The importance of relationships was a unifying theme Thursday afternoon as county workers, local politicians and observers of county government gathered at the Hilton Vancouver Washington for the 2017 State of the County address.
“As most of you know, it’s no secret that the relationships in the past boards have somewhat been news to all of you and maybe even throughout the state,” Clark County council Chair Marc Boldt said during his speech, referencing a turbulent period in county government that was marked by feuds between county councilors and staff. “We are out to change that.”
Boldt noted that the county council had two new members, John Blom and Eileen Quiring, and the county was in the first year of fully implementing its home rule charter, which was passed by voters in 2014.
During the roughly hour-long event attended by about 200 people, councilors laid out their desire to deal with issues surrounding housing, growth, collaboration with other government entities and other issues.
A congenial tone
Prior to the event, Boldt told The Columbian that a State of the County wasn’t held last year.
“If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it,” he said bluntly, a clear reference to frayed relationships of the past council.
Speeches given by councilors were peppered with praise for county staff and a desire to get along. County Manager Mark McCauley spent most of his speech listing accolades earned by county staff.
“I work with these folks every day,” said Councilor Jeanne Stewart of county staff. “They are special people. They work hard and they care about what they do.”
Boldt said that the county faces many unfunded mandates from the state and federal government and has limited ways to generate revenue. He said the way out of the situation was for local governments to find new efficiencies through collaboration. He pointed to a now-dissolved joint parks district between the county and the city of Vancouver as an example.
He noted this sort of collaboration requires a “great deal of trust” between local governments that takes time to build.
“Really the only solution is to really look at each, and that’s what we have to do,” said Boldt.
Camp Bonneville
Boldt said that the county could be on track to open Camp Bonneville, a 3,800-acre property the county acquired from the U.S. Army, this year.
“It’ll be a top attraction in and a destination for the entire Northwest, probably the western United States,” said Boldt.
But he said that if proper planning isn’t conducted, the park could be a sizable financial burden.
Councilor Julie Olson said she wanted to focus on housing and economic growth and that the county should make decisions driven by data and facts, and not politics.
Blom said that he would be focused on housing, specifically affordable housing and ensuring that people can age in their homes. He said he would be taking a look at fees but noted that the issue was complicated because it’s tied to so many other issues. Quiring also said she was interested in the issue and reiterated her desire to expand the urban growth area.
“I believe a smaller government is a better government,” she said.
Boldt said that many of these issues would be addressed as the county prepared to draft its next comprehensive plan, a document required by the state that guides growth, even though its most recent is being appealed.
“You might say that’s all we do and that’s really all we do,” said Boldt to laughter.
