Tribal Council approves housing study

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved a housing study that will help determine Grand Ronde and wider community needs for the next several years at its Wednesday, March 20 meeting.

“The purpose of this assessment is to fulfill a housing capacity analysis, develop a housing production strategy and prepare a housing implementation plan,” Tribal Engineering & Planning Manager Ryan Webb said during a Tuesday, March 19, Legislative Action Committee meeting. “This work will identify existing and future housing stock within the community by identifying opportunities for improvement and expansion of a variety of housing options.”

The $73,500 study will be done by Points Consulting of Moscow, Idaho. The goal is to not only examine the current housing situation within Grand Ronde but also to identify opportunities for improvement and expansion of a variety of housing options, according to Webb.

“The final report and presentation of the project will serve a foundation to develop community specific housing, priorities that inform strategy, policy decisions, the allocation of resources and the cost to complete the work,” Webb said. “This really is a look at it from across the realm, everything from low-income to market rate to homeownership to homestead. We’re truly trying to take a holistic vision…and look at every different opportunity that we could provide to the membership with this.”

The assessment is expected to be complete by the end of August.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved an amended letter of agreement with the state of Oregon regarding the Willamette Cove project area to update contact information for all entities involved;
• Authorized the sale of homes in phase 1 of Tipsu-ili’i, the Tribe’s homeownership community located at McPherson and Grand Ronde roads;
• Approved a $138,550 funding agreement with Bonneville Power Administration for fiscal year 2024 for the Tribe’s participation in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Fish and Wildlife Program;
• Approved the first reading of an amendment to the Freedom of Information Ordinance reducing the time certain documents can be declassified from 15 years to 3 years;
• Approved an application to the Oregon State Fire Marshall for a wildfire season staffing grant for $35,000;
• Approved a Tribal credit card for Excavation Supervisor Bart Bryant for up to $2,500 for emergency incident management needs;
• Approved consolidating five construction loans to Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. into one permanent loan of $27.8 million;
• Authorized the Tribe’s Fire Management and Protection Program to finalize the Portland Metro Prescribed Fire Agreement;
• Approved a $30,000 grant application to Bonneville Power Association for the restoration of 41 acres of oak habitat at the Tribe’s Rattlesnake Butte property in Junction City;
• And approved one emergency non-infant and four non-infant enrollments, and two infant enrollments into the Tribe because they meet the requirements outlined in the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.