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Record of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - August 24, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 24, 2026
BodyWashougal, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, August 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 57:41

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:04

Okay, well, welcome everybody.

0:06

And I see

Unassigned speaker

0:08

a

Speaker 1

0:08

whole audience.

0:09

So it's coming to a close, I think.

0:13

Kids are talking about going back to school.

0:15

Are you Jay?

0:17

So man, it went by quick.

0:20

It's so pretty nice.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

So

Speaker 2

0:22

many joint silence we

Speaker 1

0:23

can.

0:24

Yeah.

0:24

But thanks for coming tonight.

0:26

We've got a special uh meet tonight.

0:29

I believe some words.

0:31

So that's always fun.

Unassigned speaker

0:33

So

Speaker 1

0:33

we'll start off with an indication.

0:35

We would like our counselor to uh

Speaker 3

0:39

open

Unassigned speaker

0:39

up

Speaker 1

0:40

the

Speaker 3

0:40

kitchen.

0:41

Thank you, Mayor.

0:42

Our father in heaven, we're so grateful for this day.

0:45

The blessings that we enjoy on this earth, the opportunity to live in this city, this

Unassigned speaker

0:49

country.

Speaker 3

0:50

We're grateful for the workers who helped support us in our city.

0:55

Everyone that uh works for the city, we are a family

Unassigned speaker

0:59

of

Speaker 3

0:59

workers.

Unassigned speaker

1:00

We

Speaker 3

1:01

ask our blessings to be with this council, give them inspiration, help them to lead the city in the proper direction as

Unassigned speaker

1:08

we

Speaker 3

1:09

do these enormous projects you're

Unassigned speaker

1:11

coming for.

Speaker 3

1:12

Yes, he says the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

Speaker 1

1:18

Okay, but I call the word at this council meeting Monday.

1:22

August 24.

1:25

Um Jay.

1:27

Do you want these important?

Speaker 2

1:35

Yeah.

Unassigned speaker

1:56

Okay,

Speaker 1

1:57

I'm having thank you.

Speaker 4

1:59

Mayor Care Tim Fritz.

Speaker 2

2:03

Here

Speaker 4

2:05

Council Member Wagner.

2:07

Here Council Member Socks.

Speaker 5

2:10

Here.

Speaker 4

2:10

Council member Robertson.

Speaker 5

2:12

Here.

Speaker 4

2:13

Council Member Swapert.

Speaker 6

2:15

Here.

Speaker 4

2:15

Council Member Shiplinski.

Speaker 1

2:17

Here.

Speaker 4

2:18

Representative Lars and Larry.

Speaker 1

2:20

Here.

2:21

Oh, thank you.

2:23

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████████████40%
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Youth Programs█████5%
Personnel Matters████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - August 24, 2026

The Washougal City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 7:01 PM. Councilmembers present included Mayor David Stuebe, David Fritz, Tia Robertson, Ernie Suggs, Michelle Wagner, Marty Swofford, David Szyplinski, and Student Representative Jake Larzalere. The meeting began with an invocation delivered by Councilmember Ernie Suggs (the agenda had listed Ginny Seymour for the invocation). Following the invocation, Todd and Marilyn Richardson from JustServe presented the City of Washougal with an award for its exceptional volunteerism and community service. Mayor Stuebe accepted the award, celebrating the community's spirit of engagement. Years of Service Awards were then presented to Karen Frantz, Riley Miller, Scott Randall (25 years), and Thad Eatkins (25 years).

Consent Calendar

  • The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously via a motion by Councilmember Suggs. It included the Workshop and Council Minutes of August 10, 2026, Payroll Claims of August 25, 2026, Accounts Payable of August 6–13, 2026, and Agenda Bill #42-2026, which authorized a transfer of funds for Emergency Utility Assistance.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • None.

Discussion Items

  • Board & Commission Appointments (Agenda Bill #43-2026): Community Engagement Manager Rose Jewell presented the applicants. For the Arts Commission, Ann Stevens was appointed to an expiring term with an additional three-year term, and John Kivlen was reappointed to a full three-year term. For the Salary Commission, Mark Glaess was reappointed and Jason DiGiacomo was appointed to full four-year terms. The appointments were confirmed unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Suggs, seconded by Councilmember Szyplinski.
  • Foster Family Farms — Notice of Intent to Annex: Community Development Director Mitch Kneipp presented the annexation request for a 51.1-acre vacant property in the northwest Urban Growth Boundary. The council discussed the direct petition (60%) annexation method, the estimated 192 homes, and significant infrastructure challenges, particularly regarding sewer service. Council authorized staff to reach out to the neighboring property owners to the north to gauge their interest in joining the annexation to help meet the assessed value requirement. Kneipp noted the property owners to the south have historically been resistant to annexation.
  • Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Board Appointments: City Manager David Scott presented the Appointment Committee’s report. The RFA Board will consist of six councilmembers, three from Washougal and three from Camas. The committee recommended Councilmembers Tia Robertson, Michelle Wagner, and David Szyplinski. Council confirmed the appointments unanimously through the end of 2027 to provide continuity during the RFA’s initial implementation phase. The motion was made by Councilmember Suggs and seconded by Councilmember Swofford.

Key Outcomes

  • The City of Washougal received the JustServe community service award.
  • The Consent Agenda was approved.
  • Four individuals were appointed to the Arts and Salary Commissions.
  • Staff was directed to contact neighboring property owners regarding the Foster Family Farms annexation.
  • The RFA Board appointees for Washougal were confirmed (Robertson, Wagner, Szyplinski) through 2027.
  • City Manager David Scott gave his report during the earlier Workshop meeting. Councilmember reports during the regular meeting highlighted a clean city audit, successful community events, youth football preparations, waterfront and downtown revitalization progress, and the launch of the RFA.
  • Upcoming community events were announced: Local Connections meeting, Hike the Dike (Sept 19), Empty Bowls fundraiser for Inter-Faith Treasure House (Sept 22), Washougal High School football home opener (Sept 18), Fire Department Open House (Sept 26), and Hartwood Park volunteer event (Sept 12).
  • The council entered executive session at 8:00 PM for 20 minutes regarding potential litigation (RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)), with no action taken. The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 PM.
  • The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, with a Workshop at 5:00 PM and Council at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, well, welcome everybody. And I see a whole audience. So it's coming to a close, I think. Kids are talking about going back to school. Are you Jay? So man, it went by quick. It's so pretty nice. So many joint silence we can. Yeah. But thanks for coming tonight. We've got a special uh meet tonight. I believe some words. So that's always fun. So we'll start off with an indication. We would like our counselor to uh open up the kitchen. Thank you, Mayor. Our father in heaven, we're so grateful for this day. The blessings that we enjoy on this earth, the opportunity to live in this city, this country. We're grateful for the workers who helped support us in our city. Everyone that uh works for the city, we are a family of workers. We ask our blessings to be with this council, give them inspiration, help them to lead the city in the proper direction as we do these enormous projects you're coming for. Yes, he says the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen. Okay, but I call the word at this council meeting Monday. August 24. Um Jay. Do you want these important? Yeah. Okay, I'm having thank you. Mayor Care Tim Fritz. Here Council Member Wagner. Here Council Member Socks. Here.

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