Clark County is hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 23 to present the first batch of proposed housing code amendments related to middle housing and smaller single-family strategies from the county’s Housing Options Study and Action Plan. Project staff will provide a presentation on the proposed code amendments, listen to feedback, and answer questions.

The meeting will be held in a hybrid format. Anyone interested can join in person in the sixth-floor hearing room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. or virtually via Webex.

At the request of County Treasurer Alishia Topper, the Clark County Council this week approved an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) to establish and administer the Clark County homebuyer down payment assistance program.

The Clark County Law Library this week announced the addition of a new driver’s license suspension appeal kit to its array of self-help kits.

“This kit focuses on appealing a decision to suspend a driver’s license made by the Department of Licensing,” said Law Librarian Maria Sosnowski. “It also includes an overview about writing the brief and going to court for a hearing.”

The kit includes the forms and instructions to start and complete the appeal, including a few pages about briefs and the hearing.

Clark County Community Planning is starting the process of updating the local Comprehensive Growth Management Plan, as required by the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The plan, last updated in 2016, is a long-range policy guide for how the county plans to manage growth and development over a twenty-year period.

The GMA requires jurisdictions to periodically update their comprehensive plan and development regulations to bring them up to date with changes to state law; changes to land use; population growth; and housing needs projections.

With the significant increase last year in assessed values, taxpayers will see much lower tax rates on their tax bills this year with some property owners seeing a drop in the tax rate of over $2 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The Assessor’s Office has a map visualizing the countywide tax rates on the county website.  

Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper reminds residents that first-installment 2023 property taxes are due April 30. However, because that date falls on a Sunday, payments on Monday, May 1, 2023, will be honored.

Tax statements will be mailed during the second week of March. If taxpayers are expecting a mailed statement and don’t receive one or have questions, please visit www.clark.wa.gov/treasurer or contact the Treasurer’s Office at 564.397.2252 for a duplicate statement.

Stormwater Partners of Southwest Washington invites middle and high school students throughout Clark County to create fun and impactful videos to inspire the community to work together for clean water. Stormwater Partners is hosting the third annual Students for Clean Water Student Video Contest. Stormwater Partners is a coalition of local agencies and organizations, including Clark County and the cities of Battle Ground, Camas, La Center, Ridgefield, Vancouver and Washougal.

Artists’ reception scheduled for Friday, March 3

The Rebecca Anstine Gallery is currently featuring an exhibit of artwork from local artists Julisse Hopmann and Christopher Kelleher.

The work will be on display through May. The gallery is on the sixth floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. It is open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

A reception for the artists will be held at the gallery 5:30-8 pm Friday, March 3. The event is sponsored by the Clark County Arts Commission. It is free and open to the public.

The Clark County Aging Readiness Plan assesses the county's readiness to serve as a home for a growing number of older residents. The plan was approved in 2012 and includes strategies to improve the community’s capacity to support its growing older population and ultimately benefit all ages.

The Clark County Assessor’s office property tax exemption specialists will be available to answer questions and enroll property owners in the county’s property tax relief program at an upcoming public event.

The Tax Exemption Program for senior citizens and people with disabilities can reduce property tax liability for qualifying homeowners. Eligibility is based on age or disability, home ownership and residence and income. Participants are not required to repay the taxes, and their homes are not subject to property liens.