Extensive cleaning, safety protocols enacted to ensure public, staff health

After closing county buildings to the public in the early days of the pandemic, Clackamas County will reopen its primary service buildings – the Development Services Building (DSB) and the Public Services Building (PSB) – to the public during limited hours starting this coming Monday, June 22.

Both buildings will be open to the public from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday – Thursday.

The buildings collectively house many services that the public relies on, but have been operating virtually over the past several months. Departments that will open include:

• Assessment & Taxation
• Business and Community Services
• Health, Housing and Human Services (certain Behavioral Health services) 
• Transportation and Development (includes permitting for land use, building, driveway, roads; survey recordings; development review; long-range planning; septic and building inspections; and code enforcement)
• Water Environment Services

Other departments will continue offering virtual services. While most departments/divisions listed above offer both walk-in and appointment visits, some can only offer appointment visits at this time. Residents are strongly encouraged to first contact departments via www.clackamas.us/departments for clarification regarding open services. A full list of department operations in the buildings will be up by the end of this week at www.clackamas.us/coronavirus/closures.

The closing of many county buildings to the public was taken in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and best protect the health of the public and county employees. Since that time, Clackamas County has remained open for business to the greatest extent possible. County staff have continued to provide needed services through web-based offerings, and will continue to do so.

Safety guidelines/protocols

Extensive health and safety protocols have been instituted in order to minimize any potential health risk to visiting members of the public and staff. These include, but are not limited to:

• Cleaning/preparing public spaces multiple times each day. 

• Departmental capacity: Many departments will limit the total amount of visitors at one time. Because of this, visitors may have to wait longer than usual to see county staff or make an appointment with program staff. 

• Elevator capacity: A strict limit will be placed on elevator occupancy in the buildings.

• Front Desk: All visitors will sign-in at front desks, where staff can relay which services are being offered in person and online. 

• Hygienic offerings: Visitors will be offered disposable face coverings, hand sanitizer, and be reminded of necessary physical distancing. Sneeze guards will also be in place where proper distancing cannot be maintained. 

• Social Distancing Officers: Each department will have designated social distancing officers whose responsibility will include their lobbies and public access areas, to ensure social distancing requirements. 

• Traffic Flow: The public will be required to enter buildings only at the main entrances, and traffic patterns will be clearly laid out in busy public areas.

The Development Services Building and Public Services Building are both located in Oregon City on the county’s Red Soils Campus.