The City of Hood River has received plenty of interest from people who would like to be part of an advisory task force to provide input on policy alternatives in the formation of an affordable housing production strategy.  Interim City Manager Will Norris says they have had about 30 applicants, and the intent is to have different categories of interest represented on the panel so they get a wide perspective on the issue.  Norris says municipal staff will be checking with City Councilors during their Monday night meeting to make sure they are on the right track before bringing a list of proposed appointees back in two weeks.  The consulting firm EcoNorthwest is being retained to help in the strategy development process.

The City of White Salmon is clarifying the details of a six-month moratorium on short-term rentals adopted by city councilors last week.  A statement from the City says the moratorium allows any short-term rental that is currently permitted by the city through a municipal business license obtained by the property owner that has registered their short-term rental with the City to continue to operate.  The moratorium also provides an amnesty program for any property owner that currently has bookings for their short-term rental as of July 21.   Those property owners will need to document their bookings, and then obtain a city business license and register their short-term rental with the City within 30 days of the date of the moratorium.  Other new short-term rentals will not be allowed during the moratorium.  A public hearing will be held before the White Salmon City Council on September 1.

With Klickitat County in extreme drought conditions, a conversation among local officials and area land managers is planned for later this week to discuss land closures due to high fire danger.  County Commissioner David Sauter says he will take part in the discussion.  Sauter says with extreme fire danger, the County may have to consider closures, but he adds some coordination has to take place with a patchwork of land ownership in the Gorge.  Last week, the Washington Department of Natural Resources closed its lands in the eastern part of the state.

Hood River County Chief Health Officer Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg says their numbers show like in most of the country, the vast majority of COVID-19 cases they are now seeing are in unvaccinated individuals.  In a Facebook video, Van Tilburg says there were 30 COVID cases reported in the last month in Hood River County, and 28 involved people who were unvaccinated.  Van Tilburg emphasized the available COVID-19 vaccine are effective against the Delta variant, and no booster is necessary.

This past spring the Ford Family Foundation awarded Columbia Gorge Community College a grant to conduct a child care center feasibility study.  The study is taking place over the summer and fall.  It will gather information on the regional need for affordable child care and develop a business model to determine how a child care center can be operated on a sustainable basis.  The Ford Foundation provided a grant to conduct the study.  Participants are asked to report the number of children in their families, how their child care needs are currently met, and their ability to contribute toward the cost of child care.  The survey is posted to the college website, cgcc.edu, and social media.  People are encouraged to complete the survey no later than August 20.  Paper versions of the survey are also being distributed to libraries, schools and other locations.

The Dalles Public Works Department will be painting the center and side lines on several streets throughout the community Monday through Thursday beginning at 6:00 a.m. each day, weather permitting.  Motorists are asked to watch for the crews and avoid driving on the wet paint.  The paint truck will be preceded and followed by warning vehicles, with signs calling attention to the wet paint.  The trucks will be spaced according to the necessary drying time of the paint.  Attempting to pass or drive between the trucks will result in a messy striping job and paint damage to the motorist’s vehicle.  Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the wet paint because it cannot be easily removed from vehicles.  The purpose of this project is to provide clear lane and bike path designations for the safety of the traveling public.  

Huckleberry season is approaching, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is issuing a reminder that a permit is required to remove any berries from the Forest.  A no-cost free-use permit for personal consumption is available to remove up to one gallon of berries per day and a total of three gallons per year, and is available through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website.  Commercial charge berry permits will be available for purchase beginning August 9 at Ranger District offices and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters through walk-up service windows.  Permits cost $60 for 14 consecutive days, or $105 for the season.

Southwest Washington Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler will host a live telephone town hall on Wednesday.  Southwest Washington residents can call in to join the town hall at any point during the event by calling 1-877-229-8493 and using the passcode 116365.  Herrera-Beutler will give an update on her work in Congress, and attendees will be invited to ask questions or share whatever is on their mind.  The town hall will begin at 5:25 on Wednesday afternoon.

The White Salmon City Council has imposed a temporary six-month moratorium on short-term rentals within the city limits of White Salmon.  The ordinance also provides a 30-day opportunity from the date of the ordinance for property owners who currently have short-term rental bookings finalized before the date of the moratorium to comply with city requirements including obtaining a business license and short-term rental permit.  Councilor Jim Ransier brought the moratorium before the council for consideration this week, after Councilors had heard concerns from residents regarding short-term rentals and decided it is time to provide guidance in the city’s land use codes on how short-term rentals are allowed.  Councilors felt the moratorium is necessary due to the impacts that short-term rentals are having on the housing market and long-term rental availability in the community.  The White Salmon Planning Commission will be forwarded the moratorium ordinance and is expected to make short-term rentals a priority.  The City Council will hold a public hearing on the moratorium on September 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers at the White Salmon Fire Hall and via teleconference.

Oregon Second District Congressman Cliff Bentz has introduced a bill to allow the U. S. Forest Service to utilize the same exemptions from the National Environment Policy Act as other federal agencies when working to implement joint projects that can range from wildfire preparedness and response to certain land management and infrastructure activities.  Bentz said in a House floor speech that the Commonsense Coordination Act would eliminate duplicative paperwork for potentially life and property saving federal projects that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement.  Nine Republican Representatives are co-sponsoring the bill.