Rancheria, airport make it official

Smith River joins authority

The powers governing the Crescent City airport will meet Friday to get the latest update on a new terminal design project  and review a 2012 marketing strategy.

First those powers are going to grow. The meeting opens with the official signing of an agreement to add Smith River Rancheria to the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority’s joint power agreement, which also includes Crescent City, Del Norte County, Elk Valley Rancheria, Brookings, Ore., and Curry County, Ore.

The Smith River Tribal Council will appoint Chairwoman Kara Brundin-Miller to the airport authority’s Board of Commissioners.

The inclusion of Smith River Rancheria comes by way of a bill authored by Assemblyman Wes Chesbro and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown over the summer. It designates the Tribal Council as a public agency authorized to “assist, facilitate, develop or enhance sewer, storm water, drinking water or transportation services.”

The new designation took effect Jan. 1.

Friday’s meeting starts at 1 p.m. at the Tolowa Event Center at Smith River Rancheria, 350 North Indian Road, Smith River.