News From Your Friends

What’s on our Radar – Week of October 20th, 2025

October 20, 2025 in General

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update was released! FOCC is reviewing this draft, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can view the full announcement by Clark County here. The comment period is now open and county planners are holding office hours for questions on Thursdays, Oct. 16th-Nov. 20th.

  • Last week:

    • The Clark County Council tour of county forestlands was cancelled, with an explanation provided: “Unfortunately, we need to cancel the tour out of an abundance of caution. If you reviewed the agenda, you noticed that most of the stops were at Camp Bonneville. As some of you may know, in transferring the property to the county the Army included certain land use restrictions in the deed. One of those restrictions is a limitation on providing access to the property to members of the general public.”

    • The Council voted in favor of establishing an immediate moratorium on development applications and permits relating to the redevelopment of existing mobile home or manufactured home parks to allow the county to review options, comprehensive plan policies, and draft regulations for the preservation of existing mobile home and manufactured home parks in Clark County, Washington.

    • The Council passed a Clark County Code change recommendation regarding the Community Action Advisory Board (CAAB) which would allow for the addition of a Clark County Council to the CAAB.

    • The Council passed the Regional Parks Fee Schedule Update, related to a plan to address the Parks and Nature Operating Budget deficit. There was a great article in the Columbian recently regarding this: https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/oct/11/underfunded-and-falling-behind-clark-county-parks-need-overhaul/
    • There were a number of work sessions: 2026-2031 Stormwater Capital Plan, 2026 Annual Construction Program & 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, and the Draft 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan – Parks and Nature Division & Lands Management Division. The League of Women Voters’ Observer Corps took great notes on these, available here: https://lwvclarkcounty.org/content.aspx?page_id=2507&club_id=160612&item_id=5126&pst=29720
    • DNR Natural Conservation SWAP Program regarding the Washington Natural Climate Solutions program, where lands that would otherwise be auctioned by the DNR for logging can be selected for preservation and swapped with a purchase of less ecologically valuable private plantation forest. Matt Little has proposed a Clark County nomination for this program developed by the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition and supported by the Cascade Forest Conservancy and Friends of Clark County. The Council discussed supporting the nomination and had 3 votes in favor, but Councilor Yung asked for lands management staff to come back with an opinion this week.

    • 2026 Legislative Priorities: The Policy Analyst provided an overview regarding the upcoming Clark County Council Legislative Delegation Annual Discussion. This can be viewed about 42 minutes in to the Council Time meeting: 10152025 Council Time
    • There was a Planning Commission work session on Multimodal Level of Service and multiple Comprehensive Plan chapters. Notes from the League of Women Voters’ Observer Corps here: https://lwvclarkcounty.org/content.aspx?page_id=2507&club_id=160612&item_id=5126&pst=29732
      Watch the full meeting here: Clark County Planning Commission: Multimodal Level of Service and Comp Plan Chapters, Oct.16, 2025
    • There was a Parks Advisory Board meeting. Audio can be reviewed here: https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/parks-advisory-board
  • This week:
    • Tuesday, October 21st at 6pm is a Clark County Council meeting. Items of note:

      • Open Public Comment opportunity: testify on any topic for up to 3 minutes.

      • Public hearing requesting the approval of proposed updates to code regarding risk management.

      • Public hearing requesting approval of updated code regarding building safety.
    • Wednesday, October 22nd there are two work sessions that will take place when the Clark County Board of Health meeting (starting at 8:30am) ends, including:

      • Work session with the FBI regarding use of Camp Bonneville. The Clark County Council recently voted down the FBI (Portland Bureau) contract for Camp Bonneville, prompting the FBI to ask for private meetings to request a second chance. Council members took those private meetings, which upset community members, so the Council asked for a public work session with the FBI. The Council later added on invitations to other law enforcement agencies to discuss further uses of Camp Bonneville with them. The public will not be permitted to speak.

        In short, FOCC does not support these inappropriate activities on this forested county property that was conveyed for the explicit purposes of natural resource conservation. More background here: https://friendsofclarkcounty.org/clark-county-council-votes-down-contract-for-fbis-continued-misuse-of-camp-bonneville/
      • Work session on the 2025 Fall Budget Supplemental.
    • Wednesday, October 22nd at 1pm is Council Time. Items of note:
      • DNR Natural Conservation SWAP Program (see above for more information)
      • Legislation Delegation Briefing (see below)
      • Clark County Transportation Alliance
    • Thursday, October 23rd at 9am is the Clark County Council Legislative Delegation Annual Discussion, Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin Street, Conf. Room 698, Vancouver. No WebEx link provided and no CVTV coverage scheduled, so folks may want to assume they can only attend in person. FOCC is following up for clarification but have none at this time.
  • Other Clark County advisory board/commission meetings:
  • Other happenings:
    • SAVE THE DATE: The October Clark County Agricultural Lands Study Open House is Tuesday, October 28th at 5:30pm!

      Remember, the Clark County Council requested that the County proceed with a modified Resource Land Analysis, termed an Ag Study, to address Ridgefield’s and La Center’s proposals to expand their urban growth areas (UGA’s) into ag land during this Comprehensive Plan Update cycle. An analysis of existing farmland is required by law when land zoned for agriculture is re-designated.

      That’s why we need a BIG showing at the ag study open house to learn and provide feedback. Bonus points if you are a farmer or are otherwise involved in the local food system, as we know that land speculation has an impact on our existing and aspiring farmers.

      Friends of Clark County stands strong in our need to preserve existing agricultural and forest land for climate change mitigation, food production, clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat preservation and the security of our agricultural economy.

      Location: Battle Ground Community Center, located at 912 E Main St, Battle Ground, WA 98604. More information and registration here: https://clark.wa.gov/community-planning/agricultural-lands-study

See you next week!
FOCC Community Outreach

 

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