[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6217280,"mediaKeyId","3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158","parentId",3646723,"title","Woodland council narrows July 4 park access, approves ordinance setting 5 p.m. closure for city parks on July 4","audioSeconds",218,"startMs",3384000,"endMs",3602000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158&start=3384&end=3602","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158/thumbnail_3384000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6217280/Woodland/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Woodland-council-narrows-July-4-park-access-approves-ordinance-setting-5-pm-closure-for-city-parks-on-July-4","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217280-b745cf12ebbab54c438769c1acda0529/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201699&Signature=fBscOc~b8T1uD9XEkpSaEBo9lVyhl3MtcibCSKi5~PGjyzh8FQgwUViw9yAuyXpFlpXVA0LJZe7DakRWBTh7WrpE7GmrODLyPqslAK~3VqFNCl6W~xAsJO9l8Vr4EeqAbbhyNnhOc1LT9YZAFPZ3NQAtSaVMDn4ZjKDHRVBNJs0viV0zuBaQnywlxntFRP6CRoFHb0R9Z3aAz~lqCNLhjE~ol6mEbg5Ukj828ESbtzBdPH6qKVWp9AgLxz9i0MEUUvrcRdWEboNnQ-j2r8Q-ifFs69VPmJ3YHC7f-ENicVID6f0ulfa0bJelMZQVXWlHXFk-ZTZpleI-VNTf9AgQdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Woodland, Washington","date","2025-06-03T15:40:36Z","article","The Woodland City Council approved a first-reading ordinance June 2 that sets a uniform 5 p.m. closure time for all city parks on July 4, a move supporters say will reduce fireworks-related damage and the large, unsanctioned gatherings that overwhelmed Horseshoe Lake Park last year.

Mayor and staff described violent trashing, alcohol and fireworks at last year’s July 4 event at Horseshoe Lake Park, including a U-Haul loaded with fireworks and multiple incidents that required police intervention. Police Chief Gibbs said the crowd at peak night could exceed 500 people and recounted times when two officers on duty were “outnumbered” and unable to secure the park or respond to other city calls. “If we could actually have a couple of officers, I would obviously, unfortunately, be on overtime, but it would up our numbers. We can block off Park Road,” Gibbs said.

Council members supporting the ordinance cited safety, costly cleanup and past fires as reasons to set a fixed closure time and to allow public-works staff to post notices and place reader boards in advance. “I think it’s a good idea,” Council member Rounds said, noting the cleanup burden and safety risk. Council member Houston voted no and said 5 p.m. is too early because people swim all day and that closing every park at that time could inconvenience residents.

The ordinance’s first reading passed on a voice vote with one recorded no. The measure was presented as a proactive enforcement tool: staff and police said they will post closure notices a week in advance, use reader boards and assign officers to enforce the closure. The council did not adopt a different enforcement mechanism at the meeting; implementation details such as overtime budgeting and exact staffing were discussed but left to staff to arrange.

The change applies only to July 4 park hours and is intended to reduce the city’s cleanup costs and safety exposures on that high-use holiday. Council members said they will monitor outcomes and revisit the policy if needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting - 02 Jun 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a first-reading ordinance setting early park closure at 5 p.m. on July 4 to curb fireworks-related fires, trash and large gatherings at Horseshoe Lake Park; the measure passed with one councilmember voting no.","taxTitle","Woodland, Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",72063,"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},6217285,"Woodland council adopts 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program with adjustments to local projects",251,556000,807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158&start=556&end=807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158/thumbnail_556000.jpg","/articles/6217285/Woodland/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Woodland-council-adopts-20262031-Transportation-Improvement-Program-with-adjustments-to-local-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217285-ebe27986b57e7d49a62b80eb29bf660e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201699&Signature=d~LnHB007Qdj6SISyVUEEY4GJBbSxFuDFTvBh5wmxHiSnkLS~8ydBTOrulJQEkeXKR4Qix0WPomNLYcvOV9Ywgytr9szFYxbQ0ZgXiv21ajB7CwfgbqhALjMtm3LQ~9BBg1-0r0ONz~bWj0VlmJ6tgAyKQKKEDM1FADWrAvfJ1BsGLoMouqnwa-5pt5CZjoFA0a8GSLNmPsqmSbJL6u8ofEQHWdYzlbpTqjwiaqJ8RnYFlORNt9D1JnD61j~djBnXlYB7GOVloOhMQ5zDfgfLP8kdhg0KPJ1EvBJwjHppThgzN007SILxuPhatS0Nb-BlyTjz6NmKtpCMV0e-0vlPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodland City Council adopted Resolution 803 on June 2 to update the city's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2026 through 2031, altering priorities and project listings that the city uses when seeking transportation grants.

City staff described the TIP as the annual list of transportation projects the city uses to pursue grant funding and to indicate which infrastructure is developer-driven. Riley Brunel outlined the changes: removal of the Park Road improvement from the TIP (because the city will address it through a separate engineering and grant process), addition of a connection across the Davidson railroad tracks (Gord to Caples) as an identified future intersection improvement, removal of developer-driven connections—Statesman's Lewis River Road, Spruce Salmon Loop and Insoil Gun Club Loop—until they are dedicated, and adjustments to pavement overlays to reflect work completed in 2025.

Brunel said the Port of Woodland’s initiative to eliminate at-grade rail crossings could make previously planned connections infeasible, prompting removal of a prior Pekin-Wayland industrial connector. The TIP also added resurfacing and sewer-line needs on North Gorg (Atlantic and Lewis River Road) and retained a planned West Wayland–Caples connection for future development.

Council emphasized that projects listed on the TIP are important for scoring grant applications to agencies such as the Transportation Improvement Board and for identifying which infrastructure developers will be expected to construct. The council approved the resolution by voice vote during the meeting; staff noted that projects must be on the TIP to be competitive for many grant programs.

Pacific Avenue was separately identified earlier this year on the list for TIB dollars; the TIP work guides the city's grant strategy for the coming years.","Council adopted Resolution 803 updating the city’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2026–2031, adding and removing several local projects and noting the TIP guides grant applications to the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).",{"_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},6217290,"Woodland council approves engineering design funding to pursue grants for Horseshoe Lake Park upgrades",282,2630000,2912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158&start=2630&end=2912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158/thumbnail_2630000.jpg","/articles/6217290/Woodland/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Woodland-council-approves-engineering-design-funding-to-pursue-grants-for-Horseshoe-Lake-Park-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217290-09378cb16974176bd297919de811f534/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201699&Signature=QswEnnHtHJOXrfgIrrQ29G-B-6l0ev6Qw0REGzYsv9XhgwCbZGp2hMV-KJfTVr5Pb24h3KTJSvgagw8ZzHr2CNyqrXqqMTmUEE~7Et4vXvwGD39XlxVTcd6iwsa6RSPmvLDcm1tIjrW6YHgYOzSUapcWXcgerqxi1SFOCCSFerRW2mvcfNMtcx7KAGX-wZV-6m41tMVERSW81GJhV-houAdk3q-YBFM1zNpDQb1TE-OKkENAJgS3ABlriGjJzxsnSg1ABMUWxLkchJiq2DzX0dFcBHVauyiUEx~FANYXzDD8vBSFGbcfpVqhfU5jI9NaR2mN-WjhjMVWIb0-a4qVbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woodland City Council voted June 2 to contract with HHPR for engineering design work aimed at improving Park Road and amenities at Horseshoe Lake Park, a step designed to make the city eligible for state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grants.

City staff and the mayor told council that Park Road currently functions as an ingress/egress drive to the park rather than a formal road and that engineering is needed to design parking, formalized vehicle circulation, ADA-compliant restrooms and vendor utility hookups. “This would give us the engineering to then go after those RCO opportunities,” Riley Brunel said during the public hearing on Resolution 803 and during the related action item; the city identified restroom and vendor infrastructure as priorities to reduce annual porta-potty costs and create revenue from vendor activity.

City staff estimated the RCO program caps awards at $1 million per application and described three possible grant applications that together could provide up to $3 million for parking, a permanent restroom and an expanded park trail. The design contract covers work to about 30% design so the city can submit competitive grant applications when the RCO window opens.

Council members framed the investments as safety, accessibility and economic improvements. Public works and the police chief emphasized safety concerns for children crossing the current informal drive and said permanent restrooms and ADA improvements would score better in grant rounds. The mayor added that vendor stalls served by utilities could provide ongoing revenue by collecting a percentage of vendor sales.

The council approved the HHPR contract by voice vote and directed staff to proceed with the engineering scope; the item passed on a majority voice vote with no recorded opposition. The engineering work will inform future grant applications and construction funding decisions.","Council authorized HHPR to prepare 30% engineering design for Park Road and related Horseshoe Lake Park improvements to position multiple grant applications to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO).",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6217294,"Woodland mayor cites pay gap, vows proposal to raise police compensation to retain officers",642,1425000,2067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158&start=1425&end=2067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3646723-9b9da3628b077d1dc8a88b5fee996158/thumbnail_1425000.jpg","/articles/6217294/Woodland/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Woodland-mayor-cites-pay-gap-vows-proposal-to-raise-police-compensation-to-retain-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6217294-93fa60769c7edb11962b849f31a55283/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201699&Signature=J5X98ZozUMNFLZEYr1-F4Z2EdmISd7iyn3AUgbrugcWDMR-BdyxqEKr4bloocwXyzt2eEiGOyYH1URyY7ZhY7mzFt-Ns5M76LLO1NIJVTKpN8iWUtBCFaEUVlKCq~Ks2AG2FYDkM3zEnjec2zBjipcCb9p~GoiVQEEY9vBDipo1zViz6Ytk7Kc3eRXKJCSfVHaEnCiI~e7ge7-8c--FkAzIFGCEIjogXYbjUNMfTj8wib-HjOnzbEfpBUms86oWl6v2su8cenLJ5YfrUPpeWmOes8QhUr7ScYe8pBaRa4zH4~4oSmUeCW86uSQw93LNY0eTgIQw5LH-hA5dwk~7sog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The mayor and Police Chief Gibbs told the Woodland City Council on June 2 that pay differences with neighboring departments are contributing to turnover and that the mayor will propose higher compensation for officers.

The mayor said the city’s analysis shows Woodland officers earn substantially less over time than peers at Washington State Patrol, Clark County and nearby departments and that the city’s contract structure and hours worked affect annual pay. “I will be coming to council with a proposal,” the mayor said, describing the package as aimed at retention, not making Woodland the highest-paid force in the county.

Police Chief Gibbs said recruitment bonuses and lateral offers from other agencies are large and hard to match: “Kelso PD is offering $20,000 plus bonus for laterals. Clark County is actually $25,000,” he told council. Gibbs noted Woodland has recently filled vacancies and that one newly sworn officer already attended the academy; he also warned that continual churn is “very taxing.”

Council members and other speakers backed the idea of increasing funds for retention. Council member Douglas said he would “certainly support putting another hundred K or so in the end of that program.” Council member Rounds and others framed the change as an investment in retaining trained officers rather than repeating recruitment costs.

No formal pay change was approved at the meeting. The mayor explicitly said he had not brought a formal proposal and asked for preliminary feedback; Council did not vote on compensation. The mayor and Chief Gibbs said they have reviewed the police budget and personnel steps and expect to present a specific compensation proposal to council in a future meeting.

Council and staff also discussed other retention measures: training and academy costs the city pays for new hires, the need to maintain morale and culture, and the role of step and longevity pay. Chief Gibbs said Woodland has hired five people since October, including lateral hires, but warned that long-term retention will require more competitive pay and benefits.

The mayor and chief characterized the discussion as direction to prepare a formal proposal, not a final decision. Council members signaled support for funding increases but did not set a dollar amount or timeline at the June 2 meeting.","City leaders discussed a widening pay gap between Woodland officers and neighboring agencies during the June 2 City Council meeting; the mayor said he will return with a proposal to increase compensation to help retain police staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Woodland council narrows July 4 park access, approves ordinance setting 5 p.m. closure for city parks on July 4

Woodland council adopts 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program with adjustments to local projects

Woodland council approves engineering design funding to pursue grants for Horseshoe Lake Park upgrades

Woodland mayor cites pay gap, vows proposal to raise police compensation to retain officers