TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Dan Atchison, City Attorney
SUBJECT:
title
Memorandum of Understanding with Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance.
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council approve the memorandum of Understanding between the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the City of Salem, authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement and any necessary amendments?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the City of Salem, authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement and any necessary amendments.
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SUMMARY:
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizes a joint commitment to developing an intergovernmental relationship between the City and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The City and Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde government-to-government relationship will be based on consistent contact, constructive dialogue, and problem solving that promotes cooperation on projects, studies, development and resource management. The MOU recognizes that information sharing between the City and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde creates opportunities for further collaboration. The MOU establishes a protocol for communication and cooperation and provides methods for reaching resolution on issues of mutual interest.
If approved, the City Council and the Grand Ronde Tribal Council will have a formal signing ceremony February 18, 2020.
Through the MOU, the City and Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde will identify tribally-significant areas in the City, commit to consultation on City projects on significant sites, and mitigate adverse impacts upon known archaeological sites.
The City and Confederated Tribe of the Grand Ronde will work together to develop education and outreach projects and programs to share the Tribe’s history and connections to Salem and the Willamette Valley. Specifically, the City will proclaim November as Native American Heritage Month and the Historic Landmarks Commission will develop activities with the Tribe to honor Native American Heritage Month.
The MOU specifies how concerns with any of the goals in the MOU will be resolved. Either the City or the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde may decline to participate in the processes and projects in the MOU.
BACKGROUND:
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde has a long history in the Willamette Valley including territory within Salem with historically and tribally significant areas. City staff and staff members of the Tribal Government have been meeting on a routine basis to confer and share information regarding public and private projects and development to prevent or mitigate impacts on significant areas. Prior to the MOU, there has been no agreement or specific protocol regarding communications between the City and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde is a federally recognized Indian Tribe pursuant to the 1983 Grand Ronde Restoration Act. The City is sited on lands that were ceded pursuant to the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde is one of three recognized Indian Tribes identified by the State of Oregon as having a historic and cultural interest in the Salem area.
Natasha Annika Zimmerman
Deputy City Attorney
Attachments:
1. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Salem and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.