City Council

RIDGEFIELD, WA – After 12 years of public service on Ridgefield City Council including four years as Mayor, Don Stose is resigning his position effective January 31, 2022. Don plans to spend more time with his family and traveling with his wife, Sherry Stose. “During my 30 years working for Toyota, I was often on the road while Sherry Stose was at home raising our children. It is time for me to be available to travel with her.”

Don was born and raised in Spokane, WA where he attended a local community college but remains an avid Gonzaga fan. Don and Sherry, his wife of 48 years, have two adult children and two grandchildren. Don and Sherry moved to Ridgefield in 2005 and Don was elected to City Council in 2008. As an active Councilmember, Don has worked hard to manage the growth of the City to provide quality neighborhoods and unique businesses, protect our natural resources, and create a community where residents can live, work, play and learn.

While Don served as Mayor for the last four years, he worked to develop and strengthen partnerships with CTRAN to provide better service for Ridgefield, state legislators and our federal delegation to help Council fulfill priorities like additional park space and a new Outdoor Recreation Center, Friends of the Ridgefield Library to develop a remodeled and expanded library and community non-profit organizations to create a more vibrant and prosperous city. He also enjoyed welcoming new businesses like Rosauers and Vancouver Clinic that have made our lives better and brought additional jobs and services that our residents need and want.

Don actively demonstrates his passion for the residents of Ridgefield with his giving spirit; he is quick to volunteer for any community project. Don dedicates many hours to support the Ridgefield School District, Citizens for Ridgefield Schools and the Ridgefield Lion’s Club, a volunteer organization committed to conducting service projects and raising funds for those in need. He is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pink Lemonade Project, an organization that works to “educate, empower and support women through their breast cancer journey.”

Don believes that “the future of Ridgefield is bright and becomes brighter every day, thanks to the City Council, staff, partners and residents. I am confident that the current City Council has the ability to effectively plan and manage growth of the City so that Ridgefield is recognized for its livability, natural environment and innovative local economy.”  Don’s enthusiasm, service to the City of Ridgefield and sparkly-eyed smile will be missed.

With a vacancy, the Council will begin a process to appoint a qualified replacement beginning after Don’s resignation is effective in February 2022. Washington  law will require the appointee to run for election in 2023.

RIDGEFIELD, WA – Ridgefield Council members adopted a balanced $62.9 million 2022 Budget at the City Council meeting on December 2, 2021, setting the framework for the operating and capital budgets for 2022. The budget includes key community investments in people and projects including better roads, parks, trails, and public safety. Public Hearings on the budget were held during the City Council meetings on November 18 and December 2.

“The 2022 budget is the result of strategic planning to fund all core city services, and responsibly invest in key community priorities including transportation, parks and trails, water quality and quantity, managing growth, and public safety,” said Mayor Don Stose. Ridgefield uses seven City Council goals and community surveys to guide and develop the annual budget according to council and resident priorities. New to the budget in 2022, each department has implemented performance measures to quantify how the city is performing in meeting Council’s goals.

Investments in community priorities include:

• Street Projects funded with developer fees: Royle Road Roundabout Construction, Pioneer Street Widening and Roundabout Design, Pioneer Street East Extension Design and Construction, Hillhurst Multi-Modal Trail Construction.
• Park Projects funded with developer fees: YMCA Site Plan & Permitting, Overlook Park Splash Pad Construction, Skate Park Alternatives Analysis, Horns Corner Park Phase 1 Construction, Refuge Park Phase 1 Construction, Gee Creek Trail Heron Drive to Main Ave, Smythe to Reiman Trail Construction.

Additional highlights from the budget include:

• Investments in public safety (Hydrant Replacement Project, two additional Police Officers, Public Safety Facility Improvements)
• Maintenance of existing parks and trails (Abrams Park Upgrades and Bridge Maintenance)
• Management of growth (Water Main construction, Community survey follow up, Communications System Upgrades)

The 2022 Budget includes a decreased cost to Ridgefield residents, featuring the lowest property tax rates, stormwater and water rates of any city providing service in Clark County. Residents will also see a decreased sanitary sewer rate.

Even with extensive investments in residents and infrastructure, as well as decreasing the burden on residents, the City of Ridgefield remains committed to maintaining strong reserves to cover future emergencies, capital repair and replacement, debt service, retirement, or downturns in the economy.

Access to the 2022 budget is available at on the city website or at City Hall (230 Pioneer St) Monday-Friday 7:30AM to 4:30PM.

RIDGEFIELD, WA – At the City Council meeting on Thursday, December 2, Council members unanimously delivered on their promise to eliminate the $30 Vehicle License Registration Fee charged to Ridgefield residents after voters passed a ballot measure. The measure, Proposition 1, funds necessary pavement preservation with a sales tax instead of the licensing fee. According to the Washington Department of Licensing, it will take until April 1, 2022 for their system to update and remove the fee.

The approved Proposition 1 implements a 0.2% Sales and Use Tax to replace the vehicle license fee to finance pavement preservation and maintenance. The measure passed with 59.28% “Yes” votes and the election was certified on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. The retail sales tax rate within Ridgefield city limits will increase from 8.4% to 8.6% on April 1, 2022.

The retail sales tax rate applies to goods and services, such as buying household wares and getting your car’s oil changed, as well as sales tax on new construction. While new development dollars cannot legally be used to maintain existing streets, developers will pay sales tax on construction materials purchased in or delivered to Ridgefield. The 0.2% Sales Tax is estimated to generate $7,567,610 over 10 years. Of this total, revenue from New Construction is estimated at $3,027,044 and revenue from General Retail is estimated at $4,540,566.

Ridgefield’s livability, economic vitality, public safety and emergency response depend on a healthy, viable street system. Funds from the sales and use tax will be used to pay the costs associated with pavement preservation projects identified in the City of Ridgefield Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan. This includes upgrading substandard roads, improving pavement conditions, and improving ADA accessibility. Scheduled maintenance extends the life of our streets by 50% and costs less than expensive repairs needed without it. By increasing the funding level for maintenance and preservation, the City of Ridgefield is protecting taxpayers’ dollars.

“By replacing the Vehicle License Fee with a 0.2% increase to the sales and use tax, Ridgefield voters and Council have spread the tax burden for pavement preservation to all who shop in Ridgefield, drive on our streets, and develop here, rather than resting solely on Ridgefield residents,” stated Ridgefield Mayor Don Stose.

Two proclamations commemorating the month of October, 2021 were announced during the regular City Council Meeting on Thursday, October 14:

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Mayor Don Stose recognized the Pink Lemonade Project, a local organization that works to educate, empower and support those affected by breast cancer, and the Pink Patch Project*, a public awareness campaign the Ridgefield Police Department participates in each year to raise money for the Pink Lemonade Project. He then proclaimed October, 2021 “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and encouraged all residents to work to increase cancer screenings in Ridgefield and support those who have battled this disease.

Disability Employment Awareness Month: Mayor Don Stose recognized Rosauers Supermarkets for receiving the Large Employer of the Year Award from the Clark County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board for promoting equitable employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Stose then proclaimed October, 2021 as “Disability Employment Awareness Month” and encouraged all employers to take action now to support the hiring, retention and promotion of employees with disabilities; and ask residents to help create a community where people with disabilities are supported and accepted for who they are.

You can read the proclamations and view all proclamations on the City website: https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/city-departments/city-clerk/proclamations/

*2021 is the Ridgefield Police Department’s 4th year participating in the Pink Patch Project. The limited edition 2021 patches are available for sale to the community for $10 each to raise money for the Pink Lemonade Project. Patches may be purchased at the Ridgefield Police Department, Ridgefield Hardware, Lava Java, Brewed Awakenings Ridgefield, and Taps Beer Reserve. Patches may also be purchased by mail: Ridgefield Police Department, PO Box 546, Ridgefield, WA 98642. If requesting a patch by mail, please include an additional $1 for postage, or provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Ridgefield City Council appointed Judy Chipman and Rachel Coker to Positions 7 and 2 respectively, filling two vacancies created by Council resignations.

Positions 7 and 2 were vacated last month when Council Members Sandra Day and Dana Ziemer resigned due to their plans to move out of Ridgefield. State law provides that in a vacancy City Council “shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacant position.”

Applications for appointment were opened on Friday, June 11 and closed at noon on Friday, June 25. In total, 10 eligible applications were received. The City Clerk provided each Councilmember with a notebook including all applications. Councilmembers reviewed and rated each candidate to select 4 finalists to interview.

At the City Council Meeting on Thursday, July 22, Council voted by ballot to appoint Judy Chipman to Position 7. Chipman took the Oath of Office and was seated for the vote for Position 2. Rachel Coker was appointed to Position 2, and subsequently took the Oath of Office. Both Council members will sit for election in 2023.

Judy Chipman grew up in Ridgefield and moved back to the area 9 years ago. Chipman served on the Columbia Credit Union Board of Directors for 9 years and retired from Bonneville Power Administration in 2017. In 2018, Chipman was appointed to the Ridgefield Planning Commission. Chipman enjoys attending Raptors games, walking her neighborhood, and enjoying the small-town atmosphere of Ridgefield.\

Rachel Coker has served as a member on the Parks Advisory Board since 2019. She has been involved in the community through the Parks Board, attending community events, volunteering at the Lions Club booth at the Clark County Fair, and attending business spotlight events by Ridgefield Life magazine and the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce. Coker enjoys Eagle’s View Lookout Park, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, and photographing local events and landscapes.

The March 25th City Council Meeting (tomorrow) will hold the first public hearing regarding a tree ordinance in the City of Ridgefield that would update the housing code. We would like to influence the City to adopt a bold tree ordinance in the residential housing code that will require landscaping at time of development to include trees because of their benefits to the environment.

How can you help? Send an email to the city clerk in support of such a Tree Ordinance before 3:00pm tomorrow. This will allow your email to be distributed to the City Councilors and become part of the public record.  If you can perhaps solicit like-minded Ridgefielders in your personal network to do the same, it would be a great help! For public hearings the City Clerk’s office is responsible for the emails, so no need to email specific councilors.

Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk via email julie.ferriss@ridgefieldwa.us or be placed in the drop box in front of City Hall no later than 3PM on the day of the scheduled City Council meeting. Comments will be compiled and provided to the City Council and necessary City staff.

Some details from the City:

The City does not currently have a tree ordinance pertaining to new developments. There are requirements in RDC 18.725 including a total landscape coverage of 50% for low density developments and 25% for medium density developments.

We are currently working on housing code updates that would, among other things, require trees to be planted on individual residential lots at the time of development. Those proposed code updates will go to City Council for a public hearing on March 25. If you are interested in attending, the meeting information will be here the week of the meeting:

https://ridgefieldwa.us/government/city-departments/city-council/