The Government Finance Officers Association this week announced that Clark County Auditor’s Office has received GFOA’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR).

Each year, the Clark County Auditor’s Office publishes a voters’ pamphlet which is mailed to all households in Clark County. It includes candidate statements and photographs and local ballot measures with supporting and opposing statements written by citizen committees.

A legislative body placing a measure on the ballot shall appoint a committee to write a supporting statement and another committee to write an opposing statement.

Clark County Council has adopted a Code of Ethical Conduct that applies to elected officials, appointed committee or advisory board members, and county employees. As part of the adoption, the county will establish an Ethics Review Commission and an Ethics Review and Oversight Office.

The new Code of Ethical Conduct is the result of a voter-approved amendment to the county charter. It was approved by voters in November 2021 and stipulated a deadline of July 31, 2022, for the council to adopt the code and establish the commission.

The Clark County Council will hold a public hearing to discuss a resolution that would place a public safety tax on the August 2 primary ballot.

County Manager Kathleen Otto this week announced her selection of Amber Emery to be the Deputy County Manager. Emery will leave her current position as Administrator of District Court to become part of the County Manager’s office effective Wednesday, June 1.

Emery has served as District Court Administrator for the county since January 2018. Prior to that she was the Criminal Court Operations Manager at Multnomah County Circuit Court. She has more than 15 years of experience in operations management and employee relations in both the private and public sectors.

Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee yesterday appointed Battle Ground resident Richard (Dick) Rylander Jr. to fill the open District 5 seat on the Clark County Council.

Rylander will be sworn in by County Clerk Scott Weber at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 3 prior to the 10 a.m. council meeting.

The Clark County Council in March voted to forward the names of three individuals to Governor Jay Inslee to fill the unexpired term on the county council.

Eileen Quiring O’Brien earlier this year vacated the seat when she retired.

Clark County Public Works continues to seek candidates for lifeguard positions at Klineline Pond this summer. Klineline Pond at Salmon Creek Regional Park is a popular destination for families and is the only county park where lifeguards are provided during the summer months. The park also features a chlorinated “splash pad” with features for water play, which is open when lifeguards are present.  

Clark County is responding to the need for a greater variety of housing options. The proposed Housing Options Study and Action Plan identifies housing challenges within the unincorporated Vancouver Urban Growth Area and includes recommended strategies as solutions to support a wider range of housing options affordable to a variety of household incomes. The strategies are recommendations only and will require County Council direction to move forward with implementation. Many of the strategies require a separate legislative approval process to be implemented.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Clark County Auditor’s Office for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 2020.

This is the 35th consecutive year that the Auditor’s Office has received this award.

Kathleen Otto, county manager for Clark County is seeking applicants with an interest in government and educational access television and cable television franchising to fill a position on the volunteer city/county Telecommunications Commission. 

The position is for an unexpired three-year term that begins immediately and ends March 31, 2023. Applicants must be Clark County residents.