Waterfront Advisory Committee
schedules Wednesday session

The 12-member Waterfront Advisory Committee, selected by the Port of Camas-Washougal to complete a visioning process for the proposed RiverWalk on the Columbia development, is holding its second meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Port of Camas-Washougal office, 24 S. A Street, Washougal.

Located along the Columbia River and parallel to Washington State Route 14, the proposed RiverWalk development would encompass approximately 1.2 million square feet of developed space valued between $300 and $400 million, all within roughly 50 acres of developable riverfront land.

The proposed master-planned, mixed-use joint development between the Port of Camas-Washougal, and RiverWalk LLC would create one of the West Coast's premier mixed-use waterfront developments, according to the development group. RiverWalk's principal partners are Marilee Thompson, Rick Bowler, Mark and Mary Benson, and John and Nancy McKibbin.

A two-year agreement between RiverWalk and the port calls for the cost of construction to be borne by RiverWalk. Net proceeds from the development would be shared equally by the RiverWalk and the port.

Further information is available on the RiverWalk Web site: www.riverwalkonthecolumbia.com.

Having done its work, the Vancouver Area
Development Authority is being dissolved

The Vancouver Area Development Authority, established by the City of Vancouver in 1987 to issue and pay off revenue bonds used to rehabilitate the 21 historic houses composing Officers Row, has completed its job and will be dissolved effective December 31. The VADA also managed leases for the historic buildings.

By the end of the year, VADA will have repaid all general fund obligations accrued to the City of Vancouver with rehabilitation of Officers Row which was completed in 2001.

The result was that no general fund money was spent on the project, with leases paying off the initial $10 million that the project cost.

According to the City of Vancouver’s Jan Bader, who among other things has served as president of VADA, the project has been bringing in a positive cash flow in the past few years, resulting in further improvements and public programs on Officers Row.

Since 2005, the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust has managed Officers Row and the West Vancouver Barracks through an agreement with the City of Vancouver.

The dissolution of VADA will come at the hands of the Vancouver City Council this evening.

Piper and Dolezal to share African
experiences and photos Tuesday

Recently returned from an African exchange program on individual and community self-reliance strategies, sustainable community practices, and strengthened community partnerships, Michael Piper, Clark County’s director of community services, and Cheri Dolezal, deputy director, will share their experiences and photographs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in the Center for Community Health, 1601 E Fourth Plain Boulevard.

The exchange was sponsored by the Berkana Institute. The public is invited to attend.

News brief

The annual NE Hazel Dell Association’s Kids Christmas Party is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School, 2215 NE 104th Street.

Calendar

George Killian, during the Vancouver City Council workshop session at 4 p.m. today, will brief the Vancouver City Council on the development concepts for the Killian Pacific Grand Central redevelopment project on the old Jantzen Knitting Mills site just off Highway 14 on Grand Boulevard. n The Vancouver City Council meets at 6 p.m. Today to consider a consent agenda. n The Fort Vancouver Regional Library Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Sifton Elementary School, 7301 NE 137th Avenue. n The Neighborhood Associations Council of Clark County meets at 7 p.m. this evening in the Public Works conference room, 4700 NE 78th Street. n The Clark County Chamber of Commerce’s Best-in-County Awards will be presented at a 7 a.m. meeting Tuesday, Dec. 12, in The Hostess House, 10017 NE 6th Avenue. Light refreshments will be served. There is no charge, and the event is open to the public. For reservations, call 258-1181. n Port of Vancouver commissioners meet in regular session at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. n Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, and are expected to adopt the 2007 budget for the electric and water utility. n Clark County commissioners meet in regular session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. n The C-TRAN board meets in regular session at 5:15 p.m. today in C-TRAN offices at 2425 NE 65TH Avenue.

Monday, Dec. 11 headlines

Gap between Clark County affordable housing and the ability of median income families to pay mortgage has become a chasm--Columbian, Kathie Durbin

Hanukkah has many different versions--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Faith-based garage keeps cars of low-income drivers running strong--Columbian, Kelly Adams

Interest has cooled slightly in a $1 billion coal gasification plant at Kalama, but backers maintain positive outlook--Columbian, Erik Robinson

Discount drug cards do the trick, but are only slowly being sought by residents--Columbian, Jeffrey Mize

Bits 'n' pieces: Local artist's work increases 1,000 percent--Columbian, Mike Bailey

Clark College requests state review of machining program--Oregonian, Holley Gilbert

U.N. chief takes parting shot at Bush's diplomacy--New York Times, Warren Hoge

U.S. rebukes China on trade ahead of Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson's visit--New York Times, Steven R. Weisman