Wednesday,June2,2021
Columbia Gorge News
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Historic Highway and Super Manager, please apply
trail nears Hood River ■
the closest to that,” Jensen
said, adding that high expec-
tations will not deter quality
candidates.
Mayor Kate McBride
“Hood River is the sexy one
joked that only Superman
in our pool. Everyone wants
or Superwoman might
to come to Hood River. It’s
qualify for the Hood River
got a very positive reputa-
City Manager’s position, as
described in the first draft
tion,” said Jensen. Other
of a May 26 report describ-
similar-sized cities in Oregon
are also searching for city
ing desired qualifications
managers, he said.
for candidates. Her aside
The list described an ideal
referred to the seven-page
candidate with an advanced
list of suggestions for the
next city manager, gathered education and training in
public administration, 10
from city staff, council and
years of experience, training
community members.
in housing policy, commu-
Rachael Fuller, Hood
River’s city manager for the
nity engagement, public
past three years, announced infrastructure management,
her resignation in March.
and union relations, fol-
Her last day is July 2.
lowed by dozens of desired
Finalists for the position are attributes and policy direc-
scheduled to be interviewed tives. Prominent among the
by the council in September. desired attributes was the call
“As a whole, it’s a tall
for a city manager who can
order, a lengthy list,” said
address housing and growth
Erik Jensen, owner of Jensen concerns in Hood River while
Strategies, a Portland man-
expanding equity, diversity
agement consultant compa- and inclusion among staff,
ny hired to help find Fuller’s council and community
members.
replacement. The first draft
“You want a city manager
of preferred qualifications,
who has experience … some-
which will be condensed
and edited in the next few
one who’s really seasoned,
weeks, is the first step in the who’s got some stripes on
search process.
their sleeves,” said Jensen.
“You’re never going to
Jensen’s staff will use the
find a candidate that checks suggested qualifications
all of these boxes at 100
to narrow the applicants
percent. What you’re looking in the search’s prelimi-
for is who’s going to come
nary process but those
By Gail Oberst
For Columbia Gorge News
Oberst
■ By For Gail
Columbia Gorge News
streetscape could include
connections to trails, a
roundabout at Mt. Adams
Avenue, added pedestrian
The Historic Columbia
crossings, and signals at Rand
River Highway and State
Road and 20th Avenue, in ad-
Trail, a 73-mile restoration
project aimed at off-freeway dition to improved sidewalks
travel, is close to connecting and bikeways.
with Hood River, bringing
The state’s associated
with it added opportunities
Historic Columbia River
and concerns for city leaders. Trail is within five miles of
The highway and associated connecting the city with state
trail improvements are not
trail segments that extend
yet fully reconnected, with
east of Hood River to Mosier
gaps that now exclude the
and end west of Hood River
segment between Viento
at Cascade Locks. Oregon
State Park and the western
State Parks and Recreation is
side of the City of Hood River. working to connect the cur-
But the gap is closing
rently disconnected hiking
quickly, according to a May
and biking paths that border
report to the Hood River
the Historic Highway.
City Council by Dustin
When will the trail be
Nilsen, the city’s director of
completed? “Given the mul-
planning. Nilsen updated
timillion-dollar price tag and
the council on the city’s
complexities of the engineer-
transportation plans, as
ing associated with the last
they relate to the 20-year-
five miles from Mitchell Point
old agreement the city has
to Hood River, I would not
with Oregon Department
expect that portion of the trail
of Transportation, which is
extension to be completed
funding Historic Highway
within five years,” said Nilsen.
improvements.
With the popular trail soon
The Historic Highway’s
to connect to Hood River, the
route follows Cascade
city council in May discussed
Avenue and Oak Street
the urgency of planning now
through Hood River.
for additional pedestrian and
Suggested changes to the
bike lanes, sidewalks and
current Cascade Avenue
pedestrian crossings along
Cascade Avenue that would
incorporate historic require-
ments as well as community
and visitor needs already
identified in the city’s plans.
In his report, Nilsen listed
council goals as it incorpo-
rates historic highway and
trail plans into its current
plans. “These goals, listed
below, are intended to guide
the future designs, and fulfill
the city’s long-range goal
of promoting efficient and
safe transportation system,”
Nilsen wrote. Summarized,
the goals for Future Cascade
Avenue are:
■ It will be a corridor with
transit, pedestrian, and bi-
cycle facilities that enhances
access, equity, and safety.
■ It will enhance the
historic nature of the high-
way and the people of the
Columbia River.
■ It will support a mix of
high-quality commercial
and residential uses in line
with the city’s economic op-
portunities / housing goals.
■ It will serve as a gateway
to Hood River, providing a
sense of place and support-
ing the livability of the entire
community.
added qualifications may
also increase the costs.
Jensen suggested offering an
annual salary range between
$130,000 and $160,000, not
including benefits. The coun-
cil will decide on the range
before it officially advertises
for the position, tentatively
beginning June 14.
The first draft of preferred
qualifications is in the May 26
meeting packet at cityofho-
odriver.gov/administration/
meetings.
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