Port of Camas-Washougal, Camas School District and City of Camas will present jointly on community’s future
CAMAS — The city of Camas, in partnership with the Port of Camas-Washougal and the Camas School District, will host the 2019 State of the Community address on Thu., Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.
The event will take place in the Lacamas Lake Lodge and will feature leaders speaking on the future of the community with regard to their organizations. A meet-and-greet time will also be a part of the evening with light refreshments provided.
“I think each one individually considers the other entity, a partner already,” said Port CEO David Ripp. “We’re in partnership with both the school district and the city currently through our Camas-Washougal Economic Development Association.”
Ripp, along with Camas School District Superintendent Jeff Snell and Camas Mayor Shannon Turk, will each be giving a presentation.
“This has been a long tradition in our community and I think it’s a great opportunity for constituents to really hear … just kinda what’s going on,” Snell said. “The partnership in our community really makes the community.”
Each entity relayed a heavy focus on the accomplishments of the past year, and specific goals for the future. In the city, a few projects are in their conclusion, while several more are just beginning.
“It’s all building for the future, that’s my theme,” Turk said. “An exciting piece that we’re adding this year is the ability to ask questions to the three of us all at one time. And people will be able to comment from the very beginning.”
With the city, the big ticket items will center around economic and infrastructure development as well as better communicating with residents.
The update of Brady Road, the Legacy Lands project expanding greenspaces along Lacamas Lake, the advancement of the North Shore Plan, and the construction of the Community Aquatic Center, (pending bond passage), will all be addressed, Turk said.
“One of the most exciting things is the North Shore sub-area plan that we’re doing,” Turk said. “That touches all of it, there are school facilities in their, Grove Field is right on the outskirts of it; it really is going to lay the roadmap for how Camas develops, because all of our future development is going to happen in that north shore of the lake area.”
On the communications side, Turk explained a pipedream for “Camas 101;” an eight part class explaining to residents what the abilities of the city are as opposed to the state. It is modeled after Leadership Clark County.
“It would talk about this is the development that’s happening, this is why the event development is happening, these are the things that we can impact,” she said. “‘If you want more trees, this is the way it has to go,’ type thing to answer all of the questions and communicate and get people more educated on what the city’s role is versus state’s role.”
The port is also incorporating a major theme of future projects into their presentation. The waterfront development being the largest, along with the expansion of uses and awareness for the airport and industrial spaces.
“It’s a way for us to promote the port, but also show the community that doesn’t always attend port meetings, or are engaged in the port, to kind of see what we’re doing,” Ripp said. “And since they’re a constituent of our district show them where their tax dollars are going.”
Ripp will present three concepts for the waterfront development at the event and will be inviting comments and feedback. Shortly after the event, the port plans to lock down a final design and move forward with construction.
The partnerships between the city and the port, as well as the schools, also connects students with potential career paths, Ripp pointed out. CNC-ing and machining are large industries connected to the port, and the ones they are excited to connect with high school students, Ripp explained.
“We are very well diversified in the number of different types of businesses that we have an industrial area,” he said. “So trying to promote that in getting the school district involved and how they can promote their students, maybe through internships, or jobs in the future, or what type of training they need, if they want to go work for this company.”
For more information on the State of the Community event for Camas, you can reach out to the port or the city through contact information on the websites.
