TD Councilors agree to method for dividing Google Pie, subpoena airbnb records, approve houseless shelter zoning
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles City Council unanimously agreed on Monday, Jan. 10, to let representatives from the City and County along with several tax districts negotiate how to split up to $2.5 million coming from Google in the latest data plant deal in the Port of The Dalles.
The money is part of the Community Service Fee Google is recently agreed to pay the City and Wasco County.
It is a precursor to many discussions to come about spending Google fees in the City and Wasco County as millions of dollars will be coming into the community when and if Google constructs two new data centers.
Google has already moved forward with the paperwork, which is a good indication they are moving forward with construction plans. They applied for and received approval from the State for the local deal called a Strategic Investment Plan.
On Monday night, Council agreed board members of Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, the Port of The Dalles, Wasco County 4-H, Wasco County Soil and Conservation District, Wasco County Library District, North Wasco County Parks and Recreation, North Wasco County School District, Columbia Gorge Community College and City and County Officials will now have to decide how to use the money.
Districts with a minimum of 75 percent of the taxing authority must agree on it.
Within the presentation to the Council by Wasco County Administrative Services Director Matthew Klebes, it was suggested that districts receive the money based on their percentages of taxing authority.
The money cannot be used for paying off any current bonded indebtedness, such as paying for a capital improvement like the construction of a building several years ago.
However, the college and school districts must have a separate agreement for receiving funding, as it is not allowed through normal taxing districts under Oregon law.
The initial timeline to strike an agreement on how to cut up the money is 90 days, otherwise, the Oregon Business Development Department will make the call.
During the discussion, Councilors Dan Richardson asked about other methods of dividing the money such as putting some of it toward a public good.
Mid-Columbia Medical Center Director of Business Development Travis Dray told Council he was also suggested exploring other projects for the greater good and he would be willing to assist.
The hospital is looking to develop a new campus at Kramer Field on Webber Street.
No other ideas on how to split the money were given by Klebes.
The idea of using another procedure on how to decide to use the money never gained traction with the majority of the Council.
Rather, Councilors accepted the language put forward by Klebes, and it was approved unanimously. The same matter will go before Wasco County Commissioners on Jan. 19.
In related business, Council also voted in favor of extending a $750,000 loan to Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue for the hiring of six new employees.
The fire district contends it needs the funding to beef up service as they will see additional demand during the construction phase of the data centers.
The City of The Dalles will loan the fire district $750,000 upfront to assist with this service demand.
As a condition to disbursing the loan amount to the fire district, it must guarantee repayment of the loan as well as agree to a staffing-aid agreement in the approved Emergency Response Plan.
The loan would be paid back by the fire district over the course of Google's first data plant’s 15 years of property tax abatement. The district could pay it through a reduction of its money coming from the Google fees or, if insufficient, any other legal means.
Councilor Dan Richards had the one opposing vote in the loan decision.
He said he did not necessarily disagree with the idea but wanted additional information on the agreement before voting.
Houseless Shelters made an Outright Use
Council voted unanimously to update the municipal code to make housing shelters an outright use in the general commercial zones.
At the Council Dec. 13 meeting, City Council delayed a vote on adding definitions and rules for allowing houseless shelters in light industrial and general commercial zones.
Councilors debated on whether it should be an outright allowed use or require a conditional-use permit and administrative or public hearings.
Kenny LaPoint, Executive Director of Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) requested the conditional use permit to establish a houseless shelter be removed from the law.
He said it could be used to slow down a project that is running on strict funding deadlines, thereby killing it through time, not legitimate reasons for denying a houseless shelter.
MCCAC is in the middle of establishing a $5.1-million Navigation Center in The Dalles at the former hotel across the street from Peterson Cat on West Second Street.
The funding for the Navigation Center must be used by July 2023. It would provide shelter to the houseless in The Dalles as well as provide a single point for providing assistance to those experiencing houselessness. Councilor Runyon asked that the council review the need for a conditional-use permit after the July 2023 deadline.
On Monday Night, LaPoint said we was happy with the decision and noted our region looks to be included in state legislation that would bring $1 million to serving the houseless in communities in the mid-Columbia.
Council is scheduled to revisit the outright use for seasonal shelters in the general commercial zone in Spring of 2023.
Subpoena of airbnb Records
Councilors approved a resolution giving City Attorney Jonathan Kara authority to issue a subpoena for airbnb records in regard to properties owned by Steven Day of Portland as they are seeking to ensure that transient room taxes are being paid on his short-term rental.
Kara submitted an email request for the information from the property manager on Nov. 22, 2021, and did not receive a response, he said.
Drug Deal Approved
Council accepted a $303,919 in the opioid epidemic settlement caused in part by the three largest pharmaceutical distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen which are Distributor and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson.
It is the City’s piece of the settlement from the national opioid litigation.
The proposed settlements are fully adopted by states and municipalities nationwide. Distributors will pay a maximum of $21 billion over 18 years and J&J will pay a maximum of $5 billion over no more than 9 years. The Dalles is getting 0.17%of the $329 million settlement to Oregon, minus attorney fees.
Editor’s Note - watch CCCNews for a future story on Council discussion about sale of the ‘State Building ‘at 700 Union Street for $4.8 million.
