FRIDAY, May 13, 2005

 
 Commissioners working hard
to craft document collectively

Since reopening the county’s Comprehensive Growth Management plan for modification, the three member board of county commissioners is so far in agreement on issues that have been discussed at the first of what is expected to be several public meetings.

That 20-year growth management plan approved last fall was adopted by a split vote, with chair of the board, Democrat Betty Sue Morris, dissenting because she believed the plan did not provide for sufficient growth. That plan also invited over a dozen formal appeals to the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board.

Since then, Democratic commissioner Judie Stanton retired after eight years in office. Former Republican state representative Mark Boldt was elected to succeed Stanton. Commissioner Craig Pridemore, a Democrat, then successfully ran for the state senate. His position was filled with the appointment of Democrat Steve Stuart.

In their work session on May 10, the new lineup of commissioners tentatively agreed to plan for more people to live in Clark County by 2023.

The total planned population would then be 567,000 people, a 49,000 increase over the plan adopted last year.

The commissioners also directed the county staff to prepare for a residential “market factor” of 10 percent, to provide more choices in siting new homes. These tentative changes could affect planning for capital facilities and expansion of urban growth areas.

Additional work sessions on the plan have been set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. At least three more meetings are scheduled this month and in June.

The commission will continue its examination of policy assumptions and then will evaluate additional planning assumptions based on data from the county’s Geographic Information System.

Requests for changes in urban growth boundaries from cities in the county will be considered in June.

Written comments on all aspects of the current review of the growth plan may be sent to the Board of Clark County Commissioners, P.O. Box 5000 Vancouver, WA 98666, or emailed to boardcom@clark.wa.gov.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture headlines
Vancouver chamber program Tuesday

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns will discuss the Central America Free Trade Agreement proposal with southern Washington business leaders at a special meeting of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, in the Heathman Lodge. Congress has not taken action on the proposal.

The public is invited to attend this special meeting, according to chamber president John McKibbin. Reservations are required for the $30 breakfast. Call 694-2588 for further information.

Group discussing increases in city
taxes meets with council Monday

Vancouver City Council will meet in retreat with members of the Finance Working Group from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 16, in City Hall. The public meeting will replace other scheduled council meetings on Monday. No testimony will be accepted.

Members of the Finance Working Group are mayor Royce Pollard and city council member Dan Tonkovich, Jim Etzkorn, Neighborhood Traffic Safety Alliance chair, Mark Brandon, First Independent Bank, and Beth Quartarolo, Hewlett-Packard. The working group is staffed by city manager Pat McDonnell, city chief financial officer Lloyd Tyler, John McKibbin, president of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Lewis, former chief financial officer for the city.

The meeting will be cablecast by CVTV Channel 23.

Food vendors sought

Through Wednesday, June 1, the City of Vancouver is accepting applications from food vendors for a series of events at Esther Short Park this summer. Food vendors must have city approval to offer their wares in the park plaza weekdays, and for the Qwest Noon and the Riverview Six-to-Sunset concert series.

For further information, call 619-1131.

News briefs

Southwest Washington Medical Center is offering a workshop on how to spot and stop a stroke at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in the Health Education Center, 400 NE Mother Joseph Place. The workshop fee is $10. The first 25 persons to register and commit to promoting stroke awareness in the next 12 months will receive a free tool kid from the American Stroke Association. For further information, call 514-2190. g International Migratory Bird Day is being celebrated at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Vancouver Audubon Society volunteers and staff from the refuge will lead free bird walks along the Kiwa Trail. For further information, call Toni Schoulder, 887-4106. g 49th Legislative District Democrats Sen. Craig Pridemore and Reps. Bill Fromhold and Jim Moeller are holding a town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in the main hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street. g Civil Disturbance, the Vancouver Police Department Benefit Band, is playing a benefit concert at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Mojos Restaurant and Lounge at 1819 Main Street. The benefit is for officer Mike Kellog, an Oregon police officer who was diagnosed recently with Leukemia. g Bravo! Vancouver presents “Out of Africa,” a double featured concert of spiritual chorale music and the piano artistry of Ghanan William Chapman Nyaho at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15, in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 400 S. Andresen Road. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Correction

The Daily Insider Monday failed to state that a principal partner in the new Southwest Washington Medical Center program, Project Search, aimed at helping match jobs for people with development disabilities, is the Clark County Department of Community Services, Developmental Disabilities Program. Joel Schudde is the coordinator for the Developmental Disabilities Program.

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

Higher fares more than compensate for lost ridership C-TRAN says--Oregonian, Bill Stewart

Vancouver council to hear how tax increases would boost city revenue by $14 million--Oregonian, Bill Stewart

Oregon Air National Guard at PDX to be downsized--KATU

No major bases in state to be closed--Seattle Times, AP, Matthew Daly

Mount St. Helens erupting with new life 25 years later--Seattle Times, Sandi Doughton

Oregon revenue up by $200 million legislators learn--KATU, AP, Charles E. Beggs

Former Portland archbishop William Levada named Pope Benedict XVI's successor to the powerful position as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He's the first American ever to hold the job--KGW-TV, AP, Kim Curtis

Oregonian's best entertainment bets

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Friday on the Air

Community Foundation Annual Luncheon—5 p.m. CVTV
Portland Beavers at Albuquerque (live)—6 p.m. KKAD
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KFXX
Animal Control Hearings (5/11)—7 p.m. CVTV
Telecommunications Commission (5/4)—9:30 p.m. CVTV
Mount St. Helens 25th Anniversary Seminar, Part 3—11:30 p.m. CVTV
 

Town Tabloids and the Weather
 

Judie Stanton getting excellent arborvitae report. g Paula Johnson providing the facts. g Jocie Braaksma celebrating Friday the 13th. g Janelle Guthrie onward and upward. g Kris Henriksen checking idols. g Kevin Hernik’s message delivered. g Friday, clouds, sun, possible late precipitation, 73. Saturday, cloudy, sunny, 69. Sunday, mostly cloudy, 65.