Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants to fill one seat on the Aviation Advisory Committee. Applications must be submitted by July 6.
The Aviation Advisory Committee is appointed by the Vancouver City Council to provide advice and recommendations to the Airport Manager, City Manager, and City Council, as well as other City departments, regarding the management and operations of the Pearson Field Airport (101 East Reserve Street Vancouver, WA 98661) and other aviation-related issues affecting the airport and the City.
Applicants for this vacancy should demonstrate interest in the airport, and/or aviation and aeronautical activities, or reside within neighborhoods surrounding Pearson Field Airport. This seat may not be filled by a current Pearson Airport tenant.
There is no city residency requirement to serve but interested applicants must be available for an online or phone interview with Vancouver City Councilmembers. This recruitment is for a position with a one-year term.
This news release and commission application materials are also available in Español, Русский and Tiếng Việt.
To apply online, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/boardsandcommissions. To request a paper application or for more information, contact the boards and commissions coordinator at Vancouver City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668, bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600.
For more information about the Aviation Advisory Committee, please visit www.cityofvancouver.us/aac
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About Pearson Field Airport:
Pearson Field is one of the oldest operating airfields in the U.S. Located directly east of I-5 and just north of Highway 14 and the Columbia River, the airport is easily accessible by land and air. Each year, Pearson Field and Museum attract 39,500 visitors to Vancouver, generates $26,998,080 and supports roughly 460 jobs. The airport is operated by the City of Vancouver, which owns 61.8 acres of the 134.4-acre airport site. The remaining 72.6 acres are owned by the National Park Service and lie within the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.
Vancouver, Wash. – Do you have an event or project designed to bring visitors to Vancouver? Your nonprofit may be eligible for grant funding provided by Lodging Tax. Lodging Tax grants are for projects or events that will increase overnight and day-visit tourism. Applications are now available on the City’s website.
Lodging Tax grants are available to non-profit and tourism organizations with projects, events or activities that increase visits to the city or help increase tourism-related revenues for future events that will occur after January 1, 2024. The grants are funded through a four percent lodging tax on hotel, motel and bed and breakfast stays. The minimum application amount is $5,000.
An optional grant overview and orientation meeting for those interested in applying will occur at 4 p.m. June 7 at City Hall (415 West 6th Street). The meeting will also be hosted online for those who wish to attend virtually. A recording of the meeting will be posted on the City’s website. The orientation meeting will include training on Foundant Technologies, the City’s grant application software.
The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. Friday, July 28.
For more information, contact Deputy Director of Economic Development Teresa Brum at teresa.brum@cityofvancouver.us.
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Vancouver, Wash. – The Vancouver City Council will hold its next quarterly Council Community Forum on Monday, June 12 at Roosevelt Elementary School, 2921 Falk Rd. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the forum will begin at 6 p.m.
The forum will focus on housing, an issue that affects everyone in the community. While Vancouver has programs and tools to foster and preserve affordable housing, as Vancouver grows the community’s housing stock is not keeping pace with this growth. The forum will provide an opportunity for the community to have a conversation with the Council about their experiences, ideas and hopes for the future of housing in Vancouver. There will be time reserved for the community to bring up issues unrelated to housing.
The format will include a short overview presentation from staff on housing in Vancouver, with much of the time spent in table discussions with individual councilors.
All community members are welcome to attend. If you need interpretation services or accommodations with a disability, please contact the City Manager's staff at 360-487-8600 (Voice/TTY 487-8602). Every attempt at reasonable accommodation will be made. Light refreshments and drinks will be available.
This is the second quarterly forum of 2023; the next two forums will be held on September 25 and December 11. Locations and topics will be announced closer to the forum dates.
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Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver’s Office of Equity and Inclusion has launched a new “Summer of Inclusion” weekly email series to support the Vancouver community in enriching its understanding of equity and inclusion and ways to apply it for the betterment of all who live, work or play in Vancouver this summer and beyond.
“Summer is a time of year when our community is outside, together volunteering, enjoying parks and natural spaces and attending free community events and festivals,” said Nikki Chen, business partner with the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion. “The Neighborly Summer of Inclusion newsletter provides our community with tools and inspiration to incorporate equity and inclusion into conversations with our neighbors, family and friends while out and about this summer.”
The Neighborly Summer of Inclusion Newsletter will provide subscribers with tools and tangible steps to incorporate equitable and inclusive practices in their day-to-day lives. Each week, from June 1 through September 1, participants will be presented with a different topic and asked to take time to read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast and explore Vancouver in different ways. Participants are invited to reflect on and discuss their personal experiences and reactions to each weekly email topic using a challenge-tracking tool and conversation guide.
Community members can participate as individuals or as a part of a workplace, Neighborhood Association, place of worship, professional association, book club or more. Subscribe at cityofvancouver.us/summerofinclusion.
The City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion was formed in 2021 and works to better serve community members who have traditionally been underserved or underrepresented in City policies and programs. In 2023, the division added two new positions to support advancing the City’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan, which provides a framework for building internal equity at the City organization level and applying a lens of equity and inclusion to the City’s work on behalf of its rapidly diversifying community.
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Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants for eight positions on the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Applications must be submitted by June 26.
The City is authorized to collect a 4% lodging tax on hotel, motel or bed and breakfast stays. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is a volunteer body that makes recommendations to the Vancouver City Council about how that tax revenue is spent. Over the years, the committee has helped award hundreds of thousands of dollars in lodging tax grants to local projects and events that increase tourism in the city.
Four of the open positions must be held by people who work for a nonprofit organization that would be eligible to receive lodging tax grant funding. The other four positions must be held by people who own or work for a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast required to collect the lodging tax. Qualified applicants will be interviewed by City Council on a date to be determined. Applicants who are not appointed through this process may be considered for future LTAC board vacancies for up to one year from the date of their application submission.
Per Vancouver City Council policy, all incumbents who wish to reapply for their positions will be re-interviewed along with any other qualifying applicants.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee members serve two-year terms and meet four to six times per year. Guidelines for committee membership are set by State of Washington law through RCW 67.28.1817.
This news release and commission application materials are also available in Español, Русский and Tiếng Việt.
To apply online, visit cityofvancouver.us/boards. To request an application or for more information, contact the boards and commissions coordinator in the City Manager’s Office by mail at City Hall, P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, at bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us, or 360-487-8600.
For more information about the advisory committee, including links to meeting minutes and agendas, visit cityofvancouver.us/ltac.
Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is proposing the property at 4611 Main St. as a potential location for its next Safe Stay Community for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
The property – approximately 18,750 square feet – is owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and is being leased to the City. The City worked with WSDOT to pursue this location as it is close to public transportation and will help address the needs of nearby unhoused residents.
While encampments on state highways and other state properties appear intermittently, WSDOT, as a transportation agency, is not equipped to address the underlying causes of unsheltered homelessness. WSDOT welcomes the opportunity to partner with the City on this proposed Safe Stay location and supports this compassionate solution to address the safety of those living at encampments, as well as the traveling public and road crews working near these sites.
The City is currently conducting extensive outreach to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the proposed site, seeking their input during a public comment period that is part of the process established for opening any location for a Safe Stay Community.
If approved, the proposed site at 4611 Main St. would be the fourth Safe Stay Community to be approved in Vancouver. The first, located in east Vancouver, opened in December 2021. The second site in northeast Vancouver opened in April 2022. A third site has been approved and is awaiting construction. Since opening, the first two communities have successfully provided their residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support and access to critical health and treatment services necessary to exit homelessness.
Like the existing Safe Stay Communities, the proposed fourth site would provide 20 modular shelters housing up to 40 people. The site will be fenced and staffed 24/7 by the onsite nonprofit operator, Do Good Multnomah. It will include trash receptacles and sanitation services, portable toilets and handwashing stations, meeting and office space, and access to supportive services provided by local agencies.
Public comment period now open
The City is committed to informing and involving neighbors and surrounding businesses in the Safe Stay Community planning process. Community members are invited to visit beheardvancouver.org/ssc4 to share their thoughts and feedback about the proposed site. The city also invites community members to attend one of two upcoming community information sessions. These sessions will include a chance to ask questions, learn more about the proposed Safe Stay location and about service provider, Do Good Multnomah. Sessions will be held on:
- Attend Online – Wednesday, May 31, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Community members can participate in the virtual session using a computer, smart device or phone. To register, visit cityofvancouver.us/cis
- Attend In-Person – Monday, June 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., Discovery Middle School Commons, 800 E 40th St, Vancouver, WA 98663. Please RSVP to kerry.peck@cityofvancouver.us.
To register by phone or request language interpretation services, please call 360-487-8616.
To learn more about the City’s Homelessness Response Plan and sign up to receive email updates, please visit beheardvancouver.org/homelessness-response.
Following public input and final approval, the City would plan to open this proposed Safe Stay Community this fall.
Vancouver, Wash. - The Main Street Promise Project will host its second informational open house event on Thursday, June 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Vancouver Community Library (901 C Street) in the Columbia Room.
The event will showcase conceptual designs for downtown’s Main Street from 5th Street to 15th Street intended to improve accessibility, safety and connectivity for businesses, residents and visitors. The project is seeking feedback from community members regarding various design elements, including potential lighting, materials and art integration options. Preliminary construction considerations and possible measures to mitigate disruptions to businesses will also
be shared.
“We’re excited to continue the conversation and share our progress with the community,” said City of Vancouver Deputy Director of Economic Development Teresa Brum. “Conceptual designs reflect what we heard from the community during our first open house, small group sessions and meetings with various stakeholder groups, our business and property owner survey and input from our Project Advisory Group.”
Community input gathered through this event will help inform final design and construction plans for Main Street revitalization efforts. Project information will be available in English, Spanish and Russian. Community members who need interpretation or assistance to participate in the open house, please email smallbusiness@cityofvancouver.us or call 360-487-7940 by June 1, 2023.
A community-led effort nearly 30 years in the making, this project is an investment in the future of downtown’s Main Street. For more information about the Main Street Promise Project and opportunities for engagement, visit beheardvancouver.org/mainstreetpromise.
Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver has extended the application deadline for culture, arts and heritage grants to June 14. Additional in-person grant workshops will be held at Vancouver City Hall (415 W. Sixth Street) from noon to 12:45 p.m. on May 16 and 5 to 5:45 p.m. on May 17.
Grant funding totaling $100,000 is available to non-profit or government organizations in Vancouver in 2023. Projects or programs receiving grant funding will be notified in August and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2024.
Eligible projects include performances, exhibitions, special events, infrastructure improvements and professional development programming. Applications should demonstrate high artistic quality, innovation and creativity and should reflect, celebrate and preserve the heritage and diversity of Vancouver.
More information about the grants, including the application, review process and full guidelines is available at www.cityofvancouver.us/culturegrants.
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Vancouver, Wash. – Discover the art, culture and natural beauty of Vancouver without breaking the bank. Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has a full lineup of free events planned this summer including festivals, concerts and movie nights. Check out local craft vendors and breweries one day and enjoy a movie under the stars the next!
Make the most of your summer and explore these exciting community events in Vancouver.
Free concerts
Dance your summer afternoons or evenings away at one of Vancouver’s two summer concert series. Each concert is free, family friendly and a perfect opportunity to hear some of the Pacific Northwest’s most talented artists. Enjoy food from local vendors or bring your own picnic to the park (no alcohol permitted).
The north shore of the Columbia River is the place to be on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for the Vancouver Waterfront Concerts presented by Waterfront Taphouse. Weekly performances run from July 6 to Aug. 10 at Vancouver Waterfront Park (695 Waterfront Way). This year’s stellar lineup features Curtis Salgado, Aaron Meyer, the Bobby Torres Ensemble, the Juleps, Norman Sylvester and Sabroso.
The Columbia Tech Center Sunday Sounds Concerts presented by Riverview Bank hits the stage in east Vancouver on Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Columbia Tech Center Park (17701 S.E. Mill Plain Boulevard). Enjoy exciting performances July 9 to Aug. 13 with Prom Date Mixtape, Petty Fever, Kalimba, Roll On, Dancehall Days and Stayin’ Alive.
Free movies
Start your weekend off right with the Free Friday Night Movies presented by HAPO Community Credit Union. Movies are shown at parks throughout Vancouver every Friday between July 7 and Aug. 18. Arrive at 7 p.m. to enjoy fun activities before the movie begins. The big screen comes to life at dusk with blockbusters like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” “Wakanda Forever,” “Strange World” and “Super Mario Bros.” All movies are closed captioned. For the full movie schedule visit www.cityofvancouver.us/Movies.
Festivals and Celebrations
Summer is the season for festivals and cultural events in Vancouver! New this year, the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival is coming to Esther Short Park (W. 8th and Columbia Streets) and the downtown Arts District August 4-6. Stages, pop-up galleries, family activities and food vendors will be set up to celebrate summer with a diverse lineup of local artists and internationally recognized musicians. Free and open to all ages, the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival invites everyone to enjoy three days of world-class music, art, dance, food and fun!
The City will also be partnering on a number of returning celebrations that are free and open to the public. Esther Short Park will host the Lemonade Day Junior Market on June 3; the Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 17; and Vancouver USA PRIDE on July 8. The Columbia Play Project Family Play Day is on June 24 at Vancouver Waterfront Park and Summerfest will be held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (612 E Reserve Street) on July 1.
All summer long, Esther Short Park will host a variety of other events and festivals put on by local businesses and community partners. While some offer free admission, they all provide fantastic opportunities to connect with neighbors and celebrate the wide variety of interests that make Vancouver such a fantastic place to live.
Plan your summer
Seize the summer and save with City of Vancouver special events! Since there is no cost to attend City concerts and movies, consider setting aside some funds to purchase food, gifts and other treats to support local vendors and businesses this summer.
Connect with Vancouver Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.cityofvancouver.us/events to plan your perfect summer in the Couve!
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Vancouver, Washington – The Esther Short Park water feature (W. 6th Street and Columbia Street) and Columbia River water feature at Vancouver Waterfront Park (695 Waterfront Way) opened to the public today. Both features will run daily from dawn to dusk through the end of the summer season, weather permitting.
The two water features are popular spots for residents and visitors to cool off on warm days. The feature at Esther Short Park includes a waterfall that cascades down a path of boulders, providing comfortable seating for parkgoers of all ages. The Columbia River water feature includes artistic mapping of the Columbia River basin, cascading water, spray fountains and wading areas with nearby bench seating.
Visitors can help prevent damage to the features’ pumps and filters by keeping food and pets out of the water, which will keep these much-loved park amenities running smoothly throughout the season. The water used in both features is continuously circulated and treated; it is not safe to ingest.
For more information about operations, rules and safety guidelines at Vancouver’s water features, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/WaterFeatures.
Vancouver, Wash. – The Vancouver City Council approved an ordinance to pass the first supplemental budget of 2023 during a public hearing as part of the regular May 8 City Council Meeting.
The approved supplemental budget mostly includes administrative items, carrying forward appropriations from the last biennium for projects that were approved and funded for 2022 but were not completed due to timing or the multi-year nature of some projects, expenditures associated with new external revenues and requests based on newly identified needs.
The approved expenditure increases for the City’s operating and capital funds proposed in the supplemental budget total $140.2 million. It includes an increase of $36.1 million related to recommended changes in the Operating Budget, with the remaining appropriation increase of $104.1 million representing changes in capital projects and supporting funding transfers. The Supplemental will result in utilizing $55.2 million in city resources; of that amount, the General Fund’s share is $10.1 million.
Highlights of the first supplemental of 2023 include:
- Water Station 14 Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) treatment system utilizing grant funding
- Carryover funding for continued PFAS pilot testing, studies, planning, etc.
- Pearson Airfield solar panel systems utilizing grant funding
- Fruit Valley Park restroom upgrades and playground replacement utilizing donation funding
- Bagley Community Park pre-design for future improvements utilizing ARPA funding
- SE 34th Street Complete Street Project utilizing grant and Transportation Benefit District funding
- NE 192nd Avenue - NE 18th Street to SE 1st Street utilizing grant and Transportation Benefit District funding
- Fourth Plain Safety and Mobility Project: F St to Fort Vancouver Way utilizing grant funding
View the full list of projects, appropriations, carry-forward items and staff.
The supplemental budget reflects adjustments made each year to show changes in revenues and expenditures that occur after the biennial budget is adopted. The city council adopted the 2023-2024 $1.7 billion budget, in November 2022.
Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants for vacancies on its volunteer Vancouver Public Facilities District (PFD) Board of Directors. Applications must be submitted by Monday, June 5.
The PFD owns the land under the Hilton hotel and convention center in downtown Vancouver which it leases to the City’s Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA). The PFD receives funding for operation of the property from the state sales tax credit program which it then transfers to the DRA. The PFD board is also responsible for approving annual budgets and monitoring use of the funds.
The Vancouver City Council appoints the board, which is comprised of two at-large board members and three members appointed based on recommendations from local organizations, including the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, local economic development organizations and local labor councils. The City is recruiting for three seats held by someone recommended by local organizations; one of those seats is held by an individual that can seek reappointment. All applicants must also participate in a virtual interview with the Vancouver City Council on a date to be determined.
Two of these seats are for mid-term appointments; one expiring in 2025 and one in 2026. The third seat will be for a full, four-year term.
The PFD board typically meets twice a year. Meetings are hybrid, with an in-person option at Vancouver City Hall, 415 W. 6th St. Board members prepare for meetings by reviewing financial information provided to them in advance.
This news release and board application materials are also available in Español, Русский and Tiếng Việt.
Applications may be submitted online at www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. For a printed application or for further information, contact the boards and commissions coordinator in the City Manager’s Office at P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600.
For more information about the Vancouver PFD, including links to past meeting minutes and agendas, visit www.cityofvancouver.us/pfdb.
Vancouver, Wash. – The City of Vancouver is seeking applicants to fill one mid-term seat on its Culture, Art and Heritage Commission. Applications must be submitted by Friday, June 2.
The City’s Culture, Art and Heritage Commission is a nine-member volunteer citizen’s group responsible for undertaking, assisting with and facilitating the development and promotion of a thriving cultural, art and heritage environment in Vancouver through programs, ownership of buildings and public art, and community partnerships.
Applicants should be leaders in the cultural, heritage, arts or business community with experience relevant to the purpose of the Commission. All applicants must also participate in a virtual interview with the Vancouver City Council on a date to be determined.
Commissioners meet from noon to 2 p.m. quarterly, with meetings currently being held as hybrid. This recruitment is a mid-term appointment, with a term ending in 2024. The appointed volunteer may seek reappointment to a separate, full term when the current term expires.
This news release and commission application materials are also available in Español, Русский and Tiếng Việt.
Applications may be submitted online at www.cityofvancouver.us/boards. For a printed application or for further information, contact the Boards and Commission Coordinator in the City Manager’s Office at P.O. Box 1995, Vancouver, WA 98668-1995, bc_coordinator@cityofvancouver.us or 360-487-8600.
Visit www.cityofvancouver.us/cahc to learn more about the City’s Culture, Art and Heritage Commission, including current commissioner bios and links to past meeting minutes and agendas.