City Council discusses updates to wastewater treatment and sewer plans amid population growth

The Planning Commission meeting held on March 20, 2025, in Woodland, Washington, focused on critical discussions regarding the city's wastewater treatment plant and growth projections. The meeting began with a review of the capital facilities plan, which referenced a 1999 estimate that anticipated a growth rate of 5%. Commission members raised questions about the current growth rate to be used in planning, emphasizing the importance of accurate engineering calculations based on actual water usage rather than just population figures.

A significant point of discussion was the need for updated data to inform the city's comprehensive plan. The last update to the water plan occurred in 2022, while the sewer plan has not been revised since 2017. Members noted that the sewer plan is still based on 2015 data, which may not accurately reflect current needs. The conversation highlighted the complexities of planning for infrastructure, particularly regarding the timing of capital investments necessary for expanding capacity at the wastewater treatment plant.

Commission members discussed the importance of aligning the sewer plan with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) population projections, which categorize growth into high, medium, and low estimates. They noted that the city reports annual building permit data, which is crucial for understanding growth trends. For instance, while 50 new units were applied for last year, only 25 were completed, indicating a discrepancy between permits issued and actual construction.

The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment of the challenges in predicting growth and the need for ongoing updates to planning documents. The next steps involve ensuring that the upcoming sewer plan update aligns with the latest OFM projections and accurately reflects the city's growth trajectory. The commission emphasized the importance of having reliable data to guide future infrastructure investments and planning efforts.