We Watched the May 14 Council Meeting
So You Didn't Have To
A packed chamber, a $31.6 million rec center deal, a waterfront fight the city legally can't stop until 2028, and a few things that matter more than you'd expect. Here's everything that happened.
The Waterfront: 1,600 Signatures, and the City's Hands Are Tied
The chamber was at capacity. Community members lined up to speak about the Port of Ridgefield's proposed waterfront development — 250 residential units, a hotel, and a shift toward "curated" paddlecraft tourism — and the concerns ran across the board: habitat, traffic, financial transparency, and questions about the developer's track record.
The "Save Our Waterfront" petition has crossed 1,600 signatures — more than the 1,542 responses the Port collected in its own official development survey. That is a notable number in a town this size.
Several residents raised the traffic math: with 250 units generating an estimated 8 trips per day each, the real impact on Pioneer Street and the overpass bottleneck is likely closer to 2,000 daily trips — not the 600 cited in some testimony. Rick Gren also flagged a potential conflict of interest: the developer, Palindrome, is currently conducting their own Traffic Impact Analysis.
Maryann Brown raised concerns about a February 2025 DOJ settlement involving Pacificap Properties Group, a Palindrome affiliate, related to allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation by property management. Resident Travis Goodwin called for a full audit of $2 million allegedly spent on the Greely building.
Here is the hard part for residents who want the city to step in: it largely cannot — at least not yet. City Manager Steve Stewart explained why, and it matters.
That is not the council giving up. That is the law. The vesting expires in 2028, which is the earliest meaningful window for zoning-level intervention. In the meantime, the environmental hurdles — the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge's Dusky Canadian Goose wintering habitat, the waterfront's status as a mitigated flood plain — remain active constraints the Port will have to navigate.
The Recreation Center Is Actually Happening
This one is real, and it is moving. The Council officially awarded the construction contract for the Community and Recreation Center — including a natatorium with lap and recreation pools — to Tapani Underground.
The winning bid came in at $31,619,810 including sales tax. The engineer's original estimate was $40.1 million. Coming in nearly $8.5 million under estimate on a project this complex is a meaningful result, and the Council acknowledged it. Over $22 million of the total is funded through a public-private partnership, which is why keeping costs near the bid amount is critical — the goal is to keep future membership fees accessible to Ridgefield residents, not just affordable on paper.
Councilmember Hamilton did raise a fair question about Tapani Underground's experience with natatoriums specifically, given the specialized nature of aquatic construction. That concern was noted in the record.
Budget Moves and Downtown
The Council passed the second reading of Ordinance 1480. The most time-sensitive piece: a $70,000 allocation to Ridgefield Main Street through the state's Main Street Tax Credit program (TISIT). Businesses that donate receive a 75% B&O tax credit back to the city. The urgency is real — only about $580,000 remains in the state's $5 million matching fund pool statewide. Those funds go toward flower baskets, facade grants, and historic plaques downtown.
On the Sergeant and Main improvement project, City Manager Steve Stuart flagged a smart fiscal move: the city is evaluating whether to decline a $250,000 CDBG grant because it would require a $1 million local match. That math does not pencil out. Instead, the plan is to focus on high-priority sidewalk and parking needs without triggering the match requirement.
Separately, the Clark Regional Wastewater District was awarded a $10 million loan for the Ridgefield sewer redirection project — infrastructure that often gets zero attention until it matters a great deal.
Public Safety & Community Notes
Dr. Charlotte Ellis, Executive Director of Schools and Leadership for the Ridgefield School District, opened the public safety portion by presenting on the April 24 countywide reunification drill — the first exercise of this scale in over 20 years. Chief Cathy Doriot was specifically commended for bridging the gap between RPD and the district to make it happen. Chief Doriot is retiring, and this recognition felt like a fitting capstone to her tenure.
Chief Doriot also provided traffic data from Heron Drive: the 85th-percentile speed is running 25–27 mph, which does not yet meet the threshold for speed bumps. Officers will continue to be deployed there. Data collection is also active on South 10th Way — the "donut hole" area — to determine whether mitigation is warranted.
Detective King was named a "Learn Here Hero" by the Ridgefield School District for his work within local schools. He will be formally recognized on May 19 at the Vancouver Innovation Center.
Planning & Development Approvals
The Council approved the final plat for Sanderling Park Phase 4: 77 detached lots, plus a 2.9-acre city park to be completed within 12 months of approval.
The Nye PUD received its first reading. Developer Nikki Duke explained that the site's topography required a "side-entry" townhouse concept to fit two-car garages on narrower lots. The agreement includes a 10.4-acre parkland dedication with pervious-surface trails — gravel and wood chip — connecting the development to Boyce Park and the Keer Loop. That trail connection is worth paying attention to as Ridgefield's trail network continues to expand.
A Few Other Things Worth Knowing
The American Legion Post 44 is 25 to 30 flags short of its 250-flag goal for the July 4th celebration — America's 250th birthday. Sponsorships are $100 each. If you want to be part of that, now is the time to reach out.
The Ridgefield Junction Neighborhood Association meets May 18. If you missed the Council Chat last Saturday at Eight Cow Creamery, the next one is June 3rd at Rosauers — details on our site. Those informal sessions are worth attending if you want to talk to council members without the formality of a public comment period.
- The Recreation Center is in construction. Tapani Underground came in $8.5M under the engineer's estimate. That is a genuinely good result for the community.
- The waterfront fight is not over, but zoning-level intervention is legally blocked until the Port's vested rights expire in 2028. The environmental constraints — wildlife habitat, flood plain status — are the most active pressure points right now.
- The Council is making smart, defensive fiscal moves: turning down grants with expensive local matches, leveraging state tax credits, and protecting the general fund while keeping downtown investment alive.
- The trail network keeps expanding. The Nye PUD's 10.4-acre trail connection to Boyce Park and the Keer Loop is another puzzle piece in the larger picture Ridgefield is building — one path at a time.
