Jensen Strategies began working with the City of Lebanon in 2015 to facilitate a community initiative to create the Lebanon Community Strategic Action Plan. The Plan is designed to build upon the previously adopted 2040 Vision Statement and develop steps toward making the vision a reality. The plan was created and designed to build on the values of transparency, inclusion, collaboration, and consensus building.

From September 2015 to April 2016, Jensen Strategies facilitated a 21-person citizen group, the Crook County Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee, formed by local community leaders charged with recommending an approach to address public safety facility needs in the county.  The membership consisted of representatives from a broad range of community interests including business, nonprofit, judicial, and faith-based.  We helped the Committee achieve the following goals: 1. develop a mission statement, objectives, and decision making criteria; 2. gather and research information and data related to Crook County public safety; and 3. facilitate the discussion and deliberations related to addressing future public safety facility needs.  The Committee worked diligently to answer the following set of questions:

1. Are the current jail facilities adequate? If not, how many new jail beds are needed?

2. Should the County build (or renovate) a new jail facility or should it continue renting jail beds from Jefferson County?

3. If other public safety functions are co-located with the jail, what would they be and in what priority?

4. If the County builds or renovates a new jail facility, where should the facility be located?

The result of this intensive process led to a final recommendation report, fully supported by each committee member, that was presented to City and County elected officials during a joint hearing.

“Thank you for all your help, leadership and support. You had a major impact on the development of the PSFAC recommendations and report which could have a major impact on Crook County/Prineville for years to come. I have spoke with many members of the Committee who are very proud of our work and cannot believe how far we came as a group over the last 10 months. It was quite a journey and thanks for being our guides.

— Mike O'Herron, Co-Chair of the Crook County Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee