The Dalles City Council passed a motion Monday night setting up the process for determining how Community Service Fees are distributed as the result of a Strategic Investment Plan with Google as the company plans to build two new data centers on former aluminum plant property it acquired.  The team that negotiated the SIP called for representatives of all the taxing districts to meet to determine final plans to send to Business Oregon, which Wasco County’s Administrative Services Director Matthew Klebes pointed out is similar to what other communities who have done these plans have done.  The motion approved by Councilors agrees with a negotiating committee recommendation for the community service fees to be distributed to taxing districts consistent with their local option rate authority.  Wasco County Commissioners will consider the issue on January 19.

The Dalles City Council approved a zoning ordinance amendment to allow shelter housing in both Commercial General and Commercial Light Industrial districts.  Councilors held a hearing on the amendment a month ago, and the version they approved did remove a Planning Commission recommendation to make shelter housing a conditional use rather than allowable outright.  City Senior Planner Dawn Marie Hert says they will bring that subject back to the Council for review next year.  The amendment helps pave the way for Mid-Columbia Community Action’s plans to build a navigation center.

Hood River City Councilors heard a presentation on Monday evening from the development group they are currently in negotiations with to create an affordable housing development on city-owned property at 780 Rand Road.  While hearing about building plans, the Council was told by Community Development Partners Director of Development Jessica Woodruff that an Agricultural Working Housing Tax Credit of $1.9 million won’t be available to this project.  She says if they have to they will add that amount to the Local Innovation and Fast Track, or LIFT, Rental Program tax credits application they will be making to the state, but will also research other options.  Woodruff says this kind of change is not uncommon, and they can still make the deal work.

The Next Door is hoping to open a planned drop-in center for youth at its office in The Dalles soon.  Next Door Executive Director Janet Hamada says they have done two pop-up events in the last couple of months that were successful.  The opening of the center itself has been delayed by the pandemic, but she did say they are planning some kind of soft opening soon.  Hamada added they came to the conclusion that if they don’t open, it would be worse, so they need to operate to provide the youth what they truly need.  The center will be for youth going through any kind of issues to be in a safe place with food, activities, and services available.

Wasco County Commissioners sent their comments on a host of legislative concepts being pushed forward by Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden on recreation enhancement, wildfire resiliency, and conservation for Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge.  County Commission Chair Kathy Schwartz says the wide-ranging nature of the concepts rather than a specific bill made it difficult for the panel to make comments, but she added that a wide brush should not be used on the entire forest.  In their comments, the Commission suggested the concept be revised to address one targeted area at a time.

Amy Schlappi has been named the new Executive Director of Columbia Area Transit. 2021.  The Hood River County Transportation District board says Schlappi will work alongside current Executive Director Patty Fink until she retires in July.  Schlappi has been CAT’s Planning & Development Manager since October of 2019, helping shape and expand the transportation system in Hood River County, executing projects like the GOrge Pass, and assisting in the development of an expanded Gorge-wide transportation system in partnership with other Gorge transportation providers.  As Schlappi assumes the Directorship, she will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations, executing a new Transit Master Plan, and leading policy development and planning the transportation system.

Boys Basketball The Dalles 69, Estacada 51:  Tristan Bass lead the Hawks with 21 points, Styles DeLeon had 15, Henry Begay 11 and Cooper Cummings added 10 points in the victory.   Girls Basketball Estacada 37, The Dalles 35  

Hood River County Commissioners next week will discuss about where to move on any kind of community plan for Odell.  County Commission Chair Mike Oates said the County’s request to the Department of Land Conservation and Development to discuss the rule that prevents putting an urban growth boundary within ten miles of another boundary on its worksession agenda, but they didn’t do so.  Oates says the Commission and Community Development Director Eric Walker will discuss where to go from here.  Oates notes the County’s tight land supply for housing makes the Mid-Valley a good location for affordable housing.  The Commission meets next Tuesday, January 18.

A 45-year-old man died when his vehicle was struck by a falling boulder on Highway 14 near Doug’s Beach on Friday.  According to the Washington State Patrol, the vehicle driven by Stephan Becker of Portland was traveling westbound on Highway 14 when it was struck by a boulder falling down the adjacent hill.  That caused the vehicle to rotate and roll, coming to rest in the eastbound lane.  Becker was declared deceased at the scene.  The accident occurred just after noon on Friday.

Boys Basketball Hood River Valley 89, Columbia 53 South Wasco 60, Horizon Christian 37 Echo 102, Sherman 50 Condon 67, Sherman 42 Goldendale 71, Granger 63 Goldendale 56, Highland 48   Girls Basketball South Wasco 53, Horizon Christian 39 Echo 55, Sherman 25 Condon 43, Sherman 37 Granger 54, Goldendale 49 Goldendale 55, Highland 47   Boys Wrestling Bryce Waddell won the 126 pound division for Goldendale at the Jeremiah Schmunk Invitational in Warden, helping the Timberwolves to a sixth place team finish.   Girls Wrestling Goldendale’s Kali Watson finished third at 135 pounds at the Kelso Invitational.