[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078421,"mediaKeyId","2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099","parentId",2959632,"title","City unveils draft economic development strategy focused on inclusive growth, small business support and neighborhood investments","audioSeconds",860,"startMs",7242000,"endMs",8102000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099&start=7242&end=8102","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099/thumbnail_7242000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078421/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/City-unveils-draft-economic-development-strategy-focused-on-inclusive-growth-small-business-support-and-neighborhood-investments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078421-17833debe22b81ca2f33e60485483c5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158755&Signature=EkAOFWFo9LBta5pdccaEnjmBVQvykwMXbusyLtLMUo7IKGKdDLRGQPMZHOUiH586m-4aU~F8dXVxCPoRuMKyxQb73ivYBDe-mT-SICoyOmWokdGX6vWRj5qxgKkvC41mZhLG5cz7ssgWz5vHyMUrac4-Su4GflhGqj~1oUX5jI1TSPL7ngsVnoX4gUHgM4JEYV26zY8MMfe7nQ8nM225Yh8f52QcwJ65Ky4SiLsdpVmzhIqWcdQu6moxNcbPPKN9vzM72BdkMguAPaBLBaS~GC86ElZ23sj7c677ieXvspFzEvGpUEM3WM5Yszko5SafKNJC7vPAWWA3vHDDcy7dSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vancouver City, WA","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented a draft economic development strategy to the Vancouver City Council that aims to marry job growth with equity and neighborhood investment, and sought council feedback on goals and early implementation priorities.

Patrick (staff presenter) told council the draft is the city’s first comprehensive economic development strategy and reflects work with consultant Eco Northwest, community stakeholders and a national thought‑leader panel. \"This strategy is ambitious,\" the presenter said, adding that implementation will require both existing and new resources.

The nut graf: The strategy includes four goals with supporting actions: (1) create pathways to accessible, quality jobs and reduce barriers to opportunity (including career pipelines in trades and employer supports for childcare); (2) create wealth‑building opportunities for historically marginalized communities through small‑business supports and a proposed citywide revolving loan fund; (3) position Vancouver as an inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship center with startup supports and early‑stage investment; and (4) invest in neighborhood commercial districts to promote safety, vibrancy and affordable commercial space for small businesses.

Staff proposed initial implementation funding estimated at roughly $2.0–$2.5 million over five years to seed priorities such as a small business revolving loan fund (initially targeted to a geographic investment area and to be expanded), pilot neighborhood commercial investments, and early startup events and marketing. Chris (staff) walked council through actions under each goal and the suggested next steps, including a steering‑committee meeting and a return to council for adoption in April.

Councilors offered largely positive initial reactions. Several members gave informal thumbs‑up to the four goals during the workshop. Councilor Stover asked that labor unions and project‑labor agreements be named explicitly among potential partners for trade‑focused workforce pathways; staff agreed to add that language. Councilor Perez asked that apprenticeship and contracting workshops for youth and young adults be emphasized; staff said that those activities fit under Goal 1 and would be integrated into implementation plans.

Ending: Staff will incorporate feedback from the city’s national thought‑leader review and the council’s steering committee and return with a refined draft and an implementation plan; staff tentatively scheduled a return for April 21. No formal adoption occurred at the workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Workshops (03-17-25)","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a final draft economic development strategy that sets four goals — accessible quality jobs, wealth creation for historically marginalized communities, innovation and entrepreneurship, and neighborhood commercial investment — and proposed early implementation funding over five years.","taxTitle","Vancouver, Clark County, Washington","taxId",2767,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078425,"City staff present four annexation scenarios; three would require subsidies, small option projects net positive",3335,3115000,6450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099&start=3115&end=6450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","/articles/6078425/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/City-staff-present-four-annexation-scenarios-three-would-require-subsidies-small-option-projects-net-positive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078425-f3051bdcc15738f412b84dc6842553e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158755&Signature=ZpERlb7LJu4ry6uqmYQ~pSMNHWc3iqw1rvidC~PbCSt~UHwRJjfzUn-Nk9BqVAg6Pt3~AeD5aAkICiGJe0yehaIMwEtQYGDpliZadNkyE7LQ0HzMhg3zD64B3XLMkTOSnaUp9T-Nea7CcDDKD3jjj49g0vrYPBMpCI50rdr4xRhsBwTarolSPoATCofJvncgWCHIxnLqkzmAPnH1gIMqr3O~V39OItK7UcEIuq-XTA6bR9fKtkDVGEna4Ab0Kpf5Q5qBLUZEKMMKajnwmrYyNh~SEL1IRR0o7cdSw~HOuBxufB7TcBLm7wzSwMdF3iV09XgOoz3ju9kUWrB8oXblIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning and finance staff presented four modeled annexation scenarios to the Vancouver City Council and said three of the four scenarios would likely require subsidy from current residents, while a small targeted annexation north of SR‑500 could be net positive under current assumptions.

At the workshop, a staff presenter identified the scenarios and their headline results: annexing up to the Fire District 5 boundary (about 95,000 new residents) showed an estimated ongoing deficit of about $42 million; annexing to the city’s water‑service areas (about 76,000 residents) produced an estimated ongoing deficit of roughly $50 million; annexing the full urban growth boundary (about 171,000 residents) showed an ongoing deficit in the ~$49 million range but applied to a much larger tax base; a smaller North Padden Parkway scenario (about 1,700 residents with commercial corridors) showed a net positive outcome on an ongoing basis.

The nut graf: Staff emphasized a key one‑time revenue tool that materially improves early years of larger annexations — a state sales‑tax credit the city could receive for up to 10 years — but that credit is temporary and conditional, and the underlying ongoing fiscal gaps remain large. Councilors asked for more detailed breakdowns of lane miles, park acreage, and other capital/maintenance liabilities before making policy choices.

Staff outlined principal assumptions. Property tax estimates used county assessor parcel data; sales tax figures came from Washington’s Department of Revenue. Staff assumed the city could access a limited, temporary sales‑tax credit in three of the four larger scenarios; the presenter noted the credit is a 10‑year, one‑time revenue stream and requires an interlocal agreement with the county and annexation completion by July 1, 2028. Utility revenue was adjusted because many unincorporated residents currently pay higher out‑of‑city utility rates; converting them to city service generally reduced projected utility revenue. Road and sidewalk costs were modeled with a roughly 30% higher per‑mile investment for newly annexed lane miles because county standards historically differ from city standards, and staff included estimates for added police officers, parks maintenance and debt service, and one‑time vehicle purchases.

Key numbers presented on expenditures and capital needs included: an estimated need for about 114–115 additional police officers in the Fire District 5 scenario and about 205 officers under the full UGA scenario; a potential ~$35 million debt service estimate tied to a parks/recreation facility in one scenario; and roughly $23 million estimated one‑time vehicle purchases in the largest scenario. Staff cautioned these are preliminary estimates that require department‑level validation.

Councilors probed scope and timing. Councilor Fox and others urged staff to prioritize annexing areas with growth potential and commercial/industrial revenue prospects rather than fully built single‑family neighborhoods. Councilor Hansen asked whether the small North Padden scenario could be expanded just above the 2,000‑resident threshold that would make the city eligible for the 10‑year sales‑tax credit; staff said boundary adjustments could be explored. Councilor Paulson, among others, urged modeling scenarios that incorporate projected growth and development over a 10–20 year horizon, not only an as‑is snapshot, and flagged the need to consider the comp‑plan and land‑use changes that would follow annexation.

Staff also described process and next steps: any large annexation that relies on the state sales‑tax credit will require interlocal negotiations with Clark County and more detailed asset inventories (lane miles, park acreage, utility infrastructure) and timing decisions about how quickly the city would upgrade infrastructure to urban standards. The presenter estimated initial procedural costs for a major annexation effort could be a few hundred thousand dollars; smaller annexations would cost less.

Ending: Councilors gave mixed initial reactions and asked staff to return with further analysis: more granular lane‑mile and park‑acreage counts, scenario modeling that includes projected growth and phased service upgrades, and options to expand the small North Padden boundary to test sales‑tax eligibility. No formal action or vote was taken at the workshop.","City staff presented four annexation scenarios to Vancouver City Council showing large area annexations would create ongoing annual deficits despite a 10‑year state sales‑tax credit; a small North Padden option of roughly 1,700 residents showed a net positive result but is too small to qualify for the sales‑tax credit without boundary adjustment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078432,"Survey finds cautious support for council voting districts; many residents undecided",2964,151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099&start=151&end=3115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2959632-5bcdaa25862c58dc9edcf22f2ff59099/thumbnail_151000.jpg","/articles/6078432/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/Survey-finds-cautious-support-for-council-voting-districts-many-residents-undecided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078432-c53cc011cdc6b3bb6a21a034fa5b4f40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158755&Signature=gbOfZfr-7isKajbx-dEmfnzxxS4uniayez8yXyqHObHmtpY9FqXgqGhYVd3GnqH9kkyz7BXl26955FwSGyKHa7Pkr2wUmP5ly28Lm0mvpEDDBwigkEudXet7dmywAqMorQFSjZ5Z6LLyIJrDRJfkZDRxRVEcbe1giINA0p2VyWMW7crUHlN4mPuH~gz2QF4DHoPtLvoQvkpXROyWVoBnqazRB4by7kPerHeBgS8aeCQaIHk-QWUrWqitJFSTVP3k0kDcl2Z8u5-eFuNnUuq7RoDYAyfwFPnRJjDKJrQ9K48jPqpmYQ03pibieKlsyZ5dW7rijQfOWjAHeQpD-I7-5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A majority of Vancouver residents who were given basic information said they would support creating voting districts to elect City Council members, but a large share of the public remained uncertain, the city’s consultant told council at a workshop.

Devin Bales, director of research at DHM Research, told the council the firm surveyed 400 Vancouver residents by phone and text between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2 and set demographic quotas to match the city’s population. \"With a sample size of 400, the margin of error is about 4.9 percent,\" Bales said.

The nut graf: In an initial, uninformed question 49% of respondents said they supported districts, 19% opposed and 32% said they did not know. When the survey provided a short explanation that councilors are currently elected at-large and that districts would elect council members to represent only part of the city, support rose to 58% and opposition to 29%, while 13% remained unsure. The result leaves the council with both measurable support and substantial uncertainty among residents — a factor councilors said will shape whether and how the city asks voters to decide.

DHM presented several other findings the council considered: the company asked about interest in a hybrid model (district council members plus some at-large seats). Among respondents who ultimately supported districting, 47% said they would support adding at-large members in addition to district representatives, 37% opposed that hybrid and 17% were unsure.

Bales summarized respondents’ reasons: among people who ended up supporting districts, many cited expectations that districts would add diversity of perspective or improve distribution of resources across the city. Among those who opposed, the most-cited concern was that district-elected officials might prioritize their neighborhood over the entire city. \"A third of folks said it could make council members advocate only for their neighborhood,\" Bales said. DHM coded short open-ended answers to identify those themes.

Councilors asked technical and methodological questions. Councilor Kim asked whether the hybrid-question wording had reminded respondents that the mayor already serves at-large; DHM confirmed the survey question about adding at-large members did not explicitly mention the mayor. Councilor Perez and others asked about variations in sample sizes for sub-questions; DHM explained some questions only applied to subsets of respondents (for example, only those who said they supported districting).

Staff and committee members framed the presentation as a step in a larger process. Aaron Landy, policy program manager, reminded council the districting committee — which its members said includes Councilors Stover, Paulson and Fox — had spent many months working with DHM and that the survey grew from the 2024 charter review committee’s discussion of districting. Landy and DHM emphasized the survey was an initial test and that messaging and ballot language could change public opinion.

Council discussion focused on next steps and timing. Staff listed a practical deadline: materials for a potential ballot placement would need final direction in early to mid-June if the council intends to place a measure on the November 2025 ballot because the county requires ballot materials in August. Several councilors asked for more time to review the full cross-tabulation tables in the DHM report; several asked that the districting subcommittee and staff prepare clarifying options and precise ballot language before the council decides whether to take a measure to voters.

Ending: No formal vote or directive was recorded at the workshop. Councilors agreed to take additional time to review the full survey tables, and several members asked staff and the districting subcommittee to return with more detailed options — including refined hybrid models, term-limit scenarios and ballot language — before the council gives final direction on whether to place a measure before voters.","A DHM Research poll of 400 Vancouver residents found 58% support for creating council voting districts after respondents were given basic information, though a large share remained undecided. The City’s districting committee and council members discussed next steps and timing for any ballot measure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City unveils draft economic development strategy focused on inclusive growth, small business support and neighborhood investments

City staff present four annexation scenarios; three would require subsidies, small option projects net positive

Survey finds cautious support for council voting districts; many residents undecided