[{"_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",6198704,"mediaKeyId","3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792","parentId",3842734,"title","Washougal staff update council on Schmidt Family Park, town‑center revitalization and veterans memorial","audioSeconds",675,"startMs",2552000,"endMs",3227000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792&start=2552&end=3227","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792/thumbnail_2552000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198704/Washougal/Clark-County/Washington/Washougal-staff-update-council-on-Schmidt-Family-Park-towncenter-revitalization-and-veterans-memorial","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198704-e1938dea08cdb60fd1cb3405c5f3c145/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452977&Signature=BCLCg39AJfwhR3vIlmEAunW6jGcrtBGobidOnHS~KoFdCz8K7pjfMt8ebV7iFOAQWbXCAsb1arosXSBR~ml7S6GiF2eqrJO-LumSaoCorbeqKnntCW-ilauhsje9LK5gHZz~sLG3WXmzWUSpcIEztzxpG3~XCB7ZShBBIUXwfFBOb4coqUeesG~E94BWBUc0kMpA7OJNZXJutJ0rKEwPJq1XeKjID4Y0SUonfk5NzWBXZvJeQi6Td174cVs--qcwZo79DGLGk~2bgC-~lqqlnmwhEgedfBMzBV8Co5C8ZI8G8eifUq4hmWntPRtt9iCuMH~my5ulzwUnVtoaElfV0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washougal City, WA","date","2025-06-07T00:00:00Z","article","City staff briefed the Washougal City Council on parks and cemetery projects, including the town‑center revitalization (splash pad and playground), Schmidt Family Park planning and a veterans memorial fundraising push.

Town center and Schmidt Family Park

Staff said the town‑center revitalization is under construction and on track for summer completion of key public amenities, including a splash pad. The project includes a redesigned playground and an expanded senior‑center outdoor kitchen, staff said. Staff showed a project fly‑through and said the plaza and splash pad are expected to be ready “in time for sunny days next summer.”

At Schmidt Family Park staff described planning work for a family park and a veterans memorial and reminded councilors that parts of Schmidt Family Park sit in a regulated flood plain. Staff said flood‑plain placement does not strictly prohibit construction but makes some uses more complex and costly; staff said water‑oriented uses (kayak launches, paths at water level) are typically more straightforward than a permanent dog park because non‑water‑oriented uses in the flood plain require additional engineering and may be restricted under some grant covenants.

Veterans memorial and parks staffing

Staff said two memorial projects — the family park design and veterans memorial — are in planning and fundraising phases; fundraising materials have been developed and staff are coordinating community engagement. Staff also said the city recently added community services staff and is coordinating parks and public‑works management to carry forward park projects and maintenance.

Dog park, flood plain and use constraints

Council members asked whether a dog park could be located in the lower flood‑plain portion of Schmidt Family Park. Staff replied that such a use would be a conditional use with more complex permitting and with potential challenges tied to grant covenants (Legacy Lands, Conservation Futures, RCO grants) and shoreline master‑plan provisions. Staff said a dog park is not prohibited but would require additional approvals and engineering to address flood‑risk and funding covenants.

Community arts, mural and volunteers

Staff said a mural for a parking‑lot barn and a potential artists’ rendering by Jeremy Nichols are under consideration; staff said they are also exploring a neighborhood adopt‑a‑park program, enhanced volunteer recognition and a community market. Several councilors praised staff for increased outreach and the Citizens Academy volunteers program.

Discussion vs. action

The briefing was informational. Councilors asked staff to follow up with written details about flood‑plain limits, grant covenants and potential locations for various park amenities. No formal council votes occurred.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Planning Session of June 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff briefed the Washougal City Council on parks projects including the town‑center revitalization and Schmidt Family Park and described constraints where parts of the park lie in a regulated flood plain.","taxTitle","Washougal, Clark County, Washington","taxId",54092,"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},6198707,"Council discusses multifamily tax‑exemption program; staff outline tradeoffs and affordability options",995,6493000,7488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792&start=6493&end=7488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792/thumbnail_6493000.jpg","/articles/6198707/Washougal/Clark-County/Washington/Council-discusses-multifamily-taxexemption-program-staff-outline-tradeoffs-and-affordability-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198707-315dee8ee1f28a8e653efccf8c79eec0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452977&Signature=E3lAyCQdLHQ9g464kQs~ApSawE5n7BPY1InNf5JFeO5TN-Sl~A4SoNXwuywTSL7QaXNqNt4iVRYXJfUhxIDJ7bmQrzobwHVdUtTxjzT7hFfqB-oyBazDg6eMzCCE0RBzwsLvPfeUMDoehybolE8XCYs7r-cG6-oc8Qrk6M6QCembqRSj1zY9uqoZ~4rEecDkzgWGytiurHFE9paNSJ-Q64LMecimnH276jQWwoE7UcwvGXq3rr6jlzH1hrLAu0X1tSC9SYBCCs3cRIwONU4lzPNSWnU258I2gvFS3HrhdqU95EliopON4Gxv4HNT3s5o9pNYnzfmQPZG1Zf-bQXeDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washougal City staff spent more than an hour reviewing the city’s multifamily tax‑exemption (MFTE) program and the tradeoffs involved in letting the existing 8‑year program expire or extending and modifying it.

What the program is and options under state law

Staff explained the key options in state law: an 8‑year exemption (no state affordability requirement, commonly used to incentivize market‑rate multifamily); a 12‑year exemption (requires at least 20% of units at low‑to‑moderate income levels); and a 20‑year model (requires at least 25% of units to be sold to a qualified nonprofit or local government partner for long‑term affordable homeownership). Staff said the 8‑year option is the city’s current program and that the city originally added a mixed‑use/first‑floor‑commercial requirement when the code was adopted.

Tax‑shift and local fiscal effects

City financial staff presented a worked example to show how MFTE changes local property tax bills. Using a hypothetical or recent example, staff showed the exempted residential improvement portion shifts part of the tax levy to other taxpayers and gave a concrete figure: in one calculation, an example $600,000 house’s city portion of property tax would increase by about $15 per year while the exemption is in place (staff noted the shift declines over time as other new value comes onto the tax rolls and expires when the exemption ends).

Benefits and tradeoffs

Staff outlined the city’s goals: MFTE can catalyze mixed‑use redevelopment, produce rooftops that increase sales tax, utility tax and impact‑fee revenue, and help meet Growth Management Act housing obligations. The tradeoff is a short‑term reduction in property tax revenue from the exempted residential portion and a redistribution of that levy to other property owners.

Council direction and next steps

Staff told the council the city’s local MFTE program currently expires June 30, 2026, and the state program sunsets in 2032 unless extended at the state level. Staff recommended retaining the 8‑year tool but returning with options to modify it—examples included adding a local affordability requirement to the 8‑year program, strengthening the mixed‑use requirement or considering the 12‑year option with affordable units. Staff also noted that specific projects seeking MFTE would still come before the council for developer agreements and project‑level review.

Discussion vs. decision

The council’s conversation covered fairness (who bears the tax shift), the role of developer agreements to secure public benefits, and whether the community should be asked directly about this kind of public investment. No ordinance vote occurred; staff said they would return with more detailed options and outreach plans.","Washougal City staff spent more than an hour reviewing the city’s multifamily tax‑exemption program and the tradeoffs involved in extending, ending or modifying the program.",{"_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},6198711,"Washougal council hears midterm strategic‑plan update; staff to seek council input on community funding options",3587,183000,3770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792&start=183&end=3770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792/thumbnail_183000.jpg","/articles/6198711/Washougal/Clark-County/Washington/Washougal-council-hears-midterm-strategicplan-update-staff-to-seek-council-input-on-community-funding-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198711-4c63ed41fdc8477449a4b553d417a6c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452977&Signature=bVsAeAPAS6R0d6xtZ6ur2xLYVVLbdORCDhfx0t-aiy6FEDb9BpAttXXyvDmheHsmdtj~WmraDXjnYbTVvIVyjfft~Hlv2S6EuWqZhNA4e2x-W6yqBg88XsDp4p67e0Uv-coVTzE8WOQdoD7rWbttX6Iu-dtbqGcPEzgjn0heRuTjR8rtYsX2J00Yv98kyTvkw5N4U6BFtOFi7oH1rRDONJT3ZsxWwnu9eZ~B3odxseTy-GRV5DUmE5kzRXT8KCh4bsfHoScdSBPXtPRTbYUWSXYXN1s2pY6zbBu0dKixqeewhDDlPuYhXCFh0FtFGeSHtWACPHN~lGDn-q2ynhSSmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Washougal City Council on Wednesday that the municipality is roughly halfway through its 2023–2028 strategic plan and presented an accompanying community funding discussion to help pay for operations and capital priorities in the plan.

Staff framed the session as an opportunity to identify emerging issues and to collect council preference for potential revenue options, not as a request to adopt any tax or fee. “Our thinking is we don't need this big course correction...but we want to make sure we’re not missing, from your perspective, some emerging issues,” a staff presenter said.

Why it matters: the strategic plan sets the city’s priorities for operating programs, capital investments and outreach. Council guidance on funding approaches will shape budget proposals and staff outreach ahead of the next biennial budget cycle.

What staff reported

Staff summarized progress on the plan’s five priorities: economic development and community prosperity; financial health and core services; a vibrant town center; smart growth; and redefined community identity. Highlights included a new economic development manager position and a pilot “Gateway to Success” program for small businesses that the city launched in May. Staff also said a performance dashboard is in development to show progress publicly.

Staff outlined a menu of potential funding approaches to support the plan, including grant seeking, enhanced grant‑writing capacity, transportation and infrastructure grant programs, and district‑based funding such as a metropolitan parks district. Staff said some funding sources will require voter approval and that staff will return with more detailed proposals after additional outreach.

Community‑level examples and metrics

Staff presented performance measures: median incomes and living‑wage job counts have risen in recent years, staff said, and survey responses show improved perceptions of parks and community appearance compared with prior surveys. Staff said some metrics require longer observation windows and that staff are building a public dashboard to track progress.

Next steps and outreach

Staff said they will continue community engagement and suggested small‑group exercises during the meeting for councilors to brainstorm emergent items the plan may have missed. Staff emphasized that any revenue proposals would be discussed publicly and likely require more detailed outreach, possibly an open house or targeted online materials.

Discussion vs. action

Council discussion focused on priorities to elevate in the final plan and on potential communication strategies with residents. No formal funding decisions or ordinance actions were taken at the meeting.","Staff reported Washougal is about halfway through its 2023–2028 strategic plan and presented a community funding planning framework; councilors were asked for feedback rather than asked to take action.",{"_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},6198716,"Washougal staff give council broad update on capital projects; underpass, water and wastewater work move forward",1368,553000,1921000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792&start=553&end=1921","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3842734-7edc474b238fc4530b72025eb987f792/thumbnail_553000.jpg","/articles/6198716/Washougal/Clark-County/Washington/Washougal-staff-give-council-broad-update-on-capital-projects-underpass-water-and-wastewater-work-move-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198716-02cd076be23e5f772368c3c7c1960826/orig.mp4?Expires=1770452977&Signature=aXlIhnbMcfmTqDDgL~tm6NlW8Sio6LmAOQ1KjJR-VYL85TPjg-RdbaoXPekeyguuBlI8cIwm5w2sTGgx4uUbUwrLqFPX76D94xP2DhkOAQFywRHoqzCdd3fZqjcadZP1IMRAyrBIgotN8pxFlkr5Kke2Aczyig0wbOqmzURjY1786CmzBrjUZCRbPNIax1L8Yz0xbx2bYSzXj2RYHCsIv5Hi8w-6qinUynwrlcJ2Bo0DycC6fMDQw-oohdjmCRf4qP7gk3URkQ9rpIM5D5Fx-nQ-e9H1nYgj9JLtPtheZSxg4zPTK6VM6wEoFdGZOsnxip-Si79ihd57C-OJPbA4YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Washougal staff on Wednesday briefed the City Council on the status of the city’s capital improvement program, detailing progress across water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation and parks projects and outlining remaining funding gaps and near‑term milestones.

The presentation covered dozens of active projects and an online CIP storybook staff said is available to the public. Staff reported the city has activated an advanced metering infrastructure portal and pushed the first customer communications about leak detection. On wastewater, staff said Station 1 near the waterfront is substantially complete and the city is building biosolids digesters after securing a low‑interest loan from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Why it matters: those projects affect daily services (water, sewer, roads) and long‑range growth capacity. Some large projects also require outside funding and regional coordination; staff flagged both funding opportunities and remaining shortfalls.

Most urgent items and funding outlook

Transportation and major corridor work drew detailed discussion. Staff said the 30 Second Street rail crossing elimination/underpass remains a roughly $40 million project and that the project’s progressive design‑build team is finalizing options for the crossing and intersections. Staff said the project has multiple potential funding sources but still needs more: they reported a current construction funding shortfall of roughly $1.5–$1.6 million for a local corridor project and said the 30 Second underpass is listed on an early federal priority list (Cantwell’s list) and has been discussed with the offices of U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. Staff said a recent outreach to the city’s federal advocacy contact, Jordan, confirmed the request has been inserted in preliminary federal lists but emphasized those listings are preliminary and are not guaranteed funding.

For freight and corridor funding, staff referenced the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) program and said the city has a $7.5 million entry on the 2029–2031 biennial list (not yet appropriated). Staff also listed local sources—traffic impact fees, pavement management funds and grant applications—being combined to close gaps.

Utilities and public works highlights

Staff described multiple water projects: service line upgrades on 30th Street and J Street, fire‑flow enhancements and “looping” (a second feed) to serve the Woodburn Hill and Crown Road neighborhoods, and a Reservoir 7 project for the northeast portion of town. Staff reported the AMI customer portal is live and that the system currently flags overnight flow anomalies to utility billing for follow‑up; staff said customers with accounts can receive automated notifications.

On wastewater, Station 1 (west of Silver Star on A Street) is operating and digesters are under construction; staff said the project used a low‑interest Ecology loan and that biosolids classification and beneficial reuse (Class B biosolids used on farms) remain in place.

Stormwater and trail work

Staff outlined a set of stormwater mitigation projects, including catch basin repairs, a Campen Creek mitigation concept (a collaboration with the Estuary Partnership and Washougal High School) and planned catch basin and dry‑well maintenance cataloged in the CIP.

Pavement and maintenance

Councilors heard that a programmed pavement management allocation of about $1.1 million is already making an impact on the city’s pavement condition index; staff said Washougal ranks highly in the region for pavement condition and that continued investment is a priority.

What’s next

Staff said an August update on the underpass and the progressive design‑build’s recommended concept will provide detailed engineering and cost information. For other projects, staff referenced anticipated permitting steps with Clark County, impending construction phases and ongoing grant applications. Several council members pressed staff for additional detail on schedules and on which projects would require local match or additional local funding decisions.

Discussion vs. action

The briefing was informational; no formal council actions or ordinance changes were taken in the session. Staff asked for council guidance on priorities and approval to continue pursuing identified funding sources.","City staff reviewed dozens of capital improvement projects across utilities, transportation and parks, including progress on water service looping, an upgraded wastewater biosolids handling system and ongoing work on the 30 Second Street underpass; staff described funding prospects, remaining gaps and near-term milestones.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Washougal staff update council on Schmidt Family Park, town‑center revitalization and veterans memorial

Council discusses multifamily tax‑exemption program; staff outline tradeoffs and affordability options

Washougal council hears midterm strategic‑plan update; staff to seek council input on community funding options

Washougal staff give council broad update on capital projects; underpass, water and wastewater work move forward