Camas City Workshop - February 17, 2026
Observer - Janet Hedgepath
Present in Person - Jennifer Senescu, Marilyn Boerke,, John Nohr, Martin Elzingre, Mayor Steve Hogan
Virtual - John Svilarich
Excused - Masha Eshghi
Agenda and presentations at: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/camaswa-pubu/MEET-Agenda-0a98caa0624c49da87be8ef2b89dcd78.pdf
Public Comment - one comment against the proposed change to a Councillor/Manager form of government and one comment supporting upgrades and increases in sports facilities
Workshop Topics -
Citywide Sports Field Assessment - the city directive was to maintain what they presently have and improve that. The study looked at how to improve reliability, drainage, lighting and accessibility. Funding for upgrades assessed. Presentation was just for information on tools and reasoning to guide the process for future projections. Question about City/schools partnership. The difficulty is school fields are not available during school time and priority is always school use first. Building a volunteer database of groups that want to volunteer.
Professional Services Agreement Amendment for Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Subarea Plan - The Comp plan was originally scheduled to wrap up by June 2025. A sixth month extension was granted to December 2025. Currently the County Council expects to be finished by June 2026. The City cannot finalize without decisions from the County Council. Therefore the contract with the consultants needs to be amended. This item will be placed on the March 2, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting Agenda.
Change of Government Discussion - Currently Camas has a strong mayor/council model and is considering a Manager - Council system.
Mayor - Council form
- Elected Mayor seven elected Council Members
- Mayor is chief executive and administrative officer of the city
Manager - Council form
- Seven elected Council Members
- Council selects Chair of the Council (Mayor), but Council may put a proposition on the ballot to have an elected Mayor
- Mayor presides over Council Meeting – No administrative duties
- Council selects City Manager
- Requires a majority of the Council to remove the City Manager
This was for Council’s information only. Mayor Hogan will form a committee to research this topic and present that committee at the March 2, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting.
Staff comments - there will be a travel change on 3rd from Garfield to Washougal. They have a grant from design to construction
Council Comments - Councillors talked about the events they attended.
Public Comment - one comment about past issues of funding parks and one comment that Manager- Council form of government will create lower citizen participation with government
Camas City Council - February 17, 2026
Observer - Janet Hedgepath
Present in Person - Marilyn Boerke, Jennifer Senescu, John Nohr, Martin Elzingre, Mayor Steve Hogan
Virtual: Masha Eshghi, John Svilarich
Agenda at: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/camaswa-pubu/MEET-Agenda-288c8dea77cf4a3695258cd79afdfcec.pdf
Public Comment - One comment urging City to think boldly for its future. One comment that the HDR waste Water budget lacked detail. One comment against fluoride in the water
Consent Agenda - approved with pulling #3 from Consent
Mayor - Jim Hodges retirement on Feb 20.
Councilor Senescu appointed to the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee
Meeting Agenda -
Public Hearing on SunCal Agreement and Master Plan - presentation similar to two previous workshop presentations. 10 public comments urging bikeability, pedestrian safety, EV parking and low impact water treatment such as rain gardens and swales. The City attorney was directed to prepare an ordinance for Council’s consideration
#3 from Consent Agenda - $327,784 to HDR Engineering for Task Order 9 Camas NPDES Support Outfall and Sediment Study -. Councillors questioned amount needed. Staff explained that divers were required which was not specifically spelled out. The item will be moved to the March 2 regular meeting of the Council.
Public Comments - one comment that more detail needed on #3
Staff Comments - none
Councillor Comments -