Vancouver expected to firm
partnerships with airport

With Vancouver informally a partner with Oregon and Oregon jurisdictions in bi-state planning for many years, the Vancouver City Council today is expected to make that partnership more official with the establishment of a formal stakeholder role for the city in Port of Portland planning and development activities, in particular, Portland International Airport expansion planning.

The Port of Portland's port, in addition to the Port of Vancouver, provides the southern Washington region with cargo shipments, and the port's Portland International Airport provides southern Washington with access to regional, national and international markets for travelers and cargo.

Outside the Port of Portland's jurisdiction, Vancouver and many southern Washington residents nevertheless are affected by aircraft noise, surface transportation and other environmental issues associated with Portland International Airport. Vancouver and Clark County residents already have positions on the following special project committees: PDX Citizen Noise Advisory Committee, International Air Service Committee, PDX Land Use Advisory Committee, PDX Cargo Feeder Ad Hoc Committee, Vancouver Cargo Feeder subcommittee, and PDX Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study Project Advisory Committee.

An official recognition of Vancouver as a stakeholder by city council resolution this evening, according to a city staff report, would further re-affirm the city’s commitment to work with the Port of Portland and Clark County on other bi-state transportation, land use, and economic development issues that are of shared interest to Southwest Washington and the Port of Portland, including the Columbia River Crossing and I-205 improvements.

City making provision for new
street alongside railroad berm

As part of the planning for a new city street between Columbia Street and Esther Street that would be adjacent to the north side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad berm, the Vancouver City Council is planning to vacate 4th Street between Columbia and Esther Streets. The proposed street vacation would place 4th Street in ownership of Decker Ventures and Downtown Vitality Ventures, owner of the Columbian building under construction on 6th Street.

Exchange agreements would provide the city with property for the new street at no cost. The city is expected to approve the proposal during its regular 7 p.m. council meeting this evening. 

Klineline Bridge reopened today

Klineline Bridge on Highway 99 over Salmon Creek was opened to traffic this afternoon. The bridge had been closed since last Thursday, for this second time this year, due to the danger of flooding from Salmon Creek.

County engineers remain concerned that high flows in Salmon Creek could dislodge repairs completed in late October and cause the bridge to fail.

Closed for the first time in November, the bridge could be closed again if high flows in the creek threaten bridge stability, according to Jim Gladson, spokesperson for Clark County Public Works.

The county plans to replace the bridge in the busy Hazel Dell-Salmon Creek business area in 2008.

Regional operations center should be
notified of home or business damage

Home or business damage as a result of last week’s wind storm should be reported as quickly as possible to the Clark Regional Operations Center, 992-9229, according to the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.

Residents and business owners may be eligible for state and federal disaster assistance. Only damage to primary buildings is to be reported.

Calendar

The Vancouver City Council meets in workshop session at 4 p.m. today. The council will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. this evening. n Live Poets Society workshop, led by Jim Martin, is at 6 p.m. this evening in the Three Creeks Library, 800-C NE Tenney Road. n Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19. n Clark Public Utilities’ commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, and are expected to adopt their 2007 operating budget.

Monday, Dec. 18 headlines

Flu shot may be your 'best shot'--Columbian, Tom Vogt

Lights back on after windstorm--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Menorah lighted in Esther Short Park--Columbian, Jose Paul Corona

Santa slightly upstaged by SP&S 700--Columbian, Justin Carinci

WSU Vancouver faculty discussing research in series of presentations--Columbian

Auto dealers on the move--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

Region on a growth curve--Columbian, Julia Anderson

 College's tech center funding on the way--Oregonian

Thousands in Puget Sound area still without power--Seattle Times, Lornet Turnbull

Kate Fleming drowned in her basement as her partner strived in vain to break into basement of her Madison Valley home--Seattle P-I, Claudia Rowe

Violence in Iraq reaches now high, report says--New York Times, David S. Cloud and  Michael R. Gordon

Gates sworn in as SECDEF--New York Times, David Stout