[{"_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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6197037,"mediaKeyId","3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929","parentId",3853934,"title","Vancouver begins EV charging strategy; staff say public and private investment both needed for equitable rollout","audioSeconds",2114,"startMs",3574234,"endMs",5688400,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929&start=3574&end=5688","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929/thumbnail_3574234.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6197037/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/Vancouver-begins-EV-charging-strategy-staff-say-public-and-private-investment-both-needed-for-equitable-rollout","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197037-053d1410bf4de9fc8a6a1e24a787c3c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993985&Signature=RWcX3VEFIWqOz8lg0SY3OQezgTqctQ9hT879J034vwVDVd-KMOfr5WMdwPmBE~OpPWDuL42ZYRhulj1555Jns7SRrcIgjKG6dx1imL13N4-NzjdSuTquR8LN7ghb5CxUsED~0fY7urRNUbTv06XYMSUmcY9wN45xruKTIsakGW8mtDKMU0UQzOtWdu4Fh4kOe0fs9-SaKvvlU-xYRcf6meuF7tnu7w1YVwv4PP4hAKSScQli7TsvZaTSiBaie8d3U3izgOCQXooxRhqNNWhCZHth-KXS567nHURUxUyuZg10qqlrDthcVSp8DZodzwKR8g-PET5uAd2ZW2AmZduFcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Vancouver City, WA","date","2025-06-16T00:00:00Z","article","City climate and transportation staff on Monday outlined a draft electric vehicle (EV) charging strategy, saying public and private investment will both be necessary to meet projected charging needs and ensure an equitable transition to electric mobility.

Stacy Dahlgaard of the city’s climate program said the transportation sector is the single largest contributor of emissions in Vancouver and that expanding public and private charging infrastructure is a priority in the city’s climate action framework. She said equity is central because many renters and low‑income households lack reliable home charging access and will depend on publicly available chargers or workplace charging.

Laurel Priest from Transportation Planning summarized the city’s current inventory and projected need: staff reported 113 publicly available level‑2 charging ports and 72 DC fast charging ports today, concentrated in commercial zones downtown, at the waterfront, Vancouver Mall and Mill Plain east of I‑205. Staff said the market is unlikely to deliver adequate chargers in multifamily and rental areas without some catalyzing public role.

Staff presented estimated targets and a planning horizon: they said Vancouver may need roughly one to two new publicly available DC fast charger ports per year and on the order of 100–150 new publicly available level‑2 ports annually to meet projected community demand through 2030. Those numbers, staff said, represent communitywide need and assume both public and private investment.

The presentation reviewed different municipal approaches elsewhere — from city ownership and operation, to revenue‑sharing partnerships with private charging companies, to enabling private development through incentives and technical assistance — and said the final recommendation for Vancouver will likely be a mix of roles. Staff noted examples they are monitoring: Seattle, Santa Monica, Bellevue, Portland and smaller peer cities.

Councilors asked practical questions about program design. Several councilors urged easy, low‑cost options for at‑home charging (including availability of standard 110‑volt outlets in some locations), technical and permitting assistance for multifamily and used car dealers, and careful accounting of what counts as “publicly available” chargers (some councilors said dealer chargers and chargers behind gated private lots should not be counted as public). Councilor comments stressed reliability and real‑time information for users and suggested features such as payment systems, Wi‑Fi or nearby amenities to make charging downtime useful for drivers.

Staff described the community engagement undertaken so far, including a cohort of community organizations working as outreach liaisons, 11 public outreach events and an online survey open through June 30 (beheardvancouver.org/evstrategy). Staff said they aim to return with a draft strategy in September and emphasized that they will test use cases (necessity charging for residents without home charging, convenience charging to reduce range anxiety, visitor and fleet charging) against equity and air‑quality priorities.

No formal action was taken at the work session; staff will continue community engagement and return with a draft strategy and an implementation plan that identifies city roles, potential partnerships and departmental responsibilities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Workshops (06-16-25)","oneSentenceSummary","City climate and transportation staff on Monday outlined a draft EV charging strategy, saying public and private investment will both be necessary to meet projected charging needs and ensure an equitable transition to electric mobility.","taxTitle","Vancouver, Clark County, Washington","taxId",2767,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6197041,"Vancouver task force outlines draft Cultural Access Program and proposed grant structure funded by local sales tax",2115,1458850,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929&start=1458&end=3574","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929/thumbnail_1458850.jpg","/articles/6197041/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/Vancouver-task-force-outlines-draft-Cultural-Access-Program-and-proposed-grant-structure-funded-by-local-sales-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197041-a09576c2664857bee57814881f1eed9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993985&Signature=I16EPOcLgoTQ0so9x5YZ1ePwXDJHl1AwYBH5g2pdFpkIDs1FDJEU4T~mp4vPJjIPc8HE1Vg5sj520yblyGMjTwat42GZtp3mFC61xNDRjhzvBcufIGnMWttzODzOL--zehhiSDAWmL3Iu0sfApMCo8dnY0A816-3GgP8f4gKZSTyoeSzo-cLRfMUmRPPvx7dCc7SSGUYKH1zxhTdMDX84AbY5xWBRSTamgEWym1w9nmK2G~x7UzJQnUhIo2OF0ai0~75FtdU1lrabmwv0QJDT2ksE9eJQMlnWFXzxb3Vlks4c1E8EIqdFx8P1nR3DP6z1PNjgcxdfhwPDnn6C5yLPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City cultural staff and members of the Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission task force on Monday presented a draft Cultural Access Program that would use revenue from a local sales tax to fund grants intended to expand access to arts, culture, heritage and science in Vancouver over a seven‑year cycle.

Stacy Donovan, Vancouver’s cultural services manager, said the program’s central intent is “to expand equitable access to arts, culture, heritage, and science in Vancouver,” and that the task force framed public benefits under four themes: expanding access and engagement, strengthening the cultural ecosystem, driving economic and community vitality, and fostering innovation.

The draft divides funds across five grant categories and administration. Donovan and Linda Reed (Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission) described the allocations staff and the task force are proposing: Impact grants (annual, $10,000–$75,000) representing 18% of funds; Innovation grants (annual, $5,000–$25,000) representing 7%; Comprehensive multi‑year grants representing 20%; Capital grants (two‑year cycle) representing 25%; school‑focused grants representing 20%; and administration up to 10%.

Program details in the presentation included examples and scale: Impact grants could fund roughly 18 grants at $75,000 in a year; comprehensive grants could look like five awards of about $300,000; capital grants were described as potentially supporting two $1.5 million investments every two years; and school grants would split the school allocation evenly between Vancouver and Evergreen school districts, with 10% of total funds going directly to districts for field‑trip transportation and admission and another 10% available to nonprofits for school‑based programs.

Donovan noted legal guidance that the program’s public‑benefit language must align with the relevant Revised Code of Washington (RCW). She and task force members said eligible applicants will generally be cultural nonprofits or projects that use qualified fiscal sponsors and that certain entities are ineligible for grants, including government agencies, media outlets (broadcasting, cable, internet), newspapers or magazines, and umbrella fundraising organizations.

Council members asked for clearer eligibility distinctions between grant categories and stronger definitions of capital grants and multi‑year awards. Councilor Fox noted that the draft eligibility pages in the packet were identical across categories and asked staff to return with distinct eligibility criteria and illustrative examples. Councilor Paulson urged flexibility to allow the program to shift funds toward a large, high‑impact capital project if community support and need justify it. Multiple councilors emphasized outreach and an application assistance program so smaller or nontraditional cultural providers across the city can apply.

Staff outlined the timeline: an updated draft will be provided to council on June 30; council feedback is scheduled for August 4; staff will return with a final proposal on August 25; first reading of the ordinance is scheduled Sept. 11 with second reading and adoption Sept. 15. No ordinance was adopted at the work session; staff sought council feedback to refine eligibility, scoring and outreach plans.","City cultural staff and members of the Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission task force on Monday presented a draft Cultural Access Program that would use revenue from a local sales tax to fund grants intended to expand access to arts, culture, heritage and science in Vancouver over a seven‑year cycle.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_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},6197046,"Vancouver staff present two upzoning proposals; planning commission split on larger 50 Eighth Street project",1419,34600,1454465,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929&start=34&end=1454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3853934-bbb046da35f9b224edc816c9cea42929/thumbnail_34600.jpg","/articles/6197046/Vancouver/Clark-County/Washington/Vancouver-staff-present-two-upzoning-proposals-planning-commission-split-on-larger-50-Eighth-Street-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6197046-c45e53f157e7eb1a7f7d50e02d82a4f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775993985&Signature=LvGVhDusofXUFbr~jROaEePC-Ud7ERXpsdQ5ZNsG4KxLwYbT2BRLAWruMLxzg48T7g~3EdeNkPp7E30JSP3UXKbQ0bqCtyMK3cOYNjG~fHvFsW6gBrL444rH1jodY3hgxO4QkrWavkQTfMjS267ItLPRqYkG3hxhRATTr3wGnryq5jqMGlAX8HHHevKca~ZiVg4KMl95Eo8ZQYL6FLrd6ydOO151YAbqWn8mBvosiP2MjCpKE4RVZCk7RmMATbPnHJksbU~9n2uaCajgWghLdR2hIyWOEU6~HE7tbOmct4UMhNxqakjzx9iW-FsL5Qu1lIDK5qwjJnVeyjhucwXTaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff on Monday briefed the Vancouver City Council on two separate rezoning requests that would increase multifamily housing capacity in different parts of the city and asked council for direction before scheduling public hearings.

Both proposals are stand‑alone rezones that do not change the comprehensive plan, staff said. The Bella Grove site is proposed to move from R‑18 to R‑30 and is described as a larger site partly encumbered by wetlands. The applicant previously received site plan approval for about 402 garden‑style units; staff said the wet southern portion of the Bella Grove parcel is likely to remain undeveloped and that the northern two‑thirds of the site would accommodate new housing at the higher R‑30 density.

The second proposal, at 50 Eighth Street, would change zoning from R‑22 to R‑50 on a smaller, roughly 1.6‑acre parcel. The applicant’s nonbinding conceptual plan shows a five‑story, market‑rate building with about 77 units on the site, with parking placed along the edges to buffer adjacent single‑family homes, staff said. The site abuts a stormwater facility to the south and a park to the north.

Planning Commission action differed between the two projects. Brian (staff member, planning) told the council the commission voted unanimously in favor of the Bella Grove rezone and that there was minimal public testimony at that hearing. He said the commission’s support was driven in part by the site’s adjacency to other higher‑density uses and the city’s stated need to provide more housing.

By contrast, the 50 Eighth Street rezone drew more public comment and a split commission recommendation. Staff said eight people testified in opposition and two testified in favor at the Planning Commission hearing; concerns raised included the scale of change relative to surrounding one‑story single‑family homes, traffic on narrow local streets, impacts to trees and to the nearby stormwater facility. The Planning Commission voted 4–3 against the 50 Eighth Street rezone, with commissioners saying they wanted more context from the comprehensive plan and associated design standards before approving a large jump in density.

Council members pressed staff on several details the council asked to see before a hearing. Councilor Fox asked whether staff could pursue a crossing to improve access from the proposed 50 Eighth Street site to the adjacent park and requested that photos of on‑site trees (which were part of the hearing record) be circulated to council before the public hearing. Councilor Stover and others asked for clarification of interim zoning options (R‑30 exists as an intermediate zone) and noted that the comprehensive plan draft has identified this area as a “medium‑scale neighborhood,” a label staff said has been discussed as possibly allowing at least five stories, but is not yet final.

Brian told council staff would assemble hearing materials — including written testimony submitted to date and the planning commission record — and that the city would schedule a council public hearing soon. No formal council vote was taken on either rezone at Monday’s work session.

Councilors also discussed mitigation measures and conditions that could be negotiated at the hearing stage if the council chooses to move either rezoning forward, including potential crosswalk improvements, frontage sidewalk requirements tied to site development, and park impact fee revenue that could support future park development.","City planning staff on Monday briefed the Vancouver City Council on two separate rezoning requests that would increase multifamily housing capacity in different parts of the city and asked council for direction before scheduling public hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vancouver begins EV charging strategy; staff say public and private investment both needed for equitable rollout

Vancouver task force outlines draft Cultural Access Program and proposed grant structure funded by local sales tax

Vancouver staff present two upzoning proposals; planning commission split on larger 50 Eighth Street project