[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6223633,"mediaKeyId","3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9","parentId",3570224,"title","Mediation Center outlines housing-stability program, seeks early-intervention partnerships and tighter CAP coordination","audioSeconds",2508,"startMs",2363000,"endMs",4871000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9&start=2363&end=4871","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9/thumbnail_2363000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223633/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Mediation-Center-outlines-housing-stability-program-seeks-early-intervention-partnerships-and-tighter-CAP-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223633-81a1d82e64f9e1eee7f8f66301ffa1cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598253&Signature=B4WVn-MoNuc~7BQw4AW-j~n7NMwD387NPJCUhGcChZQXYwPvb5DsSqfHZDsQX-p2JQuJSPXTkHy47MPOfhJga6v~VSk~aAkzgE2u1cqud5NUDL54AgBN4Lwy5haAQLUBUfUsJ7EaHU~As2ubSdFRp8FmBoMULkVmWmHhIYpBgbGeQOLinzmopdO3QwokkXFG7uABGg5lfo3e-kwJnk1SzvtYcW-320Jqi3YE~VSTs8iv9hKropbizW3WWjeU4nFUr4GMa4kCYojzUsZ0N1w2dU7NSL93AdZFGB8G~77Sp8bzsg9i2mopt2KN1-RKBzAykM2sdE36Hcedqb6PROKt3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-05-28T23:10:05Z","article","The Community Mediation Center on Wednesday briefed the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on its housing stability program, which offers conflict coaching, referrals to services and conciliation or mediation to reduce unlawful-detainer filings and help tenants and landlords resolve unpaid-rent disputes.

Gina (surname not specified), program staff at the mediation center, described the program’s scope: it is open to anyone in Cowlitz County at risk of losing housing due to nonpayment or lease violations, and it acts as a neutral third party that does not provide legal advice or disburse rental assistance funds. Instead, the center provides communication coaching, conflict de‑escalation strategies, warm handoffs to local resources, screening for Lower Columbia CAP rental assistance, and conciliation or formal mediation in a subset of cases.

From the program’s July 2023 start through April (most recent data presented), staff said they logged 686 unique case addresses. Of those, 427 received conflict-coaching services, 47 received conciliation, and seven proceeded to mediation. The mediation center described conflict coaching as individualized counseling to identify barriers (for example, irregular income, transportation, or language), increase tenant–landlord communication, and help clients consider alternate plans such as repayment arrangements, roommates, or relocation when appropriate.

Program staff and commissioners discussed coordination with Lower Columbia CAP, which operates eviction-prevention rental-assistance funds. Gina said CAP is the primary financial assistance provider for eviction prevention in the county and that the mediation center is working to streamline referrals and improve the completeness of intake information before funds are passed to CAP to reduce processing delays. Commissioners and staff discussed the option of issuing an RFP to allow other providers to administer rental-assistance funds, if desired.

The mediation center recommended three immediate steps if the program continues: an early-intervention pilot to partner with landlords and property managers so tenants receive mediation-center contact information when pay-or-vacate notices are issued; a community-education program offering free trainings for landlords and property managers on communication and de-escalation; and continued, structured partnership with Lower Columbia CAP to ensure financial assistance aligns with dispute-resolution work and reduces bottlenecks.

Staff acknowledged operational challenges including language barriers for some Pacific Islander (Chuukese) speakers and said the center currently has Spanish-speaking staff and contracts with the ethnic support council for Chuukese interpretation; they are exploring periodic clinics for that population. Gina and Gail Bishop, the center’s housing specialist, said the center’s county funding comprises approximately 14% of the mediation center’s budget and is reimbursement-based (county reimburses allowable hours billed to the program). The panel also noted an anticipated state award in the consolidated homeless grant (an estimated contract award was reported and a June contract expected) that would fund eviction-prevention work and could include passthrough funding to the mediation center.

Commissioners praised the program’s outreach but asked staff to continue working with CAP to improve timeliness. No new county funding or formal contract was adopted during the meeting; staff said they expected a state contract and would develop any necessary passthrough agreements if funding is received.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wednesday Business Meeting & Work Session - 05.28.2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Community Mediation Center reported on a housing stability program that provides conflict coaching, referrals and limited conciliation to prevent evictions; staff urged early intervention by landlords and closer coordination with Lower Columbia CAP rental-assistance systems and proposed education and outreach to landlords and tenants.","taxTitle","Cowlitz County, Washington","taxId",5122,"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},6223638,"Public works and building staff outline permit backlog, Accela workflow and plans to speed development review",573,1203000,1776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9&start=1203&end=1776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9/thumbnail_1203000.jpg","/articles/6223638/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Public-works-and-building-staff-outline-permit-backlog-Accela-workflow-and-plans-to-speed-development-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223638-c7e06fdf4512d89627a49a21b1f80762/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598253&Signature=mwfShORNmIb9abYc563xs226MDjBg0AiP4dAGeLv1UMb-2fn4PSHeV8REV0D5wjGDBMp9zOvYRSszNg1CC41d9CNy4fGm9luoax3YnMjjJZtcy55xl0gxR6-j78rqR54slL1KiDEVu~dNyKR4xeK66NgsbF2RzvsQHt31aFEPESUi85~Sd9aWw6G~4fD23cdSy0X4Ht6-aqUnO2yTrfOcXRtL8oA8~3o8cV1Q04Xexl~v3iONMHASJudJBPWJra2bmL3hOrb~S3dxtCzG-lt06Pr-k2tFtE4sZ-R2W50EEPqA-KjFH3tsktg3qjUPVCk-PFYu1NCQ98z8axadOXO2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County public works and building and planning staff presented commissioners with an update on active development review cases, explained how Accela tracks incomplete applications, and described steps to reduce processing time for permits and private-road reviews.

Public works engineer Susan (surname not specified) told the Board that as of noon the office had 15 projects on its active list, 13 after removing short plats, with a mix of residential, private-road and planning projects. She said darker-colored entries in the report indicate permits that are incomplete because building and planning is awaiting additional documents; those short plats are still processed on paper and require multiple signatures, a quirk that causes them to appear in the public works Accela list.

Staff described common reasons for an “incomplete” status: missing documents required by building and planning; preliminary reviews sent back to applicants for correction; or projects filed as short plats that must be handled outside Accela’s full digital workflow for final plat signatures. Susan said public works has been providing targeted comments to applicants and that some incomplete items have been finished and signed after follow-up.

Commissioners and staff discussed turnaround expectations under new state planning timelines for GMA counties; Tracy Jackson, building and planning, explained the recently adopted state rules apply to GMA counties and not to Cowlitz County, but noted the county has considered local time-frame resolutions for processing permits. Staff emphasized that the review “clock” pauses while an applicant holds an incomplete resubmittal and restarts when the applicant returns corrected materials.

Public works said staffing constraints have increased processing times. Susan said she expects to train a junior engineer by June to help with development-review workloads, and that two open positions (covering water, sewer, stormwater, development review and diking) are being recruited with second-round interviews scheduled. She also reported that public works is exploring transferring private-road review responsibility back to building and planning, but that would require ordinance changes and further analysis.

Commissioners asked about how quickly a complete road or engineering plan could be reviewed; staff estimated the current personal workload produces a 2–3 week turnaround for private-road reviews and said training and hiring would shorten that interval. Staff committed to share the Acela project list with the clerk so commissioners can more easily track which projects are in incomplete status and which have advanced.

No formal motions or policy changes were adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to continue recruiting and training to reduce review time and to return with proposed ordinance or process changes if the private-road responsibilities are to move between departments.","Public works and building and planning staff reviewed a current list of development review projects in the Accela portal, explained causes of incomplete applications, discussed staffing shortages and training plans, and signaled possible transfer of private-road reviews back to building and planning subject to ordinance changes.",{"_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},6223643,"County OKs up to $50,000 extension to landfill rock contract to complete tipper move",95,1009000,1104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9&start=1009&end=1104","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6223643/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-OKs-up-to-50000-extension-to-landfill-rock-contract-to-complete-tipper-move","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223643-a0dd035115dee8570ccd4409438d6a43/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598253&Signature=YQVQCURqGFY9kBwpJVWKdk7edJpceRiuY6PA5pjN-x5M1O6h4Ym~bJn0Zc-6HSxXB7zhY7tayL-jULQYKTV2HI9iJoNZDb6P92mPeBZ3j57Zp0C4EtX~pPWn2aUFgM4v6CtiqxcU~z9tV~bD~cMFSDoPgWXNpbi0WySvCBudBiPDchQ16oRmvzbPOdX0MK01XInFAf5fwmqYEEeZlhgO72vEVRVkcxjAQESKwLkkG9VuUsLdDwwrDeOSNioHyYofXHevqwVDGLxSxh4t5jwQcQOrlNHE~XWMlpx4UuCZGW17h8-BdxwfzADcGqWo6kE2wlACs5jBkkDULHQbXRggbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County public works staff won approval on Wednesday to spend up to $50,000 under the current StoreDoll contract for additional rock at the county landfill to finish road realignment and move landfill tippers.

Public Services Director Mike Moss told the Board of County Commissioners that the StoreDoll contract (current seasonal contract year runs July 1–June 30) has a $365,000 cap and the department is nearly at that limit. He said crews are realigning roads inside the landfill, relocating three tippers from one side of the site to the other and need additional rock this month to complete the work before the July 1 contract cycle begins.

Moss described the rock as material commonly used for road base in the fill (6-inch or 3-inch minus), and noted that some rock is repurposed within the landfill but material that is placed into the fill cannot be removed because it becomes contaminated and must remain in place.

Commissioners confirmed the additional spending is within the department’s overall budget and approved the request to expend up to $50,000 more under the current contract for June rock deliveries. Public works staff also said they increased tonnage in the recently issued request for proposals for the next contract year to provide more capacity going forward.

No roll-call vote or motion text beyond the approval was recorded in the meeting transcript; staff noted the expense falls within the department budget and is intended to prevent interrupting the scheduled tipper relocation work.","Public works staff told commissioners the current rock contract with StoreDoll is nearly exhausted and asked permission to spend up to $50,000 more in June to complete road realignment and tipper relocation at the county landfill; commissioners approved the request.",{"_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},6223648,"Cowlitz County commissioners approve bond issuance for PFD conference center phase 1, ask staff to continue interlocal talks",306,93000,399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9&start=93&end=399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3570224-1fd59cca10d513ae7df84059596893b9/thumbnail_93000.jpg","/articles/6223648/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Cowlitz-County-commissioners-approve-bond-issuance-for-PFD-conference-center-phase-1-ask-staff-to-continue-interlocal-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223648-3bf6a15bdefdf9cd25bd1fb707f7f2b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598253&Signature=fDUryVAnvy2odATWPZP87rSx3gr0pnpdepzzO6RVIHhAs7FqaiK9YUw0tK3ZEs3~WKlht-SevfAUzoEZmdjGrDYbeuWTOVu2sqnH~Hr3vOZoKoviEGuHB9CfintXaIyjS987bzJKvMNPlayQq2ITfkfAJHTAnqUb5mFq61C745fTLY7fEIDgkFxRfY7RIhijrElAhb5EqzXAeUA7kgVruLml6mta7YEAPVaWFkwFt4ZZDvked8mqPQHAsykYx7mXcVCPrgk5mecu2iNtAleueP~XSKqOvYzE~0XLxhEijkTYFEMcVRXXnXC2tc7-c-bDgDc-tLn3PAajn8Soroq6bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cowlitz County commissioners on Wednesday approved a motion to authorize the issuance of bonds to fund phase 1 of the Public Facilities District’s conference center project and gave county staff encouragement to continue negotiating an amended interlocal agreement for a possible phase 2.

The vote came after Public Services Director Mike Moss asked the board whether it had given the PFD “the green light” to move forward with bonding and an interlocal agreement; the attorneys had requested a formal motion to proceed. Commissioners approved the bond issuance and stopped short of approving any final interlocal agreement, asking for more detail and safeguards before committing county property.

The action matters because phase 1 funding will allow construction and renovation work centered on the existing event/conference center, including entry improvements and road realignment toward Fifth Avenue. Deborah Gardner, Cowlitz County treasurer, told commissioners the finance committee had recommended issuing bonds and that the PFD is targeting roughly $13,000,000 in bond issuance; county staff said about $8,000,000 would cover the renovation, breakout space and audiovisual upgrades tied to phase 1.

County staff and the PFD described the project as multi-phased. Phase 1 is “center-centric,” including the entryway and renovations to the existing event center; work on the entry is being funded by rural economic development funds and is going to bid soon, staff said. Phase 2 would be a multipurpose facility on a separate parcel across the street that the PFD does not currently control and that would require amending the existing interlocal agreement to grant the PFD authority to expend PFD tax revenue on that property.

Commissioners sought limits before approving any expanded lease or amended interlocal agreement for the property across the street. One commissioner said he supported proceeding on phase 1 bonding but did not want to “tie the hands of future commissioners” by granting indefinite control of county land; another suggested a sunset clause or other conditions to preserve county flexibility. County staff and counsel said Bronson Potter, attorney for the PFD, has been negotiating with the county attorney and that an amended interlocal agreement would be needed if the PFD is to spend funds on property not currently in its lease.

The board voted on a motion to approve issuance of bonds for phase 1; the motion passed. Commissioners also indicated they would encourage continued negotiations on the interlocal agreement and requested to review any proposed amended agreement and lease language before making a final decision. Staff said the PFD expects to start incurring expenses on phase 2 as soon as the coming summer and that the PFD’s timeline for bond issuance targets the fourth quarter of 2026.

Next steps described in the meeting included: county attorneys continuing to negotiate or review amended interlocal language with PFD counsel; staff convening a working session so county and PFD attorneys and staff can be “in the same room” to draft terms; and the board asking for proposed interlocal/lease language that protects county interests (for example, a sunset clause or specific limits on county commitments) before granting final approval.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that approving the bond issuance for phase 1 does not commit the county to phase 2; any amendment to the interlocal agreement or lease for the separate parcel would require a separate, later action by the board.

The board’s approval is limited to the bond issuance authorization; the interlocal agreement remains under negotiation and was not adopted or executed at the meeting.

","The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners voted to approve issuance of bonds to fund phase 1 of the Public Facilities District (PFD) conference center project and directed staff to continue negotiating an amended interlocal agreement for a possible phase 2 multipurpose facility across the street.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mediation Center outlines housing-stability program, seeks early-intervention partnerships and tighter CAP coordination

Public works and building staff outline permit backlog, Accela workflow and plans to speed development review

County OKs up to $50,000 extension to landfill rock contract to complete tipper move

Cowlitz County commissioners approve bond issuance for PFD conference center phase 1, ask staff to continue interlocal talks