Cascade Locks port fees, grants

They didn’t, however, raise campground fees, parking or office fees, or Bridge of the Gods tolls this fiscal year. All decisions were unanimous, except the decision not to raise campground fees, which got two “nays” from Ted Dodd and Albert Nance. The campground, with keypad locks on restroom doors, is private to paying campers, at $40-50 a night.

All port fees are now reviewed by the commission for a 5% increase yearly.

Transient docking and boat launch access remain free, as required by the state grants that built them, except for parking fees.

On the bridge

Commissioners heard a Bridge of the Gods update from David McCurry. He said progress is still on track to complete the seismic studies.

Geotechnical borings have begun on port property, meaning soil samples get taken, photographed, noted, and sent to a lab for full analysis.

The bridge is built on the Bonneville landslide, a massive landslide that blocked the Columbia briefly sometime in the mid-1400s. There’s little information about what lies under the debris, but McCurry said his crew hopes to find bedrock and locate the groundwater. That’s needed to determine how to prepare for earthquakes — which could liquefy the soil on which the bridge rests, according to a study by the United States Geological Survey. The major faults in the region make earthquakes not unlikely.

Bore hole data will be combined with Lidar survey data and other geologic data that already exists. Underwater surveys are also planned.

McCurry still doesn’t know for sure who designed the bridge, with the original plans still not found. However, he has more historical images of the bridge’s construction via Seattle Mohai.

In other news

In the consent agenda, commissioners approved ratification of $437,037.52 in bills and $78,394.79 in two months’ payroll.

Commissioners unanimously approved an over-expenditure of $4,814.50 for a required fire suppression system at Flex 6, a port building inhabited by pFriem cold storage, at a cost of $554,814.50.

pFriem will repay the entire amount with 6% interest.

And the last $9,351.01 from the port’s new grant fund was unanimously awarded to Brigham Fish Products. The money will go toward improving their property with safety barriers and outside electrical hookups to improve lighting and perhaps plug in food trucks, despite Dodd’s expressed disappointment in funding such a low-need project. The grant program will get workshopped before the next $150,000 gets rolled out.

A different grant came in just over $48,000 to hire consultants who will work with the commission to minimize risk, accelerate project timelines, eliminate waste of time and resources, and maximize return on investment of public funds.

The grant must meet five objectives from the port’s strategic business plan, including strengthening asset management, developing a comprehensive land use strategy, supporting local housing and downtown revitalization, and creating open spaces — including a potential RV park at Herman Creek Road. Developing campgrounds could require zoning changes from the city.

A request for proposals (RFP) for consultants went out May 21.

Lastly, commissioners unanimously moved to work with Gorge Canoe Club to make a safer, covered outdoor storage area for paddlecraft. The  club has trained through the winter; teams have entered most of the local races with multiple teams finishing in the top three at races. This year, they’re focusing more on local community events and kids’ summer camps, with only one race in June.

They are seeking access to a motorboat for safety response, and summer storage at the marina beach.