City Manager Update: July 2024
July 10, 2024
City Council considers ballot measure to fund police services
The community has consistently told us that improving police services and public safety is a priority. I convened the Police Community Advisory Committee earlier this year to advise the City. The committee met in intensive meetings six times over three months to help identify community safety needs, gaps in services and ways to improve policing and public safety. The committee also helped develop funding recommendations and identify outcomes. Their findings were presented to City Council on July 1 and July 8. Read the committee’s full report. I want to thank the 13 community members who served on the committee and will continue to advise the City on community safety matters.
The committee recommends asking voters to approve a levy in the fall and two other companion ballot measures over the next few years to generate funding for police and supporting services. This includes hiring an additional 80 sworn and 36 non-sworn staff to meet the law enforcement needs of our growing community.
Despite ongoing investments in police services, growth has resulted in the current Vancouver Police Department’s total sworn staffing capacity relative to our community size being among the lowest in the state of Washington, which in turn is among the lowest in the nation.
On July 15, the City Council will consider a resolution that refers the first police service funding measures to voters in the November General Election. Read more about the proposed levy in the Council packet for Monday’s meeting.
Share your priorities for the City’s 2025-26 biennial budget
Development of the City’s 2025-26 biennial budget is underway, and we’re inviting community members to share their input using our Budget Prioritization Tool, which will close on Aug. 2.
The easy drag-and-drop tool asks participants to rank the eight focus areas of the City’s Strategic Plan. The eight Focus Areas are: Transportation and Mobility, Economic Opportunity, Housing and Human Needs, Vibrant and Distinct Neighborhoods, Culture and Heritage, Safe and Prepared Community, Climate and Natural Systems, and High-Performing Government.
The Budget Prioritization Tool is one of several inputs we’re using to help inform our plan to close a $43 million budget gap for the biennium. Last month, we also administered a phone survey to learn more about what the community thinks about livability, City services and community priorities.
I will present my proposed 2025-26 Biennial Budget to the City Council on Oct. 1. Learn more about the City’s budget process.
Meet Vancouver City Manager finalists
In late February, I announced my retirement after 17 years with the City of Vancouver, effective Oct. 11. As part of hiring Vancouver’s next City Manager, the City launched a nationwide recruitment effort. Next week the finalists for the position will be announced in advance of two Community Q&A sessions with the candidates:
Community Q&A schedule
Thursday, July 18
6:30 to 8 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Co-sponsored with Southwest Washington League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Vancouver Chapter of NAACP
Firstenburg Community Center: 700 N.E. 136th Ave.
Please RSVP to the event.
Friday, July 19
8:30 to 10 a.m. (doors open at 8 a.m.)
Co-sponsored with Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
Hilton Vancouver Washington: 310 W. 6th Street – Pine/Spruce Room
Please RSVP to the event. Spanish interpretation will be available, please contact us for other interpretation needs.
During these moderated discussions, candidates will share their thoughts about the future of Vancouver, be asked about community priorities identified in a recent city manager survey, and answer questions submitted by community members. Questions can be submitted now at beheardvancouver.org/cmrecruitment. Written questions will also be collected from audiences on the day of the respective event. The questions and priorities raised by the community will help the Council make this critical hire.