Vancouver council declines to advance citizen initiative on road‑diet votes after legal review

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Vancouver City Council on Monday announced it would take no action on a citizen‑led initiative that would have required public votes before the city reallocated vehicle lanes for bike lanes, transit or other non‑motorized uses, after the city attorney and city manager advised the petition is legally deficient.

City Manager (name not specified in record) told the council that, after review by the city attorney and city clerk, “we recommend that no further be action be taken on the initiative subsequent to the public hearing.” The city attorney, Jonathan (last name not stated in the public record), told council staff had concluded “the initiative is invalid for 4 reasons,” including that it would unlawfully interfere with the council’s legislative and administrative authority and conflict with state planning law.

The matter drew more than 50 people to testify in a public hearing that lasted more than 90 minutes and drew sharply divided testimony. Supporters of the initiative — organized as Save Vancouver Streets — said residents were not adequately notified of lane‑reallocation projects such as the McGilvery Boulevard redesign and wanted a binding public voice on major lane changes. Opponents, including mobility advocates, neighborhood residents and several transportation planning groups, argued the initiative would create costly delays, hinder safety improvements and undermine state and regional planning obligations.

Why it matters: The council’s decision to accept staff’s recommendation halts a path that could have placed the proposed ordinance on a ballot and, if adopted,…