Vancouver considers bringing back B&O tax
Following a recommendation by city staff, the Vancouver city council is expected to consider resurrecting a business and occupation tax that was phased out over a decade in 2002. For more than a year, the city has sought additional revenue from businesses to fund new-capacity transportation projects. Various business license surcharge proposals have not gained enough support from the business community or council members to pass. The B&O tax is based on gross receipts. Forty of 281 Washington cities utilize a B&O tax.
The proposal would likely include varying rates for different industry sectors and exemptions for smaller businesses. The city would probably phase the tax back in over about six years. The B&O tax could raise considerably more than the $3 million the surcharge proposals would have. Council members expressed interest in fully funding transportation needs at about $20 million annually. A sales tax increase passed by the council last year will add more than $4 million for transportation annually. A B&O proposal could be in front of city council for a first reading Aug. 7 followed by a second reading and public hearing on Aug. 14.
Main Street Improvement Project meetings set in July
The City of Vancouver will host a series of informational meetings at the end of the month for Main Street business and property owners. The meetings will provide an opportunity to learn more about the Main Street Improvement Project and progress to date, meet the project team, ask questions and provide feedback. The focus of the meetings will be on construction activities. Attendees only need to attend one meeting.
The meetings will be held at Divine Consign, 904 Main St., in downtown Vancouver. A business owner meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, and property owner meetings will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26 and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 27.
The Main Street Improvement Project combines road improvements with creation of a retail strategy to foster economic development in the downtown area. Proposed improvements, from 5th to 15th streets, include changing Main Street from one-way to two-way traffic and total reconstruction of the street and pedestrian areas. Broadway also will be changed to two-way traffic from 6th to 15th streets.
Funding for the project design has already been secured. Construction funding for Main Street is still being sought, and a construction timeline is yet to be determined. For the remainder of 2006, the Project Team will focus on design and continue to seek feedback from downtown patrons and business and property owners.
A community open house is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8, at Vancouver Marketplace, 210 W. Evergreen Blvd. The preferred concept for the Main Street reconstruction will be presented. Attendees will also have a chance to learn more about the project and provide feedback. Find more project information at www.cityofvancouver.us/mainstreet.
Parade of Homes open through end of month
The 2006 Parade of Homes is open through July 30 at Allegro Ridge in Washougal and features eight homes by local home builders. This year’s builders include Fantasy Homes by Vladimir, Fazzolari Custom Homes, GML HomeBuilders, Harbour Bay Homes, Ken Winkelman General Contractor, North Pacific Homes, Omega Custom Homes and Philip Custom Homes. Homes range from 2,770 square feet to more than 5,200 square feet.
The show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for seniors and children.
Umpqua Bank releases first album
Umpqua Bank released its first compilation album from its Discover Local Music Project earlier this month. The album, titled "Discover Local Music: Vol. 1: Sacramento to Seattle," is a diverse mix of music from independent West Coast artists, including Ohmega Watts, Rye Hollow, Stephanie Schneiderman and Hank Hirsh.
The CDs will be sold for $12 each in Umpqua’s 127 stores throughout Oregon, Washington and California. The album will also be available online at the iTunes music store for 99 cents per song and at CDBaby.com for $14.
Umpqua worked with Portland-based music agency Rumblefish Inc. to develop the album. Rumblefish reviewed music from hundreds of independent artists to assemble the album that reflects the talent of the communities Umpqua serves.
Visit www.umpquamusic.com for more information.
Historic walks begin in Vancouver
The Clark County Historical Society and Museum has announced a new series of historical walking tours in downtown Vancouver. Beginning this month, each Thursday museum staff will talk about the architectural history of Vancouver. Each tour will begin and end at the Clark County Historical Museum, which is housed in Vancouver’s 1909 Carnegie Library building. The building is listed on the National Historic Register. Three specialty tours have been designed with the downtown Vancouver worker’s schedule in mind.
Tours begin promptly at 12:10 p.m. and end at 12:50 p.m. Three different tours will be given once each week on a rotating schedule. This walking tour is $5 per person and free to Clark County Historical Society members. Participants are advised to wear comfortable shoes. For more information or to register contact the Clark County Historical Museum at 360-993-5679 or visit www.cchmuseum.org.
Addison Avenue announces program to assist lower-income homebuyers
Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union has joined a nationwide billion-dollar loan program designed to assist first-time and lower-income buyers in purchasing a home. The mortgage program is known as Home Loan Payment Relief. The HLPR is a three-year adjustable rate mortgage, with the initial interest rate set substantially below prevailing market rates. This rate will be fixed for the first three years. It will then adjust annually to market rates, but with a cap of 1 percent per year and 5 percent over the life of the loan. The maximum loan amount is $417,000.
To qualify, a borrower’s household income must not exceed 100 percent of the area median income. The required down payment will not exceed 3 percent of the purchase price, and gifts or grants are permitted. Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union has 26 locations across the country, including a Vancouver branch at 18110 S.E. 34th Ave.
Salmon Creek Miller Paint Store joins Paint Take-Back Program
The Salmon Creek Miller Paint and Wallpaper store, 13712 NE 20th Ave., is now accepting unwanted oil and latex paints and paint-related products such as paint thinner for recycling and reuse. The Salmon Creek store joins a Miller store on Andresen Road and the Rodda Paint Store on Mill Plain Boulevard in participating in Clark County’s Paint Take-Back Program. This free service for county residents has collected more than 11,000 pounds of unwanted paint and paint-related products since January 2005.
Paint take-back is limited to residential users only who live in the county or one of its cities. Each paint company will accept only products originally sold by their company. Stores will accept up to 25 gallons of paint or paint-related products per household, per day in five gallon or smaller containers. Leaking, damaged or unlabeled containers will not be accepted. Latex paints collected will be recycled as paint, and oil-base paints and related products will be reused as an alternative fuel.
For more information about the Paint Take-Back Program or other hazardous materials, or for information about disposal options for commercial operators, contact Clark County Solid Waste and Recycling at 360-397-6118 ext. 4352, or visit the county Web site at www.clark.wa.gov/recycle/index.html.
Clark County seeks applications for Planning Commission
Clark County is accepting applications and nominations for an appointment to the Planning Commission. The appointment begins immediately and continues through December 2010.
The Planning Commission is a seven-member group that makes recommendations to the commissioners on land-use planning, zoning and development in rural areas and other areas outside of city limits. Topics include growth management, roads, public facility plans, development regulations and county ordinances.
Anyone interested in serving should submit a letter of interest and resume by 5 p.m. July 21 to Jennifer Clark in the Board of Clark County Commissioners Office, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Applications may also be submitted by fax at 360-397-6058 or by e-mail at boardcom@clark.wa.gov.
Bank of Clark County best company to work for
Bank of Clark County was recognized for the fourth consecutive year by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the best companies to work for in the state. Criteria included evaluations of management’s leadership and communication skills, corporate culture and total employee benefits. The bank was the only Southwest Washington financial institution included in this year’s list.
