Battle Ground meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Battle Ground council to weigh sewer plan options; no decisions published from recent meetings

Recent Battle Ground city meetings produced no published decisions, as minutes have not yet been released. The next council meeting, a study session on sewer transmission alternatives, will consider options costing between $25.8 million and $55.7 million.

Recent meetings

City Council (Aug. 3)

The council met to consider condemnation ordinances for the SW Eaton Boulevard Improvements project, a franchise agreement with Mashell Telecom (dba Lightcurve), and routine financial approvals. The agenda included Ordinance No. 2026-02 (condemnation of Matoy properties, tax parcels 192406000 and 192363000) and Ordinance No. 2026-14 (Peru properties, tax parcels 192385000, 192378000, 192366000). Also on the agenda: Ordinance No. 2026-15 for a franchise agreement with Lightcurve, claim vouchers totaling $1,626,753.79 for July 17–24, and a 2027–2029 intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Clark County for Urban County Designation. No minutes have been published.

Civil Service Commission (Aug. 4)

The commission met via Zoom to approve minutes from its Feb. 3 meeting and to consider authorizing a new Police Sergeant promotional exam. Public comment was limited to three minutes with advance registration. No minutes have been published.

City Council special meeting (Aug. 5)

The council held a special meeting limited to two items: Resolution No. 26-06 to terminate City Manager Kristina Swanson without cause, effective 30 days after notice, with severance of 12 months' salary plus deferred compensation match and health/welfare benefits per her employment agreement. The council also discussed a possible immediate 30-day suspension with pay and selection of an interim city manager. No minutes have been published.

Parks & Community Engagement Advisory Board (Aug. 12)

The board met to approve July minutes, discuss preserving mermaid art from the removed teeter totter at Florence Robison Park South, and explore collaboration with the Battle Ground Art Alliance on public art projects. No minutes have been published.

Coming up

City Council study session (Aug. 17)

The council will hold a study session on the Discovery Clean Water Alliance General Sewer Plan, focusing on Battle Ground's wastewater transmission system. Four alternatives for meeting 20-year capacity needs through 2045 are on the table: a parallel force main ($55.7 million), an equalization basin expansion ($25.8 million), a new force main to 72nd Ave ($50.9 million), and a new force main to Neil Kimsey Pump Station ($52.8 million, including a $13.1 million buy-in). The council will also consider Ordinance No. 2026-16, which updates trailer/RV storage setbacks in residential areas (BGMC 17.135.150), with a possible public hearing on Sept. 21. The consent agenda includes claim vouchers of $166,813.69 and payroll of $354,945.33. A solid waste annual update from Clark County Solid Waste is also scheduled.

Battle Ground council set to vote on SW Eaton Boulevard condemnation ordinances; recent meeting outcomes pending

Battle Ground's City Council is scheduled to vote August 3 on condemnation ordinances tied to the SW Eaton Boulevard Improvements Project — the most consequential land-use action on the immediate horizon. Because minutes from the city's three most recent public meetings have not yet been published, outcomes from those sessions cannot be confirmed; this roundup reports what was on each agenda.

City Council — July 20 (agenda only, minutes not yet published)

The council's consent agenda included claim vouchers totaling $4,408,779.78 for the period dated June 12 through July 10, 2026, plus payroll payments of $352,923.07 and $368,779.89. Right-of-way purchase approvals were listed for three locations: the NW 20th Avenue/NW 9th Street intersection (involving multiple parties), SW Eaton Boulevard (Mancia), and SE Grace Avenue Phase 2. A 2026 Q2 financial review and a presentation on Ordinance No. 2026-15, a Lightcurve franchise agreement, were also scheduled. Whether these items were approved as presented is not yet confirmed in the public record.

Salary Commission — July 20 (agenda only, minutes not yet published)

The Salary Commission was set to discuss appointing a chair, review councilmember responses to interview questions, and consider potential changes to the current salary schedule. No specific salary figures or proposed adjustments were listed on the agenda. Outcomes are not yet available.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee — July 27 (agenda only, minutes not yet published)

The committee agenda listed a current cash balance of $302,910 and a review of recent lodging tax payments. For 2026, those included $10,000 to the Southwest Washington Winery Association and $9,047 to Best Western. For 2025, payments listed were Harvest Days ($39,843), Evoke Cascadia ($2,500), and Best Western ($402.16). Members were also scheduled to discuss a proposed scoring system for funding applications and review state law on allowable uses of lodging tax for tourism and marketing. No decisions are confirmed.

Coming up

City Council — Monday, August 3, 2026. The council is scheduled to vote on two condemnation ordinances for the SW Eaton Boulevard Improvements Project: Ordinance No. 2026-02 (Matoy properties, tax parcels 192406000 and 192363000) and Ordinance No. 2026-14 (Peru properties, tax parcels 192385000, 192378000, and 192366000). Also on the agenda: Ordinance No. 2026-15, a franchise agreement with Mashell Telecom, Inc., dba Lightcurve; claim vouchers totaling $1,626,753.79 for July 17–24, 2026; and a presentation on a 2027–2029 intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Clark County for Urban County Designation. Presentations on procurement methods for a Public Works Operations Center expansion are also scheduled.

Civil Service Commission — Tuesday, August 4, 2026 (Zoom). The commission is set to approve minutes from its February 3, 2026 meeting and consider authorizing development of a new Police Sergeant promotional exam. Public comment is limited to three minutes and requires advance registration.

Battle Ground council set to review $4.4M in vouchers and ROW purchases July 20; recent meetings stayed procedural

Battle Ground's recent government meetings produced no public decisions, but the City Council's July 20 agenda includes claim vouchers totaling $4,408,779.78 and several right-of-way purchase approvals that could affect street projects across the city.

Recent meetings: mostly procedural

The City Council held a special meeting on July 6, 2026, limited to an executive session reviewing a public employee's performance. No public comment or official action was taken. Minutes have not yet been published.

The council's regular meeting scheduled for the same day, July 6, was cancelled per Resolution No. 24-02. The next regular meeting is set for July 20, 2026.

On July 8, the Parks & Community Engagement Advisory Board met to discuss city park project updates. The primary item was a discussion on preserving and repurposing mermaid figures removed from an outdated teeter totter at Florence Robinson Park (South) during new equipment installation. No decisions were documented; only the agenda is available.

Coming July 20: City Council consent agenda

The Battle Ground City Council will consider a consent agenda on July 20 that includes:

• Claim vouchers dated 06/12/2026 through 07/10/2026 totaling $4,408,779.78
• Payroll payments for June and July totaling $352,923.07 and $368,779.89
• Right-of-way purchase approvals for the NW 20th Avenue/NW 9th Street intersection (multiple parties)
• Right-of-way purchase approval for SW Eaton Boulevard — Mancia
• A 2026 Q2 financial review
• A presentation on Ordinance No. 2026-15, the Lightcurve Franchise Agreement

The right-of-way items relate to street infrastructure projects. The NW 20th Avenue/NW 9th Street intersection and SW Eaton Boulevard approvals involve property purchases needed for those corridors. SE Grace Avenue Phase 2 is also referenced in the meeting summary.

Also July 20: Salary Commission

The Salary Commission meets the same day to discuss potential changes to the salary schedule. Items on the agenda include:

• Appointment of a Commission chair
• Discussion of Councilmember interview question responses
• Discussion of potential changes to the salary schedule
• Approval of previous meeting minutes

No dollar figures or specific salary proposals are listed in the available agenda.

Coming up

• **Salary Commission** — July 20, 2026. Chair appointment, councilmember interview responses, and salary schedule discussion.
• **City Council** — July 20, 2026. Consent agenda with $4,408,779.78 in claim vouchers, payroll payments of $352,923.07 and $368,779.89, multiple right-of-way purchase approvals, Q2 financial review, and Lightcurve franchise presentation.

All recent meeting items listed above are based on agendas only; minutes have not yet been published. Readers can verify details through the city's official meeting records.

Battle Ground Council cancels July 6 meeting; parks board weighs fate of mermaid figures

Battle Ground's City Council did not hold its regular meeting on July 6, 2026, having cancelled it per Resolution No. 24-02. The next council meeting is scheduled for July 20, 2026. A special council meeting held the same day consisted only of an executive session to review a public employee's performance, with no public comment or official action taken.

City Council — July 6

The council's regular July 6 meeting was cancelled, according to the posted agenda, which cites Resolution No. 24-02. A separate special meeting that day included only procedural items and an executive session for the performance review of a public employee. No official action was taken, and minutes for both items have not yet been published.

Parks & Community Engagement Advisory Board — July 8

The Parks and Community Engagement Advisory Board met to discuss city park project updates, with the primary focus on preserving and repurposing mermaid figures removed from an outdated teeter totter at Florence Robinson Park (South). The figures were taken down during installation of new equipment, and the board is seeking ideas for how to keep them in use. No decision was recorded in the available agenda, and minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Salary Commission — July 20, 2026:** The commission will review councilmember interview responses and discuss possible adjustments to the current salary schedule. Members also plan to appoint a chair and approve minutes from a previous meeting. No dollar figures or proposed salary changes are listed in the current agenda.
• **City Council — July 20, 2026:** The next regular council meeting is set for this date, following the July 6 cancellation.