Warmer temperatures and strong east winds have seen fire response agencies deal with multiple fires in the Gorge related to debris burns getting out of control and campfires not fully extinguished.  Rick Fletcher of The Dalles Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry says though burn permits are still valid, this weekend expected weather shows temperatures near 85 degrees with fairly stout dry east winds.  He’s advising people not to burn at this time, with fire loads significantly higher than usual for this time of year.  Fletcher adds while snowpack is very good in the region, it is extremely dry at lower elevations with an increased fire danger.

The Dalles Spring Community Clean Up event that usually takes place in May of each year has been cancelled for 2021.  The Dalles Public Works announced they cancelled the event to maintain social distancing and minimize the possible spread of COVID-19.  They do say long-time Spring Community Clean Up co-sponsor The Dalles Disposal is accepting yard debris, from The Dalles city residents only, at no charge during the month of April if taken to the transfer station at 1317 West First Street on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.   Landscape care companies and non-residential properties are not eligible.  For more information on this option contact The Dalles Disposal at (541) 298-5149.  The Dalles Public Works says it hopes to bring back the cleanup in 2022.  

Hood River County is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, with 14 new cases reported in the four days from Saturday to Tuesday.  County COVID-19 Response Coordinator Daron Ryan says a spike was somewhat expected in the spring, adding they aren’t seeing the numbers they saw in December.  She says if people keep wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing, the County can remain in the lower COVID risk level.  Ryan says Hood River County is still within the COVID numbers needed to remain in the lower risk level, but the state will be doing another assessment next week.  She adds 43% of Hood River County have either been partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

North Central Public Health District says it will continue with a planned COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Sherman County on Friday by using the Moderna vaccine.  It had been scheduled to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which the District is pausing distribution of in accordance with state guidance.  NCPHD is contacting everyone scheduled for the Sherman County clinic to communicate that information to them.  The clinic is being held at the same time as planned at the Sherman County Fairgrounds 4-H Pavilion, and all appointments are still at the same time.   Appointments for the second dose of the Moderna vaccine will be made at the clinic.  Anyone with questions can call NCPHD at 541-506-2600.

Hood River City Councilors reached consensus to go forward with Requests for Qualifications from developers interested in a housing project on about seven acres on Rand Road that the City purchased last year.  A number of different alternatives were put together by Leland Consulting and all will be included in the RFQ documents, with the preferred alternative adding in two nearby acres of land owned by Hood River County where owner-occupied housing would be constructed while a combination of smaller dwellings and apartments would be constructed on the City land.  Leland’s Brian Vanneman told the Council the alternatives are meant to convey that there is no one correct solution.  Vanneman did indicate that affordable apartments will require 100 or more units to be feasible, that the City will need to write down the land costs, and that having owner-occupied housing would enable developers to pay most or all of primary infrastructure costs.

The Dalles City Council has decided to adopt the Employment Buildable Lands Inventory and amend the municipal comprehensive plan to reflect it.  Councilors hesitated in making that move a couple of months ago, worried approval would prevent The Dalles from being able to seek expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary after Google constructs its fourth and fifth phase projects that would consume a large chunk of what is currently listed as buildable lands.  But City Planning Director Alice Cannon told councilors they can update the data when that happens, explaining the plan is valuable even if it might not currently point toward a UGB expansion.  The lands inventory should be incorporated into the comp plan this summer.

The Hood River City Council approved the first reading of its middle housing code by a 6-1 vote.  The ordinance is an effort to allow duplexes, triplexes, and cottage-style housing in more zones to try to increase supply and provide affordable workforce housing.  It also allows it in the C-1 commercial zone, and last night Councilors added clarifying language to ensure that if they became short term rentals they would have to follow the same regulations as residential zones.  The ordinance will go through a second reading in two weeks.

The Dalles City Council asked numerous questions on a proposed plan for disbursement of the annual community service fee Google pays in its Enterprise Zone agreement for its Taylor Lakes facility.  The plan would call for using the Wasco County Economic Development Commission’s already existing Community Enhancement Project process to identify projects that would be vetted by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District before going to the City and County for approval.  But a number of Councilors were concerned about that list not having enough City involvement, and Councilor Dan Richardson said with Google’s possible fourth and fifth phases coming, it’s worth taking plenty of time to examine the disbursement process.  City Manager Julie Krueger said she will take questions back to the group that put the recommendation together, and report back to the Council.

The Hood River County Health Department is cancelling its planned COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Thursday.  That’s due to the Oregon Health Authority’s order to pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  The OHA made that move after the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration recommended stopping inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as they review six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in women ages 18 to 48 after they had received the shot with that vaccine.  The Hood River County Health Department says those who registered for Thursday’s clinic will be notified, and they will share more information when they have it.  

A bill to codify using lottery funds to support the state’s Regional Solutions program passed a House committee Tuesday and is on its way to the Ways and Means Committee.  The bill formalizes what is already being done, paying for the County’s share of the program that provides Regional Coordinators to help deal with issues of local interest by taking it out of lottery revenue allocations, but nothing was ever put on paper to recognize it.  Wasco County Commissioner Steve Kramer says it’s important to get the arrangement in writing.  The bill was going to originally sent to the Revenue panel, but instead will be referred to Ways and Means.