A public hearing is scheduled
for 10 a.m. December 16 at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.,
Vancouver, for the Board of Clark County Commissioners to consider a new
plan to guide the future of Highway 99 and neighborhoods nearby.
If approved, the proposed
Highway 99 sub-area plan would become part of the county’s Comprehensive
Growth Management Plan. The planning area is roughly between Northeast
63rd Street, Interstate 5, Northeast 134th Street and the Bonneville
Power Administration transmission right-of-way.
Current project documents are
available for review on the county Web site at
www.clark.wa.gov/hwy99
Please contact Marilee McCall in
Community Planning at
marilee.mccall@clark.wa.gov or (360)
397-2280 ext. 4558 to
request copies on compact disc or to purchase copies on paper.
Written comments may be sent
to: Highway 99 Sub-Area Plan, Clark County Community Planning, P.O. Box
9810, Vancouver, WA 98666. Comments by e-mail may be sent to
commplanning@clark.wa.gov
Comments received by December 12 will be forwarded to the commissioners
in time to prepare for the hearing on December 16.
Clark Public
Utilities approves Electric and Water system budgets for 2009;hearing on
possible rate increase set for December 9
Clark Public Utilities
commissioners yesterday approved Electric and Water system budgets for
2009.
Electric System expenses are
expected to be about $413 million, up from about $363 million in 2008.
About 73 percent of that is the cost of power that the utility generates
or purchases for sale to its customers.
Power supply and conservation
costs are up about $45 million compared to 2008, due to higher prices
for natural gas used to generate electricity at the River Road
Generating Plant, and anticipated higher rates for power and
transmission services purchased from the Bonneville Power
Administration. The budget also includes about $2 million to purchase
power from a wind project and an increase of $1.6 million in
conservation spending, both required by voter-approved Initiative 937.
Higher power costs in 2009
will be partially offset by $26.3 million in refunds from BPA, but that
still leaves a deficit of about $20 million, according to Commissioner
Carol Curtis.
“Electric rates will need to
increase about 6 percent largely to cover higher costs for the purchase
and generation of electricity that is sold to the utility’s customers,”
Curtis said.
Commissioners discussed
several options for the rate increase, and will consider approving an
increase on December 9.
Curtis noted that residential
electric rates have not changed since April 2003, while rates to
commercial and industrial users increased about 2 percent in October
2005.
Can’t beat a buck — affordable
ornaments & holiday sparkle galore at Divine Consign
Linda Glover, of Divine Consign,
reports that the downtown Vancouver shop has “something for every tree”
in its dollar ornament collection.
The shop, which support local
charities through store purchases, is also stocked with a great
inventory of holiday decorations in addition to its usual consignment
offerings, Glover said.
In addition, the store is
again offering 50/50 consignments in an effort to “keep more money in
your wallet during these tough economic times.”
Vancouver Ducks Unlimited
hosting December 4 dinner & auction
From the Vancouver Lake
Lowlands to the La Center Bottoms, Vancouver Ducks Unlimited works hard
to conserve and restore waterfowl & wetlands and provide education
regarding restoration and conservation needs.
The organization will host its
38th Annual Fundraising Dinner & Auction tomorrow, December 4, 2008 at 5
p.m.
West Coast Bank is the title
sponsor.
Organizers said Vancouver
Ducks Unlimited is a 100 % volunteer organization that has successfully
raised over $325,000 in the last five years through grassroots efforts.
More than 87% of funds raised go directly into conservation and
restoration efforts, which is on of the best efficiency ratings of any
conservation organization.
The Vancouver Chapter is rated
as one of the top 100 Ducks Unlimited chapters nationally out of over
3,500.
Tickets to the dinner &
auction are $75. Each entry includes admission, prime rib dinner, and a
one-year annual membership to Ducks Unlimited.
The event will include door
prizes, raffles, silent auction items, a live auction and dinner.
Purchase tickets by calling
Gerrick Weakly at 360-901-6500.
12/3 -- Clark County
Budget hearings schedule: Wednesday,
December 3 — 9 a.m., Board will meet to review the final
2009/2010 budget. Meetings will be held at 9 a.m. on December 4 and 5 if
necessary.
Copies of Clark County’s draft 2009-2010 biennial budget are available
online at
http://www.clark.wa.gov/obis/documents.html or at the Clark
County Office of the Budget, sixth floor, Public Service Center,
Vancouver.
12/2—Columbia River
Crossing Open House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the
Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. 6th St., Vancouver. Information
about plans for light rail on Hayden Island and in Vancouver; a
replacement bridge across the Columbia River; and improvements to
seven interchanges between SR 500 and Columbia Blvd. in Portland. CRC
technical staff will be available to provide information and answer
questions. More information:
www.columbiarivercrossing.org.
12/2—Public Utility District of Clark
County Board of Commissioners special meeting, Tuesday,
December 2, 2008, 9 a.m. The agenda includes: Consideration of
adoption of 2009 budgets for the electric, generating and water
systems; Discussion of water rates.
12/3—Port
of Ridgefield Commissioners Meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008,
6:00-8:00 p.m., PORT OFFICE, 111 W. Division St., Ridgefield. Meeting
items include: Port Commissioner Applicant Interviews.
12/4—Divine Holiday Home Tour benefitting the hungry among us in Clark County through the Walk &
Knock program.
Click here for additional information and online signup via paypal.
12/5--Greater Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce Charitable Giving
Breakfast Friday, December 5 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Red
Lion at the Quay, 100 Columbia Street, Vancouver. The breakfast is
sponsored by Umpqua Bank. The GVCC will donate $10 from each admission
to its nonprofit members. Entry is $30 members/$50 non-members
pre-registered or $35 members/$60 non-members at the door. Register
online at www.vancouverusa.com or call the events line at
360-694-2588.
12/5--Columbia River Crossing Project Sponsors Council
meets 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Portland Building, 1120 SW Fifth Ave.,
Portland, Room C, second floor. More info:
http://www.columbiarivercrossing.com/
12/8—Fort
Vancouver Regional Library District Board of Trustees meets in
regular session on Mon., Dec. 8, 2008 at the Vancouver Community
Library (in Library Hall) 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. An
executive session is scheduled for 5 p.m. The public meeting begins at
6 p.m.
12/16—Rescheduled
Meeting: The Vancouver Library Capital Facility Area Board will
meet on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at
9:30 a.m. (meeting was previously scheduled for December 9) in
the Clark County Commissioners Hearing Room, 6th Floor, Public Service
Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver, Washington, for review and
approval of the final design for the new main library.
Additional
Community Calendar Links
The Southwest Washington Center for the Arts has published its
December newsletter and calendar of events.
Click here for the PDF file.
Greater Vancouver Chamber Community Calendar: Click
here
City of Vancouver Calendar of Community Events: Click here
Today's
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Links to News of local
& national significance
The Daily Insider is
published by Tony Bacon P.O. Box 2597, Vancouver, WA 98668. (360)
696-1077.
Fax 694-9886. E-Mail
tony@dailyinsider.info. Annual subscription, $335.00. Free to all
retired persons.
