The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved proclamations recognizing October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and proclaiming Sept. 29–Oct. 4, 2025, as Week Without Driving.

The proclamations, adopted as part of the commissioners’ consent items, passed on a 3–0 vote. Commissioner Bertha J. Clayton moved to approve the consent items, Commissioner Todd L. Kimball seconded, and Chairman Gunnar Fullmer cast the tie-breaking affirmation when asked; the board recorded unanimous approval.

The domestic-violence proclamation cites national statistics and calls for community awareness. During public comment, resident and longtime domestic-violence advocate Stanley Green praised local services while urging the county and local organizations to use more inclusive language and data sources when discussing victims and survivors. “I’m not asking you to vote against this, but I am asking that in the future, you look to sources that are more inclusive in their vision and voice for addressing this issue that affects everyone,” Green said.

Commissioners acknowledged Green’s points. Clayton and Fullmer noted the YWCA’s role in local services and said the county would consider more gender-inclusive language in future proclamations. Clayton said she has longstanding ties to the YWCA and thanked the organization for local services.

Proclaiming Week Without Driving drew public comments focused on mobility barriers. Stanley Green and members of the Accessible Committee Advisory Board (ACAC) described walkabout events and outreach planned during the week to highlight challenges faced by people who rely on walking, biking or transit. ACAC member Vicki (last name not given) described a planned guided walk designed to let elected officials and residents experience curb cuts, sidewalk obstructions and transit connections from the perspective of people with different disabilities.

Commissioners supported the Week Without Driving proclamation and discussed local improvements already underway — including recent and planned sidewalk and transit projects — and practical steps such as promoting Valley Transit’s dial-a-ride service for paratransit needs. The board noted that some rural areas face greater challenges than denser parts of the county and encouraged participation at the county’s planned walkabout events.

The commissioners also approved related event permits later in the meeting: a courthouse-lawn permit for the Walla Walla Activism Network (Oct. 18) and a courthouse-lawn permit for the YWCA’s event on Oct. 22 to acknowledge and raise awareness about domestic violence. Commissioners said those organizations have used the space previously and have been good stewards of the property.

The proclamations and the permits are intended as awareness and outreach tools rather than binding policy actions. The board asked staff to continue coordinating with community partners on follow-up and to consider the public feedback about broader inclusion and access when drafting future proclamations.