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Media tour scheduled for 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 13 at Vancouver arts hub building
Vancouver, Wash. – As the temperatures drop, the City is preparing to open winter weather and severe weather shelters as part of its ongoing homeless emergency declaration. These shelters are opening to increase access to safe and warm spaces for the community's most vulnerable.
The shelters will serve families and individuals experiencing homelessness, but shelter prioritization will be given to families with children. Then, prioritization will be based on a variety of vulnerabilities, including seniors, people with disabilities, individuals fleeing domestic violence situations, people with health conditions, etc.
“These winter shelter programs are critical to the City’s ongoing homelessness emergency response,” said Homeless Response Manager Jamie Spinelli. “Not only are we responding to changing weather conditions, but by prioritizing families and vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness, we are in part addressing the often-unseen aspect of the homelessness crisis in the community.”
Winter shelter
The winter shelters will be operated by the City’s partner, Outsiders Inn, who also operate the City’s successful Safe Stay Communities. The following facilities will be open Dec. 14 through March 2025:
The Vancouver arts hub building, 1007 E. Mill Plain Boulevard
- Up to 45 overnight beds
- Open 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly
521 Chkalov Drive (four nights per week)
- Up to 15 overnight beds
- Open 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
How to access shelter
All available beds in the nightly winter and severe weather shelters will be filled by referral only. The coordinated intake and screening process will be administered by the Council For The Homeless (CFTH); anyone needing shelter this winter is asked to contact the CFTH housing hotline at 360-695-9677.
How to help
While the shelter service providers will staff the shelters, volunteers are needed. Morning and evening shifts are available for two to three hours per shift. Shift duties can include setup, greeting/check-in, meal support and setup, coffee/drinks, activities, social support, service animal support and other duties as needed. To apply to volunteer at a City or one of the other winter shelters, visit outsidersinn.org/sws.
Winter shelter service providers need blankets, new sweatshirts/sweatpants, ground coffee, creamer, sugar, hot cocoa and other to-go/hand food options like granola bars. A full list of needs has been compiled in an Amazon Wishlist. Donations can be dropped at one of the City's Safe Stay Communities: The Outpost, 11400 N.E. 51st Cir. or 415 West, 415 W. 11th St., daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please do not bring donations to the shelters; there will not be staff available to take them.
Severe weather shelter space
Additional shelters will be open when the Severe Weather Task Force forecasts or declares a “severe weather” event. The Task Force is organized by the Council for the Homeless and coordinates with local government agencies and the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA).
Esther Short Commons at 555 W. 8th St. will open to the current City’s Safe Park Zone members. It will offer up to 15 overnight beds and be supported by Thrive2Survive. The City has also identified two additional backup spaces in the event of a need for shelter during severe weather conditions: the Luepke Community Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., and the Aspen Room located on the ground floor of City Hall, 415 W. 6th St.
More information can be found at winter and severe weather shelters.
Media tour of arts hub shelter
A media tour of the arts hub building winter shelter located at 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd. will be available from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. This will be an opportunity to see the inside of the shelter and conduct interviews before the first users are welcomed on Saturday evening.
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Vancouver, Wash. – The community is invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Vancouver’s new Police Chief Troy Price on Monday, Dec. 9, at 3:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers located at 415 W. 6th Street.
What: Swearing-in ceremony for Vancouver’s new Police Chief Troy Price
Where: Vancouver City Hall, 615 W. 6th St., a reception will follow
When: Monday, Dec. 9, 3:00 p.m.
A reception will follow the ceremony in the Aspen Conference Room. The swearing-in ceremony can be viewed live on CVTV 23/323HD, CVTV.org, or the City and CVTV Facebook pages.
Price brings more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement to his new role. Price joined VPD in 1997 as a lateral-entry officer and has moved up through the ranks. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Street Crimes Detective, Property Crimes Detective, Join Terrorist Task Force Agent, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief. He recently served as Vancouver’s Interim Police Chief.
Community members planning to attend are asked to RSVP to Amanda Delapena.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Vancouver City Council voted to adopt the City’s 2025-26 biennial budget at their Dec. 2 meeting.
The balanced budget – approximately $2.1 billion in total expenditures across all funds for the biennium – includes $1.5 billion in operating funds and $0.6 billion in capital funds.
“Using a strategic mix of expenditure reductions and new revenue, we successfully closed the $43 million gap we faced for the upcoming biennium,” said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn. “The budget passed reflects current community priorities and the expectations for Vancouver’s future.”
The budget was developed with community input from engagement touchpoints, including a community survey, an online budget prioritization tool and various community meetings.
The budget included targeted reductions, enhancement of ongoing revenues, use of available cash resources, and several new revenue sources to support public safety, economic development, parks, transportation, the arts and the homelessness crisis. Review the itemized list of cuts, projects, and revenue; highlights include:
- New revenue through a new Business and Occupation Tax on retail sales slated for 2026 to help fund the capital and operating costs of a new bridge shelter in Vancouver
- A Cultural Access Sales Tax to support school student access to cultural events and an investment in the Vancouver Culture and Arts Program to support arts programming in Vancouver
- $109.9 million investment in City streets
- Continuation of four major economic development projects through the next biennium to modernize different parts of the City, including the Heights, Section 30, Fourth Plain and Waterfront Gateway
- Citywide trail program includes building a trail segment connecting Burnt Bridge Creek to the existing trail along 18th Street to allow for citywide movement of pedestrians and bikes
- One-time appropriations for select community non-profits, including the Children's Justice Center, Vancouver Watershed Alliance, and Columbia Springs
Access the Adopted Budget, a map of capital projects, and more is on the City’s website at cityofvancouver.us/budget. The adopted budget will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
There will be additional communication later regarding the implementation of new revenue sources and applicable program/service changes.
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Vancouver, Wash. – Vancouver’s downtown Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street will start transforming into a corridor that provides a safe, accessible and connected transportation system supporting its businesses and providing for a vibrant destination. The City and its partners in the Main Street Promise Project will celebrate the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 4 p.m. in front of Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660.
“A thoroughfare named ‘Main Street’ runs through most every city nationwide, and our city is no exception,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “With downtown moving into a new era, the project will create a safer, more welcoming and timeless place that respects its storied surroundings and historic legacy. It’s also paving the way towards a vibrant future for the many small businesses that are our local economy's heart and soul.”
A community-led effort nearly 30 years in the making, this $21 million project is bringing a long-awaited, complete makeover to lower main street in downtown Vancouver that supports Main Street businesses and creates a welcoming destination. The roadway, sidewalks and adjacent outdoor spaces will be reconfigured to improve safety, foster a sense of community and ensure economic prosperity. This project builds on planning work that began in 1993 to improve and invigorate a vital part of Vancouver.
Expected speakers include:
- Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Mayor
- Ryan Lopossa, Vancouver Transportation Engineering Manager
- Shannon Buell, Nutter Corporation, General Manager
- Jason Irving, MacKay Sposito Engineers, Project Manager
- Crystal Humble Lary, Eryngium Papeterie Owner
- Jon and Kelsey Jennings, Ronald Records Co-owners
- Patrick Quinton, Vancouver Economic, Prosperity and Housing Director
- Michael Walker, Vancouver's Downtown Association Executive Director
A construction contract was awarded to Nutter Corporation in October. This project will include approximately 9,500 hours of apprentice time, just over 15% of the total applicable labor hours. By providing for apprenticeships on public works projects, the City is creating opportunities for training and experience to help ensure that a trained workforce will be available in sufficient numbers to construct future public works projects.
The Main Street streetscape design was developed and refined through community input heard through project advisory group meetings, open house events and numerous touchpoints with property owners, businesses, commissions and community members who walk, bike, roll, drive and use public transit to visit Main Street.
View a virtual flyover animation of the Main Street Promise project.
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Vancouver, Wash. - Today, City Manager Lon Pluckhahn announced the appointment of Troy Price as Vancouver’s next Police Chief.
“Vancouver needs a chief who understands the drivers behind the growing demand for police services and the evolution of the profession,” said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn. “With his extensive experience in policing, I am confident that as Chief he will lead our police department with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.”
Price brings more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement to his new role. Price joined VPD in 1997 as a lateral-entry officer and has moved up through the ranks. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Street Crimes Detective, Property Crimes Detective, Joint Terrorist Task Force Agent, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief. He currently serves as Vancouver’s Interim Police Chief.
“Vancouver has been my home for 27 years, and it is an honor to serve my community as their next Chief of Police,” said Chief Price. “I’m humbled by this opportunity and look forward to making Vancouver the safest urban city in the state of Washington.”
Price will take on the role of chief on Dec. 9. Information regarding Price's formal swearing-in ceremony will follow later.
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Bio for Chief Price
Chief Price most recently served as an Interim Chief of Police. With 30+ years of law enforcement experience, Price has also held the following roles:
1997- present – City of Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington
- Deputy Chief of Police (2023 – 2024)
- Assistant Chief of Police (2019 – 2023)
- Lieutenant (2014-2019)
- Sergeant (2007-2014)
- Detective (2000-2007)
- Patrol Officer (1997-2000)
1994-1997 – Police Officer, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago, Illinois
Price holds a bachelor's degree in psychology.