Public & Government Affairs

We want to make participating in meetings as convenient as possible because your opinions are important to us. We use the video platform called Zoom. A Zoom account is not required if you are strictly joining as a participant. You can join using your phone or computer. 

Volunteering raises everyone’s spirits and there is a volunteer opportunity to fit any schedule.

The gift of volunteering could save a life, and is life-changing and heartwarming for all involved!

Clackamas County offers a wide variety of volunteering opportunities in the following areas:

• Family Caregiver Support
• Money Management (video)
• Transportation Reaching People
• Senior Companion (video)
• Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (video)
• Homeless Warming/Cooling Shelters
• Food Share Distribution
• Point-In-Time Homeless Counts
• Dog Shelters
• Park Assistant/Host
• Disaster Assistance
• Juvenile Justice Victim Advocate or Youth Tutor
• Dispute Resolution Mediation
• Native Tree & Shrub Planting/Invasive Plant Removal
• Watershed Restoration
• Waterway Cleanups
• Master Recycling
• Fix-It Repair Fair
• Meals on Wheels to Homebound Seniors or People with Disabilities
• County Advisory Boards and Commissions

Please let us know if you are looking for an opportunity that is not listed above so we can connect you to the perfect volunteering opportunity for you.

Thank you for all for sharing your valuable time and talent helping others!

What is a Service Animal?

A service animal is a dog that is trained, or in training, to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are generally not considered service animals in the context of state and federal law. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to an individual's disability. (28 C.F.R. §35.104; ORS 659A.143; OAR 839-006-0345).

Are Service Animals allowed in county buildings?

Yes. State and Federal law require service animals to be allowed in places open to the public such as the public areas within county buildings. 
Animals that are not service animals are generally not allowed in county buildings.

Are Emotional Support Animals allowed in county buildings?

No. Animals used solely for the provision of emotional support, comfort or companionship are not service animals because such animals are not trained to perform work or tasks for a person with a disability and are generally not allowed in County Buildings. If you are an employee of Clackamas County or an applicant for a job with Clackamas County and you would like to a request a reasonable accommodation for your emotional support animal, please contact Kristi Durham, Human Resources Manager at 503-742-5470.

Things to expect when bringing a service animal to a county building

• You may be asked if the animal is required because of a disability
• You may be asked to describe the work or tasks that the animal is trained to perform

La Academia de #ClackCo (#ClackCo Academy) les da a los miembros de la comunidad la oportunidad de aprender más sobre los servicios y los programas del condado. Los participantes obtendrán una perspectiva única sobre la forma en que el Condado de Clackamas funciona al escuchar al personal de varios departamentos del condado, participar en debates grupales y hacer un recorrido por las instalaciones del condado.

Los solicitantes de la Academia de #ClackCo deben vivir, ser dueños de un negocio o trabajar de tiempo completo en el Condado de Clackamas. El espacio está limitado a 25 participantes, con cinco lugares adicionales reservados para jóvenes entre 16 y 20 años.

Se les recomienda a las personas seleccionadas que asistan a todas las clases para aprovechar al máximo el programa. Si no puede comprometerse a asistir a cinco fechas como mínimo, no presente su solicitud en este momento.

Las presentaciones en clase, los debates y los recorridos se estructurarán alrededor de los objetivos del plan Performance Clackamas del condado:

1. Ganarse la confianza del público a través de un buen gobierno
2. Desarrollar una economía próspera
3. Construir una infraestructura sólida
4. Garantizar comunidades seguras y sanas
5. Honrar, utilizar, promover e invertir en nuestros recursos naturales

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con Katie Wilson al 503-742-4353.

#ClackCo Academy gives members of the community the opportunity to learn more about county services and programs. Participants will get a unique look at how Clackamas County functions by hearing from staff in various county departments, taking place in group discussions, and touring county facilities.

Applicants of the #ClackCo Academy must live, own a business, or work full time in Clackamas County. Space is limited to 25 participants, with an additional five seats reserved for youth ages 16-20.

Those who are selected are strongly encouraged to attend all classes in order to fully benefit from the program. If you are unable to commit to at least five of the dates, please do not apply at this time.

Class presentations, discussions and tours will be structured around the county's Performance Clackamas goals:

1. Build public trust through good government
2. Grow a vibrant economy
3. Build a strong infrastructure
4. Ensure safe, healthy and secure communities
5. Honor, utilize, promote and invest in our natural resources

#ClackCo Academy is not currently scheduled. To keep up to date about the next cycle, please sign up for our newsletter.

Demographics of Clackamas County

The population of Clackamas County according to the 2020 Census data was 421,401 people, which is an 11.2% increase when compared to the 2010 Census. 

Age 

Other 

• From 2015-2019, the population of veterans: 26,384
• Total number of businesses in 2019: 12,265
• Percentage of people over age 5 who speak a language other than English at home: 12.1%
• Percentage of households that had a household computer from 2015-2019: 94.2%

Elected Officials

The County is governed by a five-member commission that appoints a county administrator. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms. Other county elected officials include a district attorney, assessor, clerk, sheriff and treasurer. 

• Chair Tootie Smith
• Commissioner Paul Savas
• Commissioner Martha Schrader
• Commissioner Mark Shull
• Commissioner Ben West
• Treasurer Brian Nava
• District Attorney John Wentworth
• Sheriff Angela Brandenburg
• County Clerk Catherine McMullen
• County Assessor/Tax Collector Bronson Rueda
• Judge Karen Brisbin

Clackamas 101

Watch this video to learn more about Clackamas County. 

History of Clackamas

Clackamas County, named after the Clackamas Indians, was one of four original districts created by the Provisional Legislature on July 5, 1843. At that time Clackamas County covered portions of four present-day states and one Canadian province. In 1844 the Columbia River was made the northern boundary of the county, and the United States-Great Britain Boundary Treaty of 1846 relocated the northern border of both the United States and Clackamas County at latitude 49 degrees. In 1853 an Act of Congress that created the Washington Territory enclosed Clackamas County within the present-day boundaries of Oregon. In 1854 Clackamas County acquired the boundaries it has today.

Oregon City, the county seat for Clackamas County, was incorporated in 1844, making it the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains. The area was the terminus for water transportation on the Willamette River and had been a meeting place for Indians, hunters, trappers and Hudson's Bay Company voyageurs for years.

The first major overland immigration to Oregon City occurred in 1842. Three years later Samuel Barlow established an immigrant route that ran from The Dalles, around the south side of Mt. Hood and into Oregon City. The Barlow Road funneled thousands of immigrants into Oregon City and Clackamas County during the 1840s. Oregon City became the primary urban center in Clackamas County, dominating social and political life in Oregon. This changed after the territorial capital was moved from Oregon City to Salem in 1852 and Clackamas lost its access to the Columbia River with the formation of Multnomah County in 1854.

The Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City was completed in 1937. It currently houses state court-related offices. Most county offices are now in the Public Services Building or the Development Services Building, both located in the Hilltop area of Oregon City.

Land Acknowledgement

What we now call Clackamas County is the traditional lands and waterways of the Clackamas, Chinook Bands, Kalapuya, Kathlamet, Molalla, Multnomah, Tualatin, Tumwater, Wasco and many other tribes of the Willamette Valley and Western Oregon. We will never be able to name every tribe that visited or lived upon this land because these communities frequently traveled for trade and other reasons.   The Indigenous people lived, traded and navigated along great rivers and tributaries presently named the Clackamas, Molalla, Pudding, Sandy, and Willamette.  Many of the original inhabitants of this land died from disease, war and other conflicts.  Those that survived these tragedies were forcibly removed and relocated by European settlers and the United States Government because of the land’s value.  Today, their descendants live on, still carrying on the traditions and cultures of their ancestors. 

We honor the Native American people of Clackamas County as a vibrant, foundational and integral part of our community here today. We respectfully acknowledge Wy’east, also known as Mount Hood, and Hyas Tyee Tumwater, also known as Willamette Falls, as sacred sites for many Native Americans. We thank those who have connection to this land and serve as stewards, working to ensure our ecosystem stays balanced and healthy. 
 

Geography

Clackamas County, in north central Oregon, is one of the four counties that make up the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. It is bounded by Multnomah County to the north, Wasco County to the east, Marion County to the south, and Yamhill and Washington counties to the west. The county encompasses 1,879 square miles (4,866.6 square kilometers). The county's heavily timbered geographical features include the 11,235-foot Mt. Hood, the Mt. Hood National Forest, the Bull Run Watershed and numerous rivers - including the Willamette, Clackamas, Sandy, Pudding, Molalla and Salmon. Some of Oregon's richest farmland is located in areas surrounding the communities of Canby, Sandy, Boring, Wilsonville and Molalla.

Hamlets and Villages

The nationally recognized Hamlets and Villages program is a grassroots, citizen-driven program developed by Clackamas County following the 2000 Complete Communities Congress. More than 2,000 residents participated in the formation of the program and now in continuing operations of the hamlets and villages.

Currently there are three Hamlets — Beavercreek, Mulino and Stafford. There are currently no villages. Each Hamlet and Village has a board of directors publicly elected by their community. The Board is responsible for developing and implementing programs and projects chosen by the communities. Clackamas County provides a staff liaison and a small operating budget for each Hamlet and Village. Any additional funding for the organizations comes from donations, fundraising or grants.

Учебный курс #ClackCo Academy предоставляет местному населению возможность более подробно узнать о службах и программах округа. Участники курса получат уникальную возможность взглянуть на то, как устроена работа округа Клакамас, заслушав презентации сотрудников из различных департаментов, приняв участие в групповых дискуссиях, а также посетив служебные объекты, чья работа курируется администрацией округа.

Лица, подающие заявление на участие в учебном курсе #ClackCo Academy, должны проживать, владеть предприятием или работать на полную ставку на территории округа Клакамас.  Количество мест ограничено 25 участниками, не включая 5 дополнительных мест, отведенных для молодых участников в возрасте от 16 до 20 лет.

Отобранным кандидатам настоятельно рекомендуется посещать все занятия для того, чтобы извлечь максимальную выгоду от участия в программе. Если вы не сможете посетить как минимум 5 занятий, пожалуйста, не подавайте заявления в этот раз.

Презентации и обсуждения в классе, а также посещение объектов, будут основываться на следующих задачах округа Клакамас по достижению конкретных показателей эффективности:

1. создание общественного доверия путем надлежащего управления;
2. рост динамично развивающейся экономики;
3. создание мощной инфраструктуры;
4. обеспечение безопасности, здоровья и правопорядка для местных жителей;
5. бережное отношение, использование, развитие и инвестирование в общие природные ресурсы.

За более подробной информацией, пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Katie Wilson по тел. 503-742-4353.

LEDIC is a volunteer advisory council that was created on May 15, 2003; members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The main purpose of the council is to act as a liaison to the County on matters relating to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The council strives to examine county processes in order to recommend and facilitate changes that foster equity of services and greater inclusiveness, develop leadership from diverse communities and increase community participation in county government. Council members are meant to be representative of the county’s diverse populations and ideally will represent different, ethnicities, religious beliefs, geographic locations, socioeconomic statuses, physical abilities, career experiences, educational backgrounds and/or other diversity.

Meetings are open to the public and held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
The meeting will take place at the Public Services Building Room 369B, 2051 Kaen Road in Oregon City.  map

To request a reasonable accommodation please contact  mariamag@clackamas.us at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

NOTE: There are no council meetings in June, July, August or December.

Current Members