> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 🏞️ Fall in Skamania: Squirrels, Sewer Plans & Seasonal Markets - City Govt Round-up for Sept. 2025 - URL: https://skamania-dispatch.ghost.io/fall-in-skamania-squirrels-sewer-plans-seasonal-markets-city-govt-round-up-for-sept-2025/ - Published: 2025-10-08T00:42:11.000Z - Updated: 2025-10-08T00:42:11.000Z - Description: Ground squirrels cause a fire in North Bonneville, Stevenson eyes infill housing challenges, and Underwood parks crews prep fall upgrades. Here's what happened across Skamania's city governments in September, and what to expect next. - Author: Dispatch Squatch - Tags: Skamania County, Stevenson City Council, Stevenson, Stevenson Planning Commission, Underwood, Underwood Parks & Recreation District, North Bonneville City Council, North Bonneville Planning Commission ## 🌿 North Bonneville City Council Sept. Meetings This month’s meetings in North Bonneville reflected a mix of small-town quirks and forward-looking planning: from **ground-squirrel-caused wildfires** to fresh efforts in **community farming and economic development**. --- ### 🧾 September 9 – Regular Meeting Council approved vouchers and excused Councilmember Margie Lee, then turned their attention to 2026 planning and project updates. - **Sheriff's Office** reported on recent calls and flagged a **brush fire caused by ground squirrels chewing through electrical wiring:** a strange but real reminder of wildfire vulnerability even inside city limits. - **Planner’s Report** included updates on: - **Cascade Business Park** development - Permit activity at **Coyote Ridge**, with multiple single-family homes moving forward - The **City Clerk** shared updates on digitizing historical documents, coordinating with the fire department on future records, and department-level budget estimates. - **Resident Cindy Dunn** inquired about fencing progress at the **community garden**, highlighting ongoing public interest in shared green space. - Council held an **executive session** on litigation matters, with no action taken afterward. - Budget season began with Councilmember Randall submitting an initial request. --- ### 🛒 September 23 – Regular Meeting The highlight of this session was a presentation and proposal from **Farm Happens**, a local nonprofit dedicated to connecting residents with **seasonal, locally grown produce**. - Council approved a **seasonal use agreement** that will allow [**Farm Happens**](https://www.farmhappens.com/?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io) **to host a produce stand on city property**, building momentum for community-based agriculture and small-scale local commerce. - The discussion reflected a desire to make North Bonneville a **more self-sufficient and resilient community**, offering residents access to fresh food and meaningful economic participation. Council also approved prior minutes and vouchers. --- ### 👩‍⚖️ September 25 – Special Meeting In a brief special session, councilmembers: - **Approved Ordinance 1171**, which updates [**mayoral compensation**](https://upliftlocal.news/north-bonneville-more-than-doubles-mayors-salary-for-last-months-of-his-term/?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io) to resolve some historic confusion about the mayor's eligibility for public employees' payment into retirement funds. - No additional discussion or public comment was recorded --- ## 🏙️ Stevenson City Government – September 2025 Round-Up ### 📆 September 21 – City Council Meeting This month’s Stevenson council meeting opened with public comment urging bold action on housing and community infrastructure. A longtime resident delivered an impassioned call for **affordable housing mandates**, warning that without policy change, Stevenson will lose the very people who give it its character. He also spoke in support of **rehabilitating the old Grange Hall** as a much-needed community gathering space. Other highlights included: - ✅ Council approved **updated engineering standards (Ordinance 2025-1231)** for public works infrastructure. These changes modernize long-outdated specifications dating back to 1999, ensuring newer materials and practices can be used efficiently on city projects. - 👩‍💼 The city welcomed **new finance staffer Jane Borden**. - 💧 A **water bill adjustment** was debated at length after a pipe break in a resident’s private pump house led to a $12,000 water usage spike. Staff explained that a combination of meter-reading glitches and a protracted leak caused the issue to go undetected, prompting a partial bill waiver. - 🧾 Council also began **budget season** in earnest, coordinating October dates for special meetings and reviewing the calendar of hearings and adoption deadlines. --- ### 🏗️ Stevenson Planning Commission – September 11, 2025 This month’s Planning Commission meeting dove into the **implementation phase** of the city’s recently adopted **Housing Action Plan,** with commissioners focusing on how to translate strategic goals into actionable zoning and infrastructure changes. 🛠️ **Top Priority: Missing Middle Housing** Commissioners reaffirmed that Stevenson needs more **duplexes, triplexes, ADUs**, and similar housing types to meet growing demand. There was consensus that while the comprehensive plan identifies the need, **real change hinges on** [**removing regulatory barriers**](https://www.ci.stevenson.wa.us/planning/project/residential-building-capacity?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io)**,** especially where lot size minimums or infrastructure gaps make small-scale development difficult. 🔌 **Infrastructure is the Bottleneck** A recurring theme was the mismatch between [**planned zoning density**](https://www.ci.stevenson.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/planning/project/3045/octobercommissionreporthousingneeds.pdf?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io) and the **actual capacity of existing infrastructure**, especially water and sewer. Commissioners discussed how underbuilt utility systems make otherwise promising infill areas financially unviable for builders. > “We can say we want more housing, but until we fix the infrastructure—physically and financially—it’s just words,” one commissioner noted. 💬 **Zoning Reform & Regional Coordination** There was support for better **alignment with Skamania County zoning**, particularly in boundary areas, to avoid fragmentation that discourages development. Commissioners also discussed exploring **pre-approved development templates** or form-based code elements to simplify the permitting process. 📣 **Public Engagement Needed** As implementation ramps up, the commission acknowledged that **outreach has been limited** so far. They brainstormed ways to host informal listening sessions, visual workshops, or neighborhood walkthroughs to gather input, especially from renters and younger residents who may not attend traditional meetings. 🔜 **What’s Next?** The city will work with staff to map areas where missing middle housing is physically possible and begin prioritizing **infrastructure upgrades** that unlock housing potential. Upcoming meetings will also address funding strategies and updated development incentives. --- ### 📆 **Underwood Parks & Rec: Community Roots Growing** At the September 10th meeting of the **Underwood Parks and Recreation District**, commissioners and volunteers continued advancing small but meaningful projects: - Heard updates on the **RCO grant**, recently awarded for recreation and safety improvements - Reviewed the **Post Office site project** - Discussed maintenance needs, including **fencing**, **baseball backstop repairs**, and a **facelift for the Cook-Underwood sign** Reports were also given by the **Friends of Underwood**, the **community garden team**, and on **communications efforts**, showing continued engagement from local residents and volunteer groups. --- ## 🔜 Next Up Want to stay engaged or comment? Here’s how: 🗓️ **North Bonneville** – City Council next meets on Oct. 10 at 6:30 PM at City Hall 🗓️ **Stevenson** – Budget workshops are scheduled through October; check [ci.stevenson.wa.us](https://www.ci.stevenson.wa.us/?ref=skamania-dispatch.ghost.io) for details 🗓️ **Underwood Parks & Rec** – Next meeting is **October 8 at 6 PM** at the Community Center