[{"_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",6145118,"mediaKeyId","5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1","parentId",5533070,"title","Council reviews midyear finances; sewer fund has about $28M in SDCs as city plans capacity options","audioSeconds",1519,"startMs",6198000,"endMs",7717000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1&start=6198&end=7717","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1/thumbnail_6198000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6145118/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-reviews-midyear-finances-sewer-fund-has-about-28M-in-SDCs-as-city-plans-capacity-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145118-71d60ab701b417e092edf27fdfc55f9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043166&Signature=VLk-hhDJZoSAP5RhTLeW0AYYAuYMydG9-BdLt9Oi9KK8fCLV2QsM62wEyVOmw5jj9mfw0sHkHqqeHR0nyNgO2VeHykmo7aNaCpItEOIjO98iHvABgX493FFVhZR4pS2AjM2VlEyYq61YTCTl7T~4cOUP3QYN61GmQ9AUX~pZ22VROGWnj6lcaZOOMaWIKhKld8yyDb3S~6tGC~XoNwnwiP03odKUMqGm8hVIqyUSvWB5zZzfWcEVnweduhRfIeRa4DtFFSam2lvzQ9kk66Y4GcIbIHhGtYRdEDKHOJVRmCZ-rx6qPgAzazQmK9KlH-4kao7rfegFH1lCshugPqY8lQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Battle Ground City, WA","date","2025-08-05T15:42:54Z","article","Finance staff presented a mid‑year financial overview Aug. 4 and asked the council to set a public hearing for an ordinance amending the 2025 budget. The presentation showed year‑to‑date increases in general sales tax receipts and development activity compared with the same period in 2024; staff recommended setting a budget‑amendment public hearing for Sept. 18.

Budget action. Council moved and approved to set a public hearing for Ordinance 2025‑11 (amending the 2025 budget) for Sept. 18. Deputy Mayor Bowman made the motion; Councilmember Ferrer seconded and the motion carried.

Sewer finances and capacity. During the finance briefing staff addressed sewer system finances and long‑term capacity needs. A staff member said the sewer enterprise currently holds “close to 28,000,000” in system development charges and other sewer reserves. Staff and councilors discussed a long‑planned Parallel Force Main as one capacity option; one staff comment referenced an earlier engineer’s estimate in the mid‑$40 million range and another staff estimate that, including design and construction, could approach about $54,000,000. A staff explanation clarified that most of the roughly $28 million in the sewer account comes from system development charges that are restricted to capacity projects and cannot be used for general operations.

Why it matters. The city’s sewer system must plan for growth and capacity projects that, depending on the selected option, can carry tens of millions of dollars in capital cost. System development charges (SDCs) paid by new units fund capacity projects; staff said the SDC balance and the timing of new development will affect when and how any Parallel Force Main or other capacity solution is financed.

Other fiscal highlights. Finance staff reported a 7.1% increase year‑over‑year in general sales tax receipts for the same period, construction and wholesale trade activity up significantly, and development activity up about 82.9% from 2024 for the same year‑to‑date period. The city’s interest income and cash position remain stronger than in recent prior years due to higher short‑term yields.

Next steps. Staff will post and hold the public hearing for Ordinance 2025‑11 on Sept. 18 and continue sewer planning with partner jurisdictions and engineers to narrow cost and phasing estimates for capacity projects. No ordinance was adopted Aug. 4; the council only set the public hearing date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8/4/2025 Battle Ground Study Session & Regular Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City finance staff reported mid‑year 2025 revenues and a rise in development activity on Aug. 4 and the council set a Sept. 18 public hearing for Ordinance 2025‑11, a 2025 budget amendment.","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},6145123,"Maddox outlines 60-acre Battle Ground Village extension and seeks developer’s agreement for long runway",2112,673000,2785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1&start=673&end=2785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1/thumbnail_673000.jpg","/articles/6145123/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Maddox-outlines-60-acre-Battle-Ground-Village-extension-and-seeks-developers-agreement-for-long-runway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145123-40118c78c386a2cb7f929fae05926597/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043166&Signature=mdGR3Cy6DXPsssUTUxLTFTn1NDpYcuMKNjuxqXmjMvl9sEgP-3iGb9n7Kp5yLU3IRMo44zcJZc8ThU1zwdecgg2Xs6HRbVmkTM40HhLC0qIR6Cduhi97fcnFiKjAka8ZG8u0JmkIxy-cJCOSbNTWqGGTyhwsc5lP-b5JaQgiL-vMZbqX7QJLpwUNYqsxjab6GmdF22Nk0-2pFhOVrz1ji6OCDnr1xrglbiCJ33qLS6e5nFd6VTceEwieHvKG~eveboQWwS6YjiHNKfCE7EibcaMb7j6cCLGrvJdibpTkJAA8tsYoshDlBuTjmhbl5exojngCrI6LWhlTNmvWcawKow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Max Booth, director of development and engagement for Maddox, introduced plans on Aug. 4 for the Battle Ground Village Extension, a roughly 60-acre parcel north of the company’s existing facilities on Commerce Avenue that Maddox proposes to develop primarily into light industrial and office space with a small amount of accessory retail and a civic campus. “Our developers agreement really is gonna seek to be outcome based,” Booth said, describing an approach that sets ranges of likely outcomes and thresholds for mitigation rather than highly prescriptive, long-form promises.

The plan presented to the City of Battle Ground Council centers on jobs-producing light industrial and office buildings. Booth said the shaded maps shown at the study session are illustrative of possible outcomes and that the northwest corner of the property is where the first two buildings are planned. He described the civic campus as comprising a chapel building (about 14,000 square feet) and a conference center he said would be roughly 25,000 square feet and capable of hosting 500 people for dinner or about 1,000 in conference configuration.

Why it matters: Maddox told the council the project is intended to add local employment and broaden the city’s tax base by creating space for businesses that do not currently exist inside Battle Ground Village. The developer asked the council for a developer’s agreement to provide a predictable regulatory runway for a phased project that could take a decade or more to complete, and to avoid repeated, ad hoc renegotiations as market conditions change.

What Booth proposed. Booth said Maddox will ask for “time and predictability” via a developer’s agreement so the project can be phased without revisiting site-by-site approvals every time market conditions change. He said the firm prefers an outcome‑based agreement that lays out a “lowest intensity, highest intensity” range (jobs, trips, sewer use) and thresholds that trigger mitigation for roads, sewer and other impacts. Booth also said the first two buildings are farthest along in design (about 75% complete) and could be permitted and begin early grading this fall, with a hoped-for spring groundbreaking next year. He said the developer expects to submit draft agreement language to staff in October with the goal of council ratification “late November, or early December.”

Council and staff questions. City staff told the council that the city currently does not have master‑plan provisions in its municipal code, and that approved site plans typically remain valid for five years; staff said that, until a master‑plan code section is adopted, a developer’s agreement is the available tool to secure a longer approval window. “The site plans, once they're approved, last for 5 years,” a staff member said during the discussion. Deputy Mayor Bowman and others asked whether a developer’s agreement could be rolled into a future master plan and cautioned about long developer timetables that might outlast council membership; Booth said Maddox would be open to folding any future master‑plan code into the agreement approach if it improved predictability.

Community input and connectivity. Booth said Maddox held an open house on July 1 and mailed invitations to about 550 residences; he said roughly 55 people attended. He reported a mix of positive reaction—support for jobs and reinvestment—and some skepticism about whether the project was already “a done deal.” Booth said the developer plans to connect a trail stub near Quail Reserve into the project’s internal trail network and eventually to downtown as other projects come online, and that Grace realignment and sidewalk projects will increase connectivity.

Near‑term uses and concepts. Booth and councilors discussed accessory retail, possible hotel concepts to support the conference center, and the company’s position that retail would be small‑scale and accessory to employment uses rather than a standalone shopping center. Booth said a hotel is conceptual only and that the project team is also evaluating an additional parcel across Commerce Avenue for potential lodging.

What the Council directed. Council and staff discussion did not produce a formal council action at the meeting. Staff said it would draft possible master‑plan code language and that Maddox expected to deliver materials to staff in October; Booth said the developer aims to present a draft developer’s agreement to staff then, with council consideration in late November or early December. Several councilors expressed support for the project in concept while urging protections and mutual benefits for the city, including infrastructure planning for roads and sewer capacity.

Looking ahead. Booth said the developer will run parallel tracks—undifferentiated site plan and design work for the first two buildings and a broader developer’s agreement for the entire site—and expects the council to review draft agreement language in late fall. No ordinance, resolution or formal contract was acted on at the Aug. 4 meeting.

","Max Booth, director of development and engagement for Maddox, presented plans Aug. 4 for a roughly 60‑acre Battle Ground Village extension focused on light industrial and office uses, plus a civic campus, and said the developer will seek a developer’s agreement to secure time and predictability for a phased buildout.",{"_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},6145104,"Council authorizes mayor/review committee to renegotiate city manager contract",1795,7975000,9770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1&start=7975&end=9770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1/thumbnail_7975000.jpg","/articles/6145104/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-authorizes-mayorreview-committee-to-renegotiate-city-manager-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145104-531c6ce96dfe09e53902f885ead6b042/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043166&Signature=IGCRks-DIU5JqtQWH4qutP-bTqrAwVfD4-tBKk3LcE1T8FFKRazNB3kgrDRi0JGB-CIe0mPtEB4JL4z8FezdoxsJw8TQAnAF4rIAlfbn2Ma-njn8RrPtYS0bwhyq8k5EAu6m3DKkYT1QsAFTo1aNht220ucAG~sWNmH08asRVCB0p9axzo6qi9rEUxfRfnhEbhfnP5pIjzGL45H7em-Vr1F0eEjglsmqsKzerYqnMEqbGEPIVg7Fxcmf~vBTEdt8iMXhzqCzX4-YkBx1LOilF4a1ckDDUKfbr69oEQ8RUFbBvH03hAJo4pI7wxtegGQGnpV~Wx2u4e90P4iZFD45pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Following an executive session Aug. 4 to review the performance of a public employee, the council returned to open session and authorized the mayor or the review committee to renegotiate the city manager’s employment contract.

Motion and vote. Councilmember Ferrer moved, and Councilmember DeRozier seconded, “to give authority to the review committee or, yourself, the mayor, to renegotiate the city manager's contract.” The motion passed with a unanimous vote in favor and no members recorded as opposed.

What it means. The vote gives the mayor and the review committee authority to begin contract negotiations with the city manager; the council did not disclose negotiation details in open session. The action followed statutory procedures for executive‑session consideration of a personnel matter; no additional action was presented at the Aug. 4 meeting.","After an executive session Aug. 4 to review performance, the council voted to authorize the mayor or a designated review committee to renegotiate the city manager’s contract based on a review committee report. The motion passed unanimously.",{"_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},6145108,"Clark County Commission on Aging updates council on aging‑readiness plan and emergency preparedness focus",936,4997000,5933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1&start=4997&end=5933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1/thumbnail_4997000.jpg","/articles/6145108/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Clark-County-Commission-on-Aging-updates-council-on-agingreadiness-plan-and-emergency-preparedness-focus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145108-23487c85a2da6ad7355646175c112508/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043166&Signature=GHeiY95ZmbMjmsxas-x6fp0GR-2KyIom3vL9qjQnvs12TWYE2SCwVjkKL7NegHKIOtBAPZ69hX~TW3YBGJDB76E8O959jE22pPbVta12e1PSF4tTGd~dKfiCj-eUkC1SZZHLDXkIIEw8~wqjZJqVVBKaASw1uCSVcuTyQOTQ8NO8g3tfh1lENWOUYzGkwjhUyawW3xpKd-WWUGqHUCh2wGL4Z0C2oXk-eKqNYP3bOP64J1mLjbw7yxR4w6UOffBLY4KnUqNaU9~NWpOeyOHHmJ6~~nJGvhktP0uoWMTNSa5svPRKcXdn2mdE~t6xgR9vNZTY37QLSME1svqVsqqsnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ken Lund, representing the Clark County Commission on Aging, presented the commission’s annual update on Aug. 4, describing the county’s Aging Readiness Plan, outreach efforts and the commission’s 2024 focus on emergency preparedness for older adults.

What the plan covers. Lund said Clark County’s updated Aging Readiness Plan (adopted Sept. 2023) contains five chapters—healthy communities, housing, mobility, civic involvement and emergency preparedness—and 18 goals implemented through 67 strategies. Lund said the plan advises policy, infrastructure and service changes to help older adults age in place and improve access to food, parks, transit and social supports.

Emergency preparedness emphasis. Lund said the commission devoted much of 2024 to older‑adult emergency preparedness, partnering with CRESA (Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency) and inviting experts to regular commission meetings to cover topics such as assembling go bags, communications plans, mobility challenges and identifying socially isolated residents. He encouraged councilmembers and staff to consult CRESA’s “Prepare for a Year” guidance and noted the commission’s work to publish senior‑specific preparedness resources on cresa.911.org.

Why it matters. Lund highlighted demographic shifts, saying the county expects a substantial increase in residents aged 60 or older and urging earlier planning for services, housing and emergency response. He noted the plan received the Governor’s Smart Communities award in 2024 for effective growth management implementation.

Other commission activity. Lund described the Silver Citizens award that recognizes older residents for community service; the 2024 co‑winners included Battle Ground resident Bev Jones and Vancouver resident Larry Smith. He also noted the commission’s outreach to neighborhood associations, advisory groups and area agencies to promote aging‑friendly practices.

Council response. Councilmembers thanked Lund for the presentation and asked about local data and contacts for emergency planning; Lund offered to connect staff with data sources and recommended CRESA’s liaison, Jody Blackwell, for emergency planning coordination.

No action was taken Aug. 4; the presentation was informational.","Ken Lund of the Clark County Commission on Aging briefed the council Aug. 4 on the county’s Aging Readiness Plan (updated 2023) and 2024 work focused on emergency preparedness for older adults. He highlighted demographic trends, the plan’s goals and strategies, and resources including CRESA’s Prepare for a Year guidance.",{"_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},6145113,"Council discusses lowering neighborhood speed limits to 20 mph; staff to return with options",960,7025000,7985000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1&start=7025&end=7985","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5533070-0538f8a84f1f655f754963606bb30ab1/thumbnail_7025000.jpg","/articles/6145113/Battle-Ground-City/Clark-County/Washington/Council-discusses-lowering-neighborhood-speed-limits-to-20-mph-staff-to-return-with-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6145113-1978e48555c6abfecd1441d3ec8f10ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043166&Signature=UvTFeXfnD9wjbmzmHm18HOZ0jG3wc~dOJ5Tf3d8tEVFGXyrCRuh5RrANXC0YKzk4hwgdBVSln7CG674mzIz8OvsHxGIdZqi5WIc~orMrvd2BFVShiya92puNJPFTiz-qB-9r-Qxfq8ZgCCYo7P6WMYg4AweGB4XemgEBT0CVhIT9BpEOwAuyrIfkHGXoQ1Ru3wfI9LW5b7gJ7xJbMCprDaFzKKxcWiEW3iDJa9JLM0VIivMxSWOy4meSWw537M4Da-hBNSEODf0xB3oXHhy~Q6zUTTwqT2meGvvd3BVSNdzcFlz6w8o4XxIXGpA7U66r5CV3YXSBNzNkizMXVbXitQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the council Aug. 4 on residential speed limits and options for lowering neighborhood limits to 20 mph. The staff presentation noted that state law (RCW) controls speed limits but allows cities to set 20 mph in residential and business districts without conducting an engineering study. The city's current default neighborhood limit is 25 mph, with three existing exceptions set at 20 mph where traffic‑calming projects were previously done.

Staff recommended options. Staff outlined three approaches: (1) retain the status quo and process requests case‑by‑case; (2) adopt 20 mph across residential areas citywide; or (3) allow neighborhood groups to initiate traffic calming and speed reductions under a program similar to the city’s existing traffic‑calming approach. Staff noted that a citywide change would require fewer signs if implemented with entrance signage that states a citywide 20 mph default and posts exceptions where higher speeds remain.

Council feedback. Several councilmembers said they favor a citywide default of 20 mph in neighborhoods. Councilmember DeRozier said, “I would prefer 20 throughout the whole city and all the neighborhoods,” and Deputy Mayor Bowman and others cited narrow streets, parked cars and children playing as reasons to lower speeds. Councilmember Overholser asked about signage costs and received staff guidance that a citywide entrance‑signing strategy would likely be the most cost‑effective approach.

Next steps. Staff said speed‑limit changes require an ordinance amendment and council approval and that staff will return with recommended language, a sign‑placement plan, and an estimate of costs for a citywide default approach versus a case‑by‑case program. No ordinance was introduced at the Aug. 4 meeting.","Councilmembers and staff discussed adopting 20 mph as the default neighborhood speed limit under state law and possible citywide signage approaches. Several councilmembers expressed support for lowering residential limits; staff said RCW permits establishing 20 mph limits in residential areas without an engineering study and recommended options,","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews midyear finances; sewer fund has about $28M in SDCs as city plans capacity options

Maddox outlines 60-acre Battle Ground Village extension and seeks developer’s agreement for long runway

Council authorizes mayor/review committee to renegotiate city manager contract

Clark County Commission on Aging updates council on aging‑readiness plan and emergency preparedness focus

Council discusses lowering neighborhood speed limits to 20 mph; staff to return with options