November-December 2018 PROEBSTEL Neighborhood Association Who we are… County-sanctioned — The association is one of 21 active neighborhood groups under Clark County’s Neighborhood Outreach Program. The association boundaries are quite large and include much more than Proebstel, Livingston Mountain and NE Rawson Road are within the boundaries. For a map, go online to https:// gis.clark.wa.gov/ccimages/ MapGallery/PDF/ NeighborhoodAssoc_Proebst el_36x48.pdf. Meetings — The group meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of most months at Proebstel Church, 18702 Fourth Plain Road. The next meeting will be Nov. 5. There will be no December or January meetings. Email address: [email protected]Website: www.facebook.com/ pg/ProebstelWA/posts Board members — Erin Allee, Kirk VanGelder, co-presidents; Wendy McCullough; Ann Shaw; Karen Kingston; Mike Sermone. County Council to vote on Proebstel Rural Center Inside: Land transfer sought for Little Baldy Mountain…Page 4,5 Living with wildlife part of life in Proebstel…….. Pages 6,7 The Clark County Council will vote Dec. 11 on a proposal to designate a corridor along state Highway 500 through Proebstel as a rural center, a move that could allow additional development. The item is on the five- member council’s agenda at 10 a.m. The council meets at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. Clark County has designated rural centers at Brush Prairie, Meadow Glade, Hockinson, Dollars Corner, Fargher Lake, Amboy and Chelatchie. Rural centers are distinguished by small lot development with a definite edge, surrounded by a rural RURAL, Page 2
Transcript
November-December 2018
PROEBSTEL Neighborhood Association
Who we are…
County-sanctioned — The association is one of 21 active neighborhood groups under Clark County’s Neighborhood Outreach Program. The association boundaries are quite large and include much more than Proebstel, Livingston Mountain and NE Rawson Road are within the boundaries. For a map, go online to https://gis.clark.wa.gov/ccimages/MapGallery/PDF/NeighborhoodAssoc_Proebstel_36x48.pdf.
Meetings — The group meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of most months at Proebstel Church, 18702 Fourth Plain Road. The next meeting will be Nov. 5. There will be no December or January meetings.
Board members — Erin Allee, Kirk VanGelder, co-presidents; Wendy McCullough; Ann Shaw; Karen Kingston; Mike Sermone.
County Council to voteon Proebstel Rural Center
Inside: Land transfer sought for Little Baldy Mountain…Page 4,5Living with wildlife part of life in Proebstel…….. Pages 6,7
The Clark County Council will vote Dec. 11 on a proposal to designate a corridor along state Highway 500 through Proebstel as a rural center, a move that could allow additional development.
The item is on the five-member council’s agenda at 10 a.m. The council meets at the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver.
Clark County has designated rural centers at Brush Prairie, Meadow Glade, Hockinson, Dollars Corner, Fargher Lake, Amboy and Chelatchie.
Rural centers are distinguished by small lot development with a definite edge, surrounded by a rural
RURAL, Page 2
November-December 2018
landscape of generally open land used for agriculture, forestry or large residential lots.
Four years ago, several property owners proposed Clark County designate a corridor on state Highway 500 (Northeast Fourth Plain Road) between Northeast 182nd and 199th avenues as the Proebstel Rural Center. The Proebstel Neighborhood Association board is opposed to the designation.
Clark County planning staff recommended denial of the proposed rural center and the Clark County Planning Commission voted 6-0 against the designation.
In July, PNA co-presidents Kirk VanGelder and Erin Allee testified before the planning
commission in opposition to the rural center.
VanGelder said there are a wide variety of businesses and services only a mile to the west of Proebstel at the Heritage Plaza at Northeast 164th Avenue and Northeast Fourth Plain Road.
Allee called the rural center proposal “severely misguided’’ and would only enrich a few petitioners without offering any traffic improvements to an area that is already overburdened.
Representatives of Clark County Citizens United spoke in favor of a Proebstel Rural
Center. No landowners standing to benefit testified during the July 19 public hearing.
Sally Runyan, owner of Green Mountain Airport, a signer on the original petition, has withdrawn her support.
At the August Proebstel Neighborhood Association meeting, Clark County Councilor Eileen Quiring said she will vote against the rural center proposal.
Road improvements are needed first, she said.
“I don’t believe it should go forward,’’ Quiring said.
“I don’t believe it should go forward.’’
— Eileen Quiring, county council member, in August regarding the proposed Proebstel Rural Center
Rural….. from Page 1
DNR to explain Camp Bonneville firefighting planA trio of representatives
from the Washington Department of Natural Resources will explain the agency’s firefighting plan in the event of a wildfire at Camp Bonneville when the Proebstel Neighborhood Association meets Nov. 5 at Proebstel Evangelical Free Church, 18702 Fourth Plain Road.
Anticipated to attend are Bob Johnson, assistant region manager, wildfire and forest
practices; Tom North, fire unit manager, and Ty Estes, assistant fire unit manager.
Local firefighters told the PNA in August that firefighting in Camp Bonneville is the responsibility of DNR.
Among questions the officials are expected to address include:
• Where are the watersupplies for Camp Bonneville, and if there is water stored on site?
• How will residents nearthe camp be notified if a wildfire is approaching the boundary?
• Where will thefirefighters come from, what assets will deploy first and where will they stage?
DNR officials have been asked for a 45- to 60-minute presentation followed by a hour of questions from PNA members.
November-December 2018
Logging will resume in spring 2019 on the Moonster Timber Sale in the Yacolt Burn State Forest.
The 4.9-million-board-feet sale by the Washington Department of Natural Resources is in the northeast corner of the Proebstel Neighborhood Association.
Aaron Nelson, Larch Unit forester for the Pacific Cascades region of DNR, told the Yacolt Burn State Forest Trails Advisory Group in October that the sale is scheduled to expire by October 2019.
Unit No. 4 (86 acres, 1.6 million board feet) affects a segment of the popular Tarbell Trail between Grouse Vista and Hidden Falls.
State officials have marked with a wooden post the junction of Tarbell Trail with the former all-terrain-vehicle
route (called Sturgeon trail No. 180C by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest) that leads to Silver Star Mountain.
Moonster timber harvest done until springLogging overlaps portion of Tarbell trail
A pile of wood slash from the Moonster Timber Sale is visible from the state’s Tarbell Trail in the Yacolt Burn State Forest.
Stop sign, speed limit changes come to neighborhoodNortheast 182nd Avenue at
the intersection with Northeast 83rd Street no longer has stop signs.
Clark County still has a stop sign on Northeast 83rd Street for westbound traffic. However, north-south traffic on Northeast 182nd Avenue no longer has to stop.
Matt Griswold, traffic engineering/operations manager for Clark County Public Works, told the Proebstel Neighborhood
Association in September that the elimination of stop signs on Northeast 182nd Avenue was coming.
“The major movement (NE 182nd Avenue) is the through
movement, the minor movement (Northeast 83rd Street) is the stop ,’’ he said.
Livingston Mountain — Clark County has lowered the speed limit on a short portion of Northeast 262nd Avenue on Livingston Mountain.
The county council changed the limit from the unposted 50 mph limit to 35 mph on Northeast 262nd Avenue from Northeast Bradford Road north for 0.63 mile.
November-December 2018
Clark County is requesting transfer of a 135-acre inholding in Camp Bonneville known as Little Baldy Mountain from state to county ownership.
Kevin Tyler, Lands Manager for Clark County Public Works, told the Proebstel Neighborhood Association in October the transfer would complete the county’s ownership within the fenced perimeter of Camp Bonneville.
The camp is a 3,840-acre former U.S. Army base near the center of the neighborhood association. It was transferred from federal ownership to Clark County in 2006.
The county plans eventually to use about 1,100 acres for a regional multi-use park. The county has been working for more than a decade to search for and remove unexploded munitions leftover from decades of military training.
On the south-central edge of Camp Bonneville, the land is valued at about $835,000 with almost 2 million board feet of timber valued at approximately $600,000. The parcel is adjacent to the quarry on Livingston Mountain.
Tyler explained the lengthy process needed to complete the land transfer based on his past
experience with the Spud Mountain Trust Land Transfer and information provided by the state Department of Natural Resources.
Clark County has submitted a nomination form for the 135 acres applicable in the state’s 2019-2021 budget cycle.
The nomination goes to the
the state Department of Natural Resources, which presents it to the Board of Natural Resources, then to the governor’s office for submission to the Legislature, which convenes in early January.
State lawmakers will come up with a prioritized list of potential transfers and a funding level. Although Clark County would not have to pay for the 135 acres, the state Legislature must buy the land
from the state trust which owns it.
If the transfer is funded, then the Board of Natural Resources gives its final approval and the Clark County Council must accept the deed.
“We just have to go through the process and see what happens,’’ Tyler said.
A similar request was submitted in the 2017-19 budget cycle and did not succeed. Tyler said the DNR was not interested in transferring Little Baldy Mountain then, but local DNR leadership might have had a change of opinion.
Clark County is submitting two other trust land transfer nominations. Those include 80 acres near the Chelatchie Prairie rail-trail and another on the south side of the East Fork of the Lewis River on the trail between Hantwick Road and Moulton Falls bridge.
Last year, the Chelatchie rail-trail transfer was recommended by DNR. However, the Legislature funded just one transfer out of the 10 recommended by DNR, he said.
Erin Allee, PNA co-president, said land transfers stand a better chance of completion when local citizens voice their support.
Letters should be sent to Hillary Franz, state public lands commissioner, along with local members of the Legislature, she added.
County seeks transfer of Little Baldy Mountain inside Camp BonnevilleAcquisition of 135 acres from Department of Natural Resources would consolidate ownership
“We’ll just have to go through the process and see what happens.’’
— Kevin Tyler, lands manager for Clark County Public Works about the proposed trust land transfer.
November-December 2018
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Map LegendClark County Taxlots
DNR, School Land
DNR, State Forest Board
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135 ACRE ADDITION TO CAMP BONNEVILLE
CLARK COUNTY TRUST LAND TRANSFER
Clark County
Date: 8/22/2016
The areas requested by Clark County are the parcels marked either 40 or 55 acres and denoted with tree icons.
November-December 2018
SARAH ENGEL This bobcat was spotted on the edge of a field at the 9400 block east of Northeast 212th Avenue.
Living with wildlife
Bobcats are found throughout Washington and are more common than most people realize, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife says.
Sarah Engel of Proebstel captured the above photograph of one of the reclusive cats in a field, part of her family’s property on Northeast 212th Avenue.
“Bobcats appear to be using urban and suburban settings more often, although they are still not often seen due to their reclusive ways,’’
according to a Department of Fish and Wildlife fact sheet entitled “Living with Wildlife.’’
“Finding bobcats in open fields, meadows and agricultural areas is not uncommon, provided enough brushy or timbered areas for escape cover is nearby,’’ the wildlife agency says.
That’s the kind of habitat near Engel’s home.
Bobcats like large brush piles and hollow trees or logs in wooded areas.
Male bobcats in Western Washington have a home range of 2.5 to 6 square miles, while females need only about half that amount.
Bobcats feed on mice, voles, rabbits, gophers, beavers, fawns, insects, reptiles birds and carrion.
Bobcats hunt primarily by sight and sound, which means they spend much of their time sitting or crouching, watching, and listening. Once they’ve located prey, they stalk within range of a quick dash and then pounce.
A bobcat will cover the remains of a large kill with debris such as snow, grass, or leaves. The bobcat will revisit
Proebstel neighbor spots bobcat foraging in field just east of Northeast 212th Avenue
November-December 2018
Neighborhood associations are volunteer groups and not agents of Clark County government. Newsletter information and views are solely those of the
neighborhood association and not of Clark County. Clark County’s Neighborhood Outreach Office supports these volunteers by printing and
distributing their newsletters.
a carcass until most of it is consumed.
Bobcats are not often responsible for killing domestic animals, but occasionally are responsible for losses of poultry, lambs, small goats, pigs, and house cats. Mostly, bobcats use wild animals as prey items. Once a bobcat causes damage for the first time, it gets easier for the animal to do it again.
Here are some tips from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to avoid issues with bobcats:
Don’t feed wildlife — This includes deer, feral cats (domestic cats gone wild), and other small mammals. Remember predators follow prey.
Prevent the buildup of feeder foods under bird feeders — Bobcats are attracted to the many birds and rodents that come to feeders.
Feed dogs and cats indoors and clean up after them — If you must feed outside, do so in the morning or
midday, and pick up food and water bowls, as well as leftovers and spilled food as soon as pets have finished eating. Water, pet food and pet droppings attract small mammals that, in turn, attract bobcats.
Keep dogs and cats indoors, especially from dusk to dawn — Left outside at night, small dogs and cats may become prey for bobcats (which have attacked cocker-spaniel-size dogs).
Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen.
Help us stay in touch with neighbors The Proebstel Neighborhood Association wants to be an effective
voice for the 3,076 households who live within the expansive boundaries of the association.
And to do that, the six-member board needs to hear from you about your issues, concerns and interests.
However, newsletters sent by mail are spendy, especially compared to electronic communication such as email and Facebook.
Here are some ways to communicate with us:• Send an email to [email protected].• Visit the association’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/
ProebstelWA/posts.• Get on the distribution list for the association’s periodic newsletter.
To get the newsletter in a PDF (portable document format) please send your email address to [email protected]. Your address will not be shared with any other interest. We don’t like getting junk emails either.
Wildlife.. from Page 6
Election ballotsdue November 6
More than 25 federal, state and local elected positions or measures are on the ballot due Nov. 6.
Races with potential direct impact on Proebstel include the race for the Clark County Council chair, plus the two state representative slots for the 18th Legislative district.
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ISNOW ON FACEBOOK! CHECK US OUT!
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PG/PROEBSTELWA/POSTS
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOV. 5 AT 7 PM AT PROEBSTEL EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, 18702 E. FOURTH PLAIN ROAD, VANCOUVER
A trio of representatives from the Washington Department of Natural Resources will explain the agency’s firefighting plan in the event of a wildfire at Camp Bonneville.
