Hood River City Council gets town hall debrief

HOOD RIVER — Hood River City Council unanimously approved two action items during the April 27 meeting.

The first, the Moderate Income Revolving Loan (MIRL) resolution, is a state grant program that helps support housing production and will be administered by the city’s Urban Renewal Agency, said Urban Renewal Director Will Norris. The city was asked to consider the program by Big River Community Land Trust, expected to be the program’s first applicant for its proposed housing development on Avalon Way.

The second, a temporary moratorium on data center development until Dec. 31, comes ahead of the city’s development code currently under revision.

“I’m definitely looking forward to the development code having language in it to more accurately address modern technologies like this,” said Councilor Doug Stepina. Planning Director Dustin Nilsen said the code was last updated when the rotary phone was considered modern.

No data center applications have yet been received, but council wanted something in place considering the “breakneck speed” in which data centers are being built nationwide, as Stepina put it.

Town hall debrief

City Manager Abigail Elder gave council an overview of feedback received during their April 23 town hall on federal immigration enforcement. Council acknowledged the event was sparsely attended, with around 25 present, but not wholly unexpected given the fear that some have of being in public at this time.

“I don’t think we pass a resolution and [the problem] goes away,” said Stepina. “We have to keep evolving as the federal government changes tactics, as surges come and go, much like inclement weather — which is why I think the emergency declaration is still pertinent here.” 

But those who did attend appreciated the opportunity to speak freely with councilors, as well as amongst themselves. “The most positive takeaway I have is that I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to our constituents without the three-minute time constraint,” said Councilor Anna Cavaleri, referencing the council’s public comment policy.

Elder suggested continuing to connect with organizations “already doing the work,” with councilors sitting on a board or offering financial support under the city’s emergency declaration. Council President Gladys Rivera said she was excited to talk about co-creating policy to better leverage the city’s existing partnerships.

“I look forward to future community engagement framework conversations where we can talk about what town halls or community outreach looks like in the future because I think it’s really, really important,” said, who thanked the city’s Community Engagement Coordinator Jackie Vanderpuye and staff for organizing the event.

Several community partners also attended the town hall, including Hood River Latino Network Director Martha Verduzco-Ortega, Hood River County School District Superintendent Bill Newton, Mid-Columbia Community Action Council Executive Director Leslie Naramore, and Wasco County Commissioner Phil Brady.

Mayor Paul Blackburn said he had recently talked with Brady at another meeting and “he’s excited to work with the Next Door to set up some sort of similar communication opportunity for his commission, so our ripples are spreading outward.”