[{"_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",6163163,"mediaKeyId","5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808","parentId",5436444,"title","County sets hearing to add fines for parking in no-parking zones; sheriff seeks enforcement authority","audioSeconds",185,"startMs",7097000,"endMs",7282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808&start=7097&end=7282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808/thumbnail_7097000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163163/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-sets-hearing-to-add-fines-for-parking-in-no-parking-zones-sheriff-seeks-enforcement-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163163-8e5d64a6b77bfe7cc95028498c17fb83/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659101&Signature=Jnuq9M4CVI1RWrk7dXWIW4O6gXqRpmJGYqVt04B2hnjHxN22yw3PC-yg4Re4jCtz91GgtpUBQpZTFZU1J9iSwICUJScBDpe6f9Y97UxjyTUR4Rc7gN8k0JuhUbKiwaEKI3n2NC2zhtA6xUN4GO26LjQwIz5psM5qM6Y1SkVhAoWRDcv0DRw4jlcxAaVMGfORCViGCxXl6WhmfNmUc7x73YcjOstQIVRazzgwpZVQbjQIxTdnK4jrQ0yfAPydC2U4tNZ2LqVCwI30p-HPh-OvPqXuaQ9hVH5vV-h6MIcvGmf7K--kdX3aO0mePIaj4si7HT2pjxKnLf1goQUovfWFFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cowlitz County Commissioners, Washington","date","2025-07-22T03:24:15.557Z","article","Susan Eugenis, county engineer, asked commissioners to set a hearing to amend the county traffic code to allow the sheriff's office to assess fines for vehicles parked in no-parking zones. \"The proposed ordinance... would add several new sections to the traffic code that would allow the sheriff's office to assess fines when you park in a no parking zone,\" Eugenis said, and proposed $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $200 for a third.
Eugenis said the state formerly set fines for these offenses but has returned authority to local jurisdictions to set amounts, and the county’s amendment implements local penalties so the sheriff can enforce no-parking zones already identified through prior hearings. Commissioners asked whether the ordinance should give the sheriff discretion by phrasing fines as \"up to\" amounts to allow future adjustment without another ordinance change; Eugenis said staff and the sheriff's department could discuss that option before the hearing.
Eugenis said the county has a current list of roughly a dozen no-parking locations—mainly industrial areas and other corridors—and that the amendment would set penalties but not establish or change the location of zones themselves. The board scheduled a public hearing on the traffic-code amendment for Aug. 12 so the sheriff, staff and public can comment on fines and implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cowlitz County Commissioner Open Public Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Public works presented an amendment to the county traffic code that would allow the sheriff's office to levy fines for parking in designated no-parking zones; the board set a public hearing for Aug. 12 to consider the proposal and proposed fines of $50, $100 and $200 for repeat violations.","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},6163168,"County schedules public hearing for comprehensive plan map amendment near Castle Rock",254,6746000,7000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808&start=6746&end=7000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808/thumbnail_6746000.jpg","/articles/6163168/Cowlitz-County/Washington/County-schedules-public-hearing-for-comprehensive-plan-map-amendment-near-Castle-Rock","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163168-5ca8ca1ca643e8a38acf406d537d3392/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659101&Signature=G38cqXfvcycEHNwjaXlyYOJjt5zcqG1NWWZk05PQJZY73xsx3E1vvXuZhiK06t4qsG~~XbjxZNlKZHrqH~cXT0zReOdzsZToIcqOjySsfel1USsH3R10rEu2itTTqAouYCegnGVjzVPguMsJl-r6Be8ACzQRo3YH5kZGMjoOE2YPrpXrPZurhZH3SezpxmtUNKDaDXZb56VwLXcpQLbTxPaMFujI1IjqwouDMPpUqWcMfnZYiMljwkOR~BuoiHe29AYsbS0O~0245nvOsziTUE8ionHjBgzgjCl127pfSvhZZwwyH2iH6brtR41ZBuF-dQBxpLIr8M2q2r5PAfPrtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Trimble, planning manager for building and planning, asked commissioners to set a public hearing for a comprehensive-plan map amendment recommended by the planning commission affecting property north-northeast of Castle Rock along the Toutle River. \"In this case, the applicant brought their project to the planning commission and the planning commission took a look at the area and decided that the logical change for this particular area would include a few more properties,\" Trimble said.
Under the change being proposed, parcels designated \"small holding\" would be reclassified to \"rural,\" which would reduce minimum lot sizes from five acres to two acres in the affected area and would allow certain property owners to subdivide; Trimble said the original applicant's property could be split into three lots if the amendment is approved. The planning commission’s recommendation includes adding nine additional properties to create a more consistent map designation; Trimble said property owners in the area are supportive.
The board set the public hearing for Aug. 12; Trimble said the full recommendation, staff analysis and property owner notices will be presented then and that the planning commission and affected property owners will be invited to speak. Commissioners asked staff to provide maps and context for mineral resource lands and nearby development patterns before the hearing.","Planning staff recommended the board set a hearing to consider a planning-commission-backed map amendment that would reclassify several parcels near the Toutle River from 'small holding' to 'rural', lowering minimum lot sizes from five to two acres.",{"_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},6163172,"IT refresh approved; vendor services agreement pulled for legal review after security incident review",488,5963000,6451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808&start=5963&end=6451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808/thumbnail_5963000.jpg","/articles/6163172/Cowlitz-County/Washington/IT-refresh-approved-vendor-services-agreement-pulled-for-legal-review-after-security-incident-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163172-9643bc02f748633f2c97301c9a8b706c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659101&Signature=j9uMpW6oHQZ-ZlQSuGG5LnLVPGAP-Vdf2fOiNwqK2leyR2lVRfu6bP1pYH-ddYW3CNr~k4SPq4XJo6HWGaly95pxfAJDg5SSqXpVlxDVnMwAR9Gs8EACzuh4JQ4Vv7H2fwmy7pUBVG3hX44d2qZK8vXDa1mzRKJBm-ssV4upqhpnO8COfuA1KMAa-OYUujMpY9jWs0TICtrrPEAalR3aBI1RaG~q1tKIWn5e4ojj2Pn0WMOQwsVoCeR-Lj1qlDWrewJKr6yDoEjc642DSVqCFj9VKGVbZZRcjEfEurtDeTS6kIsTAPP~nrMTBCHZIWcJ1oPAiEeXsVZdhO-qDmoMXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Travis Uschini, director of Information Technology, told commissioners the county plans a routine refresh of about 68 desktop computers that have been in service about five years and estimated procurement at under $90,000. \"We are proposing to replace computers during our annual refresh, and there are roughly 68 computers up for refresh,\" Uschini said, noting most devices are budgeted and about 45–50 are ruggedized units for the sheriff’s office and paid from a special fund.
Separately, Uschini said he had withdrawn a proposed services agreement that had been used for a short, 90-day period while the county engaged cybersecurity specialists. The contract item was removed from the agenda after the prosecutor’s office recommended further review. Doug Jensen, chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney, told the board his office met with purchasing and IT and recommended the item stay off the agenda until the parties reconcile scope and procurement details. \"I strongly recommend that, it stay off the agenda,\" Jensen said.
Uschini summarized a recent cybersecurity response: after observing suspicious network activity earlier this year, IT engaged two outside specialists to threat-hunt and investigate. The activity initially appeared benign—caused by a security appliance—but the investigation uncovered a separate incident that was remediated. Uschini said there was no known data loss and that measures were taken to separate benign appliance activity from traffic warranting further investigation. \"There was no data loss as far as we know, but that was remediated and mitigated as far as we can tell,\" he said.
Commissioners signaled support for approving standard procurements subject to final contract review, and instructed IT, purchasing and the prosecutor’s office to resolve procurement questions so the services agreement can return to the agenda as soon as practicable. No contract was approved for the pulled services item at the meeting.","IT director asked commissioners to proceed with a scheduled computer refresh; a separate vendor services agreement already used on a short-term basis was withdrawn from the agenda pending procurement and legal review after prior emergency contracting and a county cybersecurity investigation.",{"_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},6163177,"Finance director tells departments not to assume mental-health-tax positions in preliminary budgets",178,3456000,3634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808&start=3456&end=3634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808/thumbnail_3456000.jpg","/articles/6163177/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Finance-director-tells-departments-not-to-assume-mental-health-tax-positions-in-preliminary-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163177-c22d46ef294942210d7838f4ebbb140e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659101&Signature=X6cwVpmIvc0i5Rv4t9srkKet2Ov5sAkIF3QiIx0YOnaYjlTndo9S2iTIrCu1YtUt6cI6uCrLyO-0t5U3lrQvShTa6CTEevQ7PZSUommWE5sPaHfi5rUT0QEIcApwLLaijVobHrj7JtWffuimKhJV~00dyGsFsW0aPw~J5pcO4o4Dmb4cA37~qnyub5kY9BGfy5yyoB-Ddg6E-VThzrfhPtkuHrGVsQ5He4UH95H~iwv0FcZwEmQJFx5SE-snxojAbUL829Abs9A0qHIhCYBmxwAZsopq6JteT0fLu7bYJZs93dJjiXyCT9pmJn0cufCZMZPtUFITVupLB2nMVXCYKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Flint Baxter, county finance director, told commissioners departments should not automatically include positions currently funded by the mental health tax in their initial budget submissions and instead must propose funding strategies during scheduled budget workshops. \"My recommendation to the board is that, their budgets will not have those positions in, automatically in or funded,\" Baxter said, adding departments could request positions later through the normal budget process if they present a funding plan.
Baxter said the county lacks sufficient remaining mental-health-tax dollars to cover all previously funded positions through the 2026–27 biennium and suggested four options departments may pursue: convert an existing vacant position to the mental-health-funded role; reassign funds within existing department lines; move funding to a different fund; or seek a grant such as opioid-related funding. Baxter said the jail is a special case because about half of the mental health tax—\"a little bit over 1,300,000\"—is currently used for mandated medical treatment and programs there, and he expects leaving those jail positions in place will carry the county through 2026 and likely 2027.
Baxter said departments should present their mental-health-tax position requests in a special workshop scheduled for Sept. 16 and that department budgets are due Aug. 11. He warned drug court and other programs with multiple positions on the tax will face the largest challenge funding alternatives. The finance director also said the county will require an audit trail for any position conversions or funding changes made through the budget process.
On a related item, Marin (public-health lead) updated commissioners on the Medicaid transformation and jail medical services: the county is out to bid for a medical contract that will conclude by Oct. 1; the Medicaid transformation work may be finalized in 2026 and could reduce the county’s medical expenditures in the jail. \"We are currently out to bid for a medical contract. We'll conclude that process by October 1, and then we're going to get back into the loop on the Medicaid transformation project,\" Marin said. Baxter and staff said four companies have expressed interest in the medical contract and bids are due in early August.
Commissioners directed staff to circulate the guidance to departments and to continue refining budget schedules; no binding budget adjustments were approved at the meeting.","Cowlitz County finance staff advised departments to exclude positions funded by the mental health tax from preliminary budgets and present strategies at upcoming budget workshops; the jail currently draws roughly $1.3 million from the tax for mandated services.",{"_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},6163181,"Clerk outlines property tax appeal process, training gaps for Board of Equalization",792,2642000,3434000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808&start=2642&end=3434","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436444-75b46605e44bdf1de13938e7f9acc808/thumbnail_2642000.jpg","/articles/6163181/Cowlitz-County/Washington/Clerk-outlines-property-tax-appeal-process-training-gaps-for-Board-of-Equalization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163181-d25669e2860849d4f57b72f06daa3d3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770659101&Signature=LlxjOyX3u4UxtQLaaalO70LOK4nOuohBQB1j1V-0PrRMHFhOka3vnhO5GLjrWQhJFVJiE2ytVkYNoGr7mVM~m2SCNaxVGrQkYK0dpxQhSrDjTK~fFNgSdL0dkelIjcPcdcLz9ZVqiW-91a-KmRiwvzCXL3JnjH4wrLsGXixGknriHn14mwttdJrYNCW7WqamsfF6~-xCeo9LiSIf-WK~ZZ7yuyz6yAJEnv1VzOQv-IhqFIVz3SeejCj4OH0zl6B7FZm2~6B3uJkNpeeg83G17Q4CWU7LerIeD7kxknB5EKJzmuR6rNFWCLwghMuWFDz8eYeYIIPnJxjUbCxbTMsVyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Purvi, clerk to the Board of Equalization, told the Cowlitz County commissioners that property owners who believe their assessments are incorrect must file a petition within 30 days of the notice of value and submit supporting materials at least 21 days before a scheduled hearing. \"The petitioner must file within 30 days of the date on the notice of value,\" Purvi said, and added that petitions without required documentation are deemed noncompliant.
The presentation matters because the BOE is the local review body for property tax disputes and commissioners appoint its members; delays or noncompliant filings slow dispute resolution and can shift appeals to state review. Purvi said noncompliant rates were about 18% in 2022, 3% in 2023 and 12% in 2024, and set this year’s target at less than 10%.
Purvi reviewed the administrative steps the clerk’s office takes after a petition is filed, saying staff check compliance with Department of Revenue requirements, schedule hearings and send letters requesting corrected materials when needed. \"An example is if they say that the taxes are too much and the value is too much, that would be noncompliant because there's no supporting statement,\" Purvi said. She described options petitioners commonly use, including withdrawing petitions or reaching stipulations with the assessor. After hearings, she said the board issues a board order within 45 days and petitioners may appeal to the state Board of Tax Appeals.
She also described the board’s membership and training status: the RCW requires three members appointed by the board of commissioners; the BOE currently has a new member, Cameron Svenson, and two other relatively new members who completed Department of Revenue training this past June. Purvi said new members frequently take office before they can attend the DOR two-day training, leaving them reliant on training documents and mentoring until the next session. She recommended moving BOE member expiration dates to April so appointees can complete DOR training in June before the assessment year begins.
Commissioners thanked Purvi for improving the BOE website and the online form and asked staff to work on timing changes and policy details. No formal change to appointment dates was adopted at the meeting; commissioners agreed to explore the timing recommendation and to follow up in future meetings.
Looking ahead, Purvi said the clerk’s office plans preparatory meetings before assessors release notices of value to review procedures, swear in new members and vote for chair and vice chair so the board can meet statutory timelines.","Cowlitz County Board of Equalization clerk Purvi described the appeals process, reported fluctuating noncompliance rates and urged changes to member appointment timing and training to reduce noncompliant petitions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County sets hearing to add fines for parking in no-parking zones; sheriff seeks enforcement authority

County schedules public hearing for comprehensive plan map amendment near Castle Rock

IT refresh approved; vendor services agreement pulled for legal review after security incident review

Finance director tells departments not to assume mental-health-tax positions in preliminary budgets

Clerk outlines property tax appeal process, training gaps for Board of Equalization