(VANCOUVER, WA.) —"The Vancouver City Council convened on Monday, March 23, 2026, primarily to address an ordinance amending the bylaws of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA),” OpGov.news reports.
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Photo Credit: CVTV
From a critical perspective, the meeting, which lasted less than eight minutes, showcased a streamlined, almost procedural, approval process for a significant amendment.
Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle got straight to business introducing the amendment to Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA) bylaws.
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Photo Credit: CVTV
“This is an ordinance of the City of Vancouver relating to changes to the bylaws of the downtown redevelopment authority adopting an amendment to Section 2.09 of the bylaws to clarify the employment status of the executive director,” McEnerny-Ogle said.
McEnerny-Ogle turns the floor over to Vancouver Deputy City Manager, Jeffery Towery for a comprehensive presentation.
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Photo Credit: CVTV
Towery presented the staff report, detailing the DRA's history, its deep operational and financial reliance on the city (including staff support, debt guarantees, and lodging tax revenue), and future collaboration opportunities like Convention Center expansion and other redevelopment projects.
“The city and DRA have been collaborating on a series of planned or proposed redevelopment projects in the downtown area, including the expansion of the convention center to grow capacity and attract more events and visitors to redevelopment properties owned by the city behind city hall and adjacent to the Convention Center, which may evolve into mixed use development active public space,” Towery said.
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Photo Credit: CVTV
“There's also been long discussed proposed performing arts center that might be located on that city owned property behind the convention center and ultimately will require substantial investment by the city,” Towery said.
Towery went on to highlight the city’s oversight of the DRA.
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Photo Credit: CVTV
“Pursuant to the law, the city is responsible for overseeing and correcting deficiencies in the DRA's operation, including board governance lapses. The city council amended the charter on three previous occasions to refine its mission and address changes to the DRA's operation and manage risk to the city,” Towery said.
“The ordinance, which clarified the employment status of the DRA Executive Director as an at-will city employee, had been previously remanded to staff for additional work, indicating its importance and complexity,” OpGov.news said.
Despite this, the public hearing component of the meeting yielded no public comments, either spoken or written, suggesting a lack of public engagement. This could be part of a pattern, as last week’s meeting had only one person for public comment, as did the first meeting of the year.
The councilors too have no further questions after Towery’s presentation. Though Councilors Sarah Fox and Diana Perez were outspoken during last week’s meeting on this topic.
The council swiftly moved to approve the ordinance, passing it unanimously without further discussion among its members.
If you would like to comment or add to this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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