Camas Issues

“Camas is at a crossroads. Our city is growing, and with growth comes both challenges and opportunities. Rising housing costs, traffic, and pressure on our infrastructure are real concerns. The good news is that HOW we grow is within our control. With thoughtful planning and a collaborative spirit we can ensure that Camas retains its charm as a safe and friendly city, while expanding opportunities throughout our community.”

Here are issues that are frequently raised in my conversations with voters:

MANDATED GROWTH CHALLENGES

Last year the Washington State legislature substantially expanded its Growth Management Act to address the statewide housing shortage. As a result, in 2024 the City of Camas received a mandate to add at least 4,000 more housing units in the next 20 years.

Growth is mandated, but how we shape it is up to us.

Thoughtful growth is central to my vision for the future of Camas. With careful planning we can meet this mandate while preserving our City’s cherished natural spaces and historic beauty.

Serving on the City of Camas Planning Commission, I have:

  • Participated in drafting the solution to address this mandated growth as a tool to provide housing choices and support economic development.
  • Worked to include incentives for developers to build housing that meets the needs of young families, seniors and single-income households.
  • Advocated for zoning to support diverse housing options, such as urban villages, to make Camas affordable for all life stages from young adults to senior residents.

Like many other families in Camas, my husband and I hope that when our daughters have families of their own, it will be possible for them to settle down here.

Serving on the City Council will allow me to apply my civil engineering experience so that Camas can intelligently and cost-effectively meet the State’s growth mandate. With careful planning we can keep Camas livable while we protect natural spaces, established neighborhoods, and preserve the small-town character we all cherish.

DOWNTOWN CAMAS

Downtown Camas is the heart of our community. It reflects the historic, small town charm that makes our city special and is an important economic engine for our City through its support for many essential businesses like grocery and hardware stores, health and professional services and local restaurants.

The City’s role is to be an active partner—supporting events by maintaining safe and welcoming streets, sidewalks, lighting, and such.

At the same time, while we preserve downtown’s historic character we must create opportunities for new shops, restaurants, and services. The sub-area planning for downtown is the key to its future success. This process sets policies and design standards to guide future development, ensuring that growth aligns with the character and values of our small town.

This work is also personal for me. My parents own a business in downtown, so I can observe how much effort it is to run the business and the important role the City plays in supporting downtown businesses.

Additionally, many residents have asked for a new parking facility. But the reality is it will cost upwards of $25,000/stall, so a parking lot of 100 spaces would cost $2.5 million!

A more cost-effective and practical solution would be to lease additional parking from Georgia-Pacific. Other possibilities include ex

panding current transit options and/or providing shuttle buses from perimeter parking areas.

REGIONAL FIRE AUTHORITY

Our firefighters face serious staffing shortages and outdated equipment. This is the moment for our community to step up and provide a reliable funding mechanism so they can keep us safe. Additionally, saying yes to this tax measure means fire and emergency services would be funded separately from the city’s general budget, while still keeping local control.

That’s why I support formation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA).

As a council member, I will make sure there is complete transparency in how RFA funding is spent so that every dollar raised for it goes directly to hiring more firefighters and repairing critical equipment. In my work as a civil engineering project manager, I am responsible for the same tracking of dollars for large capital projects.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Within the next five years, one in three Camas police officers will be eligible to retire. We need to begin NOW to recruit and train replacements to ensure Camas isn’t hampered by a shortage as has occurred in neighboring cities.

We need to provide sustainable and consistent Public Safety funding to ensure that Camas continues to rank as one of the safest communities in Washington.

CITY INFRASTRUCTURE

When infrastructure is designed well and maintained property, no one notices it. It just works. But we notice it pretty quickly when it isn’t working as advertised!

Camas is facing big budget deficits, yet parts of our infrastructure require urgent attention:

  • Protect our drinking water: Removing PFAS. Similar to many other Washington cities, some of our water is contaminated with PFAS. Right now, I am managing a $10 million PFAS mitigation project for the Port of Portland, which is on track and within budget. The first step is to control the source of the PFAS contamination so it doesn’t come back once we clean the system. Then, the most effective method uses carbon filters to remove PFAS and other pollutants.
  • Highway 14 Slough and Everett Street Bridges are in danger of collapsing and urgently need fixing. I will bring my many years of civil engineering experience to reach out to the Regional Transportation Council, state legislators, and federal agencies to secure grants. I have proven leadership in managing complex projects with strong partnerships that result in practical, cost-effective solutions.
  • Lacamas Lake Algae Contamination: We must continue partnering with the State of Washington Department of Ecology, Clark County and other local groups such as the Lacamas Watershed Council to clean up pollutants and algae contamination in a long-term ecologically safe manner.

    • PARKS & TRAILS

    The community has consistently expressed the importance of maintaining and expanding parks and green spaces, and connecting trails. Currently the City manages over 1,000 acres of parks and open space and 12 miles of trails. The Legacy Lands initiative will add 165 more acres of park and open spaces north of Lacamas Lake.

    Historically the City has underfunded maintenance and operations of these valuable city assets. As a City Councilor I will make it a priority that we recognize the importance of these natural assets, allocate the necessary budget, and strengthen partnerships with local volunteers such as the Camas Parks Foundation.

    CAMAS PUBLIC LIBRARY

    The Camas Public Library is a vibrant cornerstone of our community whose impact is felt far beyond being a repository of books and digital media. As a standalone library, it’s locally managed and has the latitude to offer programming tailored to Camas, such as food drives to support Camas School District Family Community Resource Centers. It plays a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, offering free computer access, WiFi, and printing services for job seekers, students, and anyone who needs access to the web. Our community has overwhelmingly supported keeping the Camas Public Library local and independent, and I support this sentiment.

    UNHOUSED POPULATION

    Homelessness has become a growing challenge across the region, and while Camas is a small town with limited resources, that doesn’t mean we should ignore the problem. Our priority must be to keep neighborhoods safe while working with our region to find practical solutions.

    Camas currently doesn’t have the infrastructure to provide all the necessary support services directly. At present, the City contributes funds to Clark County through document recording fees to support housing, shelters, mental health services, and addiction recovery. Our first responders also connect people in need with both local and county services.

    A more effective step would be to retain more of these funds in Camas and build partnerships with nonprofits, including local churches. These groups are already deeply connected to our community and could provide hot- and cold-weather shelters, with the City reimbursing them for their costs. This approach keeps resources local and strengthens our response.

    We also should look to other cities across the country to see what has worked, and what hasn’t.

    C-TRAN

    As a professional in transportation systems, I know public transportation plays a big role in a region’s economic development. As a mother, I know that C-TRAN is especially important for students and seniors who rely on it to get to school, stores or appointments.

    However, recent studies have indicated a multi-million dollar gap between what Camas pays into C-TRAN and the services it receives from it. That gap needs to be addressed.

    As a council member I will make sure Camas stays engaged in the regional discussions and that the level of service we receive from C-Tran is aligned with the contributions our taxpayers’ make to it.

    I-5 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

    It’s hard to believe we are still talking about the I-5 bridge! The bridge is over 100 years old. Replacing it isn’t optional -- it’s absolutely necessary for our region's economic development and for the safety of those who drive across it every day.

    The reason we don’t have a new I-5 bridge today is because of decades of distraction and obfuscation leading to unproductive conversations that have left us with nothing.

    There is no magic wand to build the bridge. It will take money, commitment, and regional partnership.