Port considers parking options to help downtown squeeze

HOOD RIVER — With downtown parking in scarce supply, Port of Hood River staff may consider leasing several of its newly-established Anchor Way parking spaces to help alleviate the problem.

The port has fielded requests from several local businesses for dedicated parking spaces in the marina area, most recently from a downtown hotel. Anchor Way parking lot has 59 spaces. The port will consider setting aside 20 of these on a one-year trial basis.

It’s only a proposal at this point, as port commissioners at their May 19 meeting authorized Megan Channel, capital development and planning director, to explore the idea and return with a proposed pilot program; the commission would then decide whether to implement a one-year test run. Channel will consider such issues as parking revenue, support for local businesses, compatibility with existing and future port parking needs, regulatory exceptions to overnight parking restrictions, and the idea — expressed by Commissioner Kathryn Thomas — of providing a discount or other incentive to local residents.

In other port business from May 19:

• Commissioners held the second in a months-long series of workshops, open houses and presentations with Points Consulting, the Idaho-based consultancy selected in April to update the port’s five-year strategic business plan. Since the effort began April 21, consultant Brian Points and his team have conducted 18 stakeholder interviews and several focus groups, reaching out to the city, county, marina users, tenants and others. This month’s port workshop engaged commissioners in identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), and a review of the port’s organizational vision and value statements. Points will compile those observations in preparation for broader public outreach, tentatively scheduled for the first two weeks of June. This will involve a community survey and community workshop, open to the public. Another public workshop will follow in August. Several commission updates will occur throughout the process, including a needs assessment and economic analysis in July, draft goals and strategic direction in August, and commission review of the draft business plan in September. Adoption is anticipated Oct. 20.

• Commissioners adopted revised rules and regulations for the marina, including best practices for environmental compliance.

• The port will request Oregon Energy Trust funding to incorporate renewable energy generation and resilience in the proposed Ken Jernstedt Airfield terminal building. Other airfield facilities would be included, with the goal of offsetting operational costs, selling excess power generation, and creating backup capacity during power loss. Port commissioners authorized the submission, also to include a consultancy contract with the low-bidder, Mayfield Renewables, to assess feasibility. The contract is contingent on funding from the Energy Trust, which would cover 75% of the $44,750 project. The port would be responsible for the $11,188 balance.

• Commissioners amended an existing project management agreement with Portland-based HDR Engineering for upcoming bridge repairs, painting and related maintenance. The port contracted with HDR last year for preliminary stages of this effort, such as preparing plans and specifications. The amendment establishes HDR as the port’s authorized representative for the work phase, and increases the firm’s total earnings to $553,030.. HDR will assist in procuring vendors, contract administration, payment review, project meetings and other administrative tasks.