Washougal officials update status of city projects

During the Port of Camas-Washougal’s commission meeting on Tuesday, May 16, Port chief executive officer David Ripp asked Washougal Mayor David Stuebe, attending the meeting via Zoom, about how his recent trip to Washington, D.C., went.

“It was epic,’” Stuebe replied. “I think it was a very productive trip.”

Stuebe and Washougal City Manager David Scott traveled to the United States’ capital city earlier this month to meet with legislators and advocate for some of the City’s major projects, specifically its wastewater treatment plant upgrade and new railroad underpass.

“We were able to meet with Sen. (Patty) Murray and her staff, Sen. (Maria) Cantwell’s staff, and Rep. (Marie) Gluesenkamp Perez and her staff,” Scott said. “It was an honor to engage with our federal delegation. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful. They acknowledge and understand the importance of our priority projects and are supportive. We were also able to meet with several officials and staff at the United States Department of Transportation. They were very helpful in providing advice and suggestions regarding their funding programs and how our projects might fit.”

Washington’s 17th District Republican legislators, Sen. Lynda Wilson and Reps. Paul Harris and Kevin Waters, asked Glusenkamp Perez, a Democrat, to support Washougal’s projects earlier this year.

“Washington has supported the city of Washougal with state funding toward delivering excellent projects which have furthered our revitalization and economic development,” the legislators wrote in a Feb. 27 letter. “Washougal has always delivered on their projects, and we are confident that federal support will be a wise investment in meeting federal goals in support of our communities.”

The City isn’t especially close to breaking ground on any of the projects, but is making strides in its attempts to raise enough funding to get them going.

Wastewater treatment plant

Gluesenkamp Perez asked for $3 million from the United States government for the City of Washougal’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade project earlier this year.

The freshman congresswoman nominated the project and 14 others for funding through the U.S. government’s Community Project Funding process, which empowers members of Congress to direct aid to specific projects in their districts.

“I’m focused on good governance — being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and making sure those dollars have the greatest impact,” Gluesenkamp Perez stated. “I selected these projects because they’re going to have a real, tangible impact on the lives of everyone in those communities. I look forward to seeing this process through and getting Southwest Washington the investments it needs and deserves.”

The United States House Committee on Appropriations will consider the requests and release its draft bill in “the coming weeks,” according to the news release.

If awarded, the money would be used to partially fund several components of the project’s final phase, including: treatment plant site improvements and yard piping, a new waste activated sludge pump, odor improvements at the headworks, a new screw press, and new rotary drum thickener.

“This new phase will serve to improve operation and achieve the highest efficiency in the release of treated effluent,” Glusenkamp Perez wrote in a letter to Kay Granger and Rosa De Lauro, the chairwoman and ranking member, respectively, for the appropriations committee.

“The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. In addition to enhancing the water quality of treated effluent and improving operation and achieving the highest efficiency in the release of treated effluent, when all components of the project are completed, the required improvements will double the capacity of the treatment plant, providing for future growth and economic development of the Port of Camas-Washougal and the City and helping alleviate concern over utility rates for residents of Washougal and the business community.”

Cantwell has also requested $3 million for the project through the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, which will consider senators’ requests while writing its annual spending bill.

“This project would help ensure access to a clean and affordable wastewater treatment for the residents of Washougal and protect the Columbia River and the Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge immediately adjacent to the project,” according to Cantwell.

The project is “currently moving towards 90% design,” according to Scott.

“This is the beginning of the federal process, and we are hopeful that this funding will ultimately be included in the upcoming fiscal year 2024 federal budget,” he added.

Town center

The City recently received $2 million in a state capital budget appropriation for its town center civic campus project as part of Washington State capital budget for 2023-25, according to Scott.

In addition, on May 8, the Washougal City Council approved a motion to allocate $3.6 million of its remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the project.

“We are combining (the state funds) with ARPA funds and some capital funding from our Park Impact Fee and Real Estate Excise Tax revenues (both required to be used for capital projects) to deliver this project,” Scott said.

The City is currently preparing a “scope of work” document to advertise a request-for-proposal for design services for the project, according to Scott. The conceptual plan includes a dog park, an outdoor “living room” enhancement adjacent to the city community center, a pocket park with a possible water play feature, parking for the new Fort Vancouver Regional Library facility across the street from City Hall, the civic campus, and town center patrons, and potentially some additional amenities to be determined.

“We are looking at potentially having the parking areas be flexibly designed as multi-purpose to allow for use as outdoor event and activity space,” Scott said.