Kalama City Offices and the Kalama Public Library will be closed on Monday, February 17th in observance of President's Day. Garbage service should be running on regular schedule (weather permitting).
Garbage service update: Due to road and curbside conditions on Friday 2/14 all routes have been cancelled. Weather permitting, Waste Control plans to service customers that were not serviced on Thursday 2/13 due to weather and Friday 2/14 customers tomorrow Saturday 2/15. They are asking that customers please leave their carts/containers out and available.
Due to technical difficulties the Kalama Planning Commission meeting and public hearing is being canceled tonight. Meeting and agenda items will be addressed at the meeting on March 13, 2025. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Kalama City Council Meeting 2.06.2025:
The Council authorized staff to prepare an ordinance to update the current R-3 High Density Residential system development charges (SDC’s, also known as hookup fees) allowing for apartment complexes to be treated the same as other high density uses such as hotel/motel and manufactured home parks. The Council reviewed the draft of code changes presented by City Administrator Smee setting the sewer at the base fee for the first unit, plus 70% of the base fee times the number of additional units. Water would be at the base fee for the first unit, plus 50% of the base fee times the number of additional units.
The Council approved two addendums for engineering services with Gray & Osborne, Inc.
• The first is to develop a plan for replacing the current telemetry systems controlling water generation and the network of reservoirs and pumpstations. which are becoming outdated as the infrastructure is being updated to fiber optic cable—an update from the current copper wiring. This will bundle into the Water Treatment Plant Upgrade project which has current funding from Cowlitz County rural development funds.
• The second is for construction management services for the Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation project which replaces sewer lines in the older areas of town north of Elm Street. This is a complex project that requires public work on private property.
The Council adopted Ordinance No. 1527 amending the 2025 budget to address cash flow concerns related to the Community Building study and the General Fund operations. This ordinance authorized interim interfund loans from the General Fund reserves to the Community Building reserve and the General Fund, both of which would be repaid upon receipt of anticipated 2025 revenues. There was discussion of the community building survey and grant funding timeline, and the state of the general fund at the beginning of 2025. This discussion included details of items contributing to cash flow issues and some future planning details for budgeting for 2026 and beyond.
The appointed representative for COG and SWRTPO will remain the same as in prior years with Administrator Smee providing the city representation, as meetings are during working hours for most of the Council members.
Administrator Smee gave a City Hall project update. The project is nearing completion and staff plan to begin the move next week. The office will be closed from February 10-14 while settling into the new space. With the raised ceilings, large windows for natural light, and the original beam structure of the building, the space is now a more professional office where staff can interact with the public and work more efficiently. Administrator Smee, Clerk/Treasurer McMaster, and Council Secretary Moore expressed their gratitude to the Council for authorizing and supporting the project.
Director of Public Works Rasmussen noted the City will open bids for the Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation project on Wednesday, February 12th. He also noted other projects that are in progress including the Water System Plan update, the China Garden Road Project, downtown street resurfacing, the Old Pacific Highway sidewalk project, Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, and working with the County on their Cloverdale Road reconstruction.
Chief Herrera noted the upcoming Coffee with Cop event on February 14th at 9am at the Community Building. He noted the department has been busy with community outreach opportunities, and working with the school on the upcoming strategic planning process.
Clerk/Treasurer McMaster provided the 2024 year-end financial report. She informed the Council the City is looking for an experienced Accountant, preferably with municipal experience, since one of the finance staff is leaving. She is planning to retire in 2025 and needs to fill the position with an experienced person that can take on the financial functions of the City. Staff will be planning an open house for the renovated City Hall once they are settled in, likely at the end of March.
It’s moving time! Kalama City Hall will be closed Monday- Friday, February 10th-14th so that staff can relocate back to the official city hall building at 195 N 1st Street. There will be no disruptions to city utility services related to the move during this time. If you need to get in touch with city hall staff, please leave a voicemail, or send an email. We will check messages throughout the week (360) 673-4562. If you see us in the building during this time, we are in the process of moving and setting up the office, and don’t have access to the network yet. If you prefer to pay in person, you are welcome to drop a utility payment in the green "drop box" on the corner of First St. and Fir St.
Thank you for your patience as we transition. We look forward to better serving the Kalama community.
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee meeting of February 11th has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2025 at 5:30pm.
For agenda and minutes information, visit: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
Attention Kalama residents: All garbage routes have been cancelled today 2/4/25, due to road and curbside conditions. Please set out double your standard service level on your next scheduled service day. If you have extra bags, please place them near, but not touching the garbage cart (see image for example). Thank you for understanding.
The upcoming Planning Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 at the city council chambers located at 320 N 1st Street at 6:00pm. Once posted, the agenda will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The February Drum 4 Fun schedule is now available! Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am-11am at the community building located at 216 Elm Street. Classes are $20 for all Tuesday classes, $20 for all Thursday classes, or $40 for all February classes. Classes will be held February 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, & 27. You can pay at city hall, or online here: https://tinyurl.com/3ezcxba3
This week's city council meeting will be held on Thursday, February 6th at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama at 7:00pm. The agenda is now available: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa/agendas/742
Agenda items include:
- System Development Charges Proposed Code Language
- Council of Governments Liaison from City Council to be Designated
- Telemetry System Improvement Alternatives Analysis - Project Addendum #4
-NE Downtown Sewer Rehab, Construction Management - Project Addendum #11
- General Fund Financial Condition
The City of Kalama is seeking a skilled accounting professional to join our finance team. The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field and possess a minimum of 5 years of credible accounting experience, preferably within a municipal government setting. This pivotal role involves a range of responsibilities, including the meticulous preparation and maintenance of financial records, auditing financial data for accuracy, and drafting annual financial statements and associated schedules. Moreover, this person will collaborate closely with the city administrator and department heads to formulate an annual budget that meets the city’s needs while adhering to regulatory standards. Preparation for state audits is also a critical component of the job.
We are open to considering candidates who may not have the exact educational background but can demonstrate equivalent experience that equips them to perform effectively in this role. The salary for this position ranges from $5,313.41 to $6,429.22 per month, commensurate with experience. This is a union position that offers comprehensive benefits, including full-family medical coverage (shared between employer and employee), contributions to State PERS retirement, and a VEBA-HRA benefit. In addition, we provide employer-paid life insurance and a deferred compensation plan available to all full-time employees. For application and full job description visit: https://www.cityofkalama.com/article/1998578
The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments is excited to share the draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for Cowlitz County and Rainier, Oregon. Join them at their open house on Wednesday, February 5th at 5:30pm at the Lakeside Event Center (811 20th Ave, Longview). This is the community's opportunity to provide comments on the plan and improvements. Details here: https://5il.co/35xpi
The Kalama Civil Service January 23rd meeting has been cancelled due to lack of agenda items. The next scheduled meeting is February 27th at 5pm in the Kalama City Council Chambers at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama.
1.16.2025 City Council Recap:
Kalama City Council awarded the China Garden Road project to Swafford Excavating LLC of Washougal, WA as low bidder in the amount of $518,230 which is $240,000 less than the engineer’s project estimate. The City received 11 bids for the project ranging from $518,230 to $831,835.
KT West is working on developing an apartment complex of 20 units and requested the Council grant a waiver of the current requirement for each unit to be individually metered for utilities and allow for one “master meter” which will be billed to the property owner or management company. This is the industry standard. The Council approved a motion to grant the waiver allowing one master meter on the facility for utilities and possibly a second meter for any fire suppression system as required by fire code regulations. The City will work directly with the owner or their agent for utility billing. All building tenants will engage with the landlord or property manager, not the city, regarding city utilities.
KT West also noted that the current system development charges require calculation based on the full cost per unit for high density multi-family residential construction, which differs from the prorated calculation allowed for manufactured home parks or hotel/motel facilities. They are requesting the city council consider adopting the same structure for R-3 high density residential construction as is allowed for the other similar uses. To do this will require a code amendment. After discussion, the council requested staff to draft new code language to address R-3 high density connections in the same manner as manufactured home parks or hotel/motels. It was also suggested that all these be set at the same discount percentage for the additional units. Staff will bring a draft back for Council consideration at the next meeting.
Public Works Director Rasmussen noted the Downtown Sewer Rehabilitation project will be going to bid next week with opening scheduled for February 12, 2025. The City’s lead line survey needed to be resubmitted, and the Department of Health issued a letter of violation. A water line break on Confer Road required a boil water notice be issued on Wednesday for 8 homes in the area. Tests were expedited with the results returned this morning indicating the water is safe to drink.
The Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on draft code language on nuisance abatement and begin their review of lot frontage and easement code changes at the meeting in February.
Police Chief Herrera noted the department will be working on community outreach events for 2025 such as coffee with a cop, milk cookies with a cop, and projects at the school.
Upcoming Events:
Chamber Meeting – Jim Hill to present information on Creative Districts January 21st at noon in the Port’s large meeting room.
City offices and the Kalama Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Residents with Monday garbage pickup will be on regular schedule, so please put your carts out on Sunday night. Thank you!
Boil Water Notice for January 15, 2025: The affected area is 200 to 279 Confer Rd
Read the notice details here: https://5il.co/358o6
The upcoming City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Council Chambers at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama, WA 98625. The agenda includes the following items:
- China Garden Rd Project- Award Bid
- Multi-unit Water Connection Fees
Full agenda can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The Kalama Library Board will meet on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at 5:15pm in the City Council Chambers located at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama, WA 98625. Agenda information can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers at 320 N 1st Street, Kalama, WA 98625. The agenda can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa
