Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Contractor input invited on construction contracting process for the Columbia River Crossing project at Sept. 9 open house

VANCOUVER – The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project is hosting an open house on Sept. 9 for construction and construction-related firms to learn about and provide input on the project’s future contract and bid process.

CRC is seeking input on procurement and contracting methods, schedule specifications and bi-state contracts. The event will include a project overview presentation, a question and answer session and opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with staff and other attendees.

Input received at the open house will help enhance the contracting process. Project construction is expected to begin in 2013 and last five to seven years.

Contractor Open House

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010

1 to 4 p.m. (Presentation at 1:30 p.m.)

Portland Expo Center (Hall D)

2060 N. Marine Drive, Portland

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by email or phone, 866-396-2726. Additional meeting information is available on the CRC website.

The meeting facility is ADA accessible and served by the TriMet MAX Yellow Line. Accommodations for people with disabilities or in need of language translation can be arranged with advance notice by calling CRC at 866-396-2726 or through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 7-1-1.

About the project

CRC is a long-term, comprehensive project to reduce congestion, enhance mobility and improve safety on I-5 between SR 500 in Vancouver and Columbia Boulevard in Portland. The project will replace the I-5 bridge, extend light rail to Vancouver, Wash., improve closely-spaced interchanges and enhance the pedestrian and bicycle path between the two cities. The project would be funded by federal and state sources, as well as tolls. Written comments may be submitted on the CRC project at any time at feedback@columbiarivercrossing.org. More information is available on the CRC project website: columbiarivercrossing.org.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

County urges residents to participate in federal 2010 Census for complete count, representation and federal dollars at stake

Vancouver, WA – Forms for United States Census 2010 will start arriving in mailboxes next week, and Clark County urges all households to fill out the

10-question form and return it as soon as possible. Mailing is free.

By completing the confidential form, residents can directly affect the quality of life in our community.

Conducted once every 10 years, the census collects data that affect the:

· Distribution of more than $400 billion per year in federal financing to state, local and tribal governments

· Number of seats Washington will have in the U.S. House of Representatives

· Redistricting of state and local governments for proportional representation

The federal money is distributed among 170 programs, including public works projects such as roads, bridges and tunnels and social service programs such as medical assistance and nutritional programs for women and children, including school lunches. The data also are used by local planners to determine such things as the locations of schools, senior centers and hospitals.

Clark County is helping refine census boundaries and collect addresses and new construction information to coordinate local and federal data for the most accurate population count.

The census form will take about 10 minutes to complete. Please return it by April 1. If it is not received by April 9, a second form will mailed. If that is not returned, a Census worker, identifiable by a badge and bag, will come knocking.

“That’s the expensive part,” said Michelle Danley, partnership specialist, U.S. Census Bureau. Returning questionnaires by mail saves $60 to $70 per form.

Clark County also is coordinating with Leadership Clark County and other groups to inform community members, especially those who may be difficult to count, about Census 2010.

To have someone from Leadership Clark County’s Complete Count Committee speak to a group, please contact Noah Blanton at (360) 241-8951 or noah.blanton@stewart.com. To have Michelle Danley speak, please call her at (360) 689-4611.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers will open on March 19 and 20 at several Clark County locations. Hours vary. Census forms in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese as well as English will be available, as will telephone numbers for help for persons who speak one of more than 50 other languages.

The centers also will provide assistance to those who are blind or visually impaired. Instructions about how to complete the form will be available in large print and Braille, and a staff member can fill out the form. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the TDD number, 1-866-783-2010.

Persons who may not have received a census form in the mail can pick one up at an assistance center or a “Be Counted Site.”

Here are addresses of Questionnaire Assistance Centers in Clark County:

· Fire District 3, 17718 N.E. 159th St., Brush Prairie

· Fire District 6, 8800 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver

· Washougal Fire Department, 1400 A St., Washougal

· Korean Senior Citizens Association, 5305 E. 18th St., Vancouver

· St. John’s Catholic Church, 8701 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver

· Lord’s Church, 800 E. 29th St., Vancouver

· Vancouver Holy Mountain Church, 6415 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver

· Vancouver Korean Presbyterian Church, 5045 E. 18th St., Vancouver

· VA Medical Center, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver

· Yacolt Town Hall, 105 E. Yacolt Road, Yacolt

Here are the addresses for Be Counted Sites:

· Vancouver Fire Department, 7110 N.E. 63rd St., Vancouver

· Paradise Quick Stop, 2814 N.E. 318th St., Ridgefield

· Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, 2108 Grand Blvd., Vancouver

· Fire District 10, 39805 N.E. 216th Ave., Amboy

· East County Fire & Rescue, 600 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas

· U.S. Department of Agriculture, 11104 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

NW Natural Volunteers Dig In

MEDIA ALERT: NW Natural Volunteers Dig In
Gas company sponsors Friends of Trees event

What: NW Natural employees really dig volunteering, and they'll prove it at an upcoming tree planting event in Vancouver, WA. Gas company employees will team up with Friends of Trees to plant nearly 100 trees in the neighborhoods of Arnada, Carter Park, Central Park, Edgewood Park, Harney Heights, Hough, Hudson's Bay, Lincoln, Northwest, Rose Village, Shumway, and West Minnehaha.

After the event, sponsor NW Natural Linked text will thank the entire crew of volunteers by hosting a barbeque with hamburgers, chips, fruit, desert and beverages.

When: Saturday, February 27 from 9 a.m. – noon.

Where: Volunteers will meet at St. Luke's Episcopal Church Linked text at 426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver.

MEDIA
CONTACT:
Jenna Cooper-Gross jcg@nwnatural.com or 503.721.2440 or 503.818.9845 (pager).

Mayor Leavitt to deliver 2010 State of the City address

Find the release here.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

CORPS SEEKS COMMENTS ON COLUMBIA RIVER JETTY REPAIRS

PORTLAND, ORE. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments on a draft environmental assessment of major repairs to portions of the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington.

The work is necessary to prevent further deterioration and structural breaches, which could alter the reliability of the jetties and impact the ability of ships to navigate the river entrance.

Actual repairs could begin as early as 2012 and would be completed in phases over 20 years.

The proposed project calls for the placement of 364,000 tons and nearly 750,000 tons of rock on the north and south jetty, respectively, along with the addition of spur groins on both jetties. Additionally, both jetties would be capped with very large armor stones to prevent further erosion of the tips. Finally, the proposal includes plans to reinforce and add groins to jetty “A” at the south end of Cape Disappointment.

The Corps expects rock would be acquired from multiple sources in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia. Each jetty stone would weigh between 30 and 50 tons. Rock delivery would take place by barge or truck.

The draft environmental assessment is available online at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/en_plan_assess.asp

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Face-To-Face with Mayor Tim Leavitt and the City Council

Ask questions or just chat with your new mayor, Wednesday Jan. 20, 6:30 pm at Cascade Park Library.

City of Vancouver receives energy grant to increase conservation, reduce costs

The City of Vancouver will receive nearly $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve energy efficiency in its facilities and operations and reduce on-going energy costs.

Friday, January 8, 2010

CW Chamber Supports Camas & Washougal School District Replacement Levy – Voting in February

Camas, WA – The Camas Washougal Chamber of Commerce is in support of both the Camas and Washougal School District replacement levies that will be up for vote in February. The levies will replace funding for the current levies set to expire in 2010. The State only covers 80% of funding needed for schools and this Levy will bridge that gap.

The $10 Million dollar Replacement Maintenance and Operations Levies will go towards learning only. Below is a sample of what the Levy funds will go towards in the School Districts:


o Athletics: Coaches, uniforms, referees, transportation, etc.

o Textbooks: Every math, science, English and art text books for every grade level.

o School Safety: Security systems, personnel, fencing, drug & alcohol intervention, etc.

o Student Health: Nurses, health room, screening & plans for medically fragile children.

o Accelerated Programs: Advanced placement courses, science Olympiad, robotics, magnet programs, math, gifted programming and more.

o Special Education: Teachers, adaptive equipment, books & materials, etc.

o Teacher Training: Workshops, seminars, and special training.

o Transportation: Half the costs of all school transportation.

o Substitute Teachers: Levy covers almost all the costs for the entire program.

o Community Education: Coordination, publicity, and supervision of the program.

o Grounds: 25% of costs for cleaning, maintaining, heating, lighting, and fields.

o Dramatic Productions: All plays, musicals at the middle & high school levels.

o Band Performances: Concerts, instruments, travel, and uniforms.

o Technology Support: All personnel costs for tech support district wide.


The Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce works to link the School Districts with the businesses of East Clark County. Our Camas-Washougal Education and Economic Development Committee supported the development of the current Robotics Team. Businessmen and women have donated their time for the senior projects panels and the JAS program in Washougal. We understand that a strong school district supports a strong economic climate. Great schools are a strong recruitment tool for businesses thinking about relocating or starting in East Clark County.