Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle says all that the city has accomplished, and any obstacles the city will overcome, are due to teamwork between city leaders, business owners, and everyday citizens willing to participate in the process

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The Mayor of Vancouver had to pause during the delivery of her State of the City Address on more than one occasion Monday night.

Supporters interrupted her speech with applause a few times as Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle discussed what the city has accomplished in the last year and its goals for the future.

Throughout her 30-minute speech, she drove home the point that the successes the city has had in the last year are due to teamwork from city personnel, business leaders, and everyday citizens who choose to participate in the process. That teamwork, she said, is what will get the city through its many challenges, as well.

“The state of our city is strong, and it gets stronger every time you testify before the City Council, attend a meeting, write us an email, pick up a phone, volunteer, or mail us a letter,” she said in her closing remarks. 

“Together, we are shaping a vibrant and resilient Vancouver where every voice matters and counts, regardless of the uncertainty around us. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support. 

“Let’s continue to work together to build a brighter future for all of Vancouver.”

The State of the City event featured the mayor’s speech, along with a couple of video presentations. After the mayor’s address, the city organized community forums. Citizens were given the opportunity to ask their questions directly to the mayor and colleagues in one forum. Another forum was hosted by council member Diana Perez. 

Council member Bart Hansen introduced the mayor for the State of the City. 

In the State of the City speech, McEnerny-Ogle opened with her theme of the night: teamwork.

She gave her thoughts on a number of topics, including homelessness, community safety, affordable housing, and the local economy.

Noticeably absent from the mayor’s speech was any mention of the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project. The mayor did talk about the city’s plan to continue to work on “ambitious projects” that support Vancouver’s growth, but did not specifically talk about the IBRP. McEnerny-Ogle also never mentioned, in her speech, the proposed expansion of Oregon’s light rail transit system to Vancouver. 

That does not mean she stayed away from all controversial subjects.

In her section on community safety, she made it clear where Vancouver stood in terms of local law enforcement in regard to policies made at the federal level.

“It has been part of our policy for the last eight years, so I’ll say it again tonight for everyone to hear: The Vancouver Police Department will not undertake immigration-related investigations or

sweeps and will not ask about immigration status.

“Officers will not contact, detain, or arrest an individual solely for a suspected violation of immigration laws.”

As far as the city as a whole, the mayor said she and city council members are listening to the people, and they are always open to ideas. She described the workings of local government as a “collective effort between the community and the city.”

To emphasize her point, she noted that the city received more than 6,000 responses to project surveys. The city also conducted more than 40 engagement projects on various issues.

“Over the last year, with the council’s leadership, the expertise of city staff, and the

community’s considerable involvement and input, we have made progress toward our

shared priorities,” the mayor said.

McEnerny-Ogle also noted the failure of Proposition 4 in the November 2024 election, a levy to help fund additional law enforcement services. The city, she said, is learning from that defeat and looking at a potential new proposition, with clearer language, that could lead to more support.

“Regardless of funding, the Vancouver Police Department, the officers and staff, will continue

to work with our community to preserve life, protect property, and enhance livability,” McEnerny-Ogle said.

She noted that the passing of 2022’s Proposition 2 for Fire and Emergency Services has led to tremendous progress in Vancouver. Early data in 2025, for example, shows that response time has improved considerably.

Moving on to the issue of homelessness, the mayor said that there is no one solution to the problem. 

She appreciates how the Safe Stay communities have served hundreds of people in the last three years. Last year alone, the mayor said, 112 people graduated from a Safe Stay site into permanent housing.

While that is progress, the mayor added there are not enough shelter beds to house those who remain unsheltered. With that in mind, the city will continue with its plans for a Bridge Shelter.

The mayor even got a few laughs when she reminded those in attendance that a Bridge Shelter is not a shelter under a bridge. It is a shelter to bridge the gap between living on the streets and into permanent housing. 

McEnerny-Ogle praised the city’s HART — Homeless Assistance and Resources Team. HART worked with Vancouver Police Department and Public Works to conduct 48 camp clean-ups in 2024, removing more than 400 tons of solid waste from public property.

The speech segued to affordable housing. The mayor acknowledged the city is still falling short of its goal of creating 2,500 housing units per year for the next 10 years. But progress is being made through the Housing Action Plan and the voter-approved Proposition 3, which supports the Affordable Housing Fund. In 2024, more than 1,500 units were rented via the AHF, 121 households received rental assistance, and 38 shelter beds were supported. 

The mayor mentioned several other grants that the city and its partners will be using to improve the housing situation.

In fact, she added, in 2024 the city landed 58 new grants — for a number of projects — for a total of $88 million. That means the city is now managing 197 grants worth $218 million.

“Vancouver takes pride in bringing your tax dollars back from the state and back from the federal level to our community, to address and work on your priorities,” McEnerny-Ogle said.

By putting those dollars to work in the community, the mayor noted that downtown and the waterfront, along with developments all over the city, have turned Vancouver into a destination, an attractive place for businesses. 

That has meant growth.  

“We have cemented our place as Southwest Washington’s economic engine, and we can’t take that for granted,” the mayor said. “To stay competitive, we must be intentional about economic development and ensure opportunity for all residents, which is a priority of the community and the city.”

The mayor then introduced a video highlighting several projects in development across the city.

As she started to wrap up her address, McEnerny-Ogle returned to her opening theme.

“You have been trusting us to make decisions and set policy and steward tax dollars, but we don’t do this alone,” the mayor said. “Everything we work on is driven by the priorities that you have identified, focusing on the issues where you seek progress, innovation, answers, and solutions.”

Note: After the address, the mayor took questions from residents for an hour. Homelessness was one of the most frequent topics. Many city workers who are members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union showed up to support one another and to bring attention to their cause. The mayor noted that because the city is currently in negotiations with the union, she and the city council members will not comment.