News From Your Friends

What’s on our Radar – Week of January 20th, 2026

January 20, 2026 in General

REGISTER for Bridging the Gap: Funding Our Parks and Trails. Our first forum of 2026 will be this Thursday, January 22nd from 5 – 6:30 pm.

Go straight to registering and secure your spot here.

More information here.

📣 Call to Action: Help Protect Clark County Resource Lands from Irresponsible Railroad Expansion! Learn more about SB 5820 and how you can help here: https://friendsofclarkcounty.org/urgent-help-protect-clark-county-resource-lands-from-irresponsible-railroad-expansion/

  • Last week:

    • There was a work session with Washington State Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove regarding the Department of Natural Resource’s Forest Trust Land Management. You can view the recording here: https://youtu.be/7H5vv9W46wY?si=w9Y_0npwoRvYqaIn
    • There was a work session on the Stormwater Code and Manual Update, which you can view here: 1 14 26 WS Stormwater Code and Manual Update
    • Council Time items of note:

      • Councilor Matt Little asked for a work session specific to the City of Ridgefield’s proposal for the creation of an interlocal agreement regarding Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) on agricultural lands. Councilor Glen Yung additionally ordered another Comp Plan work session to do a site-specific Council review on the agricultural lands being proposed for de-designation and destruction by Ridgefield and La Center. You can watch the recording here: 1 14 26 Council Time Recording

      • The Council discussed the Railroad Advisory Board (RRAB)’s recommendation that they oppose SB 5820 introduced by Senator Adrian Cortes (D-18), which is a bill that fixes a serious problem created by SB 5517 in 2017 related to irresponsible railroad expansion. FOCC supports this bill and you can learn more about it here: https://friendsofclarkcounty.org/urgent-help-protect-clark-county-resource-lands-from-irresponsible-railroad-expansion/
        The Council declined to take a position on the bill and reiterated that the RRAB should not advocate to the legislature on behalf of Clark County.

      • The Policy Analyst presented a bill regarding the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest trust land management (HB 2170 with companion Senate Bill 5999) that would allow the DNR to enter into contracts for payment for ecosystem service projects (such as carbon sequestration, air and water filtration, climate stabilization, and disturbance mitigation). It was explained that this would allow the DNR to generate revenue from sources other than controversial timber sales. The Council majority supported the bill.

      • Chair Marshall brought back a discussion about approving a Friends of Camp Bonneville work session, which will come back to this week’s Council Time agenda.
    • There was a joint hearing with the Clark County Council and the Planning Commission on the Preferred Alternative for the Comp Plan Update. Items of note:

        • Thank you to the many of you who spoke up for a sustainable future balancing growth, the preservation of prime agricultural land, and meaningful climate action in Clark County.

        • After much public comment, the Planning Commission deliberated, with commissioners pushing for a work session on the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), seemingly prompted by a last-minute suggestion from Ridgefield the previous week. Some commissioners cited the Agricultural Advisory Commission’s support for TDR, but ignored that the Ag Commission had asked for maintaining existing agricultural land designations (which would include those being proposed for de-designation in this Comp Plan Update) and a 36-month moratorium on re-designation so the Ag Commission can develop a forward-looking designation and de-designation process aligned with the Growth Management Act (GMA). You can read the Ag Commission’s full recommendations here: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2025-12/2025-12-18-agricultural-advisory-commission-recommendation.pdf

        • County staff advised the Planning Commission that TDR is not something that should be added to the Comp Plan Update at the last minute because it takes a substantial amount of time, while the County has already passed the deadline for submitting its Comp Plan Update which could put them out of compliance with state law.

        • The Planning Commission ultimately approved the request for a work session on TDR, delaying their recommendation on the Preferred Alternative for the Comp Plan Update.

        • You can watch the full hearing here: https://www.cvtv.org/video/clark-county-council-and-planning-commission-01-15-26-2026011009/
  • This week:

    • TONIGHT, January 20th at 6pm there is a Clark County Council meeting. Items of note:

      • Open Public Comment opportunity: testify via phone, virtually, or in person for up to 3 minutes on any topic.

      • There are several items regarding stormwater management.

      • Following the first work session, there will be another on the 2026 Stormwater Code and Manual Update.

    • Wednesday, January 21st is a work session: Update on the Planning Commission’s Preferred Alternative Recommendation.

    • Wednesday, January 21st at 1pm is Council Time. Public comment is allowed on agenda items. Items of note:
  • Other Clark County advisory board/commission meetings:
  • Other happenings:

See you next week!
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