Proposed fees to offset roundabout costs on Hood River's west side

“This is basically the same means and method [used in the Heights Proportionate Share Study] to promote the development of the west side, but to also create a funding source for the eventual improvement of that intersection over on Mt. Adams, which is one of the biggest barriers to approving new development in the Westside District,” Urban Renewal Administrator Will Norris said.

John Boscet, DKS, said with most of the remaining developable land within the city’s Urban Growth Boundary in the west side area, a roundabout has been identified as the preferred alternative at the Mt. Adams-U.S. 30 intersection. Put simply, the proportionate share spreads the cost between developments that will contribute to increased traffic at that point.

“The need for a significant improvement at that intersection of Cascade and Mt. Adams has been known for quite a while,” he said. Roundabouts are a “fairly significant and costly improvement as well, which can be challenging as you’re trying to approve future development,” he added. “The city is looking to provide a fair and predictable fee to charge users for adding traffic to that intersection, and also just having an efficient process for the city and developers.”

Norris said the fees are projected to generate $1.9 million, or 21% of the intersection’s improvement costs.

Councilors unanimously approved directing staff to return with a resolution establishing a Mt. Adams Roundabout Proportionate Share Fee based on the DKS Heights District Proportionate Share Study.

Public concerns

Earlier in the meeting, three members of a Heights-area neighborhood spoke of issues with unhoused people and ongoing problems at Wilson Park.

They recounted aggressive behavior, drug use, unaddressed public disturbances, and camping. They also reported receiving conflicting information from city agencies and expressed support for additional shelter services in the warmer months.

Another two commenters urged councilors to discuss taking a neutral stance on all political statements outside of the city’s mission, “To provide essential services at the lowest possible cost to continually enhance the quality of life in Hood River,” saying it was not only a fair approach but would keep the focus on city business.

Later, during council comments, Councilor Anna Cavaleri began with a request to again consider institutional neutrality. Mayor Paul Blackburn suggested placing it on the agenda as a discussion item, with Councilor Grant Polson in agreement. However, no other councilor concurred, ending the discussion.

Next, Councilor Doug Stepina addressed the unhoused in Wilson Park. “We do have a goal, a critical goal of ours, to be able to find a pathway to a full-time shelter,” he said, and requested City Administrator Abigail Elder and Police Chief Neal Holste look into information being provided during complaints. “I think the citizens that are asking about it deserve to get consistency. But there’s a lot of nuance here.”

“There’s a few state laws that to some extent, more or less, tie our hands on a few things,” Polson agreed. “But from the public’s perspective, nobody likes to be told, when faced with a problem or something, by anybody in a customer facing role, that ‘That’s not my job.’”

City council next meets on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.