News Briefs for Jan. 23, 2020

Camas to hold annual planning conference

The Camas City Council and Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell will hold the city’s annual planning conference from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Lacamas Lake Lodge, 227 N.W. Lake Road, Camas.

Council members will convene to discuss and work on a number of items. The public is invited to attend, but three will be no public comment periods. Agenda packets are available online.

Ballots being mailed to Washougal residents Friday

Special election ballots will be mailed to voters in Washougal on Friday.

In November 2019, Washougal School District (WSD) board directors voted to place educational programs and operations (EPO) and technology levies on the ballot for the Feb. 11 Clark County special election.

“We’re already doing great things with the levy investment, but we have aspirations to continue those great investments and to add a few things that we think are very exciting,” WSD superintendent Mary Templeton said in November. “The levy is important for us because it provides a percentage for our ability to operate the district by providing innovative programs and excellent enrichment opportunities for kids.”

If approved, the levies would replace the current levies, which are set to expire Dec. 31. The EPO levy funds services and operations not funded by state or federal funding. These services include health and safety, instructional support, athletics and activities, student learning and staffing, and operations and maintenance.

The proposed EPO levy rates are projected to stay at $2.14 per $1,000 assessed property value (APV) in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The levy is projected to collect $7,392,656 in 2021, $7,984,068 in 2022 and $8,622,793 in 2023.

Technology levy dollars pay for the district’s one-to-one device per child initiative, up-to-date computers, classroom instructional technology, professional development and coaching, technology infrastructure and staffing, and curriculum and software.

The proposed technology levy rates are projected to decline over the three years of the levy, with the rate per $1,000 APV at $0.25 in 2021, $0.24 in 2022 and $0.22 in 2023. The technology levy is projected to collect $845,000 in the first year of collection, $870,000 in 2022 and $898,000 in 2023.

Washougal names parks board member

The city of Washougal appointed Karen Matz to its Park Board of Commissioners during a Jan. 13 city council meeting.

Matz, who has lived in Washougal for 13 years, has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration/finance and a master’s degree in adult education. She has volunteered with Peace Health Hospice, West Columbia Gorge Humane Society and Washougal Loves and Fishes (now Meals on Wheels). She became a Clark County Master Gardner in 2016.

Washougal’s parks board is comprised of seven members appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. Matz will join president Shirley Scott, vice president Cath Alvey, Kori Kelly, Jayne Lacey, Rochelle Ramos and Richard Sitton on the commission.

Red Cross to hold blood drive

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas. Appointments are available online at redccrossblood.org by using the sponsor code “camaslibrary” or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Walk-ins also are welcome.

Foreign policy group to meet at Camas library

The 2020 series of the foreign policy discussion group, Great Decisions, will again begin meeting at 1:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas.

The first Great Decisions meeting of 2020 will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. New participants are welcome to attend. For more information about the Great Decisions program, visit fpa.org/great_decisions/. For more information about the Camas Great Decisions group, email Sandra Gangle at sandragangle@gmail.com.