Washougal city Councilman Dave Shoemaker attended one meeting as the Camas-Washougal representative to the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council before resigning from his post.
At that one meeting, Shoemaker cast what he thought was a symbolic vote. It turned out to be a controversial vote that sent shock waves through local government circles and angered the Camas City Council.
The Camas and Washougal councils appointed Shoemaker in January to represent the two communities on the RTC, which is a regional transportation planning agency.
At his first RTC meeting last week, Shoemaker voted against the board’s list of federal transportation appropriation requests. The list included appropriations to help pay for two Camas projects: a $2 million extension of Northwest 38th Avenue and a $20 million Slough Bridge widening project on state Highway 14.
The projects need to be on the list in order to be eligible for certain federal funding.
The RTC board approved the list, including the Camas projects, but their lack of support from the local representative sounded alarms. Other board members questioned whether Camas projects should be on the list without Shoemaker’s support. Camas Mayor Paul Dennis and Washougal Mayor Sean Guard received letters, e-mails and phone calls from state legislators and others across the region questioning the communities’ support for the projects.
“It’s impossible to overemphasize how competitive it is here in Olympia for any project in any of the budgets,” said state Rep. Jim Jacks, D-Vancouver, who represents the 49th district. “When an elected representative of a community votes and says ‘No, we don’t want the project,’ there’s a lot of (other) people interested in getting the money.”
Shoemaker could not be reached for comment Thursday.
According to Guard, Shoemaker’s “no” vote was intended as a message to Olympia and Washington, D.C., regarding requirements imposed on municipalities by state and federal governments.
The Camas council, however, did not appreciate the symbolic gesture, which Shoemaker made without consulting the council, Dennis said.
“(The council) didn’t appreciate the fact he went in and questioned only Camas projects,” Dennis said. “He used our projects to make a statement. Our projects got held hostage to make a statement.”
City officials have already begun the design work for the 38th Avenue extension, thanks to two area businesses that are fronting the money. The city’s also in line to receive a low-interest loan to complete the project. That funding would be in jeopardy if it wasn’t on the appropriations list and may still cause legislators to pause when awarding funding, Dennis said.
Jacks said the vote was noticed in Olympia, but he and other representatives believe they have calmed the waters.
“When things get shaky, it’s very competitive here,” Jacks said. “The sharks smelled blood in the water.”
Now the two cities are in damage control mode.
Guard, Dennis, Shoemaker and Washougal City Administrator David Scott met Wednesday afternoon to discuss the situation. Guard said he explained the fallout of Shoemaker’s vote and planned to ask for his resignation from the board. Shoemaker offered his resignation before the mayor asked for it, Guard said.
In his resignation letter, Shoemaker said he’s stepping down because “I no longer enjoy the support of the Camas City Council.”
The Camas City Council is holding a special meeting Monday to pass a resolution emphasizing its support for the Camas projects. Dennis has asked the Washougal council to do the same thing.
The two councils must also select a replacement representative.
Members of either council who are interested in serving on the board must submit their name to the mayors by noon Monday. Council members from both councils will cast individual votes for a representative. Whoever garners the most votes will be the new RTC representative for Camas and Washougal.
The Camas council will meet at 4:30 p.m. at its City Hall. The Washougal council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at its City Hall.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
