News from DAS

newsletter header for spring

March 2017

The Department of Administrative Services is pleased to share the following updates from a variety of program areas. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your organization and to send us ideas for future editions.  

State COO's message

Katy Coba

After a long hard winter, it feels great to say, "happy spring!" Thanks for taking a few moments to read this newsletter and stay up to date with some high-level announcements from the Department of Administrative Services.

Looking back over my first six months as DAS Director and Chief Operating Officer, I am humbled by how helpful and supportive people have been. From all the staff and managers at DAS, to my colleagues in other agencies, everyone has stepped up to infuse the beginning of my new role with success.

Supporting one another is important. So is recognizing the value that state employees bring to Oregon. Each individual has a part in helping Oregonians achieve their dreams. It isn’t always easy, but it is rewarding, especially when we can collaborate on solutions and see progress toward those dreams. Thank you for the role YOU serve in achieving your agency’s mission. I so appreciate the passion and excellence demonstrated by employees serving all across Oregon.

I hope you’ll mark your calendar for the week of May 7 – national Public Service Recognition Week – a great time to celebrate our contributions as ambassadors of public service, and reignite our passion and commitment to serving Oregonians.  

-Katy Coba

Baker appointed government relations director

Lindsay Baker

Lindsay Baker joined DAS in October 2016, as the agency’s Director of Government Relations. In this new role, she serves as DAS’ primary point of contact for members of the Legislature, their staff, agency legislative coordinators, and local and tribal government partners.

Most recently, Lindsay served as policy advisor in the Senate Majority Office, working with Sen. Ginny Burdick (D-Portland) and the Senate Democratic Caucus during the 2016 session. Prior to that, she worked as legislative director in the House Majority Offices, serving Rep. Val Hoyle (D-West Eugene and Junction City) and the other House Democrats. She also proudly worked for Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) during the 2013 regular and special sessions.

“I’ve spent several years working through both political and policy-making challenges with members on both sides of the aisle and look forward to bringing that experience to DAS,” said Lindsay. “My main priority is understanding DAS’ role within state government so that we can best serve our partner agencies, our Governor and Legislature, and ultimately all Oregonians.”

You can reach Lindsay Baker at 503-877-7019. 

HR customer board moves on

DAS in 2012 established four Customer Utility Boards in an effort to give customers a greater voice in the delivery of DAS services and development of rates.

The Human Resources Customer Utility Board (CUB) has been highly successful in developing a service level agreement for DAS HR systems and the HR services purchased by client agencies. The HR CUB members recognized that DAS is part of a larger system of state government and evaluated the impact of decisions with a system lens rather than an agency lens. Over the last year, the CUB evaluated the proposed budget for the Chief Human Resources Office (CHRO), which includes a transition to more assessment than fee for service.

With the decision to move HR systems back to assessment and leave only client agency services as fee for service, the CUB was left to examine its role going forward. After very thoughtful conversation about the role of the CUB to recommend rates and provide feedback and advice to the CHRO – the CUB made a bittersweet recommendation to COO Katy Coba to disband. The CUB noted the many venues that they and other customers already have to give input to the CHRO, including the Enterprise Leadership Team, Improving Government Steering Team, The Oregon Management Project, the HRIS Project, HR advisors group, HR directors group, Statewide Class and Comp, and Statewide Recruiters. The CUB graciously agreed to serve on an ad hoc basis if needed. Katy in February accepted the board's unanimous recommendation with a huge “thank you” to the CUB members who served DAS so well that they worked themselves out of a job!

The CHRO looks forward remaining engaged with its customers and will continue its work in the forums outlined above. One area identified as needing more direct input is among the agencies that purchase HR services from DAS. Beginning in April, the CHRO will host quarterly meetings to hear directly from its client agencies about DAS’ HR services and shaping those services to meet customer needs.

Contact for more information: Jessica Knieling, 503-378-4006

Public records fee structure goes into effect

documents, files

Recently DAS checked off another deliverable under the state’s Public Records Request and Management Project, a statewide fee structure for responding to requests for public records.

The fee structure represents months of work by staff from many different agencies, and allows all agencies to work within the same framework as they respond to requests for public records. Thank you to those who provided input and insight.

A core deliverable identified in Governor Brown’s executive order on public records, the structure sets a ceiling for fees agencies may charge when responding to requests for public records, and gives agencies a clear set of criteria to use when considering fee waivers or reductions. 

The statewide structure will exist as a DAS statewide policy through mid-May. After that, agency feedback on the fee structure will inform the more formal rule making process.

Contact for more information: Matthew Shelby, 503-378-3118.