education Coordinator.

Malea will be taking over OACES event planning and management, as well as the business partner programs, from Joann Hendrix, who is retiring at the end of the month after 30 years of dedicated service to AOC.

Additionally, with Joann's retirement, AOC has realigned a few OACES administrative duties across existing staff. Here are the existing and new OACES staff assignments for your reference:

• Brian Worley, OACES Executive (Leadership, Budget, Agenda, Elections, Bylaws)
• Malea Stockton, OACES Events (Conferences, Meetings, Partner and Sponsor Programs)
• Jan Schindel, OACES Admin (Agendas, Minutes, OACES Directory, Dues Invoices)
• Sara Gamaney, OACES Board Travel (Registration, Hotel, Flights)
• Robert Yde, OACES Communications (Newsletter, Website, IRIS)
• Jordan Cole, OACES Policy (Research, Committees, Revenue Forecasting, Discussion List, Surveys)

If you have questions about OACES staff responsibilities, please contact AOC County Road Program Director Brian Worley.

Until recently, Oregon’s recreational immunity provided liability protection to landowners who open their property for recreational activities, shielding them from certain lawsuits and claims related to injuries or accidents that occur on their land.

However, on July 6, 2023, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued an opinion effectively ending recreational immunity for improved trails. As a result of this decision, public and private landowners of improved trails are no longer protected from lawsuits.

The decision is the result of Fields v. City of Newport, a lawsuit initiated by Nicole Fields in 2022. Fields was walking with her friend and their dogs on the beach. She walked away from the beach on an improved trail that was owned and maintained by the city of Newport. Fields came to a wooden footbridge that was wet, where she slipped and fell, which led to litigation against the city.

Fields’ lawsuit alleged the city was negligent in maintaining the bridge and not putting up warning signs. Newport responded that it was immune from the suit because Fields was using the Ocean to Bay Trail for a recreational purpose, walking with a friend and their dogs while they talked and socialized.

While the trial court agreed with Newport, the Oregon Court of Appeals determined that Fields was not using the trail for recreation, which led to the case being overturned.

If you would like to learn more about this case and how it may affect recreational opportunities for Oregonians, download the full CIS article here.

Oregon is ranked fourth in the nation for transportation policies and funding that improve equity, public health, and climate change outcomes, according to a report published recently by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report assessed states on several metrics to create a final scorecard ranking out of 100 possible points. The metrics included state planning for climate and equity, vehicle electrification, expansion of transportation choices, system maintenance, and procurement.

 View the full 50 state scorecard on page 10 of the report PDF.

The report’s authors cite the recent historic federal investments in transportation infrastructure for spurring their interest in state transportation policy and spending. In 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $1.2 billion in additional transportation funding for Oregon over the next few years. About $800 million of that funding is directed to specific purposes.

The remaining $412 million is flexible funding. Last year the Oregon Transportation Commission directed the flexible funding be spent in ways that will make Oregon’s roads, streets, and walkways safer and easier to use.

To learn more about how Oregon is working to reduce emissions, visit the state's transportation emissions website For questions, contact Matt Noble at 503-779-9868.

A new handbook, published by the Every Mile Counts partnership, which includes Oregon's 

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Department of Energy (DEQ), will help local governments navigate state and federal funding opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

The Every Mile Counts Funding Handbook for Local Governments provides information about the various resources available, including funding amounts, which federal or state agency is in charge, application deadlines, contact information, and resources for more information.

Thanks to recent historic investments from Congress to help the country transition to clean energy and tackle climate change, more than $369 billion in federal funds are now available. Many state funding opportunities are available, too.

For more information about the Every Mile Counts Funding Handbook for Local Governments, please contact Land Use and Transportation Planner Cody Meyer, DLCD, at 971-239-9475; or Senior Transportation Planner Brian Hurley, ODOT, at 503-986-4398.

Connect Oregon's next competitive grant opportunity will be open from Jan. 11 to Feb. 29, 2024, with approximately $46 million available for eligible aviation, marine, and rail transportation projects.



To apply or learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and application process, please visit the Connect Oregon webpage. Public, private, and nonprofit entities are eligible to apply.

Once the application window closes, several committees will review and rank submitted applications before presenting a final recommended project list to the Oregon Transportation Commission at it's November 2024 meeting.

Since launching in 2005, the Connect Oregon Grant Program has awarded $463 million to 221 projects over seven funding opportunities. To view a PDF of the complete list of funded projects in 2022, click here.

For more information, please contact Freight Program Manager John Boren at 503-951-0166. 

The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is offering grants to cities and counties to help implement the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) program, which increases housing and transportation choices for Oregonians, while improving equity and reducing climate pollution.

Cities and counties can apply for assistance with:

• Zoning and development code audits and amendments aimed at fostering walkability and meeting urban design standards
• Parking reform and management
• Market studies to refine locations and sizes for climate-friendly areas
• Amending zoning maps and development regulations for climate-friendly areas
• Equitable engagement, including work with disability consultants
• Transportation system planning
• Other CFEC-related work

No local match is required beyond staff time to participate in the project.



Cities and counties can use grants to reimburse local planning staff, contract with consultants through a local procurement process, or receive assistance from consultants through contracts managed by DLCD staff.

To pre-apply, send a paragraph describing your initial thoughts on the proposed work to DLCD.CFEC@dlcd.oregon.gov. While pre-applications are not mandatory, this will give DLCD staff an opportunity to help applicants prepare a full proposal.

DLCD Office Hours

DLCD staff will host virtual office hours to discuss the rules and associated program implementation Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. (Zoom Link)

For questions or to learn more, contact Land Use and Transportation Planner Cody Meyer at 971-239-9475 or Climate Mitigation Planner Evan Manvel at 971-375-5979.

Join your colleagues nationwide at the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Conference and Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., April 15-18!

Registration is now open. Early-bird discount on all delegate registrations ends March 8, 2024.

OACES hopes to have a strong Oregon delegation attending NACE this year. If you or your county need financial support to attend, you are encouraged to apply or nominate fellow OACES members for the Education & Leadership Scholarship Program.

The Water Quality team at Marion County Environmental Services is excited to announce

upcoming training opportunities to enhance water quality practices for municipalities and commercial businesses.

Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead Training (CESCL)

This comprehensive, two-day course offers in-

person instruction, fieldwork opportunities, and

the CESCL certification test. Open to municipalities and commercial businesses.

• When: Feb. 20-21, 2024
• Where: Marion County Public Works, 515 Silverton Rd. NE, Salem
• Cost: $300 for first 20 attendees, $400 for additional participants 
• Registration: To register, email: jenl@cwtacademy.com

Best Management Practices (BMP) for Erosion Control

This half-day training focuses on erosion control BMPs in rights-of-way and public infrastructure projects. Open to municipal operations workers.

• When: Feb. 22, 2024
• Where: 7825 Darling St. SE, Salem
• Cost: $95
• Registration: To register, email: srosentrater@co.marion.or.us

If you have questions or would like additional information about either upcoming training, please contact Stephanie Rosentrater at srosentrater@co.marion.or.us.

Jackson County Roads, Engineering Division is recruiting for several engineering positions, including:

• Engineering Associate I
• Engineering Associate II
• Engineering Technician III

Please visit the Jackson County website for minimum requirements and additional information.

• Collaboration for Wildlife Connectivity Continues in Oregon's Malheur River Canyon | TGRP.org
• Oregon Data Shows Traffic Deaths on the Rise Across the State | OPB
• ODOT Director Kristopher Stickler Addresses Concerns Over Eastern Oregon Service Cutbacks | Elkhorn Media Group
• Gov. Kotek Announces $19M Bailout for ODOT Winter Road Maintenance | KGW
• Forget the Hype, Here's the Reality of Electric Construction Equipment | Equipment World
• The Future of Surveying? Quantum Computing and Blockchain | Multibriefs
• Oregon to See 370 New Electric Charging Ports in 2024 | KOIN
• BIL Positively Influences Job Growth Within Construction Industry | Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance

Newsletters of Interest:

• Every Day Counts, Bi-Weekly News -- FHWA
• Innovator, Bi-Monthly News -- FHWA
• Transportation Safety, Monthly News -- ODOT
• The Oregon Examiner, Quarterly News -- OSBEELS
• PLSO News -- PLSO