Climate-Friendly Areas Evaluation Report

1 Climate -Friendly and Equitable Communities – Talent Community Leader Interview Summary Backgroun d and Purpose The Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted the Climate -Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) rules on July 21, 2022. As part of these new rules, local governments are required to study , identify , and designate climate -friendly areas by December 31, 202 4. “Climate -friendly areas” are intended to be places where people can meet most of their daily needs without having to drive by having housing located near a mix of jobs, businesses, and services. This means that some cities and urban areas across Oregon may see a higher intensity of development over time. This will most likely occur in existing downtowns that have or can implement high -quality pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure. The first phase of the process is to study and determine potential locations of climate -friendly areas by the end of 2023. The second phase is to adopt development standards for these areas by the end of 2024 . 3J Consulting has been employed by the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to assist local c ities in public outreach for this project. Due to the effects that potential, high -intensity redevelopment may have on gentrification and displacement in certain areas, the project includes a strong focus on ensuring the voices of underserved communities a re centered in the engagement process. The first step is conducting interviews with key community leaders to better understand how their community would like to be engaged in this process. These interviews will inform the community engagement plan and activities we conduct with the community over the next two years. These activities will focus on identifying potential locations for these “climate -friendly areas” and discussing the burdens and benefits of each. Additional Resources • Climate -Friendly and Equitable Communities webpage • Climate -Friendly Areas summary • One-Page Summary of Climate -Friendly and Equitable Communities Rulemaking Key Themes The initial round of community engagement offered jurisdictional specific feedback to help inform the upcoming engagement efforts. The stakeholder interviews and focus groups were asked two categories of questions: general engagement and Climate Friendly A rea specific discussion. The following highlights some key findings from these conversations: • Language inclusive, experience focused, and culturally aware discussions allow for meaningful engagement. • Equitable events offer childcare, transportation, and monetary incentives.