City of Camas - Welcome to the City's Official Site

FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The City of Camas was incorporated on June 2, 1906, and operates under laws of the State of Washington applicable to non-charter code cities with a mayor-council form of government. The City provides police, fire, ambulance service and emergency aid, streets, sanitation, health, recreation, library, public improvements, planning and zoning, water supply, treatment and distribution, sewage collection and treatment services. 

Of the seven elected Council members, there is one elected at-large and six elected within wards. The wards are established based on population estimates within the City's boundaries and are reviewed and modified periodically by Council. Every two years, part of the Council body is elected and holds staggered four-year terms.

The following meetings are held in the City Hall Council Chambers, 616 NE 4th Avenue, Camas, Washington:

• CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. There are seven City Council members and a Mayor, Scott Higgins, who presides at the meetings. The staff representative is Lloyd Halverson, City Administrator. Agenda items must be submitted by Tuesday afternoon of the week prior to the meeting. Note: If a holiday falls on the Monday of a Council/Workshop meeting, the meeting is then held on Tuesday.
• COUNCIL WORKSHOP: Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. There are seven City Council members and a Mayor, Scott Higgins, who presides at the meetings. The staff representative is Lloyd Halverson, City Administrator. Agenda items must be submitted by Tuesday afternoon of the week prior to the meeting.
• PLANNING COMMISSION: Regularly meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. There are seven commissioners including Chair Bryan Beel. The staff representative is Phil Bourquin, Community Development Director. The Planning Commission is the first legislative body to formally review land use issues.
• PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: Meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. There are eight commissioners including Chair Brent Erickson. The staff representative is Jerry Acheson, Parks and Recreation Manager. Agenda items must be submitted by Thursday prior to the meeting.
• LIBRARY BOARD: Meet the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. There are five board members. The staff representative is David Zavortink, Library Director. Agenda items must be submitted by Monday prior to the meeting.

Other meetings and locations include: 

• FRIENDS OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER: Meet the first Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the Camas Community Center, 1718 SE 7th Avenue, Camas, WA. The President is Nan Henriksen. The staff representative is Susan Newlove. Typically this group does not meet during the summer months. For more information contact Susan Newlove at 360.834.5307.
• FRIENDS & FOUNDATION OF THE CAMAS LIBRARY: The Board of Directors meet irregularly. The staff representative is David Zavortink, Library Director.
• SECOND STORY GALLERY SOCIETY: A reception is held on the first Friday of each month at the Camas Library for new exhibits. 
• UNITED CAMAS ASSOCIATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS, For information on upcoming neighborhood meetings call City Hall at 360.834.6864.

The following meetings are scheduled as needed:

• FINANCE COMMITTEE - The staff representative is Joan Durgin, Finance Director.
• BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT - The staff representative is Phil Bourquin, Community Development Director.
• CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION - The staff representative is Susan Strohschein.
• DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE - This committee reviews certain commercial and multi-family developments, as well as developments within specified gateway areas. The staff representative is Phil Bourquin, Community Development Director.
• SHORELINE MANAGEMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE - The staff representative is Phil Bourquin, Community Development Director.
• FISHER BASIN STORMWATER/WETLANDS MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE - The staff representative is Jim Carothers, Engineering Manager.

NOTE:
The City of Camas welcomes and encourages the participation of all of its citizens in the public meeting process.   A special effort will be made to ensure that persons with special needs have opportunities to participate.  The City will provide translaters for Non-English speaking persons who request assistance at least three (3) working days prior to a public hearing or other public meeting.   Persons who need auxiliary aids or other assistance to be able to fully participate may request assistance at least three (3) working days prior to the hearing or meeting.

Persons seeking such assistance should complete and submit a comments form request to the appropriate department holding the meeting:

• City Council Workshop and Meetings - City Administration Contact Form
• Planning Commission - Community Development Contact Form
• Library Board - Camas Public Library Contact Form
• Parks Board - Parks and Recreation Department Contact Form
• Board of Adjustment - Community Development Contact Form

Please include the date, time, meeting location, type of meeting, and language services needed in the box provided at the bottom of the form.  Or, for further assistance you may contact the City of Camas by calling 360.834.6864.