City Council Approves Resolution To Place Police Services Levy, Proposition 5 On November Ballot -08/05/25

Vancouver, Wash. – On Aug. 4, the Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a resolution to place Proposition 5, a levy to fund police services, on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot.

“Vancouver’s population continues to grow, and so does the need for police services,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “We have the second lowest-staffed police department among cities our size in Washington, and it contributes to longer response times, a reliance on overtime to staff shifts, and reduced capacity for investigation. This November, the community will have the opportunity to consider a potential path toward addressing these challenges.”

If approved by the voters, Proposition 5 would fund police and support services, including:

• Add up to 13 full-time equivalent sworn officers in a range of ranks and assignments
• Equipment and vehicles consistent with current and future policing standards

The levy also includes administrative and staffing costs to directly support the officers, equipment, and additional prosecution and criminal justice costs as approved by the City Council.

“I want to thank the members of the Police Advisory Committee for coming together again to thoughtfully consider funding strategies that address our department’s staffing challenges," said Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price. “I’m also grateful to the City Council for supporting efforts to align our resources with the public safety expectations of this community. Vancouver continues to grow, and with that growth comes new demands on our officers. Proposition 5 is a direct response to those demands. If approved, it would allow us to bring on additional officers, reduce overtime, and strengthen our capacity to respond, especially in investigations and traffic enforcement.”

Voters will be asked to approve an increase in Vancouver’s regular property tax by approximately $0.15/$1,000 assessed value, for a maximum regular property tax levy rate not to exceed $2.47/$1,000 for collection in 2026. The levy is anticipated to raise $6 million annually over six years starting in 2026. Under the proposed increase, owners of a $500,000 home would pay an estimated $75.00 per year, or $6.25 a month.

After last fall’s Proposition 4 did not pass, the City Manager reconvened the 13-member Police Advisory Committee to help chart the City’s next steps. The committee met with the City Manager and Police Department staff three times between April and June to discuss police priorities and potential funding solutions. The committee recommended a multi-source investment strategy that includes the voter-approved Proposition 5, a Council-approved public safety sales tax, and applying for the recently created state grants that will be administered by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Together, these three sources of revenue could fund 25 sworn staff and up to 10 non-sworn staff. Proposition 5’s property tax increase would enable the City to hire 13 full-time equivalent officers in a range of ranks and positions, as well as the positions and resources needed to support the officers.

Learn more about Proposition 5: Police Services Levy.

The full language for Proposition 5

PROPOSITION NO. 5 CITY OF VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES LEVY LIFT

The Vancouver City Council adopted Resolution M-4346 concerning a levy lid lift to fund police and public safety.

If approved, this proposition would fund police and public safety services, including additional police officers, equipment, and criminal justice system costs by increasing Vancouver’s regular property tax by approximately $0.15/$1,000 assessed valuation, for a maximum regular property tax levy rate not to exceed $2.47/$1,000 for collection in 2026. The 2026 levy amount will be the basis to calculate subsequent levies, per RCW 84.55. Qualifying seniors, veterans, and others would be exempt, per RCW 84.36.

Should this proposition be approved?

YES   . . . . . . . . .         □

NO   . . . . . . . . .         □

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Grand Opening Celebration For New Playground At Fruit Valley Park On Aug. 16 (Photo) -08/04/25

Vancouver, Wash. – The City will celebrate the grand opening of the Elizabeth Austin Playground at Fruit Valley Park (3200 Fruit Valley Rd.) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, marking the debut of a fully-inclusive play space built in honor of community leader, educator and mother, Elizabeth Austin.

Made possible by a $1.2 million gift from the Kuni Foundation, the new playground is a destination where children of all abilities can thrive together through play. The celebration will begin with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. featuring Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, followed by games, activities, food vendors and a community movie night showing of The Wild Robot at 8:45 p.m.

“This playground was shaped by the community, and every detail —whether it’s the bird-themed play features or the safe, welcoming layout—reflects what families told us they needed,” said Terry Snyder, Parks Development Manager. “Inclusive playgrounds remove barriers, inviting everyone to play, explore and belong. That’s exactly what this space is all about.” 

This is the third inclusive playground opened by the City in the last five years, with another at Oakbrook Community Park, under construction and expected to open this fall.  Adding to the diversity of play spaces across Vancouver, the Elizabeth Austin Playground is the first fully-fenced playground in the city, created to offer a secure and supportive space for children who benefit from a defined boundary.

The playground honors the memory of Elizabeth Austin, a passionate advocate for inclusive spaces and a mother of twin boys with whom she joyfully visited every playground in the area. Before her passing from cancer in 2021, Elizabeth dedicated her energy to education, philanthropy and community connection.

“We wanted to celebrate Elizabeth’s incredible heart, her joy, and her vision for a more inclusive world,” said Angela Hult, president of the Kuni Foundation. “She believed in creating spaces where every child could belong, and this playground reflects her legacy and the Foundation’s commitment to community inclusion. We’re profoundly grateful to the City of Vancouver for their collaborative approach and incredible support of this project.”

The event is free and open to all. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs.

Event Details:

Elizabeth Austin Playground Grand Opening
Saturday, Aug. 16 | Fruit Valley Park, 3200 Fruit Valley Rd.

• 6:30 p.m. – Ribbon cutting with Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle

• 7 p.m. – Games, giveaways, food vendors and treats

• 8:45 p.m. – Outdoor movie: The Wild Robot (PG)

For more information, visit www.beheardvancouver.org/fruit-valley-park.

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City Opens Lodging Tax Grant Application For 2026 Tourism Events And Programs (Photo) -07/28/25

City And County Funding Agreement Advances Bridge Shelter Project -07/16/25

Vancouver, Wash. – The Vancouver City Council and the Clark County Council both voted to authorize the signing of an interlocal agreement that will allocate $2.1 million to the City’s project to provide shelter and services to residents experiencing homelessness at the Bridge Shelter, which will open in 2026 at 5313 N.E. 94^th Ave. The votes took place on July 7 and July 15, respectively.

“This agreement reflects what is possible when we come together across jurisdictions to respond to our community’s most urgent needs,” said City Manager Lon Pluckhahn. “I am grateful to Clark County for their partnership and shared dedication to addressing the crisis of homelessness in our community.” 

“The County Council and staff appreciate the opportunity to partner with the City on this project and look forward to other opportunities in the future to support our community,” said County Manager Kathleen Otto.

The funding is made possible from revenue collected from the sales and use tax for chemical dependency or mental health treatment services or therapeutic courts collected by Clark County under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 82.14.460. The funds will be used to support capital costs related to the construction of the Bridge Shelter.

As part of the interlocal agreement, up to 30% of the shelter beds will be reserved for eligible Clark County residents from outside Vancouver. These residents will have access to the shelter for the first four years of its operation, and as space is available in successive years.

The Bridge Shelter is being designed to provide a low-barrier, trauma-informed, 24/7 shelter with integrated wraparound services such as mental health care, substance use treatment, peer support, and pathways to safe, stable, and sustainable housing.

The City declared an emergency related to homelessness in 2023 to accelerate the City’s work to address the crisis and the impacts on both the unhoused and housed.

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Vancouver’s Rental Registration Program To Improve Quality, Safety Of Rental Housing (Photo) -07/15/25

Vancouver, Wash. – At Monday’s regular Council Meeting, City Council adopted the Rental Registration Program ordinance to improve the quality and safety of rental housing in Vancouver.

“The program offers wide-ranging benefits for the entire community. Tenants will gain safer, more habitable homes, with clearer channels for repairs and relocation assistance when needed. Landlords will have better access to educational resources and guidance, making compliance easier and more transparent,” said Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “This program reflects our commitment to tenant well-being and responsible rental property ownership.”

Starting January 2026, all long-term rental property owners will be required to register their units each year and pay a $30 per-unit fee. This fee will be waived for the first year for units registered within the first 90 days of the program launch. Rental registration will require submission of unit-level data, such as address, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, year built, and whether the unit is income-restricted. Inspections will begin in mid to late 2027 after the registration system is established and shaped with community input.

The ordinance also establishes a tenant relocation fund to help lower-income households move from uninhabitable units. Certain types of housing, such as short-term rentals, shelters, hospitals and owner-occupied units, are exempt from the requirements, and fee waivers are available for qualifying income-restricted properties.

The City will spend the next several months preparing for the new rental registration program. This work includes creating easy-to-follow instructions, setting up a simple online registration system, and reaching out to known landlords and property managers. The City will work with community members to design a fair and efficient inspection process. The City is rolling out the program in phases—first focusing on building a full list of rental properties and funding support for tenants, followed by regular inspections to ensure habitability standards.

Once launched, the program will provide more complete and accurate rental housing data, which will inform targeted housing policy, improve communication with property owners, and support fast assistance with public health or safety concerns.

Preserving quality rental housing through registration and inspections has been a community priority in Vancouver, identified in multiple housing plans since 2016. Development of this program began in early 2024 with a community stakeholder workgroup that included housing providers, property management companies, tenants, legal experts, rental housing associations and housing advocates.

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