Columbia River Gorge Commission executive committee sets tribal hearing logistics, expands public-comment time

The Columbia River Gorge Commission executive committee on Oct. 28 reviewed outreach plans for an upcoming management-plan hearing, allotted time for treaty-tribe comments and expanded the allotted time for non-agenda public comment.

Staff told commissioners that letters were sent to tribal councils and tribal staff and that the commission mailed notice to a list of about 500 recipients. Staff said they will carry out direct outreach to county commissions and urged commissioners to suggest additional channels; one commissioner recommended notifying local news outlets and using radio in addition to social media to boost public participation.

“Even the regular news distribution outlets…all have online presence as well,” a commissioner said, urging that media outlets post notices on their own channels because the commission’s social-media posts are not yet approved.

The committee agreed to a time-certain at 10 a.m. to hear treaty-tribe comments. Staff described a 40-minute block for tribal testimony and said that if four tribes join they would plan roughly 10 minutes per tribe; if comments run shorter, the committee will take a break and then continue with the agenda. Staff estimated the hearing could take “a couple hours” and said the committee hopes to reach a decision by about 11:50.

On public-comment timing, commissioners said that three minutes per person (and five minutes often referenced as short) is insufficient for many speakers. A staff member told the committee, “We’ll extend that to 10 minutes,” referring to the total time available for public comment on non-agenda items; commissioners agreed to the change.

Commissioners also discussed routine business for the next full commission meeting scheduled for the 12th, including committee reports and elections. Staff member Jeff said he would reissue a memo from last November that outlines election procedures and allows candidates to voluntarily explain why they seek a position; commissioners welcomed the opportunity as a way to avoid perceptions of unfairness.

Commissioner Donna Mickley, joining by phone, asked that Casey Gatz be added to the agenda in place of a furloughed Forest Service representative and offered to shorten her allotted time to five to 10 minutes.

Staff reported that no members of the public were queued for comment during the executive meeting; one call-in attendee was identified as another commissioner listening in. With no further business, the chair closed the meeting and staff noted a follow-up schedule for the commission’s work plan, committee reports and elections procedure memo.

A brief technical discussion followed about whether the meeting webcam and auto-transcription had been saved; staff said they would check the recording settings and save the transcript if available.