Smoke Signals 15
APRIL 1,2011
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney's Of
fice, adopted, on an emergency basis, proposed amendments to the
Children and Families Ordinance at the February 16, 2011, Tribal
Council Meeting.
The primary purpose of the proposed amendments is to confirm
and clarify that a child placed in a guardianship remains a ward of
the Court despite the conclusion of the dependency case involving the
child. The proposed amendments also include minor technical (i.e.,
typographical, housekeeping) modifications.
The Tribal Council invites comment on the proposed amendments
to the Children & Families Ordinance. For a copy of the proposed
amendments please contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664.
Please send your comments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347, or by e-mail to legal
grandronde.org.
Comments must be received by May 1, 2011.
MEMBER BENEFIT FUND ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Finance Department
and Tribal Attorney's Office, adopted, on an emergency basis, amend
ments to the Member Benefit Fund Ordinance at the November 18,
2009, Tribal Council Meeting.
The amendments included provisions for the following: (1) change the
process for making distributions by making distributions directly to
adult members unless the member requests the payment be directed to
the Savings Fund account (opposite of previous practice); (2) bring the
partial paymentdebt off-set provisions in-line with the provisions of
the Debt Collection Ordinance to provide for departmental efficiencies;
(3) treat disenrolled and relinquished members similarly after loss of
membership; (4) change date of distribution for minor's accounts to
the last day of the month in which they turn 21; (5) provide that upon
reaching age 21, funds in a minor's account will be distributed directly
to the member unless they request that such funds be transferred to
the adult savings account (similar to treatment of gaming trust ac
counts) and (6) various technical changes.
The amendments were enacted on an emergency basis and time was
given to allow the new distribution process to run one or more distri
bution cycles to determine whether additional modifications would
be required to this entirely new distribution process. Now that new
distribution process has been in place for a sufficient period of time,
the amendments are ready for final adoption in accordance with the
provisions of the Tribal Government Organization and Procedures
Ordinance.
The Tribal Council invites comment on the amendments to the Mem
ber Benefit Fund Ordinance. For a copy of the proposed amendments
please contact the Tribal Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. Please send
your comments to the Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347, or by e-mail to legalgrandronde.org.
Comments must be received by May 1, 2011.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX ORDINANCE
OPEN FOR COMMENT
The Tribal Council, in consultation with the Tribal Attorney's Office,
adopted a Hotel Occupancy Tax Ordinance on an emergency basis at
the December 16, 2009, Tribal Council Meeting effective January 1,
2010. The Ordinance implements a tax on hotel rooms provided on
Tribal lands and provides a method for tax collection.
The purpose of the Ordinance is to establish a Hotel Occupancy Tax
to provide a revenue stream to fund essential government services
through the implementation of an 8 tax on hotel rooms provided on
Tribal lands. The tax is collected by the Hotel operator, transferred
monthly to the Finance Officer and then placed in the General Fund
to be allocated at Tribal Council's discretion. The tax does not apply
to Tribal or federal employees while on official business.
The Ordinance was adopted on an emergency basis and time was
allowed before final adoption to determine whether additional modifi
cations would be required to the process as this is the first Tribal tax
to be imposed. Now that the process has been in place for a sufficient
time to test the process, the Ordinance is ready for final adoption
following provisions of the Tribal Government Organization and Pro
cedures Ordinance.
The Tribal Council invites comment on the Hotel Occupancy Tax
Ordinance. For a copy of the Ordinance please contact the Tribal
Attorney's Office at 503-879-4664. Please send your comments to the
Tribal Attorney's Office, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon
97347, or by e-mail to legalgrandronde.org.
Comments must be received by May 1, 2011.
Grand fondle To o lb a I
Mousing Authority
n- -
Opportunity for comment on GRTHA's 2010
Annual Performance Report (APR)
Under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-De-termination
Act of 1996, (NAHASDA), the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide grants to
Indian TribesIndian Housing Authorities for the development
and operation of low-income housing in Indian areas. Grants are
made to eligible recipients under the Indian Housing Block Grant
Program. To be eligible for the grants, respondents must submit
an Indian Housing Plan that meets the minimum requirements of
the Act, and also submit an Annual Performance Report to HUD
and maintain records for HUD monitoring. The Grand Ronde
Tribal Housing Authority (GRTHA) has received multiple grants
under this program which were active during 2010. Comments on
the Annual Performance Report are welcome and copies of this
report can be obtained at the GRTHA office or by calling 503-879-2401
or 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2401. Comments must be submitted
in writing to GRTHA no later than 5 p.m., Friday, April 22, 2011.
All comments will be incorporated into the final report submitted
to HUD.
It's a poster contest!
It's time for the AMERIND Risk Management Corporation
2011 National Fire and Home Safety Poster Contest for children
currently in grades K through 8 (only one entry per child).
All posters entered are to illustrate a "safety" theme, and must
be originals created by the child in crayon, markers or paint,
drawn horizontally on 8.5" x 11" paper (no pencils, please).
This year's winner of the poster contest will receive a $3,000
Savings Bond in his or her name. Entry forms are available
through the Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority office, 28450
Tyee Road, Grand Ronde, or by calling 503-879-2401.
All AMERIND Poster Contest entries must be submitted with
a form that can be downloaded at www.AMERINDRisk.org.
Deadline is April 26.
Units available now!
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority is accepting ap
plications for Rental Housing Units in Grand Ronde
1-5 bedroom sized units, many upgrades, parkingstorage close
to Tribal services.
The units include washerdryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, in
floor radiant heat, private patio and great views. If you work for
the Tribe or casino, you pay no State Income Tax!
The following screening criteria is required for the Market
Rate Units: Credit history, landlord history, criminal history,
income (at least 3 times monthly rent). One adult member of the
household must be an enrolled CTGR Tribal member.
HUD assisted rental applicants must meet low-income and
other federal requirements.
Call GRTHA for applications or for further information at 1-800-422-0232,
ext. 2401, or 503-879-2401.