Meeting called to order at 9:01 a.m. by Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman Gary I. Burke. Invocation given by Member at Large Toby Patrick. Quorum of six was verified with Vice Chairman Aaron Ashley and Members at Large Lisa Ganuelas and Steven Hart on personal leave. Agenda approved 5-0-0.
Old Business
Public Law-280 Retrocession Testimony (25-002): This resolution authorizes Member at Large Corinne Sams and key staff to give testimony on Oregon Senate Bill 1011 at 1 p.m. on April 22 in Salem. In 1953, Congress adopted PL-280 and mandated Oregon to strip jurisdiction from all tribal territory within Oregon’s border except for the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. In 1968, Congress amended PL-280 to allow states, including Oregon, to “retrocede” jurisdiction. Retrocession—the return of state- assumed jurisdiction under PL-280 to the federal government—is essential to improving tribal self- governance and is further acknowledgment by the State of Oregon of tribal sovereignty. Retrocession of jurisdiction may include criminal jurisdiction, civil jurisdiction, or both. The BOT approved the resolution 5-0-0.
New Business
Umatilla Electric Cooperative (UEC) Umatilla-to-Westland Transmission Line Confidential Mitigation Agreement (25-036): This resolution approves a confidential mitigation agreement between the CTUIR and UEC regarding UEC’s intention to build, operate and maintain a 115K volt transmission line
connecting Umatilla and Westland substations to increase service reliability to irrigated farmlands and UEC’s residential, commercial and industrial members. The project runs on private and public lands south of Umatilla and in the ceded lands of the CTUIR. UEC recognizes the CTUIR’s strong cultural
ties to the project area and surrounding lands and has agreed to mitigate for the effect upon historic properties within the project’s vicinity.
Other Board Actions
None
Executive Director Information
The BOT approved the CTUIR flag to be flown at Lyons Ferry State Park Campgrounds in support of the redevelopment and partnership and to show the public the area’s importance to the CTUIR. The BOT approved the motion 5-0-0.
The BOT took no action on a motion to attend the AUVSI Spring Symposium April 24-25 in Pendleton.
The BOT approved General Council officers to provide a blessing at the Washington Recreation and Parks Association annual conference May 13-16 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. The BOT approved the motion 5-0-0.
The BOT approves any available BOT members to attend the Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative on May 22 in person or virtually in Sacramento, California. The BOT approved the motion 5-0-0.
The BOT approved General Council Chairman Alan Crawford to attend the Whitman College post commencement reception on May 25 at Cordiner Hall in Walla Walla, Washington. The BOT approved the motion 5-0-0.
Next Board of Trustees Meeting: 9 a.m., April 28, 2025
To view the calendar, visit https://ctuir.org/our-government/board-of-trustees/bot-calendar/
