OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Washougal, Washington/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - May 26, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 26, 2026
BodyWashougal, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 26, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:36

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:06

Would you uh like to proceed with the invocation, please?

Speaker 2

0:18

Okay,

Unassigned speaker

0:19

to

Speaker 2

0:20

all of you here and to David Boston.

0:26

I did not see this.

0:29

He

Speaker 3

0:29

has a sign

Speaker 2

0:30

there.

0:30

I tell you, barely and the rest of you in the city council, just God bless you today.

0:35

Okay, so here's my prayer.

0:38

I pray to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know him better.

0:48

I pray also that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened in order that you may know the hope and the vision and the blessing to which he has called you as you stand as the hope, the vision, and the blessing for the entire community of Washugal.

1:04

Amen.

Speaker 1

1:06

Thank you.

1:07

Thank you.

1:07

Thank you, Jenny.

1:08

We appreciate

Unassigned speaker

1:09

that.

Speaker 1

1:10

I'd like to call to order this City of Washugal City Council regular meeting for Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

1:18

And with that, I'd like to ask everyone to join me in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

1:27

I

Speaker 4

1:28

pleaded.

Speaker 5

1:33

And to republic for which stance

Speaker 6

1:36

one nation, another individual.

Speaker 1

1:45

Amanda, would you please take a little call?

Speaker 7

1:51

Mayor CD.

1:53

Mayor Pro Tem Fritz.

1:54

I'm

Unassigned speaker

1:55

here.

Speaker 7

1:55

Council Member Meinor.

1:58

Councilmember Sud.

Speaker 4

1:59

Here.

Speaker 7

2:00

Councilmember Robertson online.

2:03

Councilmember Swapert.

Speaker 4

2:05

Here.

Speaker 7

2:05

Councilmember Shaplinsky.

Speaker 8

2:07

Here.

Speaker 7

2:08

Student Representative Lars Lear.

Speaker 8

2:11

Mayor Pro Tem, I move that we excuse the Mayor.

2:16

Michelle and Cheek.

Speaker 1

2:18

Okay.

2:19

It's uh so ordered.

2:20

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:21

you.

Speaker 1

2:22

Council, do you have any amendments for the agenda tonight?

2:29

Okay.

2:30

Hearing no amendments to the agenda, we have a proclamation.

2:34

And this is for the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

2:40

And I just wanted to add

Unassigned speaker

2:42

a

Speaker 1

2:42

little something to this.

2:43

I remember when the ADA was first passed all the way back in 1990, I was in college.

2:50

And uh

Unassigned speaker

2:51

I

Speaker 1

2:51

was actually an intern

Unassigned speaker

2:53

in

Speaker 1

2:53

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

2:55

And I remember there was some opposition to it, but later in my life, um I mean that some people in that state who you know did not really support it, but later in life I worked in an office building in uh uh Southeastern City and I worked downtown, and that company made some reasonable accommodations to allow people who were fully qualified to work, and just I was so glad it passed being able to have some co-workers who were great contributors, but they just need a little extra assistance to be able to get into the office and get around.

3:30

So to me, it's it's it's important to see

Unassigned speaker

3:32

that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████37%
Affordable Housing█████████████13%
Parks and Recreation████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Disability Rights█████████9%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - May 26, 2026

The Washougal City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, beginning at 7:01 PM. Mayor Pro Tem David Fritz presided in place of Mayor David Stuebe. Present were Councilmembers Tia Robertson (via Zoom), Ernie Suggs, Marty Swofford, and David Szyplinski. Councilmember Michelle Wagner and Student Representative Jake Larzalere were absent; Mayor Stuebe and Councilmember Wagner were excused by unanimous consent. There were no amendments to the agenda. The meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM.

Invocation, Pledge, and Proclamation

  • Ginny Seymour gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Councilmember Marty Swofford read a proclamation recognizing the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and declaring July 26, 2026 as Americans with Disabilities Act 36th Anniversary Day in Washougal.
  • Walt Gordon accepted the proclamation on behalf of Community in Motion, describing the organization's approximately 80 years of service to people with disabilities in Southwest Washington, including non-emergency medical transportation, and encouraging volunteer drivers.

Consent Calendar

  • By unanimous consent, Council approved the consent agenda as read, including:
    • Workshop Minutes of May 11, 2026
    • Council Minutes of May 2 and May 11, 2026
    • Payroll Claims of May 22, 2026
    • Accounts Payable from May 14-21 and May Credit Refunds
    • Agenda Bill #28-2026, authorizing a transfer of funds for emergency utility assistance

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ginny Seymour expressed support for Washougal's growth through the arts. She proposed a 'Music Festival Under the Stars' at Parker Landing, shared a prototype banner, and suggested art displays, including a roundabout art piece, for Council consideration.
  • Melissa Anderson, a resident of Gibbons Creek Mobile Estates, spoke as part of a resident-led group working to purchase the 161-unit mobile home park to preserve affordable housing. She said an 11-member volunteer board has signatures from 95 individual units forming a qualified tenant organization, and noted that another buyer has made a significantly higher offer with no counter-offer terms yet. Anderson expressed concern that sale to a management company or developer could displace low-income residents who have few other affordable options, and requested community support, advocacy, and funding assistance. She referenced Northwest ROC of Washington for more information.

New Business

  • Agenda Bill #29-2026: Resolution naming the Washougal Towncenter Park. City Manager David Scott reported that the Board of Park and Cemetery Commissioners recommended the name for the park under construction. Councilmember Ernie Suggs moved to pass and post the resolution; the motion was seconded by Councilmember David Szyplinski and carried unanimously.
  • Agenda Bill #30-2026: Planning Commission appointments. Community Development Director Mitch Kneipp presented Mayor Stuebe's recommendations to fill two vacancies. With 13 applications received, described as the largest applicant pool ever, Council affirmed the appointments of Bradley Williams and Nancy Fawakhiri. Councilmember Suggs made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Szyplinski; the vote was unanimous.

Reports and Communications

  • City Manager David Scott and Mayor Pro Tem Fritz referred to reports previously given at the workshop session.
  • Councilmember Suggs reported attending the Habitat for Humanity home dedication at 1605 H Street on May 20 on behalf of Mayor David Stuebe, with approximately 80 people in attendance; he also relayed information about the Gibbons Creek Mobile Estates situation.
  • Councilmember Suggs noted the Memorial Day ceremony was well attended and that he planned to attend the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
  • Councilmember Robertson, Szyplinski, and Swofford had no additional reports or had previously reported during the workshop.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda, including the emergency utility assistance fund transfer authorization, was approved unanimously.
  • The City Council unanimously adopted the resolution naming the Washougal Towncenter Park.
  • The City Council unanimously confirmed Bradley Williams and Nancy Fawakhiri to the Planning Commission.
  • Upcoming meetings: Monday, June 8, 2026 - workshop at 5:00 PM and Council at 7:00 PM; the Citizens Academy graduation was noted at 6:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Would you uh like to proceed with the invocation, please? Okay, to all of you here and to David Boston. I did not see this. He has a sign there. I tell you, barely and the rest of you in the city council, just God bless you today. Okay, so here's my prayer. I pray to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart might be enlightened in order that you may know the hope and the vision and the blessing to which he has called you as you stand as the hope, the vision, and the blessing for the entire community of Washugal. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jenny. We appreciate that. I'd like to call to order this City of Washugal City Council regular meeting for Tuesday, May 26, 2026. And with that, I'd like to ask everyone to join me in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I pleaded. And to republic for which stance one nation, another individual. Amanda, would you please take a little call? Mayor CD. Mayor Pro Tem Fritz. I'm here. Council Member Meinor. Councilmember Sud. Here. Councilmember Robertson online. Councilmember Swapert. Here. Councilmember Shaplinsky. Here. Student Representative Lars Lear. Mayor Pro Tem, I move that we excuse the Mayor. Michelle and Cheek. Okay. It's uh so ordered. Thank you. Council, do you have any amendments for the agenda tonight? Okay. Hearing no amendments to the agenda, we have a proclamation. And this is for the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And I just wanted to add a

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com