Smoke Signals 3
Housing Authority Report and Tribe's Stadium For Portland
Casino Discussions Headline Tribal Council Meeting
Tribal members seek assurances that Tribal assets will be safe.
MARCH 15, 2003
Tim Holmes
Story and Photos by Ron Karten
The March General Council meeting was held on
Sunday, March 2nd, at the Tribal Community Cen
ter in Grand Ronde. Here
are the highlights:
Tribal Chairwoman
Cheryle Kennedy called the
meeting to order. Tribal
member Nancy Coleman
offered the invocation.
Tribal member Tim
Holmes, President of the
Board of the Tribal Hous
ing Authority, in
troduced the
board members
and gave a
summary of the Tribe's Housing pro
gram. Board members are appointed by the
Tribal Council and serve three-year
terms, said Board member and Wells
Fargo Bank Tribal Real Estate Special
ist Valerie Harjo. The board members
contribute their professional expertise
and monitor and evaluate housing op
portunities for Tribal members, she said.
Tribal member and Board member Monty
Parazoo described the latest Tribal Housing project,
Chxi Musam Illihi, a group of 36 controlled rent fam
ily rental units with one to five bedrooms.
Built with federal Housing and Urban Develop
ment (HUD) funds, it is scheduled for occupancy by
July 1, he said. The Housing Authority will con
tinue to monitor the building process for this project
and qualify applicants to the facility.
The Housing Authority also used HUD funds to
build the new Housing program offices, which were
designed with room for staff growth. Staff moved
into the new building late in November.
For 2003, the Housing Authority plans to construct
an adult foster care house to serve Tribal Elders in
need of daily support. Planning will begin this year
for development of home ownership opportunities on
the 80-acre Risseeuw site north of Highway 22. Plan
ning also will begin this year for a senior center
within the Elder Housing development as well as a
five-year "Indian Housing Plan" funded by HUD.
Housing staff also continues to administer Home
Equity grants (335 in last eight years and 66 in 2002),
Home Repair grants (117 and 39), Medical Adapta
tion grants (187 and 26) and Indian Health Service
Sanitation grants (133 and 21). Sanitation grants
are primarily for improving
water and sewer services.
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In 2002, the Housing Au
thority experimented by pro
viding Home Repair grants outside of the local six
county area. Six grants outside the area were
awarded in 2002.
Parazoo called the Home Equity grants "one of the
biggest bangs for the buck," for the Tribe.
The Housing Authority's Board of Directors meets
on the third Tuesday of each month at the Housing
office building from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. An agenda is
posted at the Housing office building and members
can request topics be put on the agenda for each
meeting.
The Tribal Council then discussed with the Tribe's
proposal to back the building of a professional base
ball stadium in exchange for agreement by the state
and city allowing the Tribe to build a new casino in
Portland with the membership.
Kennedy described the effort as a way of fulfilling
"one of the goals for Restoration." That goal is self
sufficiency. "There are no plans whatsoever to close
Spirit Mountain Casino," she said. Putting Tribal
revenue programs at risk "is not part of the plan,"
she added.
Although Portland Mayor Vera Katz is "very open"
to the plan, according to Kennedy, the actions of both
the Governor and the federal Department of the Inte
rior remain vital to the success of the project. As of
this Tribal Council meeting, the Tribe had not been
in direct
contact
with either
the Gover
nor or Sec
retary of
the Interior
Gale
Norton.
"Our goal,"
said Kennedy, "is to speak with the Governor (soon)."
From the membership came questions focusing on
the risk that the Tribal community is taking with
this effort.
Congratulations to $50 door prize winners Tribal
members Misty Carl, LeVeta Sell and Dakota
Whitecloud and to $100 winner Tribal member
Theresa Haller.
A Tribal Elder made positive comments on a States
man Journal front-page article about the Tribe's
Chinuk language immersion class that led to kudos
for Smoke Signals reporter and photographer Peta
Tinda, whose work inspired the piece.
Wednesday, January 15
5:02 p.m. Meeting was called to order by Tribal Council Vice-Chairman
Reyn Leno. A quorum was present.
Present was Bob Haller, Ed Larsen, Reyn Leno, Ed Pearsall, Jan D. Reibach
and Valorie Sheker-Robertson.
Excused was Val Grout, Cheryle Kennedy and June Sell-Sherer.
Invocation was done by Jan D. Reibach, Tribal Council member.
PREVIOUS MINUTES APPROVE & AMEND
B Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to approve the De
cember 3 1, 2002, Council meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Ed Pearsall moved, Ed Larsen seconded to approve the January 6, 2003,
Council meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried 5-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS: TRIBAL GOVERNMENT,
MANAGEMENT & BUDGET COMMITTEE
B Tribal Council Ordinance Revisions first reading. Jan D. Reibach
moved, Bob Haller seconded to adopt a motion approving the first reading of
amendments to the Tribal Council Ordinance. These amendments would re
place all existing Tribal Council committees with a single Legislative Action
Committee, made up of all Tribal Council members. Motion carried 5-0-0.
B ANA Social & Economic Development Strategies Grant Application.
Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adopt Resolu
tion No. 002-03:
(1) authorizing the Tribe's ANA Social & Economic Development Strate
gies grant application for a two year project for media center and website
development, satellite offices development, and for cultural interpretive
center planning; and
(2) that the council commit matching funds of $54,590 for year one and
$61,603 for year two from cash match, in-kind match, and from a credit
for applying a reduced Indirect rate. Motion carried 5-0-0.
B Iskum I, LLC Promissory Note. Bob Haller moved, Ed Pearsall seconded
to adopt Resolution No. 003-03 approving a loan to Iskum I, LLC for the
purchase of certain Washington property at a foreclosure sale under the terms
presented by the Finance Officer through use of the UBSPaineWebber line of
credit. Motion carried 5-0-0.
B Letter of Credit Authorization. Jan D. Reibach moved, Valorie Robertson
seconded to adopt Resolution No. 004-03 authorizing the Finance Officer to
obtain a Letter of Credit to secure performance of reclamation obligations under
an Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Permit for mining
property used as a rock quarry which is held as collateral for loan made by the
Tribe. Motion carried 5-0-0.
ENROLLMENT
B Infant Determination Approval. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Ed
Pearsall seconded to adopt Resolution No. 005-03 approving infant applicant,
numbered 5284, for Grand Ronde Tribal membership, because based on the
investigation and recommendation of the Enrollment Staff, the minor meets the
enrollment requirements under the Constitution and the Enrollment Ordinance.
Motion carried 5-0-0.
B Minor Determination Approval. Jan D. Reibach moved, Bob Haller sec
onded to adopt Resolution No. 006-03 approving Tribal membership for mi
nor, numbered 5285, because based on the investigation and recommendation of
the Enrollment Staff, the minor meets the enrollment requirements under the
Constitution and the Enrollment Ordinance. Motion carried 5-0-0.
B Infant Determination Denial. Ed Pearsall moved, Valorie Sheker-Robertson
seconded to adopt Resolution No. 007-03 denying Tribal membership to baby,
John Doe (enrollment application received 120502), because based on the inves
tigation and recommendation of the Enrollment Staff, the baby does not meet
the enrollment requirements under the Constitution and the Enrollment Ordi
nance. Motion carried 5-0-0.
B Committee By-Laws. Valorie Sheker-Robertson moved, Jan D. Reibach
seconded to adopt Resolution No. 008-03 approving the Committee Bylaws
presented to the council for the following committees: Culture Committee, Elder's
Committee, Fish & Wildlife Committee, Royalty Committee, and Timber Com
mittee. Motion carried 5-0-0.
HEALTH & COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
B Indian Child Welfare Ordinance Amendments. Valorie Sheker-Robertson
moved, Ed Pearsall seconded to adopt Resolution No. 009-03 approving amend
ments to the Indian Child Welfare Ordinance which clarify the Tribe's existing
law, policies and procedures in handling Indian child welfare matters and to
develop areas of the law which are not fully addressed in the current Ordinance.
Among other things, the proposed revisions substantially change the organiza
tional structure of the Ordinance, establish minimum standards for child wel
fare investigations, establish a Community Review Board, codify the Tribe's
policy regarding Termination of Parental Rights, provide procedures and stan
dards for private adoptions and ensure compliance with applicable federal law.
Motion carried 5-0-0.
5:12 p.m. Ed Larsen moved, Jan D. Reibach seconded to adjourn the meet
ing. Motion carried.