HOOD RIVER — The Feb. 18 Port of Hood River Board of Commissioner’s meeting opened with 20 minutes of public comment after residents learned private parties had expressed interest to redevelop the site of the former chamber building and DMV building.
On Jan. 21, Tom Bacci, the port’s exclusive listing agent, presented information to the board in regard to the possible relocation of port offices. In that presentation, Bacci said he has been in contact with two interested parties regarding the Marina East and West properties for redevelopment. The Marina Green and waterfront trail were not included.
Upon hearing the possibility of commercial development, many residents referenced a 1995 ordinance that was passed by residents to “protect the Port Marina Park from uses inconsistent with public use and waterfront recreation,” according to a pamphlet from Citizens for Responsible Waterfront Development (CRWD).
By a slim margin, 2,467 voted to reserve the space and 2,242 against the Port Marina Park Ordinance, Measure 14-3, years ago, according to records from Hood River County. Board members cannot respond directly to public comment, but later in the meeting, Commissioners Mike Fox and Ben Sheppard both said they did not know about the ordinance beforehand.
“The port’s attorney is looking into this,” Port Executive Director Kevin Greenwood told Columbia Gorge News. “It is clear, however, there is interest in protecting Marina Green and the harbor-side trail.”
The discussion ended with agreement that staff will prepare a presentation that encompasses the entire marina and waterfront, and present to commissioners for further consideration. The board expressed interest in conducting an open house to receive additional public input.
Foundation’s Specialty License Plate program
Prior to the port’s regular session, the Port of Hood River Foundation held a meeting and heard updates on the Oregon Specialty License Plate project from Gretchen Goss. According to the meeting packet, the project would financially support the Port of Hood River Foundation. At a previous meeting, commissioners and staff directed Goss to gather additional information on cost, timeline and feasibility. At the Feb. 18 meeting, Goss estimated the project would take at least 16 months in order to have license plates on cars no later than 2027.
The foundation would generate revenue every time a user registers their vehicle or renews the plate. The project plans to open a design contest March 1 to local artists who will be able to submit their designs for consideration and prize money — $500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third — with the winner determined by the board of commissioners. The project must pay a $5,000 administrative fee and get approval from the DMV, local police and sheriff departments as well as the Oregon State Patrol Division before moving forward with production, and then must sell at least 3,000 vouchers to interested parties.
According to Goss, if they are able to sell the vouchers, the foundation could expect to receive $35 for every plate sold. The project would need to sell 5,000 plates in order to “break even.” Commissioners opted to remain patient and gather additional information from stakeholders before moving forward with the design contest.
Bridge Authority requests assistance
In a memo to the port commission, the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority (HRWSBA) has made a request to the Port of Hood River for $500,000 to cover administrative expenses such as rent, office utilities, lobbying efforts and other indirect project costs. The six-member commission has generated more than $320 million in state and federal grants from several different programs toward the bridge replacement project.
The HRWSBA is looking for $500,000 from the port’s $5 million Bridge Fund. The port commission approved the loan for $500,000 that will come out of the port’s Bridge Fund. It was noted that the loan will most likely not be repaid until the new bridge is built. The commission also agreed to let the HRWSBA access the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) reserve fund as a way to cash flow grant-eligible expenses.
As state and federal reimbursements are received, the TIFIA reserve fund will be made whole. There is approximately $5 million in the TIFIA reserve fund generated from the September 2023 toll increase.
Marina and Waterfront Recreation committees dissolved
Commissioners approved Resolution No. 2024-25-21 that disbanded the Waterfront Recreation Committee and Marina Committee in order to establish stakeholder groups that will assist with waterfront and marina planning. Waterfront and Marina Manager Daryl Stafford recognized the previous committees’ contributions to the port.
Staff proposed a model that will convene stakeholders in hopes of increasing public participation. The resolution aims to generate input from “diverse waterfront users groups to guide planning and development.”
The proposed stakeholder groups would address specific topics such as water safety, capital improvements, Lot 1 development, parking needs and more.
Other news
In a memo to the commission, the port has contracted with an alternate temporary staffing provider after negotiations with Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI) fell through.
“During legal review, our attorneys and BBSI’s attorneys were unable to reach an agreement on certain contract terms,” the memo said. The port commission approved a contract with Boly:Welch to not exceed $75,000 for temporary administrative and seasonal support on an as-needed basis. Boly:Welch is a Portland-base job recruiting agency.
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