[{"_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",6158620,"mediaKeyId","5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e","parentId",5457958,"title","Council discusses fluoridation after lengthy public comment; motion to start discontinuation process not adopted","audioSeconds",2115,"startMs",11923000,"endMs",14038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e&start=11923&end=14038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e/thumbnail_11923000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6158620/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-discusses-fluoridation-after-lengthy-public-comment-motion-to-start-discontinuation-process-not-adopted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158620-b0db9f601b4e3667e2d339472ad3bb31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151922&Signature=R1Iq~Y3JxBLDbY35arYsXnvpdyLpXug2ihyaBURhCBcbTrVLKxI5nh5eJkbxKaHK3-47JnlA5~MTJIgw1jdx3XgvTiwp45mBQiI5mJ~HTk6l0vjrMYYrru1d8X8NmZrXiJZjYFPobFDCTR1VmgIBkBdt2dybrPrQofq~GoSJUy~Ao6L3q9BRNZRQYXrqhjq6I4FZmyblXrl3X5g0QTf4ZUrPp6za1ACO2qZB~Gtouj7Vy2pjTrZ-~5OfYWx68E~RqyUtyUPgkRRsPQdW1fuQxQF~DPANsnZr0zN19Q7lPZqp4e0Yp-C0sH9zIM6-JHN5HI0HQ1SUxSd7tKRppCLuIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Battle Ground City, WA","date","2025-07-24T04:13:04.723Z","article","Battle Ground's regular meeting on July 21 included an extended public-comment period and a council discussion on community water fluoridation. More than two dozen speakers offered testimony pro and con; health professionals, residents and community advocates were split in their views.

City engineer Hersig presented operational details: the city currently adds sodium fluoride at a target concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter and tests at each source daily under Washington Department of Health requirements. Hersig estimated about $20,000 per year in materials and roughly $4,000 for a dosing meter; a utility-bill insert to inform customers was estimated at roughly $1,750. He also read the RCW requirement that public water systems must notify customers at least 90 days before any meeting at which a vote to commence or discontinue fluoridation would occur.

Public testimony: Speakers in favor of continuing fluoridation included local dentists and pediatric dental specialists who said community fluoridation reduces tooth decay, particularly among children and low-income families. Speakers urging discontinuation cited recent research and federal actions and framed fluoridation as a mass-medication issue, raising concerns about developmental and other health risks and about informed consent.

Council debate and procedural motion: A councilmember moved to begin the 90-day notice process required under state law and to set an October meeting date for a council vote to discontinue fluoridation. The motion received a second and prompted a lengthy discussion about scientific evidence, local autonomy, legal notification requirements and whether a citizen survey or ballot measure would be preferable. After discussion, council did not adopt a motion to discontinue fluoridation at the meeting; councilmembers expressed a mix of positions — some urged a public survey or ballot measure, others said they would rely on medical professionals and public-health authorities.

Why it matters: Fluoridation decisions affect water operations, daily city testing and local public-health practice. State law requires advance notice and public process for starting or stopping fluoridation, and any discontinuation would require clear customer notification and coordination with the Department of Health.

Ending: Council did not approve a discontinuation at the July 21 meeting. Members discussed next steps including the possibility of a citizen survey or an election measure; staff said any formal vote to discontinue would require at least 90 days of public notification per the RCW.

Note on reporting: The council's discussion included strongly held views on both sides; this report summarizes the presentation, the public testimony and the council's procedural outcome without taking a position on the medical or scientific claims raised by commenters.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07-21-2025 Battle Ground Study Session & Regular Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Battle Ground's council on July 21 heard extended public testimony and a staff briefing on community water fluoridation and debated whether to start the 90-day notice required to discontinue fluoridation; the council did not adopt a motion to discontinue at the meeting.","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},6158630,"Council directs staff to return with MFTE code changes to advance Eaton Park workforce housing",10409,750000,11159000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e&start=750&end=11159","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e/thumbnail_750000.jpg","/articles/6158630/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-directs-staff-to-return-with-MFTE-code-changes-to-advance-Eaton-Park-workforce-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158630-2954c76f0dff2474ee16b196eda5ed7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151922&Signature=cn~1jVfjPPdcRkbsBLJVG3llTag8wu-fz0bopn2zv846sVYgDKZWn8b~mBS2lzSmHUWWa2gUrCZXpvzBYEJuFdGH5axcytbXcNnrF7Cwyk1rfCxvn22sNI4ishDGNYAXK2o1c6xkhNoxzCO5NExT-h9E2Fy1aik16heqdyqIznZoL6V7TlBQe0X~hVDzXU8~Fyd7GmyrJwaMQib8VdGm02nUKQzlAG~V6Xvl~Xlm-9kwG6QR-rrGE2lb~5RpNawDrNDhmoQtJn4pf1goUWqySsVdqedpwmxwIOyEEMQ0KrNruk8gBs21rZOnH7kTTpsUQYWpCMzG-HJ7htx9EaGmGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council on July 21 asked staff to return with ordinances to (a) add the Eaton Park parcel to the city's multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) residential target areas and (b) allow a 12-year MFTE option that would require a 20 percent affordable set-aside for projects that use that term.

The direction came after a work-session presentation on the MFTE program by city planner Kristen and a project briefing from representatives of Principal Properties, who described Eaton Park as a workforce housing development that would set aside 20 percent of units for households at 80 percent of area median income for 12 years.

The council's instruction was procedural: staff was asked to draft amendments to the Battleground Municipal Code and return them for public hearings and formal council action. No final ordinance was adopted at the July 21 meeting.

Why it matters: MFTEs reduce or defer property taxes on the residential improvements for a fixed term in order to make new multifamily construction financially viable. Local adoption of a longer term or different percentage can materially affect how many affordable units a project must provide and how developers structure financing.

What the developer said: Principal Properties represented that Eaton Park would provide about 19 workforce units under the proposed 12-year/20-percent scenario. The developer also described a significant off-site infrastructure package tied to the project: construction of a sewer pump station intended to serve roughly 100 acres (about 70 acres zoned regional commercial), extension of Southwest 15th Avenue and Southwest 19th Street, and other street and utility work. In the presentation the developer estimated a present-value cost to the city of roughly $210,000 in foregone city property tax revenue over 12 years (about $18,000 per year) based on an assessed value the presenter estimated around $17.5 million.

Fire district levy: The developer told council that, for Eaton Park, the project team would pay the fire district levy for the duration of any exemption period; the commitment was offered to address concerns raised by council and members of the public about displaced tax revenue. Council asked staff to ensure any explicit commitments with the fire district were memorialized outside the code amendments (for example, by a separate agreement between the developer and Clark County Fire District 3) and to bring those agreements to council as part of the project approvals.

Next steps: By consensus the council directed staff to return with draft code amendments to (1) expand the residential target areas to include the Eaton Park parcel and (2) enable a 12-year MFTE option in BGMC tied to the required affordable set‑aside, plus any standard contract language and monitoring requirements. Those draft ordinances will require public notice and public hearings before final council adoption.

Council members stressed they wanted to see the draft contract language, financial breakdowns, and any agreements with the fire district before making a final vote. Staff said it would return with the required ordinances, an analysis of fiscal impacts, and recommended contract/monitoring language.

Ending: Staff indicated the code changes and project-specific agreements would be prepared for council consideration at upcoming meetings; the council's direction preserves the project's ability to seek MFTE benefits but stops short of final approval pending the formal ordinance and any developer-firet district agreements.","The Battle Ground City Council on July 21 asked staff to draft code amendments to add the Eaton Park parcel to the city's MFTE residential target areas and to enable a 12-year multifamily tax exemption option requiring a 20 percent affordable set-aside.",{"_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},6158615,"Council adopts Clark County solid-waste management plan update",3801,7034000,10835000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e&start=7034&end=10835","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e/thumbnail_7034000.jpg","/articles/6158615/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-adopts-Clark-County-solid-waste-management-plan-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158615-3b9137896addd0095ab899c7e701f528/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151922&Signature=eDpg01NtBKsnwsj~2noXNAJHaeNsdCX1nLzfKNGOhidWCLh2msPoC0VfpO79rfoIGxLRDfPZiE-Zx7ZBM-2OO2ZAZOTox-AYwzRnr-i0-5vUI5dnnbn5E0ezpPl1Li8l7AfDpeHzMDLltFZbyezDLI1Fs8coUp4lv1qHBSicDr1aBhFFpps-NikqHqNK6VpuBFrD2FJK0X8o6ll79Em9We8vr-R2bY91aVOFD8iQHXNQ1nc5Lp5OTqjk~jJZx~DgF9bd87qPaccCFBQW5uj2AttsatoherTaBT57zz5e6ENTX6dS508KjZiwGHCLi2rdRM3ZwnjSDk0PC4LxxplAxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council on July 21 approved a resolution adopting the Clark County Solid Waste Management Plan update and authorized staff to sign the local adoption document.

Clark County Public Works planner Sarah presented the updated plan and said it merges prior solid-waste and household-hazardous-waste planning into a single updated regional plan. The plan includes a 20-year infrastructure and capacity analysis and revisions to organics-management requirements following recent state law changes; county staff said revised chapters reflect new rules and capacity needs for organics processing.

Public process and schedule: Sarah told council the plan has already undergone a public-comment period, SEPA review and county advisory-commission review. Two jurisdictions had adopted the plan prior to Battle Ground's vote; the county staff asked cities to adopt the plan so the county can submit the region-wide plan to the Washington Department of Ecology for final approval in the current planning cycle.

Council action: Councilmember moved and the body seconded a resolution adopting the Clark County Solid Waste Management Plan; the motion carried unanimously. Adoption authorizes the city manager to sign the local-approval form and sends the county the city endorsement required for final Ecology submission.

Why it matters: The adopted plan sets the county's policy framework for solid-waste operations, capital needs and organics diversion over the next two decades and frames coordinated investments and compliance with evolving state organics requirements.

Ending: With the council adoption, Clark County will finalize and submit the regional plan to Ecology for review and, if approved, the plan will guide grant-seeking, capital investments and countywide programs for the next planning cycle.","Council unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing Clark County's updated solid-waste management plan; county staff said the update includes changes to organics handling and capital planning and must be adopted regionally before submission to the Washington Department of Ecology.",{"_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},6158625,"Council adopts new parks-hours rules; orders study of sound mitigation after neighbors' complaints about Kiwanis pickleball courts",765,4527000,5292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e&start=4527&end=5292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5457958-5e007b9a68d244ddb1cf8430775db79e/thumbnail_4527000.jpg","/articles/6158625/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-adopts-new-parks-hours-rules-orders-study-of-sound-mitigation-after-neighbors-complaints-about-Kiwanis-pickleball-courts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6158625-82c1ed4613460fb7d648399b3c299270/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151922&Signature=PRc-fU0cidswTTJaW-B~4RdFI1Eg7K9TEMjE7PRnJpkH0Up9qu68E7StEANJqnY~TVCUFDatbu4CCTT5kPG7NfXfeZviN4ftwLmPcEqvGBZnSvd1mC1qOmCndUDh-VsLqQZtkXl2bQ2-JIs3~lDktQL~JdV6LFBmBkeRvvcm~TCkI-lIDveaj4WRiXM~EeFEY7TBwmfzZu2Pr44DIjSSpRUlpuMg0FP~YDcnF0U78CUrr88YItfhtBg84zjrQmpLTQDBuFQY1t9HSclWi93wzFw9xVrZOcS-lXIp0TXmHspmndNa~Gkx0EXXEv1Khpw4Mx9YtJuT0YK5K0eQRuwdPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Battle Ground City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-10 on July 21, amending Battleground Municipal Code (BGMC) Chapter 8.18 to revise park hours and add facility-specific hours for several recreational facilities.

Under the amended rules approved by council, general park hours were set at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the Kiwanis Park pickleball courts and basketball court were limited to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and the skate park hours were set at 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Councilmembers clarified that specific facilities can have different hours than general parks rules when justified.

Public hearing: Residents who live adjacent to Kiwanis Park testified at a public hearing that followed the staff presentation. Neighbors said the partially roofed pickleball courts amplify paddle and ball noise and that play often starts before dawn and continues late into the evening. Resident Darlene West told council: \"The repetitive clatter of paddles and balls... makes it extremely difficult for us nearby residents to enjoy a moment of quiet in our own homes.\" Another resident, Bill Ramsey, said his neighborhood property values had suffered after the courts opened and recommended enclosing the facility to reduce noise.

Council action and follow-up: Councilmember Overholtzer moved adoption of the ordinance; Councilmember Kuipers seconded. The ordinance passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition. Council also added direction for staff to research sound‑mitigation options (for example, acoustic panels or enclosure possibilities) and to study the feasibility of timed or electronic locking of courts so hours can be enforced without staff physically opening and closing gates every day. Staff described options including enclosure, acoustic tiles and remote lock systems and said the city would return with cost estimates.

Why it matters: The new rules replace a dawn-to-dusk standard in some parks with fixed times for public clarity, reduce late-night and early-morning recreation noise where requested, and create a path to technical solutions (sound mitigation, timed gating) in neighborhoods where courts create friction between recreational users and adjacent residents.

Ending: The ordinance becomes effective per the municipal notice period; staff will return to council with options, costs and timelines for acoustic mitigation and for locking systems for the Kiwanis courts.","After a public hearing that included neighbors complaining about noise from the Kiwanis Park pickleball courts, the council adopted an amendment to BGMC 8.18 setting general park hours and facility‑specific times and directed staff to study sound mitigation and remote locking options for the courts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council discusses fluoridation after lengthy public comment; motion to start discontinuation process not adopted

Council directs staff to return with MFTE code changes to advance Eaton Park workforce housing

Council adopts Clark County solid-waste management plan update

Council adopts new parks-hours rules; orders study of sound mitigation after neighbors' complaints about Kiwanis pickleball courts