Washougal City Council Workshop – October 26, 2026: Comp Plan, Shoreline Program, TIF, and 2027-28 Budget Review

The Washougal City Council met in workshop on October 26, 2026, to receive staff presentations on the Arts Commission ordinance, the final draft Comprehensive Plan, the Shoreline Master Program, updated Transportation Impact Fees, and the first portion of the 2027-2028 budget. The workshop was informational and no formal votes were taken. Note: The agenda lists the meeting date as Monday, October 26, 2026, while the opening transcript says 'Monday, October 27th.'

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Wolf, founder of the Washougal pickleball club, spoke about the pickleball courts at Halfway Park. He said he started the club in 2012 with 24 members, that it now has about 1,600 members, and that roughly 450 of them are from Washougal and Camas. He described the courts' history, including a $5,000 contribution from the Clark County Recreation Organization, and said 50 or more people use the courts on non-rainy days. He urged the city to repair the courts before deterioration raises costs, said Linda Bosle will bring a repair proposal on November 6, and offered to personally advance money if needed. He said he would support a small user fee but warned that high fees could drive players away. Council members thanked him and said they would take the request under serious consideration; discussion also touched on possible indoor pickleball at the port and a recently signed batting-cage lease in port building 18.

Discussion Items

Arts Commission Ordinance Amendments

• Staff presented amendments to WMC 2.120 to reorganize the Arts Commission code and add a definitions section. The change would allow arts funding to support non-capital art forms and artists; it would not change current funding but would create a future budget line item. The ordinance is scheduled for the November 2 adoption agenda.

Final Draft Comprehensive Plan

• Jessica of Community Development reported that the draft comprehensive plan was out for public comment for just over a month, with the comment period ending October 18. A CEPA mitigated determination of non-significance was completed. Staff received 23 online comments; themes included accommodating growth where services are sufficient and preserving community character. Updates made after public comment and planning commission feedback included cleanup of introductory chapters, reformatted goals and policies, and changes to the implementation strategies table. A draft comment letter from the Washington Department of Commerce arrived late the previous week and was still being reviewed. Public hearings are scheduled, with tentative adoption on December 7.

Shoreline Master Program

• Ethan reported that the draft Shoreline Master Program was approved by resolution last year and sent to the Washington Department of Ecology. Ecology provided 20 required changes and 18 recommended changes, which staff characterized as minor. Examples included grammar and internal reference updates, archaeology language, small corrections to the shoreline environment designation map, and updates to commercial building height standards. Water-dependent commercial uses increased by about 10 to 20 feet (to roughly 35 to 55 or 60 feet), while water-oriented commercial uses decreased by about 10 feet. A public hearing is set for November 2, with adoption possible on December 7.

Transportation Impact Fees

• Michaela presented the updated Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) analysis. The update was driven by recent construction cost changes, alignment with the six-year Transportation Improvement Program, and an additional project added from public comment. The updated fee is $3.99 per square foot. For residential units, the minimum fee is $2,840.09 for units below 712 square feet, and the maximum fee is $12,302.64 for units above 3,084 square feet. The current single-family fee is $7,826; an updated 2,500-square-foot unit would be $9,971. Vancouver and Battle Ground are also updating their fees. No feedback from the building industry had been received yet. The TIF memorandum will become an appendix to the Transportation Capital Facilities Plan.

2027-2028 Budget – Community Services & Strategy and Public Works

• Daniel presented part three of the departmental budget presentations. The animal control update and remaining capital projects were deferred to the next meeting.
• Community Services & Strategy: overall increase of 1.5% from 2026 to 2027. Personnel costs decrease because previously budgeted positions were filled. Community engagement funding is $43,800 for events such as Memorial Day, Movies in the Park, National Night Out, and the lighted Christmas parade. Code enforcement highlights include $2,000 for the Washougal Wins litter program, $1,000 for neighborhood outreach, a new dumpster-rental program for neighborhood cleanups, and funding for potential code enforcement software. Economic development professional services include federal and local advocacy contracts, CREDC, and the small business pilot program. The department remains at 6 FTEs.
• Public Works facilities: 8% decrease from 2026 to 2027 due to one-time public safety sales tax facility hardening and janitorial expansion; a 3.7% increase is projected for 2028. A janitorial RFP is out. Utility costs are budgeted at $65,000.
• Engineering: 9.43% increase from 2026 to 2027. A vacant stormwater maintenance position would be reallocated to a civil engineer position, with costs shared across funds; the goal is to reduce outside consulting over time. Professional services are budgeted at $100,000 for 2027 and $110,000 for 2028.
• Parks: 14% decrease in 2027 due to one-time comp plan costs and a temporary position; 4.4% increase in 2028. Supplies rise by $16,000 for splash pad chlorine. Professional services of $109,000/$112,000 cover seasonal staff, tree trimming, portable toilets, and debris disposal. $15,000 is included for parks hardening from the public safety sales tax.
• Street Fund: 6.27% increase from 2026 to 2027. Clark County crews would reconfigure two River Road traffic signals at about $15,000 per signal in preparation for the 32nd Street closure. The street department has about 5 FTEs.
• Cemetery Fund: 6.19% increase in 2027, then a 10.9% decrease in 2028. A $42,000 transfer supports the veterans memorial project in the parks capital fund. The cemetery fund has 1.22 FTEs.
• Water and Sewer Fund: small decrease of 2.63% from 2026 to 2027, then a 6.56% increase in 2028. Requests include about $50,000 per utility for water/sewer model and GIS/asset management work, and $70,000 per fund for the next rate study in 2028. The first payment on the $22.5 million biosolids loan at 1.6% interest is $479,000, due New Year's Eve 2027, with payments every six months thereafter. Debt service increases 5.2% in 2027 and 16.14% in 2028.
• Stormwater Fund: 2.37% decrease from 2026 to 2027. Highlights include $185,000 for enhanced maintenance (mostly Ecology-funded), $120,000 stormwater capacity grant, $200,000 permit compliance, $477,000/$496,000 for catch basin and drainage improvements, $100,000 for the regional stormwater partners program, $31,000 for trail drainage repairs, and $71,000 for the Camp Creek LCEP pass-through. Shepherd Road stormwater improvements are about $1 million, with $800,000 in 2027. Fleet purchases include a CCTV inspection truck and a pickup replacement. The stormwater FTE count decreases by 0.3 due to the civil engineer reallocation.
• Total Public Works FTEs are 35.

Capital Projects Preview

• Facilities capital projects for 2027 total $16.703 million, with the bulk for fire station and police station design/construction. The Public Works Operations Center phase two is $600,000 total, with $550,000 in 2027; it would renovate the garage/mechanic shop and create office space to be rented to the 32nd Street project team. Downtown town center closeout is $100,000; EV chargers are installed at town center lots and are vendor-operated. The 2028 facilities budget includes about $1.1 million for fire/police station closeout.
• Transportation capital projects for 2027 total $26.702 million. The largest item is the overpass project at about $21 million, split between federal and state grants (roughly 50.5%/49.5%). Other items include the 27th Street shared use path ($284,000), 32nd Street widening ($600,000), systemic stop-controlled intersections ($450,000), River Road roundabout design ($218,000 from concurrency dollars), Shepherd Road pedestrian improvements ($3.4 million), River Road bridge repairs ($100,000), ADA upgrades ($100,000 per year), railroad crossing upgrades ($100,000), and the 39th Street project ($400,000 with Safe Routes to Schools and TIF funding).

Reports and Communications

• Council discussion included a proposed AWC scholarship nomination for a local graduating senior, support for the Clark County Pathway Project to provide safe access from Washougal to Lacamas Park and Woodburn Elementary, and praise for the port's economic study.
• Several council members expressed concern about high-speed e-bikes and e-motorcycles, helmet use, sidewalk operation, and safety near schools and parks. They asked staff to arrange a briefing from Zane on state preemption and possible local ordinance options, possibly early next year.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken at the workshop.
• The Arts Commission ordinance will be on the November 2 adoption agenda.
• Public hearings are scheduled for November 2 (Shoreline Master Program and general sewer plan amendment), November 9 (parks plan; Transportation Capital Facilities Plan hearing may be opened and continued), and November 16 (draft comprehensive plan and development code amendments). December 7 remains the tentative adoption date for the plans.
• The budget presentation will continue the following week, with a physical budget document due by the statutory deadline and updates on remaining capital projects, animal control, and LTAC/LTEC recommendations.