Commission On Aging To Confirm 2027 Work Plan At Annual Retreat - 09/14/26

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Commission on Aging will hold its annual retreat on Monday, Sept. 21, from 3:15 to 6 pm.

The in-person meeting will be held in the sixth-floor Training Room in the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. The retreat will not include provisions for virtual attendance, and will not be recorded, but is open to the public. 

Topics at the retreat include the 2027 work plan and 2026 Silver Citizen nominees. 

The Commission on Aging, supported by the of the Clark County Council, is a nine-member volunteer group that implements the Aging Readiness Plan and provides leadership addressing needs of aging community members.

Charter Review Commission Schedules Town Hall Meetings To Discuss Proposed Amendments On The November Ballot - 09/12/26

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Charter Review Commission will hold a series of town hall meetings to discuss nine proposed amendments that will be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. The town hall events will be held in each of the five county council districts.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

• District 1: 11 am to 1 pm Saturday, Oct. 10, Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room, 901 C St.
• District 2: 3 - 5 pm Sunday, Oct. 11, Bud Van Cleve Room at Luke Jensen Sports Complex, 4000 NE 78^th St.
• District 3: 3 - 5 pm Sunday, Oct. 4, Cascade Park Library, 600 NE 136^th Ave.
• District 4: 12:30 - 2:30 pm Saturday, Oct. 3, Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4^th Ave.
• District 5: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, Sept. 26, Ridgefield Community Libryary, Allene Wodaege Community Room, 210 N. Main Ave.

Charter Review Commissioners will present information and answer questions on the proposed amendments to the county’s charter. Anyone wishing to provide written comment to the commission may do so via the county’s website.

More information on the Commission’s events is available at https://clark.wa.gov/charter/events.

Clark County’s home rule charter is the county’s rulebook for how its government is set up and how it operates. It defines roles, powers, elections and processes. It doesn’t set day-to-day policies and cannot override state and federal laws or constitutions.

Fifteen commissioners were elected in November 2025 to serve on the Charter Review Commission. The commission will resume its weekly meetings beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 5 pm with both in person and online attendance options. The meetings are held on the sixth floor of the county’s Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. To learn how to join online and provide public comment during a meeting visit https://clark.wa.gov/charter/charter-review-commission-2026-2027. Meeting agendas and video recordings are available on the same web page.

County Seeks Volunteers To Serve On The Bicycle And Pedestrian Advisory Committee - 09/11/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County is seeking applicants to fill two volunteer positions, including one youth member position, on the thirteen-member Clark Communities Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Members age 18 and older serve four-year terms and youth members age 11 – 17 may serve a one-year term. The terms for these positions will begin on Jan. 1, 2027.

The committee advises the county and participating city and state government staff on matters relating to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure planning and implementation of the county’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan. The committee reviews proposed road construction projects to identify ways to ensure safe access for all pedestrians, including those with disabilities, and cyclists; advises agencies on ways to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety; and focuses on encouragement and educational programs and other ways to promote countywide bicycle and pedestrian activities.

Applicants must be residents living anywhere in Clark County. People with experience bicycling, walking, traveling by public transit, or using other modes of active transportation are encouraged to apply.

The committee meets 6-8 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month, and meetings are held with both in-person and online participation options. In addition to regular meetings, subcommittees may meet as work groups and could require spending additional time outside of the regular meeting times. 

Applications can be found at: www.clark.wa.gov/community-planning/bpac-members. To apply, interested residents should submit a completed application to Jake Goodwin, County Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Applicants also may send information by email to jake.goodwin@clark.wa.gov.

Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.

Free In-person Workshops Help Residents Reduce Waste And Save Money (Photo) - 09/11/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County’s Composter Recycler program is hosting a series of free in-person workshops about composting and sustainable living strategies. In these sessions, participants learn how to shrink their environmental impact through hands-on composting, green cleaning, smarter recycling and preventing food waste. Many workshops feature hands-on activities. The series kicks off with three workshops in Camas/Washougal. Attendees can register for any number of workshops in the series.

• We Compost: Community Action for Zero Food Waste, 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Washougal United Methodist Church
• Zero Waste: Everyday Ways to Cut Household Trash, 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Camas Public Library
• DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaners: Create a Healthier Home, Save Money, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Low-Waste Chef: Reduce Food Waste, Save Money, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Bokashi Composting: Ferment Food Scraps in a Soil Factory, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Worm Bin Composting: Turn Scraps into Soil, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Backyard Composting: Find a Compost System to Fit Your Yard, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Gardening with Compost: Feed Your Soil Naturally, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at Waste Connections in Vancouver
• Low-Waste Holiday: Save Money, Make Memories, 6-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Waste Connections in Vancouver

Detailed workshop descriptions are available on the website. Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Registration links are posted on the Composter Recycler website. Participants will receive a confirmation email after successful registration.

Recordings of previous workshops are also available on the Composter Recycler website.

The Composter Recycler program educates the community about easy ways to reduce waste, increase recycling and create healthier homes. For more information about the program, visit the website or email info@clarkcountycomposts.org. 

For information about road and park projects, closures, opportunities for community input, and more, residents can follow Public Works on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and view information on Nextdoor. Residents can also visit clark.wa.gov/public-works to sign up for email notifications.

Go to clark.wa.gov/public-works/news to read this information in another language. Click the button in the top right of the page that says “Change language” next to a globe icon and choose your preferred language.

Vaya a clark.wa.gov/public-works/news para leer esta información en español. Haga clic en el botón en la parte superior a la derecha de la página que dice "Change language " junto al icono de globo terráqueo y elija su idioma preferido.

Чтобы прочитать эту информацию на русском языке, зайдите на сайт clark.wa.gov/public-works/news. Нажмите на кнопку Change language (“Изменить язык”) в правом верхнем углу страницы рядом с символом земного шара и выберите свой язык.

Перейдіть на сторінку clark.wa.gov/public-works/news, щоб прочитати цю інформацію українською. Натисніть кнопку Change language (Змінити мову) зі значком глобуса у верхньому правому куті сторінки та виберіть потрібну мову.

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Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office - MEDIA RELEASE - 08/31/26

The following information is in reference to a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is related to a shooting on Aug. 26, 2026 in Vancouver.

This individual died on 08/26/2026 in Vancouver, WA.

The name of the decedent: Swindler, Loic   Age: 18 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Washougal, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Gunshot wound of torso

Manner of death:  Homicide

How the injury occurred: Shot by other

Place of injury: Other person’s residence

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Media release issue date: 08/31/2026

County To Host Manufactured Home Park Information Session (Photo) [date Updated] - 08/28/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County community members are invited to attend an information session on proposals relating to manufactured home parks in unincorporated Clark County on Sept. 14 at 6:30 pm.

In August 2025, the Clark County Council declared a moratorium to prohibit the redevelopment of existing manufactured home parks (MHPs) within its jurisdiction. The moratorium was renewed through February 2027 to allow time to develop strategies to better support preservation of existfing MHPs, to help maintain this affordable housing option, and to minimize resident displacement.

As part of the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan update project, the county is considering changes to comprehensive plan policies and the addition of a new MHP overlay zone within unincorporated urban growth areas. The purpose of the overlay is to prioritize MHP uses and limit other residential uses to reduce redevelopment pressure. The proposal is similar to zoning tools used in several Washington cities, including the City of Vancouver, looking to preserve MHPs and minimize displacement of park residents.

An information session on the proposals relating to MHPs in the unincorporated urban growth areas will begin with a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. Options are available to attend in-person or remotely:

• Date: Monday, Sept. 14, 2026
• Time: 6:30-7:30pm. Doors open at 6 pm
• Join in-person: Public Service Center, sixth floor, Room 680, 1300 Franklin St.
• Join remotely: Login details will be posted to https://bit.ly/2025CPMtg

• Translation services may be available upon request. Requests must be sent to comp.plan@clark.wa.gov by Sept. 7, 2026.

• Los servicios de traducción pueden estar disponibles si los solicita. Se debe enviar la solicitud a comp.plan@clark.wa.gov antes del 09-07-26.
• Услуга письменного перевода может быть предоставлена по запросу. Запрос необходимо направить на адрес comp.plan@clark.wa.gov до 26.09.07.
• 可应要求提供翻译服务。 请求必须在 2026 年 09 月 07 日之前发送至 comp.plan@clark.wa.gov

•  

  Learn more about the MHP proposals at: https://bit.ly/2025CPUpdate

   

  Submit a comment on the MHP proposals:

• On the county website: https://bit.ly/2025CPComments
• By email: comp.plan@clark.wa.gov
• By mail: Community Planning, MHP Comments, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98666-9810

Learn more about the county Comprehensive Plan Update project, Your Future. Your Voice. at: https://bit.ly/2025CPUpdate

County Schedules Public Forums On Community Needs Assessment - 08/27/26

Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Community Services has scheduled four public forums in October 2026 to discuss and get feedback on its low-income community needs survey conducted earlier this year. This feedback will be included in the final Community Needs Assessment report and will help determine spending decisions countywide.

These events are open to all. Registration is encouraged. Interpretation services will be provided upon request. Light refreshments will be available during in-person forums.

Community Forum in Battle Ground

• When: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026
  • Open house / data walk: 1–5 pm
  • Forum: 5:30–7:30 pm
• Where: Battle Ground Community Library
  • 1207 SE Eighth Way
  • Meyer Memorial Trust Community Room

Virtual Community Forum

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
  • 10 am – noon
• Where: Zoom, link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82914439966
  • Meeting ID: 829 1443 9966

Community Forum in Vancouver

• When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
  • Open house / data walk: noon–5 pm
  • Forum: 5:30–7:30 pm
• Where: Vancouver Community Library
  • 901 C St.
  • Columbia Room

Community Forum in Camas

• When: Monday, Oct. 26, 2026
  • Forum: 5:30–7:30 pm

• Where: Camas Public Library
  • 625 NE Fourth Ave.
  • Dual Meeting Rooms A & B

The confidential survey asked residents with low incomes about their family’s needs. Community Services will share data from the survey, and participants will have a chance to provide feedback and share their opinions on the findings.

Community Services is required to conduct a community needs assessment every three years. The results are used to help prioritize which programs and services will be funded in our community with Community Service Block Grant awards.

Board Of Health Appoints Dr. Brianna Da Silva Bhatia As Interim Health Officer - 08/27/26

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Board of Health this week voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Brianna da Silva Bhatia as interim Health Officer for the county.

Dr. Brianna da Silva Bhatia joined Clark County Public Health as deputy health officer in February 2025. She is a practicing and board-certified internal medicine physician.

Dr. da Silva Bhatia received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Aureus University School of Medicine in Aruba. While pursuing her degree, Dr. da Silva Bhatia had the opportunity to travel and split her educational time between island and international communities and diverse health care systems in the United States. She completed residency in internal medicine in Pennsylvania.

Dr. da Silva Bhatia completed her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Washington School of Public Health with a focus on health systems and population health.

Dr. da Silva Bhatia sees the role of Health Officer as, “Giving a voice to Public Health and the public and promoting partnership within the community.”

Dr. Alan Melnick retires
The board appointed Dr. da Silva Bhatia to replace Dr. Alan Melnick who retired from the county on Aug. 25, after more than 20 years of service to the community. He served as the county’s Health Officer and Director of Public Health.

“On behalf of the Clark County Board of Health, I thank Dr. Melnick for his service to the county,” said Council Chair Sue Marshall. “He saw our community through some difficult times including the COVID pandemic and measles outbreaks. We wish him the best in his retirement.”

The Board of Health, in partnership with Public Health Advisory Council, will begin discussions on the process for appointing the permanent Health Officer.

County Council Seeks Applicants For Opening On Board Of Equalization - 08/26/26

Application deadline: 5 pm Friday, Oct. 2, 2026

Vancouver, Wash. – The Clark County Council is seeking applicants to fill positions on the Clark County Board of Equalization. This is an engaging opportunity to serve on a Board that supports local government. The Board of Equalization is a three-member, impartial citizen panel that hears and decides on property owners’ appeals of assessed property valuations and exemptions.

Positions available include one primary member of the Board and three alternate members. The term length is three years, and members are paid $100 per day for hearings they attend. Hearings are held on alternating weeks, Tuesday through Thursday mornings, for approximately ten months of the year. This schedule averages a commitment of about six mornings a month for approximately three hours each hearing day plus time to review cases before hearings. Board members are expected to be familiar with the supplied case materials before each hearing day which does require independent time to review. Alternate Board members serve as needed to cover the absences of the three primary members.

Applicants must be Clark County residents. They cannot hold any elective office or be an employee of any elected official. Persons who have been employed by the Clark County Assessor’s Office are not eligible to be a board member for two years after leaving their employment. Applicants should have knowledge of Clark County real property and personal property appraisal, real estate, or property tax law. Computer skills to join video calls and read large digital files are required of all members to consistently join Webex video hearings and review digital evidence. Training on Board of Equalization practices will be provided.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and résumé to Jake Goodwin in the County Manager’s Office: Jake Goodwin, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or Jake.Goodwin@clark.wa.gov.

To learn more, visit https://clark.wa.gov/internal-services/board-equalization or contact the Board of Equalization Clerk at Allyson.Field@clark.wa.gov or 564-397-6125.

Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office - MEDIA RELEASE - 08/24/26

The following information is in reference to a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This release provides updated information in the investigation related to a shooting at Hockinson Meadows Community Park on Aug. 15, 2026. Cause and manner of death have been updated; this information was pending at the time of the previous media release.

This individual died on 08/15/2026 in Brush Prairie, WA.

The name of the decedent: Richardson, Trent Joseph   Age: 18 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Ridgefield, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Gunshot wound of chest

Manner of death:  Homicide

Place of injury: Parking lot of community park

How injury occurred: Shot by other

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Media release issue date: 08/24/2026 (previous media release date: 08/18/2026)

Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office - MEDIA RELEASE - 08/18/26

The following information is in reference to a death investigated by the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office. This investigation is related to a shooting at Hockinson Meadows Community Park on August 15, 2026.

This individual died on 08/15/2026 in Brush Prairie, WA.

The name of the decedent: Richardson, Trent Joseph   Age: 18 years

The decedent was a resident of (city/state): Ridgefield, WA

The opinions listed on the death certificate are as follows:

Cause of death:  Pending

Manner of death:  Pending

Place of injury: Parking lot of community park

Reports and records of autopsies or postmortems shall be confidential as per RCW 68.50.105. No additional information is available for release from the Medical Examiner’s Office. Refer all other inquiries to Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Media release issue date: 08/18/2026