Dan Polacek of the Port of Kalama, made a presentation on the “History Blades” that will provide an interactive walking tour through downtown Kalama. This has been in the works for a couple of years and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
City Council continued their work on the 2026 Budget and Capital Facilities Plan with a presentation from Waterworth exploring various sewer rate increases and pushing planned improvements out further. City Administrator Adam Smee reported on the wastewater plant’s free capacity. City engineers ran numbers related to the current plant’s usage for the past 10 years which shows it’s operating at 81% of total capacity for TSS currently. Waterworth also addressed water rates for the 10%/15% increases to outside city limits users, noting the cost-of-service allocation they completed supported this recommendation to address equalizing the rate distribution to cover the actual costs of service.
Council reviewed the adjustments to the Tourism and Library which included the legal opinion of the attorney that it is unwise to allocate Tourism tax funding to the library. The Council wants the Library to remain open on Mondays and restored the book and janitorial expenses to make the Library whole. For the General Fund, after all the cuts and revenue changes were included, a deficit of about $90,000 remained. Councilmember Stanfill recommended the City adopt the TBD sales tax of .1% and a 1% Utility tax increase to fund the Library and the needs of General Fund (including the janitorial budget). Adding these revenue sources will bring the General Fund into balance. This proposal does not provide any contingency funding. There was also a review of the effects of shuttering the Community Building.
After much discussion the consensus of the Council was to move the following items for consideration and inclusion into the budget for finalizing the budget ordinance for December 18, 2025.
1. Increase Water Rates on outside residential 10% and outside Commercial 15%. Ordinance 1545 passed unanimously
2. Increase Sewer Rates 3% - Ordinance 1546 to be revised and presented December 18, 2025
3. Fund the Library fully providing funds for janitorial and restoring the book budget – will require additional General Funds.
4. Close the Community Building and eliminate Parks & Recreation programing.
5. Restore janitorial to Police and City Hall facilities
6. Adopt the 0.1% TBD sales tax for street operations (reducing the General Fund transfer to Streets by an equal amount) – Ordinance 1552 on agenda – Passed by a vote of 4 to 1
7. Prepare Ordinance to consider a 1% Utility Tax increase at the December 18, 2025, meeting.
The 2026 building permit fees & City fee resolutions were adopted. City Council authorized the Mayor to sign both the jail contract with Cowlitz County and the Transportation Improvement Board grant for the Taylor Road overlay accepting the grant award.
In reports it was noted the sewer line replacement project has paused work for the winter and will start again in March to complete the work. Weather reports are indicating storms bringing lots of rain are forecasted so if you see storm drains filling up, please call Public Works (360)-673-3706 or 911 during non-business hours. Christmas in Kalama is on 12/5, https://www.kalamachamber.com/holiday-parade. Celebrate Clerk/Treasurer’s retirement with us on December 19th from 3-5pm at City Hall!
It's that time of year when we ask for your community involvement! Are you interested in being involved on a City Committee/Commission or Board? We have a few terms expiring as of 12/31/2025 for the: Library Board, Planning Commission, and Tourism Advisory Committee.
Apply online: https://www.cityofkalama.com/forms/6973
Deadline: 12/16/25 by 5pm. Term appointments are effective 1/2/2026.
For more information & questions, contact communityrelations@cityofkalama.com or 360-673-4908.
Details for each Committee/Commission or Board are available here: https://www.cityofkalama.com/page/apply-for-an-open-position-on-a-city-commission-board-or-committee
The upcoming city council meeting information can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The Council meetings this Thursday, December 4th at 7pm at the City Council Chambers (320 N 1st St Kalama).
The Council approved moving the work on the Transit Feasibility Study to the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Council of Governments and award the 2026 chemical bids to the lowest bidders. The Council adopted several ordinances which included setting property tax levy with no increase for 2026 and banking that future capacity, reallocating the garbage utility tax to the operations of streets rather than street improvements for two years, and establishing a stormwater reserve fund and transferring funds held in operations to this fund.
The Parks and Recreation Committee referred recommended changes to update the 20-year-old Parks plan to the Planning Commission for incorporation into the Comp Plan update which the Commission continues to work on. The Sewer rehab project will be shutting down at the end of November due to the weather with anticipated completion of the remaining work to be in the spring of 2026.
Join us for the upcoming City Council meeting on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00pm at 320 N 1st Street, or virtually through Zoom. Virtual attendance information and the meeting agenda packet can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa/agendas/822
What's Next for the Kalama Community Building?
The Kalama Community Building’s annual expenditure is approximately $60K, and its revenues are projected to be $24K (for 2025), so the General Fund is subsidizing about $3K per month to keep the building open/operational. The building is also in need of significant capital repairs. https://5il.co/3b4la The City Council requested an advisory vote because they saw it as the best way to get accurate feedback from the largest sample size of Kalama’s city residents.
City staff have taken advantage of the opportunity to work with a group of students from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance to structure a public engagement process in Kalama to identify possible valuable uses for the Community Building. This group has been a wonderful resource with fresh eyes and inclusive ideas. Part of the engagement portion of this project is to provide a survey to the community asking what the majority of the taxpayers would like to see.
The goal is to hear from the public and provide the Council with options that create the highest value for the community on this property.
The City Council ultimately makes this policy decision and staff will gather public feedback in new ways to hear from “the many”, and not solely “the few”. To provide your input, complete the survey: https://www.cityofkalama.com/forms/kalama-community-building-what-next
Look for "in person" engagement opportunities (available in the next few weeks) at the Kalama Library and City Hall facilities. You will be able to bring your ideas and place them on the idea board! Thank you for your participation!
The Kalama Library Board will meet on November 19, 2025 at 5:15pm @ 320 N 1st Street. Agenda information can be found at https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa.
Properties affected will be Berry Rd, Stone Mill Rd, Great Northern Rd, 100 block of Cemetery Rd, 600-900 blocks of Spencer Creek Rd, 100-300 blocks of Vivian Rd.
Prior to the water main shutdown, we recommend putting some water in a bathtub so you can fill the tank on a toilet to be able to flush. It is also a good idea to fill a few pitchers of water for drinking if needed while the main is shut down.
We will do our best to minimize air in the main while the repairs are being made and will purge any air out of the main via fire hydrant flushing as soon as the water is turned back on.
Questions or concerns:
• public works shop 360-673-3706 (business hours)8am-4:30pm (off Veterans Day)
• after-hour (emergency) 360-703-0168
Thank you!
City Council Meeting 11.06.2025:
A public hearing was held on the 2026 Budget and 2026-2031 Capital Facilities Plan which included:
• a review of the revenue history of the general fund from 2020 to 2025 comparing that to the population and expenditure growth
• review of the recommendations (proposed) for utility rate increases, along with the estimated cost to rate payers - $8.19 per month (usage of 600 cubic feet)
o Water rate increases: 0% inside the City limits, 10% outside residential, and 15% outside commercial/Industrial
o Sewer rate increases: 5% for all users (outside does not have sewer)
o Stormwater rate increases: 5%
• Revenue increase recommendations and comparisons for a 2% or 1% utility tax or a 0.1% transportation benefit district sales tax or a combination of two
• An example of cost per household for tax increases being proposed including the property taxes, public safety sales tax, and a 2% utility tax (equals $5.21 per month)
• Recommendations for Tourism expenditures from the Tourism Committee plus an alternative allocation proposed by Councilmember Stanfill
• Salary Schedule and recommendations for no salary increase for the Mayor and Council from the Salary Commission
• Personnel costs & functions for all departments
• Overtime costs and questions about part-time officers
• The capital projects scheduled for 2026 for streets, water, sewer and stormwater along with funding sources were discussed. A full plan with future years was included in the packet
• A final overview of where the 2026 budget stands with the General Fund including the Library still at a deficit, and the potential outcomes if the revenue recommendations are enacted.
There were many citizens in attendance supporting the library and requesting the Council reconsider closing the Library on Mondays as a budget cut. The Council was sympathetic to their request. The council weighed in on the options, agreeing on the water rates on the outside users being increased based on the study and findings of Waterworth and the implementation of the 5% increase on the stormwater rates, but some were reluctant on the sewer rate increase. Other tax increase proposals were met with resistance with the Council not wanting to add more to the backs of the citizens already being hit with rising costs. They wanted to see more cuts which would include not implementing a cost-of-living increase to non-bargaining employees until mid-year, if at all, not hiring a position in the finance department to cover the staff vacancy, and using flextime or closing one day per week to cut staff costs at city hall. They asked if tourism funds could be used to fund the library as they provide tourist information which will be researched further. The staff strongly recommended the implementation of new revenues, as relying on one-time revenue sources such as construction projects is not sustainable to cover operating costs such as salaries, benefits and other mandated on-going expenses. The hearing was closed, and the discussion will continue at the hearing on November 20, 2025. For more information, please refer to the Council packet at: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa/agendas/819
The Council approved the Water System Plan, the application for DWSRF loan funding for the Water Treatment Plant, the Gray & Osborne contract addendum for the Wheeler stormwater work, and the interlocal agreement with Cowlitz County District Court. They accepted 3 projects as complete including the City Hall Renovations, the China Garden Road Improvements and the Old Pacific Highway Sidewalk project. Ordinances related to the property tax levy were tabled to November 20, 2025. Resolution No. 756, which set garbage rates for 2026, was adopted by the Council.
Library Director Elaine Bystrom addressed the Council noting that closing the Library on Mondays will save $416 per month and invited them to tour the Library before the next Council meeting on November 20th. Other reports were brief due to the lateness of the meeting and are included in the Council packet for review.
Kalama City Council 2026 Budget/2026-2031 Capital Facilities Plan Public Hearings @ 7pm on November 6, 2025 & November 20, 2025:
Notice is hereby given that the City of Kalama preliminary budget for 2026 and the 2026 to 2031 Capital Facilities Plan has been filed with the City Clerk. The Kalama City Council will hold the first of two public hearings on the 2026 Budget and Capital Facilities Plan on November 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama. The public is encouraged to attend and provide testimony for the final budget. A second public hearing will be held on November 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. The hearings may be continued without further publication by announcing the date, time, and place of the continued hearing at the hearing. Copies of the preliminary Budget and draft Capital Facilities Plan will be available on or before November 20, 2025 at City Hall during regular business hours or on the City website at www.cityofkalama.com. Information for virtual access to the hearings will be available on the City website through https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa.
Coni McMaster
City of Kalama
Clerk/Treasurer
(360) 673-4561
cityclerk@cityofkalama.com
The Kalama Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 10th, 2025 at 11am in the City Council Chambers at 320 N 1st Street. The change in schedule is due to the Veteran's Day holiday. Agenda and meeting information can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
November "Drum 4 Fun" classes are held on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-11am. Cost is $25 for all of November, and you can pay at City Hall, or online: https://tinyurl.com/yydsfh22
Please note class days are as follows:
Tuesdays: Nov 4, 11, & 25
Thursdays: Nov 6th & 13th
Location: 216 Elm Street, Kalama, WA 98625
Location: 320 N 1st Street, Kalama, WA
10/18/2025 @ 3:30pm - Water lines fixed
Our public works crew was able to fix the leak without shutting the water all the way off. There is no boil water notice, and all customers should have regular service.
Thank you public works crew, and thank you residents for your patience!
10/18/2025 @ 12:30pm - Watermain break
Customers on Old Pacific Hwy, South of Stone Forest Drive, to Vincent Rd will likely be affected.
The leak is in the road on Old Pacific Hwy-- drivers please use caution and watch for flaggers.
Expected time for water outage is unknown at this time- crews are actively working to locate and repair waterline(s).
Updates will be posted on the city's website & Facebook pages. Thank you for your patience.
10.16.2025 Council Meeting Recap
The City Council held a workshop to understand how the rate-setting software, Waterworth, utilizes the city’s information to make informed decisions.
Bruce Rader was sworn into Councilmember position #5. Council held a public hearing on revenue needs for 2026. A consultant from Waterworth presented recommendations for increases to water/sewer/stormwater rates. Based on the findings, the current outside water users’ rates are not covering the costs of providing the infrastructure needs and service, so the recommended rate increase for water would be on the outside residential (10%) and outside commercial users (15%) and inside user rates would remain at the 2025 rates. Sewer rate recommendations for consideration range from 5% up to 15% for all users. The stormwater rate increase would be 5% from $8.81 per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) to $9.25 per ERU. Most residential customers are charged only 1 ERU for their homes. The full presentation is available here https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa/agendas/817. Rate comparisons throughout southwest Washington were provided.
The revenue hearing also covered the increase to garbage rates averaging 3% for residential customers which are required under the service contract with Waste Control. Property taxes were reviewed requesting the standard 1% lawful increase. The utility rate example showed a $6 increase for the year on a $550K home where the assessed valuation remains unchanged. The projected levy rate for 2026 is approximately $1.08 per $1K of assessed valuation. Property taxes are split between local and state schools, the County, the Fire District, and several minor taxing districts along with the City’s share, which is about 13% or $600 annually (based on the provided example). This revenue helps pay for 24/7 police coverage, economic development services, code enforcement, library services, parks operations, street operations, criminal legal costs, Council/legislative costs, and the finance/administration operations of the City. City fees and building permit fees were reviewed. The hearing reviewed the needs of the General Fund operations reviewing the revenues which fluctuate based on economic factors, such as building or sales taxes, and those that are more consistent, such as the property and utility taxes or licensing fees. At the request of the Council at the September 30th workshop, staff made added cuts of $72,100 to the budget which includes closing the Community Building, which stops Parks and Recreation classes, and closing the Library on Mondays. The public safety sales tax projected revenues and funds from the reallocation of utility taxes were also included. The proposed additional revenue and cuts are still not sufficient to meet the projected needs of operations in 2026. The Council also needs to include the current costs, and lack of carryover funds for the beginning of 2026. Staff requested the Council reconsider an increase to the utility taxes for the general fund of 2% to produce additional revenues to meet the costs of maintaining services to the community. The Council discussed the needs and focused on additional cuts which could include layoffs of personnel in either the finance or police departments or further reductions to the Library. Councilmembers voiced reluctance to raise taxes for various reasons. The City experiences the financial impact of tax increases, service mandates, and inflation in the same way the ratepayers do. There will be more discussion at the next hearing on November 6th.
Jene McMahon presented the Council with a community art project for the downtown trash can murals. This would involve local artists and organizations in Kalama painting the downtown garbage can lids.
Clerk/Treasurer McMaster discussed the city’s cash flow shortage in the general fund and the Council authorized a budget amendment for a loan of $75K from water reserves which will allow the city to meet the current obligations (payroll and bills). The loan will be paid back at an interest rate of 4.3%. Property taxes will be received in November, but it isn’t clear if it will be enough for transfers that haven’t been made due to the shortfall of funds and repaying the interfund loans. The Council adopted Ordinance 1542 approving the loan and amending the Parks reserve funds for additional costs for the Toteff Park gazebo.
Library Director Bystrom sent a report outlining programs, and emphasized the value the Library provides to the community. In other reports the planning commission continues its work on the Comprehensive Plan update; the Sewer line renovation project continues but may be paused once the rainy weather sets in (to be finished in the spring to avoid poor winter road conditions), the downtown trick-or-treat event will be from 4-6pm on 10/31, and an increase in public records requests in all departments has been seen.
10/9/25 @ 3:15pm: Waterline Break on Taylor Road
A contractor installing fiberoptic line hit a water main on Taylor Rd between 835 and 1051 Taylor Rd. Homes between these addresses may experience a loss of water pressure.
Homes on Waters Watch and Horizon should not be affected.
The city public works crew is on site and evaluating/repairing the damage. Updated information will be added here.
