Legislation Gives New Life to Oregon Programs
With
$650,000 in hand, the program can now hire a permanent staff, and cover
the costs of convening, assessments, and process design, Hallmark said. “One
of our general areas of focus will continue to be land use; Oregon
has had a great deal of turmoil in that area, and the Program is committed
to exploring how mediation can help.” She said other sources
of funding will be developed from users and participants in these processes.
Among the program’s ongoing projects are an Aggregate Mining/Farmland Protection process, and a joint state and federal Coastal Coho Salmon effort.
According to Hallmark, the Program developed positive relationships with a broad spectrum of people who supported the bill from industries who have been helped by the public policy program. “We came together and developed a coordinated task force, with people educating legislators all over the state about the value of what this bill does,” she said.
For more information, visit the Oregon Consensus Program website.