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Record of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

City Council — Monday, December 1, 2025
BodyWashougal, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 1, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:06

Thank you, Amanda.

Speaker 2

0:08

Okay, thank you for coming tonight.

0:10

It's a very special meeting, I think, tonight.

0:12

We're gonna start off with an indication from Arisa

Speaker 3

0:16

as one of our

Unassigned speaker

0:16

two.

Speaker 3

0:19

Thank you, Mayor.

0:20

Um, before I do this, uh, you know, we've lost our Molly Coaston, our councilwoman, and uh I'd like to have

Unassigned speaker

0:31

a

Speaker 3

0:32

moment of silence for her, please.

0:48

Thank you.

0:49

I'll say the invocation now.

0:51

Our father in heaven, we're so grateful for this day that we can meet together as a city council

Speaker 2

0:56

and

Speaker 3

0:56

a community.

0:58

We lost a co-worker

Unassigned speaker

1:01

and

Speaker 3

1:01

a beloved member of our council, Molly Coaston.

1:09

She was the soul of our council.

1:12

She had done so much good work in the community.

Unassigned speaker

1:16

And

Speaker 3

1:17

we're so grateful for her service that she gave to us.

1:29

We're so grateful to live in this land to have what we

Unassigned speaker

1:32

have

Speaker 3

1:33

to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy.

1:37

Well, Shugle has been growing, and we are so grateful for what the city staff has been able to accomplish in our community.

1:53

We're grateful for the citizens that have volunteered many aspects of our community.

2:01

Enjoy the example that Molly gave in that capacity as a volunteer.

2:06

May their spirit bless our city and our council in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2:14

Amen.

Unassigned speaker

2:16

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

2:40

I

Speaker 4

2:40

want to leave us to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

Speaker 5

3:10

Here,

Speaker 4

3:11

nothing over Robert.

Speaker 5

3:13

Here,

Speaker 4

3:17

Mayor CD.

Speaker 3

3:21

Here Sneeby, I asked that we announced me excuse Molly Coaston from our meeting.

Speaker 2

3:40

From this point on, Molly Costan is forever excused from our city council meeting.

3:49

She's been called to a greater place.

4:06

But this is probably the best place to talk about this.

4:09

So Molly moved to Washington in 2020.

4:14

And immediately got

Unassigned speaker

4:16

involved

Speaker 2

4:17

and has had such an impact on everything.

Unassigned speaker

4:21

I

Speaker 2

4:22

mean, not only the city, but the arts and beyond.

Unassigned speaker

4:57

But I'm walking back from some engagement.

Speaker 2

5:05

And I'm like, huh?

5:07

She goes, don't take offense to this, but you're like a little kid running with scissors.

5:12

Yeah, so uh I looked at her, I go, hey, Molly, that's the greatest compliment you can give

Unassigned speaker

5:19

me

Speaker 2

5:20

because I'm gonna be a little kid running around with scissors, and then everything that's been going on for the last three years, I would look at Molly like, hey, I'm running with scissors, and we have these really big shares for ribbon cuttings, and I'd be like, Molly, look, I'm running.

5:38

But um, she was a huge mentor, not only to me, but to everybody.

5:44

I mean, we all looked up to Molly, and not only the city Washugal, but in her board meetings, other county council members, city councils from all the way up to battleground to Ridgefield.

6:00

They would they all called me and said, Man, I really really feel for you guys and want to express my condolences.

6:09

So Molly had a huge info to both of us, and we're gonna we're gonna miss her,

Unassigned speaker

6:15

but

Speaker 2

6:16

we know she's probably building uh a whack up or something.

6:21

So anyways, um, she is forever excused, but we'll always be a part of this council.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement██████████████████████████████████34%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████22%
Procedural████████████████████20%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Public Engagement███3%
Public Safety███3%
Transportation Safety███3%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Animal Welfare██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting – December 1, 2025

The Washougal City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025, beginning at 7:02 PM and adjourning at 9:01 PM. The meeting featured tributes to late Councilmember Molly Coston and outgoing Councilmember Julie Russell, recognition of community partners and retiring Reserve Officer Phillip Cianni, oaths of office for elected and police officials, approval of three tax and budget ordinances, and year-end administrative actions.

Consent Calendar

  • Councilmember Ernie Suggs moved to approve the consent agenda as read; no objections were heard.
  • Approved items included Nov. 17 workshop and council minutes, Nov. 25 payroll claims, accounts payable for Nov. 20-25 totaling $1,558,800.45, Agenda Bill #56-2025 authorizing a fund transfer for emergency utility assistance, and Agenda Bill #57-2025 adopting the 2026 City Manager goals.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were offered at the start of the meeting.
  • During the public hearing for the mid-biennium budget review, no testimony was received; Mayor David Stuebe closed the hearing.

Accolades, Recognitions & Oaths

  • The council honored Councilmember Molly Coston, who had recently passed away. Councilmember Suggs requested unanimous consent to excuse her, and Mayor Stuebe said she was forever excused from council meetings. Speakers including Mayor Stuebe, Councilmembers Suggs and Wagner, Rose Jewell, City Manager David Scott, and Brett Tarnet remembered her mentorship, her service as mayor in 2009 and 2017-18, and her community impact.
  • Councilmember Julie Russell was recognized for her eight years of service, from 2018 through December 2025; councilmembers praised her advocacy and said she would be missed.
  • The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership and project partners were recognized for their work on Mable Kerr Park. City staff noted the project was approximately $1 million and funded through five grants. Partnership Executive Director Elaine Placido thanked the city and invited residents to a Dec. 6 native planting event, with nearly 50 people signed up.
  • Reserve Officer Phillip Cianni was recognized upon his retirement after about 13 years as a reserve; Police Chief Zane Freschette described him as the department's longest-tenured reserve.
  • Mayor Stuebe administered oaths of office to Police Captain Jim Quackenbush and Animal Control Officer Kyra Stoiantschewsky.
  • Employee service awards were presented to multiple city employees, including 15-, 20-, and 25-year service recognitions.
  • Dennis and Kooky Helland received a community recognition for serving as Santa and Mrs. Claus for 20 years and for being named 2024 Camas Days King and Queen.

Oaths of Office for Elected Officials

  • Mayor David Stuebe took the oath of office, administered by City Clerk/Finance Director Daniel Layer.
  • David Fritz took the oath for Council Position #3, and Marty Swofford took the oath for Council Position #6; both were administered by Mayor Stuebe.

New Business: Ordinances

  • Agenda Bill #58-2025 / Ordinance No. 1998 (Public Safety Sales and Use Tax): City Manager David Scott presented the ordinance as a new state-authorized sales tax providing dedicated funding for public safety. Councilmember Michelle Wagner noted it would support police vehicle replacement, enhance code enforcement, and open additional grant opportunities. Motion by Suggs, second by Wagner; passed on voice vote.
  • Agenda Bill #59-2025 / Ordinance No. 1999 (Transportation Benefit District Sales and Use Tax): The council approved a 0.1% sales tax dedicated to transportation. City Manager Scott said revenue would support the pavement management program and major projects, including a rail separation at 32nd Street involving the railroad and 37th Street/Evergreen. Council discussion noted the city chose not to increase license tab fees and that Washougal remained in the middle of the county sales tax range. Motion by Suggs, second by Wagner; passed on voice vote.
  • Agenda Bill #60-2025 / Ordinance No. 2000 (2025-2026 Mid-Biennium Budget Review and Modification): Finance Director Daniel Layer presented the required mid-biennium budget review, summarizing 2026 revenue and expenditure changes by fund, and including lodging tax advisory committee-approved tourism reimbursements. The public hearing was opened and closed with no testimony. Motion by Suggs, second by Wagner; passed on voice vote.

Reports and Communications

  • City Manager Scott announced Molly Coston's Celebration of Life will be held Jan. 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Washburn Center Auditorium at Washougal High School. He also said that because of the council vacancy, applications will be accepted for a three-week window and interviews will be held Jan. 26, 2026.
  • Mayor Stuebe canceled the remaining December Council meetings and congratulated staff on another strong year and a clean state audit. He also reported the Salvation Army Kettle Kick-Off, noting Washougal won the competition, and encouraged residents to visit Mable Kerr Park.
  • Student Representative Jake Larzalere thanked the council, encouraged donations to local drives, and announced a Feb. 4, 2026 trip to the Capitol with the career technical education class.
  • Councilmembers offered final remarks, including tributes to Molly Coston and Julie Russell, announcements about the Black Pearl Nativity display, the Christmas Parade on Thursday, a Dec. 6 planting event at Mable Kerr Park, and a Dec. 13 Parks Passport Second Saturday ornament craft event.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance Nos. 1998, 1999, and 2000 each passed unanimously by voice vote.
  • Mayor and Council canceled the December 8 and December 15 meetings; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026 (workshop at 5:00 PM, council at 7:00 PM).
  • Council appointed Councilmember Tia Robertson as interim representative to C-TRAN and the Board Composition Review Committee for the remainder of 2025 and early January, with Councilmember Michelle Wagner as alternate; motion by Suggs, second by Fritz, passed unanimously.
  • An executive session on property acquisition under RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) was held from 8:50 PM to 9:00 PM, with no action to follow.
  • Meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you, Amanda. Okay, thank you for coming tonight. It's a very special meeting, I think, tonight. We're gonna start off with an indication from Arisa as one of our two. Thank you, Mayor. Um, before I do this, uh, you know, we've lost our Molly Coaston, our councilwoman, and uh I'd like to have a moment of silence for her, please. Thank you. I'll say the invocation now. Our father in heaven, we're so grateful for this day that we can meet together as a city council and a community. We lost a co-worker and a beloved member of our council, Molly Coaston. She was the soul of our council. She had done so much good work in the community. And we're so grateful for her service that she gave to us. We're so grateful to live in this land to have what we have to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy. Well, Shugle has been growing, and we are so grateful for what the city staff has been able to accomplish in our community. We're grateful for the citizens that have volunteered many aspects of our community. Enjoy the example that Molly gave in that capacity as a volunteer. May their spirit bless our city and our council in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Thank you. I want to leave us to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Here, nothing over Robert. Here, Mayor CD. Here Sneeby, I asked that we announced me excuse Molly Coaston from our meeting. From this point on, Molly Costan is forever excused from our city council meeting. She's been called to a greater place. But this is probably the best place to talk about this. So Molly moved to Washington in 2020. And immediately got involved and has had such an impact on everything. I mean, not only the city, but the arts and beyond. But I'm walking back from some engagement. And I'm like, huh? She goes, don't take offense to this, but you're like a little kid running with scissors.

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