Hood River City Councilors Anna Cavaleri, Ben Mitchell, Board President Gladys Rivera, Mayor Paul Blackburn, Doug Stepina, Grant Polson, and Amanda Goeke.
Hood River City Councilors Anna Cavaleri, Ben Mitchell, Board President Gladys Rivera, Mayor Paul Blackburn, Doug Stepina, Grant Polson, and Amanda Goeke.
HOOD RIVER — Hood River City Council voted to refer two general obligation bond measures to voters for the Nov. 3 General Election during their July 27 meeting. The decision follows several months of community engagement to refine the proposals and gauge public support for proposed investments in affordable housing and public safety.
City Council directed staff to prepare the ballot measures after reviewing community engagement results at its July 13 meeting. Findings from a community survey, a Housing Town Hall, a Public Safety Facility Open House, a Latino focus group hosted by The Next Door, presentations to community organizations, and quantitative polling on voter support were provided to the City Council.
After reviewing the information and discussing funding options, the Council voted to place the two bond measures on the ballot as separate proposals. Voters will decide each measure independently.
Housing Bond
If approved, the Housing Bond will provide up to $8.7 million to fund affordable housing projects. This could include building new affordable housing; purchasing, rehabilitating, and preserving existing affordable housing; acquiring land for future housing development; and helping prevent displacement.
To the extent allowed by law, housing investments will prioritize Hood River workers and people with historical ties to the community.
The measure defines affordable housing as housing for households earning between 0%-120% of the area median income (AMI). Projects may include a variety of housing types and sizes, community spaces, accessibility features for people with disabilities, and flexibility to support existing tenants and households experiencing hardship.
“The city has been working to address our community’s housing challenges, but without adequate resources, we are facing an uphill battle,” said Mayor Paul Blackburn. “Bond monies would provide additional tools to help create and preserve affordable housing for the workers, families, and longtime community members who are essential to Hood River.”
The bond would have maximum principal amount of $8.7 million over 20 years. This equates to an estimated annual tax rate of $0.39 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Actual rates may vary based on interest rates and assessed values. Most homes can expect to pay between $6.74 and $11.36 a month, with median home estimated at $8.82 a month. If approved, an independent citizen oversight committee would review bond expenditures and provide annual public reports.
A Housing Bond was first proposed in the City’s 2022 Affordable Housing Strategy. This planning document was guided by a community steering community of business owners, renters, and real estate professionals and supported by economic consultants. The full report is available at: cityofhoodriver.gov/planning/affordable-housing-strategy/
Public Safety Bond
If approved, the Public Safety Bond would provide up to $8.7 million to renovate and expand the City's Police Station. Planned improvements include space for future staffing and accessibility improvements; mold and water intrusion remediation; safe, ventilated evidence processing areas for hazardous substances; seismic upgrades to essential facility standards; emergency backup power; secure interview room for suspects and “soft” interview room for victims; adequate restrooms for staff and visitors; covered parking and improved vehicle access for emergency response, modern evidence storage and records systems; and, updated offices, meeting rooms, public spaces, furnishings, and equipment.
"Our department’s current facility does not provide the basic functions necessary for a police station," said Police Chief Neal Holste. "If approved by voters, these improvements would provide safer, more functional spaces for officers, staff, victims, and the public while helping us better serve the community for years to come."
The bond would have a maximum principal amount of $8.7 million over 20 years issued on a tax-exempt basis, resulting in an estimated annual tax rate of $0.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value issued. Actual rates may vary based on interest rates and assessed values. Most homes can expect to pay between $5.87 and $9.90 a month, with median home estimated at $7.69 a month. If approved, bond expenditure would be subject to independent annual audits.
The Hood River Police Department moved into their current location in a converted fire engine bay when the city was consolidating operations during the “Great Recession.” The location was intended to be temporary at the time. The proposed facility renovation is the product of many years of planning which included evaluating off-site locations and co-location with the County. None were found to be financially feasible or viable over a reasonable timeframe.
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