During public comment, a resident raised concerns about overseas investment companies purchasing local timberlands and former forest service land in Washougal, which has blocked public access for outdoor recreation. The commenter advocated for taxing these corporate entities as investment companies rather than standard land holdings. Additionally, another citizen questioned a proposal by the City of Battle Ground to develop heavily wooded areas for light industry, urging the city to utilize its existing industrial lands first to preserve the remaining trees.
Forests_green_space
Clark County Council · Mar 17, 2026 · 22:05–22:23 · Watch on CVTV ↗
Keywords: timber parks
What was said
21:02 I hate their actions and we've seen some disturbing actions at this county council. But I've also seen some disturbing actions where councilors have participated in no ice rallies or no kings rallies or whatever the rally may be. This group is supposed to be in partisan. So you're supposed to serve the whole community, not your party line, period, in my opinion. And that's the way I would be if I was a counselor here. I've really got no interest to run for a council job, but I've been around politics my entire life. And I've seen a lot of people handle things a lot differently. So that means no buttons on your shirt. You know, to me it's just not the way to conduct business as a professional. Thirdly, I don't know if you saw the article in the Columbia newspaper about the timberlands that are up in Whatcom County.
22:01 We've got the same thing going on right here, right in Washougal, Washington. I contacted the timber manager and under no circumstances are they going to let anybody go on their property. Now this is a property that is being funded by an overseas pension, okay. But yet they're buying all this property from warehouses and forest service land and amongst other stuff. We need to tax them accordingly because now this is an investment company and this is an investment no different than if I invest in stocks, I've got to pay my taxes when I take that money out, right? So that's very important to me because I'm an outdoors person. It's just blocking me out of my outdoor activity, right? And of course mats as well. So we've got to do better on that. And I guess that's all I've got for this evening. Thanks for your time. Thank you.
22:55 Is there anybody else in the room who'd like to speak who didn't sign up? Okay, we do have some folks online. Okay, we'll take them one at a time. Caller, you've been sent a request to unmute yourself. Please do so. State your name for the record and go ahead with your comments. Good evening, Kimberly Goheen-Albon. Well, on your unity resolution committed to upholding the constitutional rights of all peoples,
Evidence (1 match)
direct keyword 22:05–22:23 timber, parks
uct business as a professional. Thirdly, I don't know if you saw the article in the Columbia newspaper about the timberlands that are up in Whatcom County. We've got the same thing going on right here, right in Washougal, Washington. I contacted the timber manager and under no circumstances are they going to let anybody go on their property. Now this is a property that is being funded by an overseas pension, okay. But yet they're buying all this property from warehouses and forest service land a