Camas City Workshop
Present in Person - Tim Hein, Jennifer Senescu, Marilyn Boerke, John Svilarich, John Nohr, Martin Elzingre, Mayor Steve Hogan
Excused: Leslie Lewallen
Agenda and presentations at: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/camaswa-pubu/MEET-Packet-9c4bd4d7b8084030b5f52264a8654401.pdf
Public Comment - One comment objecting to a legacy family being allowed to circumvent the Growth Management Plan. He said he would be filing a complaint to the Growth Management Board
Workshop Topics
2026 Property Tax Presentation - the majority of the property tax goes to other taxing districts. About 25% goes to City services. Of that 25%, 20% goes to Fire and Emergency Services and 31% goes to Police. Over the last 10 years the amount coming from industrial property has decreased while the amount from residential has increased. The formula for the tax rate is the money needed for the City divided by value of all property. That tax rate is multiplied by assessed value to determine individual property tax. The City can only raise the levy limit by 1% over the previous year. The 1% can be taken or banked. If banked, it can be taken at a later date but the amount of compounding interest cannot be recouped. Based on an average home value of $681,970 the property tax would be $1202. New construction will change the rate but there will still be a slight decrease in the tax. If the 1% is taken, the decrease will be $.64/1000 and if it is not taken the decrease will be $.76/1000. The difference results in 1 FTE. C. Elzingre questions some of the information. The staff and other councilors try to explain what he is seeing. He contends that his property taxes will be higher. Staff reiterates that the City portion of the property tax will go down but that doesn’t account for other taxing districts. C. Elzingre says he wants to see the math. C Senescu says taxing new construction will raise assessed values. She objects to any taxes for developers. C Nohr uses Clark County as an example of what happens when the 1$ is continually banked. It creates a structural deficit.
The proposal will come to the December1 meeting for a vote
Our Camas 2045 – Land Use Element -
Projected 20 year growth - 37,080 population (presently 27.900)
4.226 housing units
11,615 jobs (no exact number but a big jump)
Job growth has not kept pace with population and housing growth
The draft plan sets out goals and policies
- Respect natural environment
- Support a diversified economy
- Create vibrant, stable and livable neighborhoods
- Have an interconnected network of parks and trails
- Foster economically and socially diverse mixed use neighborhoods
- Create attractive and welcoming areas
They are proposing new zoning to facilitate the mandate for more housing in different income bands. The County will choose a Preferred alternative by February 2026. That will determine any annexations the City can make. One option is no change. They currently have several requests to be included in the Urban growth area. Gove field is 80 acres that the Port wants to use to diversify and create light industrial. Grass Valley is zoned industrial but is unused. It could be developed as mixed use. The Nevin property is zoned agricultural and owners want it to be zoned multi-family residential. Gove Field is in the Preferred Alternative. The Nevin property is not. The Vacant Buildable Lands Model (VBLM) assesses that in the preferred alternative Camas would have enough land to accommodate 5,900 housing units (required is 4,226) and 11.500 jobs (required is 11,615) The Nevin property would add an addition 1800 housing units and 2000 jobs. While the Agricultural Study did not make any recommendations about whether or not to declassify agricultural lands, the County Council will have to do so in order to annex the Nevin property. C. Hein questioned the numbers and assumptions to creating so many housing units and jobs. He thought it would affect “the feel of Camas”. He was concerned that if Camas does not bring land into its urban growth area (UGA)someone else would and Camas would lose out. Staff talked about an alternative in which land could be put in urban reserve. They would be future additions to the UGA but the designation would protect the areas from premature land division and development that would preclude efficient transition to urban. Staff asked if there were any directions to the County regarding the preferred alternative decision. Although there seemed to be a desire to add the Nevin property, it was hard to justify as there is already enough housing capacity without it.
Construction Award Well Casing Decommissioning - In 2001 5 test wells were drilled on private property None were viable. Owners asked that they be decommissioned. Cost is $79,821 and it will be covered by the Water and Sewer Fund. It will come to the December 1 meeting
Construction Award Main Pump Station Improvements - the main sewer pump station needs electrical upgrades. It will come to the December 1, meeting
Resolution No. 25-015 Station 41 General and Construction Manager Contract - a resolution to bring general contractors in for the design. The construction of the fire station is a complex building complicated by being in the middle of town. It will come to the December 1 meeting
Staff Updates - moved to council meeting
Councillor updates - moved to Council meeting
PUBLIC COMMENTS - one supporting annexation.
Camas City Council
Present in Person - Marilyn Boerke, Jennifer Senescu, John Nohr, John Svilarich, Tim Hein, Martin Elzingre, Mayor Steve Hogan
Excused - Leslie Lewallen
Agenda at: https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/camaswa-pubu/MEET-Packet-9c4bd4d7b8084030b5f52264a8654401.pdf
Public Comment - One comment on the Transportation Plan noting commendable goals. Speaker was concerned the plan was too car centric and was basing plans for new walking and biking on current usage rather than possible traffic if infrastructure was improved. One comment asking what incentive was there for the fire station to be built on time and budget
Consent Agenda - approved with amendment to the minutes that showed C. Hein present when he was acting Mayor.
Mayor Announcements - Camas will participate in Wreaths Across America again. Native Heritage Month Proclamation
Meeting Agenda
Public Hearing - Ordinance 25-019 Fall Omnibus Amending the 2025-2026 Budget - staff request to open a public hearings and take public comment until December 1. Hearing opened with no public comment in the meeting
Resolution No. 25-014 Revising the City of Camas Fee Schedule for 2026 -
The fee schedule was presented at the October 20 workshop. C. Boerke wanted to know if there was a provision to reduce fees in special circumstances. She referenced the woman who had commented at the workshop regarding the high cost of connecting to water for her ADU for her disabled son. Staff explained how that could be given an exception. C. Senescu said she understands increasing costs to cover costs for services such as dog fees but could not support increased fees for developers. A motion to accept the fee schedule passed with 5 yes votes and one no vote
Public Hearing Considering the Vacation of NE Everett Street - this item was outlined for Council October 6. Vacating the street between 5th and 6th is a prerequisite to building the proposed fire station. Motion passed directing staff to prepare an ordinance to vacate - 6 yes votes
Public Comments - question on fees.
Staff Comments - The Parks Director explained the closure of 4 park playgrounds due to safety issues. He said playgrounds generally had a life expectancy of 25 years. Forest Home Park (12 years old) and would be closed 6-8 weeks while a slide was replaced. Goot Park (28 yrs) had significant issues and would be closed until January. Parts for old equipment is sometimes hard to find but he thought they could repair Goot Park in the short term. Both Oak Park (25 yrs) and Dorothy Fox Park (32 yrs) had significant safety concerns. The Director said it was time to have a larger discussion of asset management and decide which playgrounds could be repaired and which needed to be decommissioned. C. Nohr Commented that some areas of town had less ability to travel to other parks and that inability should be taken into consideration.
The Clark County Transportation Alliance wanted to use the City logo when making grant requests - agreed
The Salary committee had met and raised Council compensation by 1.5% and the Mayor’s car allowance by $25/month
Council Comments - kudos for Veteran’s Day activities and C. Svilarich expressed disappointment in the low voter turnout.