February Skamania Cities Update

February brought land-use debates, infrastructure warnings, sewer tension, and administrative transition across Skamania County’s cities. Here’s what unfolded.

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🌲 North Bonneville

🏗 Critical Areas Update Begins

North Bonneville’s Planning Commission began reviewing required updates to the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) as part of Washington’s state-mandated periodic review process.

These updates cover regulations governing:

• Wetlands
• Geologic hazard areas
• Flood zones
• Habitat protection

While largely technical, these updates can have real effects on:

• What homeowners can build
• Where setbacks apply
• Permit timelines
• Infrastructure planning

The commission is still in early stages. No votes have occurred yet, but this type of foundational policy work shapes land use decisions for years.

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🌧 Infrastructure & Subdivision Concerns Resurface

Public comment raised ongoing concerns about:

• Retention ponds
• HOA dissolution
• Long-term infrastructure maintenance responsibility

Questions focused on what happens when subdivisions age out of HOA management and how infrastructure upkeep is enforced over time.

This is a slow-burn governance issue, not a headline moment, but it reflects broader regional tension around small-town growth and long-term maintenance capacity.

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📋 Commission Capacity & Staffing

The Planning Commission welcomed a new member and continues working to fill vacancies. Like many small towns, North Bonneville is rebuilding board capacity while simultaneously handling required regulatory updates.

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North Bonneville Key Feb '26 Takeaways:

📌 What Changed –

• Critical Areas Ordinance review officially underway
• Planning Commission membership rebuilding

📈 What Escalated –

• Public concern about subdivision infrastructure and enforcement gaps resurfaced

⏭ What’s Next –

• Continued CAO drafting and review
• Potential public hearings later this spring
• Ongoing infrastructure governance discussions

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🏛 Stevenson

February was one of Stevenson’s most consequential months in recent memory, with sewer penalties paused, administrator recruitment underway, water system warnings emerging, and land-use reforms moving forward.

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🚰 Sewer Penalties Paused (But Not Repealed)

Council adopted a six-month moratorium (through August 31, 2026) on enforcing penalties and fees tied to mandatory sewer connections.

Important clarification:

The underlying sewer ordinance remains in place. Only the penalties and fines, which would have begun in April, are paused.

Public testimony revealed deep division. Some residents argued:

• They were not clearly notified of connection costs
• Working septic systems should not be forced to connect immediately
• Fines should be waived until septic systems fail naturally
• The sewer system has been “problematic for a long time”

Others argued:

• Everyone should contribute to the new sewer plant
• Delaying enforcement is unfair to those who already connected

Mayor Jenny Taylor indicated she would like the ordinance simplified and easier to administer before penalties resume.

Council must revisit the issue before the moratorium expires at the end of August.

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💧 Water System Warning: Rock Creek Intake at Risk

One of the most significant developments this month wasn’t sewer, it was water.

Public Works Director Cody Rosander reported that water flow at the Rock Creek intake has dropped dramatically:

• 2021: 250-300 gallons per minute
• Now: roughly half that

If the intake fails this summer:

• The city would switch to its well system
• If the well fails, there is no redundant backup supply

Estimated repair scope: ~$500,000

To fix the intake, the city would need to:

• Install a cofferdam
• Replace damaged intake components
• Install a high-pressure flushing system
• Navigate multiple permitting requirements

Funding discussions included:

• Bonding
• Grants
• Possible FEMA assistance
• Reallocating ~$170,000 previously set aside for a water system plan

Rosander asked for council guidance on whether to move forward this summer.
This is now one of Stevenson’s most urgent infrastructure vulnerabilities.

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🏗 Wastewater Plant: One Year In, Still Not Fully Closed Out

The city’s new wastewater treatment plant is nearing one year of operation. Rosander described the plant as “mostly working pretty good,” but several administrative issues remain.

• The project is still listed as “substantially complete”
• Contractor punch-list items remain unresolved
• The city attorney will review next steps

Council also confirmed the sewer line under Rock Creek is functioning properly.

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👋 Council Vacancy & Administrator Recruitment

Council acknowledged the upcoming vacancy in Position #4 following Councilmember Pat Rice’s resignation, effective February 28.

To stabilize leadership, council approved up to $32,000 for executive recruitment and interim placement services through Prothman & Associates.

Mayor Jenny Taylor is currently serving as interim city administrator while also acting as mayor. The goal:

• Interim administrator within weeks
• Permanent administrator within 2-3 months

Public comment reflected concern about turnover and the challenge of recruiting leadership to a small rural community.

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🎥 YouTube vs Government Hosting: Transparency Debate

Council debated whether to continue posting city meetings on YouTube. Mayor concerns included:

• Hosting public records on a third-party platform
• Copyright flags or potential removal risks
• Platform ownership and control
• System duplication

Estimated cost for a government-specific hosting platform: $40–$110 per month. Residents strongly defended YouTube, citing:

• Accessibility
• Automatic captions
• Media sharing
• Transparency and public trust

Council directed staff to research government-grade hosting options while maintaining accessibility. No final decision yet.

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🏕 Planning Commission: Hop Farm Campground Proposal Continued

On February 9, the Planning Commission reviewed a Conditional Use Permit for a proposed campground integrated with a hop farm on Foster Creek Road. The proposal includes:

• A ~3.2-acre property
• Up to 17 small RV or camper-van sites
• Managed reservations with operator approval
• A farm-based concept tied to hop cultivation and brewing

Public response included both support and caution.

One nearby neighbor spoke in favor of giving the project a chance, noting the property’s screening from the road and surrounding homes.

Other residents raised concerns about:

• Density (potentially up to ~100 campers)
• Generator noise
• Traffic
• Whether a campground fits a suburban residential zone

Commissioners said the application lacked critical infrastructure details, including:

• Bathroom and wastewater systems
• Water service
• Internal roads and circulation
• Emergency vehicle access
• Fire safety and generator rules
• Garbage handling
• Occupancy limits

County environmental health officials also indicated the project would need to provide bathroom facilities and running water, rather than relying solely on campers’ self-contained RV systems.

The Planning Commission did not approve or deny the proposal.

Instead, members voted to continue the hearing to a future meeting so the applicant can return with a more complete site plan addressing utilities, sanitation, and site access.

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🏠 Short-Term Rental Reform Advances

The Planning Commission also finalized recommendations to update Stevenson’s 10-year-old vacation rental ordinance. Current snapshot:

• 23 licensed rentals
• 9 fully compliant
• 14 partially compliant
• Additional units likely operating without permits

Proposed reforms include:

• 5% cap on vacation rentals
• Two units per operator
• Occupancy limits
• Off-street parking requirements
• Insurance requirements
• “Good neighbor” policies
• Limits on large events

The Planning Commission plans to forward its recommendations to City Council for review.

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Stevenson Key Feb '26 Takeaways:

🔄 What Changed –

• Sewer penalties paused through August 31
• Recruitment firm hired for administrator search
• Rock Creek intake identified as urgent infrastructure risk
• Hop-farm campground proposal continued for revision
• STR reform recommendations advancing
• Council reviewing meeting-recording platform options

📈 What Escalated – Stevenson

• Public frustration over sewer mandates
• Concerns about city leadership stability
• Transparency debate over YouTube hosting
• Water supply vulnerability formally acknowledged

⏭ What’s Next – Stevenson

• Sewer ordinance revision before moratorium ends
• Interim administrator appointment
• Financing discussion for Rock Creek intake repairs
• Campground proposal returns with revised site plan
• STR draft ordinance expected for public review
• Decision on meeting recording platform

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With thanks as always to the Documenters releasing notes under CC-by-4.0.