Cross_cutting

18:32 And that's a very philosophical question, and it's a very challenging question, and people have very, very strong viewpoints on that. Different jurisdictions have different viewpoints on that. Do we grow up, do we grow out, do we do some of both? It's a real large community discussion that has to be had, 'cause every jurisdiction, meaning the cities, the small cities, the city of Vancouver, and the county, all had a vision for themselves, and that vision should help drive that conversation. - Okay, thank you. Candidate Arab, residents often feel decisions are shaped before public input occurs. What does meaningful public engagement look like to you, particularly on controversial land use, taxes, or transportation decisions? - I mean, I would say that I have to agree with the public in that particular regard. So even though we have time for public comments, it is so abundantly clear that the decisions are already being made,

19:31 and a lot of those decisions are being made whether or not public comment comes in, and regardless of what that public comment actually is. I've seen very few instances where counselors are willing to change their position on something when the public overwhelmingly says one thing or another, and that's incredibly frustrating. I think the other side of this actually is a communications problem just that is Vancouver and Clark County specific, in that because we're looped into Portland media, residents are not being notified, so they don't know what's going on, and that is so challenging, both as a resident and as somebody who is trying to get involved here, because it's hard to know what's going on, period. So I would be absolutely for any initiatives that would improve communications between the county council and the public. - Thank you. Can I, we're doing, shall I read that again? - Please. - Residents often feel decisions are shaped before public input occurs.

20:30 What does meaningful public engagement look like to you, particularly on controversial land use, taxes, or transportation decisions? - You know, I want residents to know what I'm working on before they have to ask. I'll explain my decisions, welcome feedback, and remain accessible to the people I represent. The trust is what needs to be built through transparency and consistent communication, so communication across the board, and it works so well on so many other things, like homelessness, you know, collaborative communication. - Thank you. Candidate Young, residents often feel decisions are shaped before public input occurs. What does meaningful public engagement look like to you, particularly on controversial land use, taxes, or transportation decisions? - It's a very good question, and it really highlights a very difficult challenge that we have and experience. I can't speak for my other fellow council members,

21:29 but I can speak for myself that I have changed my vote based on new information that I've received at public hearings multiple times. I believe in making decisions based on the data and the information that I have in front of me. There's even been times where information has come forward later on after a decision was made that has led me to reverse the decision that I've made. I don't consider that a weakness. I consider that a strength, somebody that's willing to adapt to new information. The challenge that we really experience is when I see all of the people that are engaged at the council meetings, I often see missing what I really wanna see, and that is the average citizen of Clark County that is just interested in making their community better and expressing their own personal experience. We often end up with a lot of people that have specific interests in mind

22:29 that dominate the conversation. - Thank you. Candidate Schull, residents often feel decisions are shaped before public input occurs. What does meaningful public engagement look like to you, particularly on controversial land use, taxes, or transportation decisions? - Public comment is very important. It is the people's, kind of the people's branch of the government, and I believe that it is the way for all of us to have our inputs in. You can hear the frustrations. I've watched some of the council meetings, and I've seen people on extremes or in the middle come to the meetings and express their views and not be heard, have decisions not go their way. I think that the council has a very challenging job, and listening to everybody's viewpoint may not always come out the way they want. I think my commitment is simple. I'll show up, I'll be accessible. I'll listen to all of my constituents, not just the ones that I agree with. That means an adequate notice of what's being decided,

23:28 open meetings, accessible public records, and explaining those decisions in plain language. People who deserve to know that they're heard and that their input matters. - Thank you. Candidate Bardu, I hope I'm saying that right. Candidate Bardu, okay. Clark County's economy and transportation system are closely tied to the Portland metro area. What role should the county play in coordinating with Oregon partners on major transportation issues?