FAIRGROUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Bridget Schwarz bridget@bridge-i-t.com

Founder 360.448.0648
July 24, 2024

Greetings neighbors –

The last FGNA newsletter I authored was 18 months ago. Back in November of 2022 our members
unanimously adopted an update of our Bylaws. But then the county’s Neighborhood Outreach
coordinator demanded “post Covid” changes that gave the county control over our association’s
management, meetings, even our contact list! As a result, the entire Executive Board resigned.

FGNA was able to share with you our research into many issues that impact our neighborhood quality
of life (growth, roads, amphitheater, Legacy, etc.). Over 20+ years we held monthly meetings and wrote
an 8-page monthly newsletter. In the process we built a huge contact list.

Since the county “disowned” FGNA (and 3 other neighborhood associations) I haven’t been getting that
kind of “news” and I suspect you haven’t either. I can’t stand it!! So I am using our contact database
and will once again write newsletters for my neighbors. Here’s what’s happening.

FIRE DISTRICTS. This newsletter has information on 2 August 5 ballot measures:

1. If you live north of 179th Street, the Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue asks for a Levy Lid Lift;
2. If you live south of 179th Street Clark County Fire District 6 asks for a Levy Lid Lift.
Election day is August 6.

I-5 INTERCHANGE. We learned, too late, the demise of FGNA meant that no one from our
neighborhood participated in the development of the 179 th Street freeway interchange project with the
state DOT. So the superior design alternative – a DDI – Diversified Diamond Interchange was never
seriously considered.

It is not too late to evaluate an alternative that is more efficient (less congestion), safer (fewer conflict
points), and less expensive (based on over 200 other DDI projects). Information on DDIs and a member
survey are in this newsletter. Please return the survey by August 1 so we can begin advocating for a
179th interchange DDI with our state legislators (the ones with the purse strings) to build a DDI at 179th
Street. The next newsletter will include the survey results.

Regards,
Bridget Schwarz

The fine print: Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association (FGNA) is no longer recognized by, or receives services from, Clark County government. (Not
worth the unreasonable bureaucratic dictates and interference.) To unsubscribe, type REMOVE in the subject line of this email and hit “Reply”.
 FAIRGROUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

DIVERSIFIED DIAMOND INTERCHANGE

Round-abouts do not operate efficiently under several traffic conditions that frequently occur at the
179th Street interchange. There is a more efficient and safer alternative.

First, roundabouts operate well only when the traffic comes from all directions at about the same rate.
But the am commute will place a heavy load of traffic on the southbound on-ramp. Then the pm
commute will place a heavy load on the northbound off ramp. The same will happen before and after
every concert at the amphitheater. The result will be cars backed up beyond the available “storage”.

Congestion!

Second, round-abouts do not operate safely under another traffic condition that will occur frequently.
On the west side there are about 80 RV spaces and a huge new warehouse within a half mile of the
interchange. From the freeway you will soon be seeing almost 300 RVs on the east side of the freeway.
Those oversize vehicles will need both lanes, and sometimes part of the center, to make the turn using
a round-about.

Hazardous!

The crossover is what makes DDIs different from the present diamond interchange. It is used on the
non-freeway road. At the traffic light approaching the interchange, vehicles move from the right to the
left side of the road. Traffic moves back to the right side of the road at the traffic light at the other side
of the interchange.

The traffic lights make it all very simple and safe. Left hand turns are made without having to cross
oncoming traffic. And that also allows a DDI to handle a higher traffic volume.

A Diversified Diamond Interchange is a proven solution that will increase both traffic safety and volume.
Over 200 DDIs have been built in the US. Commercial drivers love using them.

Google DDI for more detail, including a Wikipedia article and a Federal Highway Administration
brochure the state of Washington Department of Transportation has reprinted.

Then send back the survey so we can start lobbying for a safer, more effective infrastructure
improvement project for 179th Street.
 FAIRGROUNDS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

I-5 – 179th Street INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENT SURVEY

NAME ____________________________________________________________

EMAIL ____________________________________________________________

ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________
Address used only for ‘pin’ location of results on a map

1) How long have you lived at this address? ___0-2 years ___3-5 years
___5-10 years ___10-20 years ___+20 years

2) Do you regularly use the I-5/179th Street Interchange? ___YES ___NO

3) How often do you use it? ___DAILY ___WEEKLY ___OTHER

4) Did you attend the I-5/179th Street Open House on June 3? ___YES ___NO

5) Large vehicles (motor homes, large trailers, semi-trucks, etc.)will use both lanes of the proposed roundabouts.
Does that present a safety hazard? ___YES ___NO

6) Have you read the attached Washington Department of Transportation Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)
pamphlet? ___YES ___NO

7) Have you read the attached Alaska/Muldoon DDI project info? ___YES ___NO

8) These are freeway interchange options. Which do you prefer?

_____ Diverging Diamond Interchange
_____ Roundabout
_____ Traffic light
_____ I don’t know

9) Is congestion at the interchange a concern for you? ___YES ___NO

10) Why? (Check all that apply) ___Normal traffic ___Rush hour
___Amphitheater events ___Fairgrounds events ___New development
___RVs and trailers ___Large freight trucks Other______________

Please return our survey within 2 weeks. Use email if possible, or mail it to 2110 NW 179 th Street; Ridgefield,
WA 98642. Thanks! We’ll get back to you with the results.
CCFR Fire Levy Lid Lift

Costs and demand for services are outpacing revenue. The elected Board of Fire Commissioners has chosen to refer a
$0.24 lid lift (from $1.26 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value) to voters during the August 2024 primary
election.

The $0.24 lid lift will fund:

• Maintaining staffing levels of three firefighters at each fire station every day

• Purchase of two fire engines and one water tender

• Complete the construction of a partially built fire station in Woodland

• Initiate construction of a new fire station in west Ridgefield

• Fire station improvements at the Dollars Corner, Fairgrounds, La Center and Charter Oak facilities

The fire levy lid lift will cost the owner of a $600,000 home an additional $12 per month or $144 per year.

Why CCFR needs the Fire Levy Lid Lift

Revenue from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue’s fire levy is not keeping up with capital needs, increasing numbers of emergency
incidents, and costs to provide service.

The population within the CCFR response area has risen dramatically over the past decade, and so has demand for
emergency services. Since 2017, CCFR call volumes have increased more than 40 percent.

CCFR funds daily operations and capital purchases such as fire engines, ladder trucks, fire stations, and other equipment
through a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. CCFR has an emergency medical service (EMS)
levy at $.47 per $1000 of assessed value that funds paramedic positions and pays for medical equipment and supplies.

In 2017, voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50. Since then, it has dropped to $1.26. This is called “levy erosion” and
impacts the fire district’s ability to provide service. The fire district is limited by state law to just a 1 percent revenue
increase per year, while costs to provide emergency services increase nearly 6 percent each year.

CCFR used funding from the 2017 fire levy lid lift to add firefighter positions, reopen a shuttered fire station in Charter
Oak, purchase property for a fire station in Ridgefield, purchase four fire engines and a ladder truck, and provide major
maintenance on existing fire stations to extend their service life. These actions helped reduce the Washington Survey &
Rating Bureau Protection Class Grade for CCFR from a 5 to a 4, thereby allowing for lower fire insurance rates for
residents and businesses.

CCFR has worked hard to use taxpayer dollars efficiently, while increasing the level of safety in our communities. Our
firefighters, paramedics, and support personnel are dedicated to being good stewards of funds entrusted to us by our
residents and want to continue to provide the level of service our communities expect.
Clark County Fire District 6
L E V Y L I D-L I F T
Existing Levy income drops as costs rise and population grows
The ballot question is whether to renew the
Levy at the same rate as approved in 20 20

FACTS
Our call volume has jumped an estimated 33% in the
last five years

This is not a new levy. Four years ago voters approved

a rate of $ 1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property tax
value. Over time that level has dropped to $ 1.15
cents. We’re asking to restore the levy to the previous
level

Additional cost to an owner of a $400,000 home

would be about $12 a month

We serve about 7 5 ,000 people in Hazel Dell, Salmon

Creek, Lake Shore, Felida, Mt. Vista and Fairgrounds
neighborhoods

Levies make up 98 % of our funding

Election Day: August 6th, 202 4