Shoptalk with Sherrie - Open House

Shoptalk with Sherrie – March 13, 2023


March 30^th is our Open House, from 2-4 pm! Come to our office and meet board members, learn about our committees, or just stop in to say hello!
Here are some of the items we are working on this week:

• Save the date for March 30^th for our next member open house at our SWCA office.
• Save the Date: April 26^th for our Policy Builders Breakfast at the AC hotel Marriot on the Vancouver Waterfront.

• The House passed legislation that would establish rural pilot programs focused on pre-apprenticeship opportunities (HB 1013), as well as high school graduation pathway options (HB 1308) designed to allow for performance-based learning.

• Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs (Senate) - SHR 3 and Virtual JACB - 3/14 @ 8:00 am
• 1181 - Public Hearing - Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework. (Remote Testimony Available).

• Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) - SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg - 3/15 @ 8:00 am
• 1216 - Public Hearing - Concerning clean energy siting. (Remote Testimony Available).
• 1282 - Public Hearing - Requiring environmental and labor reporting for public building construction and renovation material. (Remote Testimony Available).

• HB 1589: Prohibits natural gas for new commercial and residential uses and provides utility incentives to electrify current natural gas customers without adequate customer protections. We've highlighted this legislation consistently in the reports. Unfortunately, the anti-natural gas legislation continues to move through the process having passed the House last week and scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate on 3/17.

• Interested in providing feedback or have another bill that you’d like us to track?  Email Sherrie.

• AWB will be hosting their spring meeting May 9-11 at the Vancouver Hilton. Come together with Washington employers and gain new insights into the economic and policy issues that impact businesses. More here.

• I-205 Toll Project Webinars- The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will hold two online webinars for the general public to learn more about the planning tolls on the Abernethy and Tualatin River bridges to pay for improvements that will reduce congestion and improve safety. If you are interested in participating in these webinars, click the following dates:

• Action requestions for a proposal to amend the Comprehensive Plan text to clarify that extraction of mineral resources requires a conditional use permit consistent with CCC40.250.022(C)(2)(a). This is a non-project action to amend the comprehensive plan text to clarify that extraction of mineral resources requires a conditional use permit consistent with existing code language in CCC40.250.022(C)(2)(a). Please Note:  A Planning Commission hearing has been scheduled for this item for Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.  More information can be viewed on the Planning Commission webpage here.

• Welcome to our membership DeaMor Associates, Norhtwest Roof Maintenance, and Belfor Property Restoration!
• The Port of Vancouver will be hosting a lecture on March 15^th at the Kiggins Theatre downtown Vancouver. The topic of the lecture will be “Washington State – International Trade Juggernaut. Find more info here.