Communications committee hails budget win, plans media and legislative outreach kit

Committee members told the Columbia River Gorge Commission communications committee that recent conference committee reports for Washington and Oregon included restoration of climate-related funding and license-related support, but cautioned that final gubernatorial signature remained pending.

A staff member said the conference committee report did not include the prior elimination of climate funds and that the commission also secured license funding from Oregon; committee members credited coordinated outreach, including testimony and a letter from the Yakima Tribe.

A commissioner cautioned that the Washington governor has 20 days after passage to sign the budget and recommended avoiding claims that funds are final until the signature is on the bill.

To make future outreach faster and more effective, members agreed to assemble a legislative/media kit with a short fact sheet, sample ask letters tailored to Oregon and Washington legislators, and a draft outreach template for commissioners to send to lawmakers. One commissioner circulated an eight-page best-practices memo and offered to compile edits for distribution before the next communications meeting.

Separately, commissioners discussed a small fund established at the Gorge Community Foundation — the National Scenic Area Fund — intended to accept donations and regrant to partners for projects such as tribal support. Staff said the commission will consult legal counsel (Jeff) about how to present donation opportunities on the commission website or via social channels.

Next steps: staff will prepare bullets summarizing what funding appears in the current budget reports for a press release, circulate the best-practices memo to committee members for edits, and consult counsel about donation-linking options on the website.