Vancouver Celebrates Arbor Month And 36th Year As A Tree City USA (Photo)
-03/27/25
Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver's recognition of Arbor Month in April will include an Arbor Day celebration and tree planting at the Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum, a presentation of the Gordon and Sylvia MacWilliams Evergreen Award, a display at Cascade Park Community Library and pop-up arboretums at Arnada Park and Clearmeadows Park.
Vancouver is being honored as Tree City USA for the 36th consecutive year by the National Arbor Day Foundation. “This continued acknowledgment shows our commitment to ongoing community programs for planting and properly caring for trees,” said Vancouver Urban Forester Charles Ray. “As a regional climate leader, we support improving the health of our natural systems, increasing our community’s tree canopy and enhancing our quality of life.”
Community members are invited to an Arbor Day celebration on Wednesday, April 9. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Jane Weber Evergreen Arboretum, 9215 S.E. Evergreen Hwy, with a recognition ceremony, including the Gordon and Sylvia MacWilliams Evergreen Award presentation and Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle accepting the Tree City USA award. Participants are then invited to join a service project to plant the Arbor Day tree and co-plant pollinator plants at the arboretum until about 12:30 p.m.
An exhibit at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., and two pop-up arboretums at Arnada Park and Clearmeadows Park are available during April to enhance the celebration of trees and share the importance of a healthy canopy. Community members can hone their tree identification skills and learn fun tree facts through these displays.
Vancouver’s urban forestry proactively manages Vancouver's tree canopy. In February, teams started to canvas areas scheduled for future pavement work to evaluate existing street tree health and identify where new trees could be planted. In March, additional survey work continued to evaluate and map all trees and available planting sites in right-of-way and city parks. This tree and planting site information will guide tree canopy management, reduce risk and prepare Vancouver for possible threats to the state’s urban forest.
Learn more about our urban forestry programs, volunteer tree planting opportunities or Arbor Month activities by visiting www.cityofvancouver.us/trees or calling 360-487-8332.
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Be A Part Of City History: Vancouver Invites The Public To Reimagine The City’s Flag
-03/26/25
Vancouver, Wash. – During Monday’s State of the City address, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle invited the public to participate in a design competition to create a new city flag for Vancouver.
“This is an opportunity for the public to help shape the identity of our community and be a part of Vancouver’s history,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “We hope to create an enduring symbol of Vancouver that inspires a sense of belonging and unity among residents.”
How to participate
Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/flag for full contest rules and the design brief. Entries that do not follow the design brief will be disqualified. All ages are eligible to enter. Submissions by those under 18 will be accepted when submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
The submission portal will open in April, and designs are due by midnight on Flag Day, June 14. Participants may submit one design. The contest winner will receive credit for their design in City communications, a flag-raising ceremony, the Key to the City, and a City flag. Additional prize(s) will be announced later.
Judging process
The City Council will appoint a Flag Design Review Committee at an upcoming City Council meeting. The Committee will be responsible for selecting 10 flags as finalists
An online poll later this summer will invite Vancouver residents to share their preferred designs from the 10 finalists. The committee will use that information to inform the final design selection and one runner-up. The recommended design will be submitted to the City Council for final adoption. The committee reserves the right not to recommend a proposed flag if a suitable design is not submitted.
Flag background
Vancouver’s first flag was adopted by the Vancouver City Council in 1993. It was designed internally with limited public engagement and has remained the City flag for 30+ years. As described in the 1993 Staff Report, the current flag design represents Vancouver’s “emergence as a “world-class city and its strength and natural beauty.”
For more information, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/flag.
Vancouver Celebrates Progress Made And Community Involvement At 2025 State Of The City Address (Photo)
-03/25/25
Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver’s annual State of the City event took place March 24 at the Firstenburg Community Center. Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle‘s speech highlighted the progress the City and community have made together on key issues – community safety, homelessness, affordable housing and economic opportunity – and how the community’s voice continues to power decisions about Vancouver’s future.
“The community trusts us to make decisions, set policy and steward tax dollars. But we don’t do this alone,” said Mayor McEnerny-Ogle. “Everything we work on is driven by the priorities the community has identified, focusing on the issues where they seek progress, innovation, answers or solutions. Doing what is best for the community is our north star.”
She also took time to highlight some of the City’s key accomplishments in 2024, offered a look ahead to what’s next for Vancouver and updated the community on the progress of some of the City’s major projects in this video.
The mayor’s address was followed by a Council Community Forum, where guests joined in conversation and discussion with the mayor and City councilmembers.
The State of the City address is available for on-demand viewing on Clark/Vancouver Television (CVTV) channel 23 and HD 323, and on the City’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
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Reminder: Vancouver State Of The City Address Tonight (Photo)
-03/24/25
Vancouver, Wash. – City of Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and the Vancouver City Council will host the 2024 State of the City and Council Community Forum tonight, March 24 at 6 p.m. Mayor McEnerny-Ogle’s speech will cover Vancouver's key accomplishments in 2024 and what the City will focus on in the future as the community continues to grow and change.
Guests are invited to stay after the speech to meet, in-person, with City Councilors at the first Council Community Forum of the year.
What: 2025 State of the City and Council Community Forum
Who: Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle will present a brief State of the City address, highlighting some of the key accomplishments of 2024 and looking ahead to what’s next for Vancouver. The mayor’s remarks will be followed by a Council Community Forum, where guests are invited to hold conversations with the mayor and councilors.
When: Tonight, March 24, 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Due to space constraints at the venue, RSVPs for the event are encouraged and can be made at www.cityofvancouver.us/stateofthecity. The City will make every effort to accommodate those who arrive without previously RSVPing to the event.
The State of the City address will be streamed live–and available for on-demand viewing–on Clark/Vancouver Television (CVTV) channel 23 and HD 323 and the City’s Facebook.
Where: Firstenburg Community Center Community Room, 700 N.E 136th Ave., Vancouver. Media may park in the free lot at Firstenburg Community Center but should be aware that seating and space at the venue will be limited.
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Vancouver’s State Of The City And Council Community Forum (Photo)
-03/13/25
Vancouver, Wash. – City of Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and the Vancouver City Council will host the 2025 State of the City and Council Community Forum at 6 p.m. Monday, March 24. Mayor McEnerny-Ogle’s address will highlight the progress we’ve made together on key issues – community safety, homelessness, affordable housing and economic opportunity – and how the community’s voice continues to power decisions about Vancouver’s future.
Guests are invited to stay after the speech to meet with City councilors at the first Council Community Forum of the year.
What: 2025 State of the City and Council Community Forum
Who: Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle will present a brief State of the City address highlighting the progress being made on key issues that are priorities to the community. The mayor’s remarks will be followed by a Council Community Forum, where guests are invited to hold conversations with the mayor and councilors.
When: 6 p.m. Monday, March 24. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Due to space constraints at the venue, RSVPs for the event are encouraged and can be made at www.cityofvancouver.us/stateofthecity. The City will make every effort to accommodate those who arrive without previously RSVPing to the event.
The State of the City address will be streamed live–and available for on-demand viewing on Clark/Vancouver Television (CVTV) channel 23 and HD 323 and the City’s Facebook.
Where: Firstenburg Community Center Community Room, 700 N.E 136th Ave., Vancouver. Media may park in the free lot at Firstenburg Community Center but should be aware that seating and space at the venue will be limited.
City Seeks Volunteers To Serve On Aviation Advisory Committee (Photo)
-03/04/25
Vancouver, Wash. -- The City of Vancouver is now seeking applicants to fill three openings on its Aviation Advisory Committee. Applications are due by April 4.
The Aviation Advisory Committee is a volunteer body that advises the City on the operations and management of the historic Pearson Field Airport (101 E. Reserve Street Vancouver, WA 98661) and other aviation-related issues in Vancouver.
Membership eligibility and requirements
- Should demonstrate interest in the airport, and/or aviation and aeronautical activities
- Preferably have skills in one or more relevant areas, such as airport management, legal, marketing, finance, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) knowledge, real estate, business, and/or engineering
- Ability to serve a full-term beginning May 16, 2025, and expiring May 15, 2028
For full board details, including term information and meeting times, visit http://www.cityofvancouver.us/boards.
How to apply
Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boards to apply online. For questions or to request the application in other languages or formats, please contact the City's Boards and Commissions Coordinator by mail at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, by phone at 360-487-8600 (WA Relay 711), or by email at bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us.
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City Seeks Volunteers To Serve On Vancouver Public Facilities District Board Of Directors (Photo)
-03/03/25
Vancouver, Wash. -- The City of Vancouver is now seeking applicants to fill two openings on the Vancouver Public Facilities District Board of Directors. Applications are due by April 4.
The Vancouver Public Facilities District (VPFD) Board of Directors owns several parcels of land, including the land under the Hilton hotel and convention center in downtown Vancouver. The land is leased to the City's Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA).
The VPFD receives funding from the state sales tax credit program and transfers it to the DRA. The sales tax credit revenue funds a portion of the tax-supported bonds issued to fund the construction of the Hilton hotel and convention center. The VPFD board is also responsible for approving annual budgets and monitoring use of the funds.
Membership eligibility and requirements
- Ability to review and understand financial information
- Experience in property management or project development preferred
- Ability to serve a full term beginning May 5, 2025, and expiring Nov. 30, 2029
For full board details, including meeting times, visit http://www.cityofvancouver.us/boards.
How to apply
Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boards to apply online. For questions or to request the application in other languages or formats, please contact the City's Boards and Commissions Coordinator by mail at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, by phone at 360-487-8600 (WA Relay 711), or by email at bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us.
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