The project will:

• Rebuild one travel lane in each direction and add a continuous left-turn lane.
• Install bicycle lanes, planter strips, sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
• Replace utility lines and build stormwater improvements, including rain gardens to collect and treat polluted storm runoff in some planter strips.

The $17.4 million project will be built in three phases, with workers concentrating on one road section and, when possible, leaving the rest open to traffic. Inside the construction zone, the street will be closed to all traffic, except for emergency vehicles, school buses and private vehicles for residents who have no other way to reach their homes.

Residents who must drive through Northeast 88th Street construction should expect delays.  All other traffic should use Northeast 78th Street.

At this point, the Vancouver and Battle Ground school districts plan to use regular bus routes.

Construction will require C-Tran Route 25 (Fruit Valley/St. Johns) to use a detour. Beginning Sunday, May 13, buses will not serve Northeast 88th Street between Northeast 25th Avenue and Highway 99 during construction. Riders may need to catch the #25 bus on Northeast 99th Street or the #78 bus on Northeast 78th Street. For details and alternatives, go to www.c-tran.com.

Clark County will host an open house on the Northeast 88th Street project from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at Clark Regional Wastewater District, 8000 NE 52nd Court. Residents can drop by any time during the informal open house and get answers to questions.

For more information on this road project: www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/roads/88th.html.

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This e-mail and related attachments and any response may be subject to public disclosure under state law.

Waterfront Park receives $1 million in state funding

The state of Washington granted $1 million to the city of Vancouver to fund construction of the planned eight-acre public park and trail extension at Vancouver's Waterfront Park.

The funding recently approved in the state's 2012-2013 capital budget allows the city to build the first phase of its eight-acre Vancouver Waterfront Park, now in the design phase. The park, a community focal point, will open up new riverfront public access from the Columbia River to historic downtown, the city said.

Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt said the redevelopment project is a critical portion of the planned 32-acre private mixed-use investment project expected to create thousands of new jobs.

"This funding certainly is significant, and is, in fact, much more important than just funding a new public park and trail," said Leavitt in a press release. "The critical infrastructure constructed with this money will be leveraged to attract major private investment and creation of jobs for Vancouver residents along our waterfront.

"This Vancouver redevelopment is one of the few individual projects approved in the overall state capital budget - specifically because of its link to economic development," Leavitt added. "This is a turning point in the redevelopment of our waterfront - leveraging $1 billion in private investment pledged by Gramor Development for the Columbia Waterfront LLC."

Leavitt praised the Washington Legislative delegation for their decision to support the project.

"This is really a smart move by the state because it offers a critical piece of public financing that will be leveraged to create hundreds of immediate local construction jobs," said Leavitt. "It's also an investment in future economy, jobs and prosperity for the residents throughout SW Washington. I'd like to specifically thank State Representatives Wylie and Moeller, and Senator Pridemore for their staunch support."

Columbia Waterfront LLC

According to the city of Vancouver, property next to Vancouver Waterfront Park and close to the City Hall will include the Columbia Waterfront LLC mixed-use development, offering a diversity of new uses including residences and offices blending with restaurants, shops and hotels, public parks and open spaces, inviting residents, neighbors and visitors to come together.

The Columbia Waterfront LLC project is expected to add thousands of new jobs for Vancouver and Clark County for years to come. The project includes up to 1.2 million square feet of office and 400,000 square feet of retail space, with more than 20,000 total jobs anticipated over the life of the project.

Click here to watch a Gramor Development concept video of what Vancouver Waterfront Park and the Columbia Waterfront LLC mixed-use development might look like when finished.

Link to original article: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=kmzvymcab&v=001907B4yRClb_Mg6ulg5OcNq-uXe025YmuzhakmiL3mUq18lWK_8Mr5sdo_vUfFqrdyCCcpvjqd2y83-gmNYRyHf4zyXotNE1NJjyiQscIlME%3D

Date:          April 10, 2012

Time:          9:00 a.m.

Location:    Department of Labor and Industries

7273 Linderson Way SW

Tumwater, Washington 98501

For more information, please visit the Rule Development Page.

Newsletters come to you in a PDF format that requires Acrobat Reader to open. Click on the following link to download this free software: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

You may view the archives, leave this list or change your e-mail address for this list at any time by going to http://www.lni.wa.gov/Main/Listservs/Electrical.asp

Thank you for your interest. Comments or questions about this service may be directed to a Technical Specialist, Washington Department of Labor & Industries, 360-902-5249 or ElectricalProgram@lni.wa.gov.

Vancouver, WA - The Southwest Washington Contractors Association (SWCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kyle Stevens, with Concrete Shop, Inc. to their Board of Directors. Kyle, a longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest, is the fourth generation in his family to work in precast concrete. His father, Jeff Stevens, was president of the SWCA in 1999. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration - Management Operations from Washington State University- Pullman.

"Kyle represents the next generation of construction leaders in this community. We are excited to gain from his energy, knowledge and commitment to the industry" - Dan Goff, DKC, LLC - SWCA President

In 2008, Kyle became a LEED Accredited Professional. He has served on the SWCA's Builders Exchange committee for the past two years. He is a resident of Salmon Creek and also volunteers as a Young Life leader at Covington Middle School where his wife teaches science. He is a huge Cougar football and basketball fan and enjoys running, hiking, camping, snowboarding & waterfowl hunting.

# # #

The Southwest Washington Contractors Association is a 265 - member trade association that provides contractors with the professional resources to build a stronger community through growth and development.

Contact: Bill Wright, P.E., Transportation Programming Manager, Public Works

(360) 397-6118 ext. 4523; Bill Wright@clark.wa.gov

Vancouver, WA – Despite the ongoing economic slump, Clark County will continue to make strategic investments in the county’s transportation infrastructure this year.

The county’s transportation program is a partnership. In 2012, every county dollar spent on transportation will be matched by nearly 80 cents in state and federal grants and loans.

One of the biggest projects headed for a 2012 construction start is widening and improving Northeast 88 Street, from Highway 99 east to St. Johns Road. The project is expected to cost $11.7 million for construction, design and property acquisition.

In summer 2012, the county will replace Cougar Creek Bridge on NE Washougal River Road, one of the last remaining wood bridges owned and maintained by the county. The overall project is expected to cost $1.08 million for design and construction, with a federal grant providing 80 percent of funding.

Also scheduled to start this year is the final phase of the $133 million Salmon Creek Interchange project. The project, a partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest roadway project the county has built since Padden Parkway.

Clark County completed major construction on its part of the joint project last year, but the state’s portion is projected to continue until 2014.

Clark County also will continue working to get better performance from existing infrastructure. The Traffic Signal Optimization Program uses technology to improve traffic flow, increase roadway capacity and make signal adjustments. In 2012, the county expects to complete traffic signal upgrades on Northeast Padden Parkway and Northeast Andresen Road and along Northeast 99 Street on both sides of Interstate 5.

In addition, the county will preserve roads. The 2012-17 Transportation Improvement Program, which the Board of County Commissioners approved last month, calls for spending $52.1 million on overlays, surface seals and other measures during the next six years.

“For every $1 spent preserving a road today, we avoid spending up to $15 to rebuild a road tomorrow,” said Bill Wright, Public Works transportation programming manager.

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For Immediate Release:
Friday, December 16, 2011

Contact:
Mike Bomar – (360) 694-7922
Mike@SWCA.org

____________________________________________________

SWCA names two new board members

Vancouver, WA – The Southwest Washington Contractors Association (SWCA) is pleased to announce two new members for the 2012 Board of Directors. They are:

Lisa Littleton – Twice the Light, Inc.

Pat Scott – Olson Engineering, Inc.

These leaders were elected at the Board’s regular meeting in November. The following 2012 Executive Board was also elected at that meeting:

Dan Goff (DK Contracting, LLC), President

Ron King (3 Kings Environmental, Inc), Vice-President

Joe Currie (JWC Construction, LLC), Secretary

Sheri Clark (NW Natural), Associate Vice President

Tyler Young (NW Accounting Professionals, LLC), Treasurer

Amy Davis (West Coast Bank), Past President

The 16-member Board is charged with carrying out the goals of the Association’s Strategic Plan, including increasing member benefits, promoting the SWCA’s Plans Online system and continuing to offer quality professional development opportunities for the industry. In 2011, the SWCA grew from 185 members to over 255.

“This was an amazing year for this Association, but there is still a lot of work to do and many unprecedented challenges for our industry. I am confident that this group will serve as great leaders for our industry and Association in 2012.” – Dan Goff, President (DK Contracting, LLC – La Center, WA)

# # #

The Southwest Washington Contractors Association is a 255 - member trade association that provides contractors with the professional resources to build a stronger community through growth and development.

Contact: Clark County Commissioners’ Office, (360) 397-2232

Board appoints two new Planning Commission members

Vancouver, WA – The Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday appointed Battle Ground resident James A. Gizzi and Hazel Dell-area resident Eileen J. Qutub to fill vacant seats on the Planning Commission.

Gizzi, a 14-year Dollars Corner-area resident, has worked in wireless telecommunications and project management in Southwest Washington, Oregon, Illinois and Indonesia. He has worked on local transportation, water quality and school issues. He earned a bachelor of science at the University of Illinois.

Qutub has worked as a real estate broker in Vancouver and the Portland area. She also served as a consultant to and executive director of the Robert D. & Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust in Portland. From 1995 to 2001, she served as an Oregon State Senator and State Representative. She earned a bachelor of arts at George Fox University.

The Planning Commission is a seven-member panel that makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land-use planning, zoning and development in unincorporated areas. Topics include growth management, roads, public facilities plans, development regulations and county ordinances.

Commissioner terms are for up to six years and begin in January.  For more information on the Planning Commission, go to http://www.clark.wa.gov/planning/commission.html.

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In September, the agency proposed a 2.5 percent increase. The decision to hold overall rates flat in 2012 is due to public testimony about the impact of the recession and recent positive trends in claims duration, according to L&I Director Judy Schurke.

“At public hearings this fall, business owners told us they are struggling to keep doors open and workers employed, and that they can’t afford even a small increase in rates in this economy,” said Schurke. “Their feedback and the latest positive trends influenced this decision.”

“AGC thanks the department for listening to the concerns of contractors and keeping overall industrial insurance rates at current levels,” said Pat McGarry, President of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington. “Construction employment has decreased 35 percent over the last few years. Holding the line on workers’ comp rates will help get the construction industry back on track, allowing contractors to save jobs and assuring that workers won’t see even larger paycheck deductions. This will have positive ripple effects throughout the economy. This type of responsiveness from government is helpful.”

Based on the latest financial data, L&I is projecting its reserves will be 5 percent of liabilities by the end of the year. This is a higher percentage of liabilities held in reserve than the Workers’ Compensation financial statement reflected in September. However, it is still low by industry standards.

“Holding rates flat next year helps rate payers but if the financial situation worsens, it could mean higher rates in 2013. I considered this carefully and made the decision that helping businesses and keeping jobs for workers was the right thing to do,” Schurke said.

Schurke noted that the workers’ compensation reforms passed during the last legislative session will save $150 million in workers’ compensation premiums in 2012. This is part of the $1.1 billion in reform savings over four years.

While there will be no overall rate increase, individual employers may see their rates go up or down, depending on their recent claims history and changes in the frequency and cost of claims in their industry. L&I has published a rate table online and will soon send all employers a rate notice.

Washington is the only state where workers contribute a substantial portion of the premiums. Next year, their share will be about 24 percent.

The new rates take effect Jan. 1, 2012.

More than 100,000 workers in Washington State are injured on the job each year.  L&I must review premium rates annually and make adjustments to cover the anticipated costs of claims that will be filed in the next year.

Vancouver, WA – The Community Pride Design Awards program is accepting nominations for outstanding projects that demonstrate quality development and enhance the community.

Projects completed between Jan. 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 are eligible. A public awards ceremony will be held in November.

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2011. They may be emailed to commdev@clark.wa.gov or mailed to Community Pride Design Awards, P.O. Box 9810, Vancouver, WA 98666.

Nomination forms are available online at www.clark.wa.gov/development/about/cpda.html or by contacting Désirée de Monyé at (360) 397-2375 ext. 4165.

The Community Pride Design Awards program was established in 1996 through a public-private partnership to recognize exceptional buildings, development and civic improvements that have had a positive impact on the community. More than 100 projects have been honored, representing commercial, industrial and residential development, public facilities and restoration efforts.

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CVTV Coverage

We greatly appreciate your attendance at the Economic Forum withWashington State Chief Economist, Dr. Arun Raha.

The State Economist's office respectfully requests you to fill out the survey below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFdWS1B1S25BUF9wNWg5RldqY0ppN2c6MA

Special thanks to our partners that made this event happen:

Southwest Washington Contractors Association, Clark County Association of Realtors

and the City of Vancouver.

Cascade Title Company issues a monthly email newsletter

providing information relating to local real estate.

To subscribe, reply to this email and type "subscribe" as a message.

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The Planning Commission is a seven-member panel that makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land-use planning, zoning and development in unincorporated areas. Topics include growth management, roads, public facilities plans, development regulations and county ordinances.

Commission terms are for up to six years and begin in January.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to Jennifer Clark, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000 or by email to jennifer.clark@clark.wa.gov. Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011.

Contact:     Marty Snell, Community Development, (360) 397-2378;

Marty.Snell@clark.wa.gov

Vancouver, WA – A new fee schedule for Community Development applications takes effect today based on recent actions by the Board of County Commissioners.

To update the fees, the board had called for more precise tracking of staff time and other resources used to review projects, issue permits and ensure public safety.

The result is a fee schedule that more closely reflects the cost of each service. Many fees have been reduced. However, some fees have been increased for services previously priced too low to meet goals for cost recovery and fairness.

“We are working harder and smarter to avoid making it more difficult or expensive to do business in Clark County,” said Community Development Director Marty Snell. “In addition, we’re paying close attention to costs faced by property owners with tight budgets for improvements and maintenance.”

For a complete listing of fees, please check the Community Development section of the county website at www.clark.wa.gov .

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The revisions include new issuance fees for most case types, and the addition of hourly billing for minor case types and certain development inspection activities.

The new Development Engineering and Inspection fee tables are available on the Clark County Public Works website.

http://www.clark.wa.gov/publicworks/engineering/index.html

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Sue Stepan, P.E.
Development Engineering Manager
Clark County Public Works
360.397.6118 x4064