[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6095877,"mediaKeyId","2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0","parentId",2836067,"title","Votes at a glance: Cowlitz County consent agenda, contracts and key motions approved","audioSeconds",122,"startMs",708000,"endMs",830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0&start=708&end=830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0/thumbnail_708000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095877/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Cowlitz-County-consent-agenda-contracts-and-key-motions-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095877-2263f2fa7dc9e5e3cff60acbdca7e9be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150907&Signature=F4RR4v-pjoHA~SKyxq6bJIYXjs1DtpdccJ31Jw1ntqJas~1ES-izLsr5ggF8Bnf0BFsqK9PRRdbzkGBPkFTavdr4wdmTu40jrWohbeB-0mBjCsdpaYXkq9xopNCl2p5MudgfvNPrfQDPUahaaiOiE06Zo8BH3yeXuxYboelRzFzAqmssulhKJTLtUA5OtXT33Ycux10U9j7WmgWrWZBgeeEEFbtDkvNIV2EwW4HfkoWMqhoePG68uoFJjUP5DXBAya4wLZFGHHQ8A2iQTcRRUjsxTFxiKPBgQInSKZVeJ~0x--~vElLSDsVYC92VYlE6DTNC~syTiHCchD4s0wtt0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-04-01T18:20:54Z","article","Key votes recorded at the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners meeting:

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which included an operations/maintenance agreement with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for Kerr Road public access (Silver Lake boat launch), an amendment to a professional services agreement with Energy Nearing Solutions LLC to increase the contract by $100,000 (to a total of $450,000) for landfill gas engineering and third-party verification required by the Climate Commitment Act, an extension of a personal services contract with CFM Strategic Communication (federal lobbying/advocacy, no change in cost), board correspondence and executed agreements, and vouchers totaling $2,633,425.49. The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved and the transcript records affirmative votes.

- Short plat ordinance and Road and Street Design supplement: The Board approved ordinance amendments to shift limited approval of private roads for one- to four-lot short plats to Building and Planning, and approved a Public Works supplement adding a Type D private road and updating the Type C definition. Both motions passed on recorded affirmative votes.

- Proclamations: The Board approved proclamations recognizing Crime Victims Rights Week (April 6'12, 2025) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April 2025) and signed the proclamations for delivery to the Emergency Support Shelter.

Details on contested items and public comment: The landfill gas engineering amendment and Climate Commitment Act verification were discussed during the consent review, with one commenter saying the $100,000 additional amount is for third-party verification and compliance and that in-house staff perform other monitoring tasks. Public comment on the short plat amendment included residents and BPAC members who described local road-cost examples and supported the staff's incremental approach.

Formal outcomes: All motions presented on the record during the meeting were recorded as approved and commissioners directed staff to implement the changes and deliver signed proclamations as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuesday Public Meeting - 04.01.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board approved the consent agenda including contracts and vouchers, and approved motions to adopt short plat ordinance amendments and Road and Street Design supplement updates; a professional services amendment for landfill gas verification and several interagency agreements were included in consent.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6095881,"Cowlitz County shifts approval of private roads for 1'4-lot short plats to Building and Planning; road standards supplement updated",849,1261000,2110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0&start=1261&end=2110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0/thumbnail_1261000.jpg","/articles/6095881/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-shifts-approval-of-private-roads-for-14-lot-short-plats-to-Building-and-Planning-road-standards-supplement-updated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095881-3d6f7a0286382d2791ed6b0b151c64cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150907&Signature=BINiDBzmme3nka2lNREtg6KOhn7EPvQg~oaq46GiQdx6NAWkHsUcNxM4xaKdsCuqk0OWkT5eJPU9v4b4Msf7DVc~pcJD6hjWdFBUJQOlVAoN7ah4f34F2SFbXeBzKlDAroVlWSyWkaEs~TTZyVOfdaMtmyFvp0Lapcf7sPd6s2ir6qF~996RlRzEMueArhBOUW89SDUsYNMl-MdsAEdhVTq2IHmWPITeu2LJecslWs8CgJXDW58-~4dWpjOF5SI87v~42uhyv4l-CsF0Rh4x~7IVLeAKMkNuLfYaSyulJ7zyzZ~Pi4OdlHbZ95ommuVYovXKtbT9GAcNe9WFB2--dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt amendments to the county short subdivision (short plat) ordinance that allow the director of Building and Planning to approve private roads and driveways serving short plats of one to four lots, provided the private road meets the fire-code standard for emergency-vehicle access.

Why it matters: The change is intended to reduce cost and complexity for small-family subdivisions that previously faced a public-works requirement to build a higher-spec private road. County staff said the amendment should make small short plats more economically feasible without removing public-safety standards.

Staff presentation and planning commission recommendation: Tracy Jackson, Building and Planning, told the commissioners the amendment was recommended unanimously by the Planning Commission after a public hearing. Adam Trimble, Planning Manager, said the change shifts limited approval authority from the county engineer to Building and Planning for private roads that will function as fire-apparatus access for up to four lots. \"This is intended to introduce some flexibility into the road review and approval process,\" Trimble said, adding it addresses part of the public feedback on private-road costs and process delays.

Scope and exceptions: The amendment does not apply when a new public road is being created or when a private road intersects or crosses a public road; in those cases the county engineer and Public Works remain involved. The ordinance creates a Type D private road standard for short plats of up to four lots, leaving Type C and other classifications for larger or different scenarios.

Public comment and examples: Commenters at the hearing praised the staff work and noted cost savings and time benefits for small developments. One local commenter described bids of roughly $80,000 for paving and contrasted that with the lower-spec gravel, fire-access option now allowed for qualifying short plats; another BPAC member, Nick Massey, said he had opposed the change initially but supported it after staff assurances that further work on private-road rules will continue.

Related technical update: Susan, the county engineer, presented a motion item to amend the Road and Street Design supplement to add the Type D private road and update the Type C definition; the commission approved that amendment on the same vote.

Board action: The Board moved and voted to approve the short plat ordinance amendments and the corresponding Public Works supplement; the record shows affirmative votes from commissioners and the ordinance is adopted.

Next steps: Staff indicated the amendment is part of a broader review; Building and Planning and Public Works will continue stakeholder work to address remaining private-road concerns and potential code changes.","After a public hearing and public comment, the county adopted amendments to the short subdivision (short plat) ordinance to allow Building and Planning to approve private \"fire-apparatus\" roads for small (one- to four-lot) short plats, and the Public Works Road and Street Design supplement was amended to add a Type D private road definition.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6095885,"Cowlitz County proclaims Crime Victims Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month; shelter presents services and local data",344,214000,558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0&start=214&end=558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2836067-47893be46ff52ebd70a5fdee87bf2bc0/thumbnail_214000.jpg","/articles/6095885/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-proclaims-Crime-Victims-Rights-Week-and-Sexual-Assault-Awareness-Month-shelter-presents-services-and-local-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095885-804a190096f5c8e5ed655f7060876d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150907&Signature=dcY0CdXP5VQzsCi7xtIaUG3a9GGZjwT2t1aAWlq5M7ndq0TPBVU5Pb5WBWzcLOoOhdmoyoLTQNJoF4CHaEVu283ZDKOg1KjF3JEd4O2PD4IxF6WxvqFND~mPGx~KFeMLl0gP0v37RCT5j5nQrRb4ERVO0wB9uuiacQkGsBx0~rBJW6iYMKDAfujOYMKWZtDJtCfvHN0LUsvyaygnmWCL0Ta4OVA38PzZLxyRnlStIawKgw2Dpqm4oSiCRYV8hvvDMakRomy4nUQRc2TplxlCgcxpKwo9Jefhhm6E4XK6bzkAByVKiV6gWrkZg~AhIRkwhjIGSSJIC~wAuR7IdM1RPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on a motion approved proclamations recognizing Crime Victims Rights Week (April 6–12, 2025) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April 2025).

At the meeting an advocate from the Emergency Support Shelter described the organization's range of services and recent caseload. \"The Emergency Support Shelter was established in 1978 as Cowlitz County's first domestic violence assistance program,\" Tasha, a crime victims advocate with the Emergency Support Shelter, told commissioners. She said the shelter provides \"emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children, free and confidential domestic violence advocacy, legal advocacy, and support for victims of crime and sexual assault.\"

Why it matters: The proclamations formally acknowledge county attention to victims' services and connect county government with local nonprofits that provide emergency shelter, hospital-based advocacy and court accompaniment.

Tasha gave program specifics that commissioners entered into the public record: the shelter's Crime Victim Advocacy Program (CVAP) served 250 individuals in Cowlitz County last year, and the shelter's HOPE Project (sexual-assault advocacy tied to emergency-room response) served more than 320 individuals. She said HOPE ensures a trained advocate can be available at a local emergency department within 20 minutes when someone reports a sexual assault. Tasha also cited statewide figures from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs about rates of violent crime and violations of no-contact orders during a single day-span, noting the local service demand.

Board action and next steps: Commissioners signed the proclamations and said staff would deliver the signed documents to the Emergency Support Shelter.

The meeting packet includes the proclamation texts declaring the week of April 6'12, 2025 as Crime Victims Rights Week in Cowlitz County and proclaiming April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Cowlitz County.","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on a unanimous vote approved proclamations recognizing Crime Victims Rights Week (April 6–12, 2025) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April 2025). A representative of the Emergency Support Shelter described local services and recent client counts.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Cowlitz County consent agenda, contracts and key motions approved

Cowlitz County shifts approval of private roads for 1'4-lot short plats to Building and Planning; road standards supplement updated

Cowlitz County proclaims Crime Victims Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month; shelter presents services and local data