The purpose of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council is to support policy positions that provides for a positive business climate for our members and the quality of life in the McMinnville area. We also serve as an information resource to our members through Hot Topic Luncheons, our newsletter and other communication vehicles. We are committed to pursuing those public policy issues that are the highest priority to our members based on member outreach and feedback.

This document was created in 2004 based on previous positions taken by the Board of Directors of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce. It is continually being updated based on the positions reviewed by the Chamber's Government Affairs Council and voted on by the Chamber's Board of Directors. It is published in the Chamber's Policy and Procedure Manual and positions are reported to the membership following a vote by the Board of Directors per the Chamber's Legislative Voting Policy.

State Business Issues

SERVICE FEES

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce takes the position that fees charged for government services should be limited to cover the cost of providing that service only and should not be increased to provide additional revenue for general fund purposes.

Positions:
Support: SB 797 and HB 2603, calling for the repeal of HB 3656 (June 2003) that increased revenue for the state general fund by increasing the fees charged to business by the corporate division from $20 to $50. (February 2005)

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors does not support the automatic annual indexing of the Oregon minimum wage. We believe that a minimum wage increase should be voted on by the legislature so that business and labor interests have an opportunity to be represented in any law that affects both businesses and their workforce.

Positions:
Support: HB 2331 calling for the complete elimination of the indexing requirement of Oregon 's minimum wage law, enacted by Measure 25 in 2002. (March 2005)

Local Issues

GROWTH MANAGEMENT

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce supports and encourages managed growth within the City of McMinnville . Manageable residential growth along with commercial and industrial expansion is essential to attract customers to the businesses that reside within the city and surrounding areas. Manageable growth is also required to support a well rounded economic base and is seen by the Board of Directors as a benefit not only to the Chamber of Commerce members, but to other non-member businesses as well.

Positions:
Support: McMinnville Growth Management and Urbanization Plan (August 2003)

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce has long recognized the extensive traffic problems in Yamhill County associated with the Highway 99W corridor through Newberg and Dundee . Traffic congestion and safety on 99W is negatively impacting the livability of the communities in the county and their ability to do business. This corridor includes 4 of the top 10 sites in the state for traffic accidents. The excessive traffic and resulting gridlock along 99W detract from the flow of commerce and is making it harder to recruit and retain businesses to this area. Many of our businesses require reasonable access to the metropolitan Portland area and the western portion of the county.

Positions:
Support: Parkway Committee's effort to develop a route for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass corridor based on the committee's extensive public input process. (2002-2003)

Support: Chamber Board continues to support the Yamhill County Parkway Committee and contributes towards the funding of a lobbyist in Washington DC working to secure federal funds to keep the project moving forward.

FUNDING/TOLLING OF COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce has long supported the construction of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass (Bypass).  This project is essential to the economic vitality of the business community in the McMinnville area and in Yamhill County.  The Chamber appreciates the identification of the Bypass as a “Project of Statewide Significance” by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).  The Chamber recognizes that the State of Oregon has a multi-billion dollar backlog of unfunded major transportation projects, including the Bypass and other “Projects of Statewide Significance”.  Therefore, the Chamber understands the efforts of the Oregon State Legislature to explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) and other non-traditional funding sources, such as tolling.  The Chamber supports the concept of PPPs and Bypass tolling based on the following set of principles:

1. PPPs and tolling provide a new transportation revenue source and should help expedite the construction of new transportation facilities for which traditional funding sources are inadequate.  Currently, only $50 million per year is allocated for major new highway construction projects out of an annual ODOT budget of over $1.0 billion.
   
   
2. Tolling the new road (the Bypass) is acceptable as a funding mechanism to pay for its construction
   
   
3. It is not acceptable to put a toll on 99W or other existing roads to pay for constructing the new road (the Bypass).  However, if the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) insists on tolling the Bypass and 99W, then all Yamhill County residents must be exempt from the toll on 99W.
   
   
4. Once the construction is paid for, the toll must end.
   
   
5. The amount of the toll should be set at a reasonable rate so that it is acceptable to the public and will encourage the “through traveler” to use the Bypass.
   
   
6. Monthly toll discounts should be provided for frequent users of the Bypass.
   
   
7. The Oregon Transportation Improvement Group (OTIG) has provided ODOT with a proposal for one type of tolling structure, called a concession.  ODOT should compare the concession structure to other tolling structures which use a private sector partner.  ODOT should also perform a “public sector comparator”.  With either tolling structure -- PPP or public sector only – the Chamber supports electronic toll collection.
   
   
8. If tolling will be used for the Bypass, ODOT should select the type of tolling structure that best fits this type of transportation facility (suburban-rural highway).  If the tolling structure utilizes a private sector partner, ODOT should ensure that the terms of the PPP are in the best interest of the public.
   
   
9. Since Oregon has such a huge backlog of unfunded transportation projects, it should be the policy of the State to use tolling revenues to fund new construction.  Toll rates should not be burdened with annual operations and maintenance costs, such as: road maintenance, future repaving, traffic patrol, etc.
   
   
10. One of the main purposes of the Bypass is to enable Newberg and Dundee to create “pedestrian-friendly” downtowns similar to McMinnville’s 3rd Street.  The Chamber supports the “downtown revitalization” plans of both cities and recommends that ODOT consider the affects of “downtown revitalization” in any tolling financing plan.
    
    
11. The Chamber urges ODOT to explore cost reductions, including value engineering, phasing of the Bypass construction and deferral of some project elements (interchanges) in order to expedite construction.
    
    

Based on the results of the OTIG Report and the Bypass Toll Feasibility Study done in the mid-90’s, the Chamber believes that a reasonable Bypass-only tolling structure can be developed, but it may only provide 30-40 percent of the funding for the project.  Funding for the balance of the project will need to come from other public sources, including our Federal and State government.

Approved by the Board of Directors on March 20, 2007

PUBLIC SAFETY

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce supports the maintenance of adequate county/city public safety services to ensure a safe environment for businesses to be successful.

Support: Local option levy 36-34 for emergency communications equipment. (November 2002)

Support: Priority funding for the upgrade on the emergency communication system throughout Yamhill County . (May 2002)

Support: Local bond measure 36-81 to fund the construction of a new McMinnville Public Safety (police department) building and courtroom building. (May 2006)

Support: County ballot measure 36-109 to levy funds to increase in law enforcement personnel as well as prosecution, investigation, and court ordered supervision of meth manufacturers, dealers and users will begin an effort to reduce meth related crimes in Yamhill County.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce supports the maintenance of McMinnville Public Schools facilities to ensure that students have adequate classroom space to support a positive learning environment.

Positions:
Support Local bond measure 36-78 to fund new construction and maintenance projects to address classroom space and facilities maintenance issues faced by the district and to plan for district growth for an estimated 10 years.  (May 2006)

Support Local bond measure 36-97, a revised version of 36-78. (November 2006)

Support Marion/Polk/Yamhill County ballot measure 24-240 to fund the construction of new facilities and maintain current buildings at Chemeketa Community College campuses in Salem and McMinnville to help to meet the area’s education and training needs over the next several years in safe, up-to-date facilities.