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Record of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - September 14, 2026

City Council — Monday, September 14, 2026
BodyWashougal, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, September 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:08

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:03

Well welcome.

0:04

Thanks for being here tonight.

0:07

We are now uh gonna get an invitation.

0:14

So yeah, so please come up to the podium.

0:16

Thank you for being here.

Speaker 2

0:23

Pray if that's okay.

0:25

I just come to you right now, and I live before you the city council, Lord.

0:29

I lift them up before your phone, and I thank you for each and every one of them.

0:33

I thank you for their safety.

0:34

I thank you for their families, Lord.

0:36

And I just ask that you bring wisdom to each and every one of them, Lord.

0:40

Give them creative solutions to the things that face them, Lord.

0:43

We thank you for cooperation and their hearts, Lord.

0:46

Compassion, and Lord, we just pray that you would bless them in each area that they uh would navigate decisions, Lord, with all wisdom, with strength, with concern for the citizens of Washubel.

1:01

And I just thank you so much, Lord, for their kind hearts and their hard work, and I just pray your blessing on their families in Jesus' name.

Speaker 1

1:10

So thank you.

1:11

Thanks very much for you.

1:13

Okay, I would like to call the city council meeting to order.

1:17

It's Monday, September 14th.

1:26

I was called to order.

1:27

That's right.

1:28

Uh would everybody please stand and now follow me in the

Speaker 3

1:39

state, to the republic for which it's a nation.

Speaker 1

1:49

Thank

Unassigned speaker

1:49

you.

Speaker 1

1:51

Okay, now

Speaker 4

1:55

you're sweet.

Speaker 5

1:56

Here,

Unassigned speaker

1:57

you're

Speaker 5

1:57

a project print.

Speaker 1

1:59

Here.

Speaker 5

2:00

Council Member Wagner.

2:02

Council Member Five.

Speaker 4

2:04

Here.

Speaker 5

2:04

Council Member Robertson.

2:06

Here.

2:06

Council Member Squawker.

Speaker 4

2:08

Here.

Speaker 5

2:08

Councilmember Shawlinski.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Student representative Lars Alert here.

Speaker 1

2:14

Perfect.

2:14

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:15

you.

Speaker 1

2:16

So now we're gonna do something that I really appreciate doing, which I really love doing.

2:22

We're doing our years of the service support.

2:25

So I love recognizing people that do great things.

2:29

This is pretty big for the people that spend a lot of time.

2:32

But to uh

Unassigned speaker

2:34

put

Speaker 1

2:34

this through this

Unassigned speaker

2:36

time.

Speaker 5

2:39

I would like to first recognize some people who were unable to make it tonight.

2:44

Um that's notable years of service.

2:47

Uh Joe Miller, who is a utility supervisor, he has 10 years.

2:52

Joseph Layman, who's our building official manager, he has 20 years, Jesse Kaseowitch, our fleet uh guy, 20 years.

Speaker 4

3:03

That's a lot.

Unassigned speaker

3:08

But

Speaker 5

3:09

I would also say that we have 20 years with Brian Cain as

Unassigned speaker

3:13

a

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural██████████10%
Youth Programs██████████10%
Economic Development██████████10%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Pending Litigation████4%
Arts And Culture████4%
Public Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Washougal City Council Regular Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Washougal City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 7:01 PM. The meeting included years-of-service awards, a public comment period, unanimous approval of the consent agenda, and informational reports from city leadership. The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved the consent agenda (motion by Councilmember Suggs).
  • A. Workshop Minutes of August 24, 2026
  • B. Council Minutes of August 24, 2026
  • C. Payroll Claims of September 10, 2026
  • D. Accounts Payable of August 20–27, August & September Refunds, September 3-10, and April–June EFTs (Note: The official minutes reflect slightly different date ranges than the original agenda for this item.)
  • E. Agenda Bill #44-2026: Authorize the Transfer of Funds for Emergency Utility Assistance
  • F. Agenda Bill #45-2026: Set a Public Hearing for the 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan
  • G. Agenda Bill #46-2026: Amendment to the Skamania County Jail Services Agreement

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Brett Tarnet, a resident, expressed continued concerns regarding maintenance and public access at Mable Kerr Park. Noting that 256 hours of volunteer labor were performed on the park in 2024, he stated that the park has seen minimal maintenance in the two years since. He described a 4-acre area near 45th Court where he alleged that encroachment has occurred and that the city has not performed maintenance, allowing a tall blackberry bramble and debris barrier to persist. He asked how much of the encroachment area remains in litigation.

Reports and Communications

City Manager

  • Acting City Manager Joe Walsh highlighted a local AI technology startup headquartered on Main Street that recently secured $25 million in funding to develop technology aimed at improving AI accuracy. The company currently has four staff working locally.
  • He announced the annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival, scheduled for October 17, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:00 PM at Hathaway Park, and noted that volunteers are still needed.

Mayor

  • Mayor David Stuebe reported on an upcoming meeting with state transportation leadership, including Washington House Transportation Chair Jake Fey, and local partners regarding long-term improvements to the Slough Bridge.
  • He highlighted the Lions Club Oktoberfest, a visit from NASA to local manufacturer UPC in recognition of its contributions to the Artemis program, and the success of the city's summer market and movie nights.
  • He praised city staff and public safety personnel and noted the value of the monthly Clark County mayors meeting for regional collaboration.

City Council

  • Student Representative Jake Larzalere reported that fall sports and student clubs are underway. He highlighted strong results in boys golf and notable recruitment success for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), with 25 attendees at the new member meeting, bringing total membership to 31. He discussed ongoing efforts to recruit an Arts Commission student representative and identify his successor on the City Council. He invited adults to participate in the upcoming February College and Career Pathway (CPS) trip.
  • Councilmember Michelle Wagner reported that the Parks Board elected Rory Straubel as chair and Ryan Kill as vice chair. She highlighted the Second Saturday disc golf and power-line safety activities and reported on the first Regional Fire Authority (RFA) meeting. She expressed enthusiasm for the city hall mural currently being painted by artist Jeremy Nichols.
  • Councilmember David Szyplinski reported on Community Chest volunteer planning for a spring gala, attended a Port meeting, and highlighted UPC’s work providing materials for NASA and its plans for future expansion.
  • Councilmember Tia Robertson reported on her role on the RFA Finance Committee and her attendance at a September 11 memorial service at Station 42, which she described as a solemn and respectful ceremony.
  • Councilmember Marty Swofford reported on a Community Development meeting and highlighted recent youth football games at Washougal High School, sharing positive feedback from visiting families about the stadium, the community, and local support for youth athletics.
  • Councilmember Ernie Suggs reported on a Chamber luncheon presentation highlighting a local company’s work (referencing its growth from 4 to 100 employees) and its partnerships with schools and colleges. He described the company and the Port's efforts as a win for the community, schools, and business.
  • Mayor Pro Tem David Fritz reported on discussions regarding retail and attendance at the Chamber luncheon. He highlighted upcoming activities including the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension Fund meeting, the Lacamas Lake watershed cleanup, the Empty Bowls charity event, and the first Washougal High School Panthers home football game.

Key Outcomes

  • Years of Service Awards: Six city employees were recognized for their years of service: Joe Miller (10 years), Joseph Layman (20 years), Jesse Kasziewicz (20 years), Sherry Montgomery (20 years), and Bryan Caine and Brian Caine (both 20 years).
  • Consent Agenda Approved: The council approved all seven items on the consent agenda via a unanimous vote, including the authorization of emergency utility assistance funds, setting a public hearing date for the 6-Year Transportation Improvement Plan, and amending the jail services agreement.
  • No New Business: No new business items were brought forward for discussion or formal action outside of the consent agenda.
  • Next Meeting: The next workshop is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, at 5:00 PM, followed by a regular council meeting at 7:00 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Well welcome. Thanks for being here tonight. We are now uh gonna get an invitation. So yeah, so please come up to the podium. Thank you for being here. Pray if that's okay. I just come to you right now, and I live before you the city council, Lord. I lift them up before your phone, and I thank you for each and every one of them. I thank you for their safety. I thank you for their families, Lord. And I just ask that you bring wisdom to each and every one of them, Lord. Give them creative solutions to the things that face them, Lord. We thank you for cooperation and their hearts, Lord. Compassion, and Lord, we just pray that you would bless them in each area that they uh would navigate decisions, Lord, with all wisdom, with strength, with concern for the citizens of Washubel. And I just thank you so much, Lord, for their kind hearts and their hard work, and I just pray your blessing on their families in Jesus' name. So thank you. Thanks very much for you. Okay, I would like to call the city council meeting to order. It's Monday, September 14th. I was called to order. That's right. Uh would everybody please stand and now follow me in the state, to the republic for which it's a nation. Thank you. Okay, now you're sweet. Here, you're a project print. Here. Council Member Wagner. Council Member Five. Here. Council Member Robertson. Here. Council Member Squawker. Here. Councilmember Shawlinski. Here. Student representative Lars Alert here. Perfect. Thank you. So now we're gonna do something that I really appreciate doing, which I really love doing. We're doing our years of the service support. So I love recognizing people that do great things. This is pretty big for the people that spend a lot of time. But to uh put

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