[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6265761,"mediaKeyId","3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3","parentId",3088930,"title","EMS board approves piggyback approach and prepares revised interlocal agreement with Vancouver; council informed of changes","audioSeconds",103,"startMs",4694000,"endMs",4797000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3&start=4694&end=4797","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3/thumbnail_4694000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265761/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/EMS-board-approves-piggyback-approach-and-prepares-revised-interlocal-agreement-with-Vancouver-council-informed-of-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265761-0dda30d4b05d51932908d8bb80e6105f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176270&Signature=JxDIRGNVNPlzE5-k6-jhCQ8n-vH9uvEnSdGsOUFqY5chNt~JWZTYxMejqM9FssrJkmk8Sbu86FWG317HwnKbf9fWqL6R6DCejgk971C4SK2fithmr1f9G40XqFV3NXbwnUVyiXXOCe~-vor5O~XCeXMYdxinX3DFV2rraUl-E5vkji6RG-FhNs~ZbJrxxRwLhbDeEvKffWLen9xUpddhf8Qe0NdHtFQO4seS3YdPMDh8~jwuPEbBhm1xL20EUiPS1GFEHsbQTQLHxPaWIKldQ5neVwoAgMbIj0JpI6LPdEthEn64NuOTNJC9pBnV1TaZFnHJm6wFXQ-LlnnCX2xQOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Battle Ground City, WA","date","2025-04-22T15:18:22Z","article","Council Member Overholzer reported on EMS governance and contracting at the April 21 meeting. The EMS board gave preliminary approval to piggyback off the City of Vancouver’s ambulance contract to secure interim ambulance service while board and staff negotiate terms and potential readiness fees. The board also pre‑approved an interlocal cooperative purchasing agreement that would allow continued cooperation and potentially avoid readiness fees Vancouver could assess if the district used a different contracting approach.

Board leadership is engaged with the City of Vancouver on longer‑term arrangements; Overholzer said Chairperson Marshall will lead the conversations with Vancouver. The county council approved adding additional board members; the board is now discussing bylaw modifications for the terms of those additional representatives. Overholzer said the anticipated outcome is that Battle Ground will remain a contracting party for another two years, La Center will be added as a small‑city representative, and Fire District 3 will provide the first fire district commissioner seat on the five‑member board. Staff indicated a revised EMS interlocal agreement will be brought back to the city for signature after the changes are finalized.

Ending: No contract was signed at the April 21 meeting; the report informed council of next steps and anticipated interlocal revisions for future council consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04-21-2025 Battle Ground City Council Study Session & Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The EMS board reported preliminary approvals to piggyback a City of Vancouver ambulance contract and to pursue an updated interlocal agreement; council was informed of expected board membership and bylaw changes.","taxTitle","Battle Ground City, Clark County, Washington","taxId",53947,"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},6265766,"Council raises interest in county‑owned Wick Building as potential downtown asset; officials weigh options",188,4336000,4524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3&start=4336&end=4524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3/thumbnail_4336000.jpg","/articles/6265766/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-raises-interest-in-countyowned-Wick-Building-as-potential-downtown-asset-officials-weigh-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265766-a4495c12d72fe40f19cfb27f4e7974b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176270&Signature=CWUhJE1OWgFyEYi-WkS3Qq6GZ3bnEjyvHqYVA30nJFLcsjrxOREXAPa9a1pXC~s5XpTbXG2UoOSr-T0k0kNPFud4QcROOzVjMHsSWtBEZsiFN988pHkA3JVuInrGa8Ht2S2YfZ8ekpAuTOdmqb5w0VcmQr6~WzwR3EWPLr8EAFqjvv3YHqYjqmqGRT0n5uyZCDDVHoD9ebY64LmZmc8iuYjCUB35shunSfTjRalZv9BEnje5ExaoJ7J79TRENMz8f4f6UyhXn2xLlWKXLiwtXXA6qLOawRbsjnaVSXoDqmZWugCbiRXeCaoQUrEVOpPcyDTbTv8bdw7U4g3JVgkLEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed the future of a county‑owned property referred to in meeting materials as the Wick (old WIC) building after an Urban County Policy Board report at the April 21 meeting.

Council Member Ferrer reported that the county board had listed three options for the property: retain and repair (staff cited an estimated minimum repair cost of about $1,700,000); transfer or sell the property to a nonprofit (a referenced proposal was to sell to Cimar for $1 subject to deed restrictions requiring continuation of certain social services for a period the presenter described as five years under HUD rules); or sell the building at market value. Council Member Ferrer said she had watched the county board discussion and believed the county had not finalized a decision.

Several council members expressed interest in keeping options open and in the city exploring whether the building could support downtown revitalization and parking needs. Ideas discussed included asking the county to offer the property at fair market value, pursuing a request for proposals, a community‑oriented redevelopment with retained social services, or a public‑private partnership. Council members asked staff to analyze feasibility and to consider a comparative market analysis (CMA) and potential partnership approaches.

Ending: Council did not vote or commit city funds. Staff indicated they can run initial feasibility steps (CMA and outreach to the county) and council members noted the importance of ensuring that services housed in the building could be relocated or retained as part of any transaction.","Council members discussed the county‑owned Wick (old WIC) building and asked staff to explore options after an Urban County Policy Board briefing on the property.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265775,"Council adopts ordinance amending salary commission code, removes hearing requirement and adds mandatory public comment period at commission meetings",131,6226000,6357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3&start=6226&end=6357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3/thumbnail_6226000.jpg","/articles/6265775/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-adopts-ordinance-amending-salary-commission-code-removes-hearing-requirement-and-adds-mandatory-public-comment-period-at-commission-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265775-6232480b9370ece8697edb090394afa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176270&Signature=AXZQhDMXt05Hm04IG7mbkzgrVLLPl8nrhKFpBRBpkjqNwXKHXpCRdQqd1jbIM0GMj2dpfsyXf3BgikJID1jVYDw0-TWLifphYzhd3B74ymAG5ii1JdO8GQpl4hzosp3Lk5dPQSgEeQ9~u1pHNDm-710sJbWo0rBx3zRAC8Skwf8MILrRF8Jc0uPFOw4FgR0vPHsMJ74UkvWIs~HsrPIOjyH9ecj3AzXUUSI-mAEyJPKwuqethQOVU8B8Ho-lmCXngbqND036SMMqq-nHTmNyw1fn0Wr0GGz61SnUSHdqZ0sWd2igw0-ABAMouygowlx1KRAKORQAqeL-xwt0UxdiFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council on April 21 unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 2025-03, which amends Title 2 (Administration and Personnel) of the Battleground municipal code as it relates to the city’s salary commission. City staff opened a public hearing on the ordinance during the regular meeting; no members of the public testified and the council closed the hearing before voting.

City staff summarized the ordinance as removing a prior public‑hearing requirement for the salary commission and adding a mandatory public comment period at commission meetings. Council Member Ferrer moved to approve the ordinance and Council Member Kuipers seconded. The council voted unanimously in favor.

There was no public comment for the ordinance at the hearing. The ordinance passed with all members present voting aye; Deputy Mayor Bowman was recorded as absent in the roll call earlier in the meeting. The adoption was procedural and no implementation steps were announced at the meeting.

Ending: The council formalized the change by ordinance; staff will implement the updated meeting procedures for the salary commission consistent with the amended code.","The Battle Ground City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 2025-03 on April 21, 2025, changing municipal code provisions governing the city’s salary commission.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265780,"ETC Institute presents Battle Ground community survey; residents rate police, customer service highly and flag growth and streets as top concerns",1941,675000,2616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3&start=675&end=2616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3/thumbnail_675000.jpg","/articles/6265780/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/ETC-Institute-presents-Battle-Ground-community-survey-residents-rate-police-customer-service-highly-and-flag-growth-and-streets-as-top-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265780-9ef983db05c8bbeea1110f109f130017/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176270&Signature=gltfL1L75zTLggHK~wkqn9PWt~2kmtgxKvakcelBi9aiIC4RkJWcYd~897gM4wkHRtZkppmaBUrvLWgLbj1Suj9NIucjSsEH6kmigtXxndLxUc-B3QPx7w3tAGRDxcwEqfuSfm0lnsrmQuo2CuujXjTFsUL0G-45rH4jsxd4~6YMS8lmB8bGY8IqAvceQJd6ZmOcFGA0e3~5Y06rbL02O6uOQF~WCuNZs8iEbF7nnU~YX9TbDpvpUEcbFASsvNnXUuHdbYhiq222OCYSvRjjiFFXzt7xuxXgo1pHfOgu3G5NrjUlgNpBA5otf-RVcDpDZ5Xy-SfW-zDdHvMRR61e7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robert Haycock, a representative of ETC Institute, presented results of a January–February 2025 community survey to the Battle Ground City Council at a work session on April 21. The survey used mail and online collection, produced 405 completed responses and yielded a reported margin of error of ±4.8 percentage points.

The survey found strong resident satisfaction in several areas. ‘‘Overall quality of police services’’ was rated at about 72 percent satisfied in Battle Ground, compared with regional and national benchmarks Haycock cited at roughly 56 percent and 53 percent, respectively. Customer service from city employees also scored highly (reported at about 63 percent), figures Haycock said the city should ‘‘hang your hat on.’’

At the same time, respondents singled out several concerns. Roughly six in 10 respondents reported dissatisfaction with how the city is managing growth and development, and availability of affordable housing was also listed among higher concerns. Street maintenance and the effectiveness of city economic development efforts ranked high when residents were asked about investment priorities. For parks and recreation, an indoor pool or aquatic center and new walking paths rated highly among unfunded priorities.

Haycock emphasized the survey’s methodology and comparability: ETC benchmarked Battle Ground results against a regional ‘‘Northwest’’ average and national averages it maintains and updates periodically. He recommended using repeated surveys to track changes over time and to target resident groups marked as ‘‘neutral’’ to raise awareness of services. He also noted that nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would support increased taxes, fees, or a bond measure in principle to fund priority parks projects—Haycock described that as an indication residents want to be engaged in options and discussions, not an immediate instruction to place a measure on a ballot.

City staff framed the presentation as a study session; the council took no formal action during the meeting. Council members asked for follow-up analysis to dig into specific concerns—Haycock offered to work with staff to ‘‘peel that onion back a little bit’’ and examine drivers of dissatisfaction in future surveys.

Ending: Staff and ETC said they will make survey data and slide materials available to council and suggested a recurring (for example, biannual) survey cadence as part of future budget discussions. No votes or directives adopting the survey were taken at the April 21 meeting.","Robert Haycock, a representative of ETC Institute, presented results of a January–February 2025 community survey to the Battle Ground City Council at a work session on April 21.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265771,"City finance report shows solid reserves; council debates accelerating street preservation funding",464,6443000,6907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3&start=6443&end=6907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3088930-f53e77430a27da3dffd2b085baa897e3/thumbnail_6443000.jpg","/articles/6265771/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/City-finance-report-shows-solid-reserves-council-debates-accelerating-street-preservation-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265771-cb4515c15fc0afd92d694a9ca44d4618/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176270&Signature=MdCe2kJ0d8s6ocgKuhnwlhlYpRFuyWAfnWJ474C-H~4VVZhV59MZiilbaFK14EFrYbo-x0eCcMsXgLX0oDNiERqmQc07ciEi1XnoDjcgcbNhPMM93rxMw2NtzPIRvk2K5sDNzdvAnlpnzaAMOPxB0QEVkwFQoawwDvDCgWPD6dtX0W6Q6W4efOBzjY9oN~NePIFHPZeAfB~uaJc4gTN7iGpIQUu2GxV8OUGLFxXCKnqjyv596G8QQSqmQMcL5fSHSE5-IuierNq4NwAcnIVQRp7aImN~DwbzvWFwFFxJnpy4gov2yCySpgK2UED13EUMH41WhFzL6YNo1R-IU3oMxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a first‑quarter financial summary at the April 21 regular meeting and council discussed possible near‑term uses of available funds, with particular attention to street preservation.

Staff reported the city’s year‑to‑date general fund revenue at about $8.2 million against a $26.7 million annual budget and year‑to‑date general fund expenditures of about $5.5 million against a $27.2 million annual budget. Interest income across funds was reported at roughly $942,000 year to date, down from about $980,000 the prior year; staff said average earnings across funds were about 3.8 percent compared with 4.4 percent the previous year. Staff noted that 88 percent of cash and investments are restricted or committed for specific purposes under state law or grant restrictions, and the city holds several long‑term investments locked at higher rates.

Council members raised the city’s street preservation needs and asked staff to prepare a proposal that would show phasing and fiscal impacts if the council were to accelerate work beyond the typical annual allocation. Staff said they would coordinate a plan showing the number of projects feasible in a year, cash‑flow implications and ways to avoid having too much simultaneous construction in the same neighborhoods. Members also emphasized the importance of retaining recent gains in public‑safety performance while considering any reallocation of funds for one‑time capital work.

Staff noted funding progress and early expenditure timing in several enterprise and capital funds (street fund, parks fund, storm fund, water and sewer funds) and reported outstanding debt levels including a general obligation bond for Scott And Way and water and sewer revenue bonds. Council and staff discussed specific capital projects elsewhere on the agenda (Kiwanis Park, Senior Center, NE First Street sidewalks) and asked staff to return with projections and recommended sequencing so the council could decide during the budget process.

Ending: Council directed staff to prepare a streets funding proposal and sequencing options for further council discussion and possible inclusion in the upcoming budget process; no budget decisions were made at the April 21 meeting.","City staff presented a first‑quarter financial review showing general fund revenues and expenditures on track and most cash kept in LGIP; council members discussed using available resources to accelerate street preservation work and asked staff for a plan showing cost, phasing and fiscal impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

EMS board approves piggyback approach and prepares revised interlocal agreement with Vancouver; council informed of changes

Council raises interest in county‑owned Wick Building as potential downtown asset; officials weigh options

Council adopts ordinance amending salary commission code, removes hearing requirement and adds mandatory public comment period at commission meetings

ETC Institute presents Battle Ground community survey; residents rate police, customer service highly and flag growth and streets as top concerns

City finance report shows solid reserves; council debates accelerating street preservation funding