Camas City Council delays action on government change

CAMAS — The Camas City Council delayed further action Monday on a possible ballot measure to change the city’s form of government while considering how to better inform residents about the proposal. The resolution to put a measure on the Feb. 9 ballot asking voters to approve a shift from a mayor-council to a council-manager form of government was originally expected to appear on the council’s agenda. “There was supposed to be a resolution drafted by the city attorney, but that took longer than we expected,” said city spokesperson Bryan Rachal. Councilors instead discussed public outreach, with several saying residents need clearer, more accessible information before the resolution moves forward. “How do we increase awareness in the community so they can get information and ask questions? If we’re looking at a February ballot, historically a low voter turnout month, my concern is that we have a super important topic and low voter turnout could decide how the city is governed,” Councilor Tim Hein said. The councilors suggested a variety of communication methods: distributing flyers with QR codes linking to a central information webpage; placing printed materials at libraries, schools, grocery stores and the city’s post office; hosting information booths at community events such as Camas Days and Hometown Holidays; reaching out to neighborhood groups; and sending out mailers. The city has hosted two town halls in the past two months to provide information about the proposed change and gather public input. “This could be a grassroots thing,” Councilor Jennifer Senescu said. “We could go to our neighborhood, do some ‘lit drop,’ put information on doors and make a more concentrated effort as a council to get that information out. We may not get to everybody, but it’s a step in the right direction.” The council did not announce a definitive date for voting on the resolution, instead requesting staff to compile outreach options and return with recommendations at its Oct. 5 workshop session. On Aug. 17, the council authorized city attorney Shane MacPherson to draft the resolution, which would establish Council Position No. 1 as the council “mayor” and make any approved change in the city’s form of government effective Jan. 1, 2028. Camas currently operates under a mayor-council form of government, in which the elected mayor acts as chief executive and administrator of the city. The council-manager government would retain seven elected council members, with the mayor serving as an at-large elected position and a city manager hired by the council acting as chief executive officer. An ad hoc citizens committee previously recommended that the city transition to a council-manager form of government with an elected mayor, arguing the change would provide greater long-term stability, professional administration and accountability as the city continues to grow. The council approved Mayor Steve Hogan’s request to create the committee, tasked with gathering information and making a recommendation about a possible change, on March 2. The city explored the change in 2002 and 2018, when the council appointed a committee to explore the pros and cons of the different forms but ultimately did not proceed to adopt a resolution.

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