News

• County Manager

Public hearings scheduled for first week in December

Vancouver, Wash. – County Manager Shawn Henessee is recommending a budget for 2019 to the county council that focuses on protecting critical and mandated functions while preserving adequate reserves.

“This is a fiscally conservative budget recommendation,” said Shawn. “I’m recommending approval of very few of the general fund requests from departments due to a lack of available resources.”


• Community Planning

Vancouver, Wash. – Advances in emerging technologies – such as autonomous vehicles, AV’s, E-commerce, and the sharing economy – are having profound effects not only on how we live and move in cities, but also on urban form and development itself. Learn how these new technologies are changing the way people and goods move, and the implications they will have for the development of communities at the next meeting of the Commission on Aging, 4:30 pm Tuesday, Nov. 13.


• Community Services

Vancouver, Wash. – On Oct. 3, 2018, the Clark County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board, the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, New Seasons Market, Umpqua Bank, SEH America, and the Vancouver Business Journal hosted the 18th annual celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event honors Clark County’s employees with developmental disabilities, their employers, employment agencies, and citizens who provide outstanding service.


• Community Development

Vancouver, Wash. – Animal Protection and Control officers have responded to several recent incidents around Vancouver involving raccoon and cat deaths, where evidence indicates the animals ingested an unidentified poison.

A number of raccoons have been killed and placed in Fircrest Park in central Vancouver. Officers have recovered the bodies of multiple cats and raccoons, apparently poisoned, near downtown and in east Vancouver. Another raccoon was found alive in an illegal leg hold trap that had become lodged in a backyard fence on the east side of the city.


• Elections

Vancouver, Wash. – Beginning at 8:30 am Wednesday, Nov. 7, elections officials will perform a hand count of approximately 600 ballots randomly selected as part of a manual comparison against machine results.

The selected ballots will be counted in the total returns on Election Day. But for this comparison, the United States Representative, 3rd Congressional District race on those ballots also will be counted by hand, to check the accuracy of the ballot tabulation equipment.


• Assessor

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants to fill five vacancies to represent the active farming community on the Clark County Farm Advisory Committee. 

The term is one year from January through December 2019, and the committee shall convene a minimum of once per year. 


• Public Works

Vancouver, Wash. – Coupons offering free disposal for to 5 cubic yards of leaves are good for another two months, through the end of 2018.

Clark County and the city of Vancouver jointly offer the program. Coupons can be downloaded from the county’s website, www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/leaf-disposal, and used at four locations:


• Community Planning

Vancouver, Wash. – On Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, the Clark County Council formally decided to postpone  public hearings regarding freight rail dependent uses until 2019.

Following the passage of Senate Bill 5517 in 2017, the county council has been working to implement freight rail dependent uses in Clark County. The bill amended the Growth Management Act to allow “freight rail dependent uses” and gives Clark and Okanogan counties authority to allow such uses adjacent to short line railroads.


• Community Services

Vancouver, Wash. – The West Van for Youth coalition has posted a survey to gather views on youth substance use from families and businesses in the west-side 98660, 98661 and 98663 zip codes.

The survey results will help the coalition know how to better serve youth and families in west Vancouver.


• Public Health

Vancouver, Wash. – Flu viruses are beginning to circulate in the community, making now the perfect time to get a seasonal flu shot if you haven’t already been immunized this year. Flu shots are the best method to prevent flu, hospitalization and missed days of school or work.

Flu can occur in any month, but transmission primarily occurs October through May. Getting immunized now ensures you’re protected once flu activity intensifies.