County seeks Historic Preservation Commission volunteers

Port plans cleanup to celebrate 2023 Earth Day

The Port of Camas-Washougal will host a cleanup event from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 21, at Washougal Waterfront Park.

Volunteers will collect litter along the park trail and river. The Port will provide gloves, garbage bags and “trash grabbers.”

The event coincides with Earth Day, which will be celebrated worldwide on Saturday, April 22. For more information, call the Port office at 360-835-2196.

Washougal seeks input on new shared-use path

The city of Washougal is seeking public input for its proposal to build a shared path on South 27th Street.

The City has applied for a transportation alternatives grant through the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to help fund the project, which will provide a “dedicated, separated shared-use path” on South 27th Street, according to a news release.

According to the city’s news release, “the proposed project expands the bicycle and pedestrian facility connectivity within Washougal and the region, and furthers a safe and cohesive active transportation network.”

“Currently there are no existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities connecting eastern Washougal to the Captain William Clark Park and the dike trail,” the news release explained. “These recreational facilities are heavily used by the community year-round. This project will close an active transportation gap and provide a safe multi-modal connection.”

The project will include stormwater improvements, the construction of a paved, multi-use path on the east side of the road and a conduit for future fiber optic facilities; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements; a crosswalk; and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon to provide safe crossing on Index Street.

“(The) proposed complete street improvements will create a more equitable environment for users of all abilities,” city leaders stated in the news release.

The existing lack of active transportation facilities introduces challenges for non-motorized travel between the residential areas in eastern Washougal and the recreational areas by the Columbia River.

According to the news release: “The existing roadway has two lanes and is approximately 32 feet wide with no existing bicycle or pedestrian improvements and narrow shoulders. The existing roadway is the sole roadway which crosses under State Route-14 to the Captain William Clark Park from eastern Washougal. A roundabout on SR-14 at 32nd Avenue is the only other crossing option, but it is a four-lane high-speed, high-volume freeway.”

The public can submit comments online at rtc.wa.gov/programs/tap/projects through April 21.

Gluesenkamp Perez defends reproductive rights

In response to the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to overturn the FDA’s 22-year approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) took action to help protect access to reproductive care.

Mifepristone is one of the two drugs used in routine medication abortion care and miscarriage management. If allowed to stand, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA ruling could severely compromise access to medication abortion nationwide. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday reaffirmed the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, while significantly limiting access.

“Reproductive care is already scarce in rural communities like mine. A ban on mifepristone will only make that worse not just in rural areas, but across the country. I’m fighting to make sure everyone has access to the safe reproductive care they need and can make decisions about their own bodies,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez.

Earlier this month, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez signed an amicus brief filed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals urging the courts to respect the FDA’s authority to approve medications for public use.

In addition, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez helped reintroduce the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, which would reaffirm the FDA’s authority to regulate abortion medication and protect doctors’ ability to prescribe medication abortion via telehealth across the country.

County seeks Development and Engineering Board applicants

County Manager Kathleen Otto is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Clark County Development and Engineering Advisory Board.

The opening is for a three-year term that will run April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2026.

The vacancy is for a public-sector engineer or planner.

Clark County formed the Development and Engineering Advisory Board to review policy and code changes and work with the Community Development and Public Works departments on process improvements and fee issues.

The board typically meets at 2:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the sixth-floor training room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.

Interested applicants must send a letter of application and resume to Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666 or by email to michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 12.

League of Women Voters of Washington adopts new positions

The League of Women Voters of Washington Board of Directors adopted two new positions on April 10, after League members throughout the state spent over two years researching, publishing studies and reaching consensus.

The two positions regard local news and shoreline management. Both of the new positions are available in full online at lwvwa.org.

The Local News position states: “The League of Women Voters of Washington believes it is the responsibility of the government to support credible local journalism that includes comprehensive reporting which informs the public about the decisions and actions of their government, and which holds civic and social leaders accountable to their constituents.”

LWVWA President Lunell Haught explained the position doesn’t spell out the type of support that might be warranted, although she emphasized that League members are clear that support must not impede the independence of news operations.

“Regardless of any support that might be provided, control of all content must remain exclusively with the news organizations,” Haught said.

The Shoreline Management position states: “The primary goal of the Shoreline Management Act is to protect the ecological functions of our shorelines. Therefore, when balancing legislative goals, environmental protection should be overarching and not considered co-equal to the goals of development.”

Haught noted that the League has had a long history of supporting conservation efforts and working with the state of Washington around the Shoreline Management Act.

“LWVWA has long recognized that effective land stewardship includes our shorelines, and shorelines impact all of Washington, even places far from the coast,” Haught said, adding that the League uses a time-tested method for taking positions on issues, with members studying an issue, holding local League meetings to develop consensus on the issues raised by the study and developing a written position statement, which is then approved by the state board. Once approved, they can be used for advocacy by the League of Women Voters of Washington and local Leagues.

County seeks Historic Preservation Commission volunteers

Clark County and the city of Vancouver are seeking applicants for three seats on the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. The three-year terms will begin July 1. Two of the seats will be appointed by the Vancouver City Council and one seat will be appointed by the County Council.

The seven-member volunteer commission is responsible for: reviewing nominations to the National Register of Historic Places; reviewing nominations and designating properties to the Clark County Heritage Registe; conducting design review for changes to buildings and sites on the local register; reviewing and deciding applications for the Special Valuation Tax Incentive for historic properties; overseeing education and outreach.

The Commission typically meets at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in Vancouver.

To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume to Michelle Pfenning, County Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or email michelle.pfenning@clark.wa.gov.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 12.

For more information about the Commission, visit clark.wa.gov/plan ning/historic.