Mayor: pride and history
are on Vancouver’s side

Taking advantage of the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Vancouver as a city, Mayor Royce Pollard this morning told a packed house at the Hilton Vancouver Washington:

“We must take pride in our history. We must take pride in our environmental and cultural stewardship of our land, our waterways and our treasured buildings. We must take pride in our multi-culturalism, and we must take pride in our patriotism.

“On our 150th birthday, the time is now to push, promote, publicize our pride. The time is now to cast aside indifference and cynicism. As neighbors, residents, parents, and friends, the time is now to dream big and pursue our shared vision with resolve.”

The mayor, in his 17-page speech,  spelled out a few of the things the community should be pursuing:

Pollard said Vancouver would be foolish not to tap into the $5 billion light-rail system across the Columbia River.

“Let me say it again,” the mayor stated, “light rail will come to Vancouver.”

The Columbia River Crossing initiative is planning for the future of the community for 50 years and beyond, Pollard said, adding, “This project should not happen without integrating light rail that comes into downtown Vancouver. If the final alternative doesn't have a light-rail component, I will not support it.”

Mayor Pollard said that tolls will help pay for the new bridge. In addition, Pollard said the city is supporting, with the local legislative delegation a measure that would allow the city to levy $20 annual fees on vehicles to help pay for local transportation improvements.

The mayor also reiterated last year’s state of the city theme that America’s Vancouver is open for business. The governor is considering making Clark County one of the state’s ‘innovation zones,’ Pollard said. The zone would receive funding to develop research labs and to advance cooperation between universities and businesses.

“This would fit with the proposed Center for Semiconductor Research and Innovation at Washington State University Vancouver. If this center gets funded this legislative session, by 2009 high-tech companies will have a world-class facility to conduct experiments and develop new products.

The mayor was inclusive:

“Partnerships, especially those of the past 10 to 20 years, are a part of the uniqueness of our community. None of our success or our progress would have become a reality without the strong support, including financial, enthusiasm and hard work of WSU Vancouver, the Port of Vancouver, Clark Public Utilities, the state, the county, Clark College, the Vancouver and Evergreen School Districts, the housing authority, the National Park Service, Southwest Washington Medical Center, now joined by Legacy [Salmon Creek Hospital], Identity Clark County, neighborhoods and businesses, just to name a few.”

First summit on sustainable
developments is tomorrow

MacKay & Sposito, Inc. along with several local partners including Clark Public Utilities, NW Natural, Energy Star and Earth Advantage, are hosting the first of two educational seminars on sustainable projects, the first at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

Called Sustainable From the Ground Up, the "summit" meeting is being held to encourage developers to create economical, sustainable and healthy projects.

Presenters include the following: Stuart Simpson, State of Washington, Green Building Advisor; Jim Muir, Clark County, Building Department; Bryan Cole and Jennifer McClure, MacKay & Sposito; Duane Woik , Earth Advantage; Lee Kuhl, Energy Star; DuWayne Dunham, Clark Public Utilities; Phil Damiano, NW Natural; Bill Maris Jr. transform, LLC; and Eryn Kelleher, ACE Communities.

The cost of the event is $25.00 per person and all proceeds will go to ACE Communities, a non-profit corporation that specializes in affordable housing in Clark County.

For further information, and to register for the event, call Stephanie Hadley (971) 224-2226. Details are also

available on the M&S website at www.mackaysposito.com.

Clark Public Utilities and
IBEW come to agreement

In contrast to their last labor agreement, Clark Public Utilities and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 125, came to an agreement before the existing pact runs out at the end of February.

A new three-year contract, effective Jan. 15, calls for a 4.5 percent hourly increase for the first year, and 3 percent raises for each of the two subsequent years. The utility approved the pact this morning. The IBEW, representing about 100 of the utility’s 335 employees ratified the agreement last week.

“This contract will keep the wages paid to these employees competitive with wages paid by other regional utilities, utility commission president Nancy Barnes, said. She added, “We’ve had an excellent working relationship for the past couple of years, and this agreement provides a reasonable wage increase to those employees.

Ribbon at Firstenburg Tower
to be cut at 5 p.m. Wednesday

An official ribbon cutting ceremony, sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, for the new 8-story Firstenburg Tower at Southwest Washington Medical Center is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Tours for business people are being conducted from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Valet parking is available, and additional parking can be found in the 92nd Avenue garage and the north parking lot on 87th Avenue.

Calendar

Clark County commissioners meet in regular session at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24. n Clark County commissioners meet in an informal session at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, in conference room B in the Public Service Center.

Tuesday, Jan. 23, headlines

County would be foolish not to join MAX, mayor says in state of the city address--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Downtown alcohol limits proposed; buzz not all good--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

City eyes downtown alcohol sale limits--Oregonian, Allan Brettman

World War II veteran who beat homelessness dies--Columbian, Dean Baker

Transportation-speak plagues bridge planners--Columbian, Don Hamilton

Old Alcoa aluminum smelter site up for sale--Columbian, Julia Anderson

Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith will co-sponsor resolution opposing President Bush's plan to send 21,500 more U.S. Troops to Iraq--KATU, AP, Brad Cain and Julia Silverman

Five Americans die when private security company helicopter crashes in central Baghdad--USA TODAY, AP

Three-year-old throws tantrum, airline ousts family from the plane--USA TODAY, AP

New commander in Iraq calls situation 'dire;' says more troops would help American and Iraqi forces provide more security in Baghdad--New York Times, John Holusha