Clark County Close Up (08-30-26) (Audio Described)

0:00 A sign reads Clark County Justice Center. Clark County Jail Services has two facilities. A jail officer walks down the hallway which is adjacent to the county courthouse in downtown Vancouver and a smaller Clark County Jail Work Center appears on the side of a large building facility located on Lower River Road near the Port of Vancouver. The main jail opened in July 1984 with a capacity of 300 beds. The facility on Lower River Road known as the Jail Work Center opened in 2000 but has been closed since 2020. While there have been some updates made to the main facility much has changed in the last 40 years. Three jail officers walk past blue doors in a two-level cell block, hot inmate housing area and a front desk with computer monitors and the current structure and layout of the main jail needs to be updated to accommodate current and future needs. Jail expansion in mind the county council approved to put a bond measure and levy

0:58 lift on the November ballot. A hand reaches from the vehicle toward a red ballot drop box. Council a couple weeks ago approved us going out for a general obligation bond. David Shook, Manager Jail Services. For 366 million dollars which would help us to remodel and expand this jail here in Clark County. It would also give us the opportunity since the sheriff's office is in the basement of this building to find a location for him to move. Clark County Sheriff's Office. Because those spaces will... Turn into courtrooms for us. Hi I'm Sue Marshall. I chair the Clark County Council. Council and all of the staff in law and justice we've taken our time to really examine what the needs are and we've... An inmate is led into a holding cell. Engaged stakeholders talk to the community, collaborated with all of the law and justice and public safety departments. Clark County Council meeting. The council unanimously...

1:58 Agreed that now was the time to put this forward. The problems facing that the incarcerated community is facing are more complex and more costly. Outdoor exercise equipment. Mental health addiction, just physical health itself. People are in the jail you know that's that's rock bottom for... A cracked glass window in the jail. Most most people and and we're we're trying to address all of the needs. An empty room shows three wall mounted payphones with dry wall peeling. They have so that we're not really seeing a revolving door. We'll do we'll serve as best we can. To better understand the request for jail expansion and remodel we took a walking tour of the current jail facility. So again she's got three or four or five screens that she's managing at the same time and again as we look at... A woman watches several monitors at a control desk,

2:56 main control area. Those and seeing what our staff are doing. It's improving cameras. It's improving access. It's improving the technology that this is old technology and oftentimes it's at the end of its life. So this is our Sally Port area right and it's a semi-secure... Sally Port garage area in the jail. ...secured area but at the same time we have folks and so this is often full with three police cars at least. This deputy right here who's waiting to take or have this person brought into the jail right he's been here anywhere from 20 to 30 to an hour to an hour and a half depending on if he was the first the third or the fifth person. An officer waits to book someone just arrested. This is the the really the largest funnel for our public safety partners law enforcement on the road where they have to come here and wait and again it's because we have such a small space in here in the booking counters. An officer books someone into the jail. Oftentimes because there's a lot of processes.

3:56 They're not able to see. This is our administrative segregation area in our suicide watch area and so again he has many inmates that he's keeping an eye on right. An officer sits at a desk and looks at three computer monitors. So this side behind you or to the side right here is our administrative segregation so those inmates that are problematic upstairs sometimes because we just don't have enough bed spaces they are brought down here because it's an extra bed right. They're communicating with anywhere from up to 100 people. They're not able to see. They're not able to see to 120 inmates depending on the day of the time and and how we've had to house people. This little microphone this officer has in front of him he can control who he's speaking to and so again it really provides some disadvantage because of the remote. The man sits at a curved desk wearing a headset and working at three computer monitors beside windows overlooking the jail interior. Indirect way that that this jail was built in 1984. An empty jail cell faces a barred window above a metal sink toilet unit with inmate cell on screen.

4:56 Most of these cells are two-person cells right as you can see the different things about the security of the windows and every day we come in our officers come in they check the security of things they look for contraband they look for other things going on. What I would tell you is most lawyers want to have a face-to-face small meeting room for lawyers opportunity to talk to their their clients and so you know only having four of these rooms and the whole jail it really prohibits a lot of that from happening. For more information about the jail remodel and expansion project check out the website at clark.wa.gov slash jail services slash jail remodel and expansion project. Flu season is coming but when it starts how long it lasts and how severe it will be can vary from year to year. Influencing. A medical worker stands in green scrubs and writes flu on a clear surface.

5:56 Can circulate at any time but in our community we typically see flu activity increase between October and May. That's a green steel bridge stretches across a wide river toward a city shoreline. A girl looks down as a medical worker gives her an injection in the upper arm. Taking steps to protect yourself and your family before flu activity rises is so important. Influenza can be serious for anyone but some people are at greater risks for severe illness. A woman touches a boy's forehead as the girl lies in bed. This includes young children, pregnant people, adults 65 and older and people living with chronic health conditions. An older man sits on a couch with a blanket around his shoulders and holds a tissue to his nose. One of the best ways to protect yourself against influenza is vaccination. A medical worker prepares to give an older woman an injection in her upper arm. Flu vaccine is safe and is designed to reduce your risk of getting sick and help prevent serious illness. An annual flu vaccine is recommended for anyone six months or older. A gloved hand holds a vaccine violence syringe while a boy waits in the background. The vaccine is updated each year to provide

6:56 protection against the strains expected to circulate. Early fall, September, October is the best time to get vaccinated. Several people walk together along a leaf covered path between trees. Getting your vaccine before flu activity increases can help provide protection throughout the season. A man in a scarf sits with his arms crossed and covers his mouth while another person gestures toward him. There are also several vaccine options including a nasal spray and formulations designed for people at higher risk. Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines will also be available this fall. Like the flu vaccine, they are updated to provide protection against circulating strains. National health organizations are reviewing the latest data and will make recommendations about which groups are likely to benefit. A medical worker stands at a table and speaks to three seated medical workers. Fit most from getting the vaccine this fall. Clark County Center for Community Health Building Exterior. County Public Health will share those recommendations when they become available. A medical worker smiles and holds a small box while another woman gestures

7:53 beside her. COVID-19 vaccines are available through local pharmacies and medical offices and it's safe to receive both vaccines at the same time. A red tray holds a marker, syringe, papers and small packets on a countertop. The nation is an important layer of protection, but everyday actions matter too. The girl sits with her sleeve raised as a medical worker swabs her upper arm and holds a syringe. Hands rub together under running water in a sink. Wash your hands frequently. A man outdoors covers his mouth as if coughing or sneezing. Cover coughs and sneezes. Stay home when you are sick. And keep sick children home from school. A man sits up in bed and coughs into his fist. A boy sits upright in bed, clutching the blanket beside two teddy bears. And when possible, avoid close contact with other people who are ill. As flu season approaches, take steps now to protect yourself, your family, and your community. A medical worker in green scrubs stands behind the words get vaccinated. For more information, please visit flufreewa.org.

8:53 Greg Kimsey has served as Clark County Auditor since January 1999. Auditor Greg Kimsey stands in the elections office while ballots are counted. A red ballot drop box stands beside a white vehicle as a hand reaches out near the open slot. This year, Kimsey said he would not be seeking re-election. Elections office sign reading deposit ballots here while a staff person waits at the counter. Greg Kimsey speaks during an interview. Recently, we sat down with Kimsey to talk about the role of the auditor and learn how his office helps ensure fair and accurate elections. Several people sit at tables sorting elections ballot. Exterior view of the county elections office with a sign that reads vote here. Hello, I'm Jim Demma with Clark County Close-Up. Thank you so much for being with us today. Well, I appreciate being invited, Jim. Okay, great. So please tell us your background. I had been working in corporate finance in Portland for many years. And then after that, I came to work here in Vancouver for a business as the chief financial officer. And then at that point, I was looking for something to do with my

9:53 office. I was looking for something else to do. It wasn't really a very good fit for me. So I was looking for something else to do. So then what led you to try to run for auditor back in 1999? Yeah. As I said, I was looking for something else to do. I'd been poking around looking at a couple of different things. And then one day out watching my kids play soccer, a friend of mine said, you know, the county auditor might not be running for re-election. I thought, I wonder what the county auditor does. And so the more I looked at that, I thought, you know, that seems like a good fit for me. And so I looked at it, I thought, yeah, I think I'll give that a shot. Wow. So for our viewers, in a concise description, what's the role of the county auditor? Sure. So that is the first, like, that was the first question I asked, right? And it's the most common question I've ever asked. And it's the most common question I've ever asked. And it's the most common

10:53 question I've ever received over these 28 years now. What does the county auditor do? So the county auditor is the primary financial officer, keeps track of where all the money comes from, where it all goes, reports on the county's financial condition and results to the public. So that's our financial services division. We pay all the bills, we do all the payroll, we have an audit services group within the financial services. Then we record legal documents and issue marriage licenses. So deeds of trust and all sorts of easements, all sorts of documents that get recorded. I serve as an agent for the Washington State Department of Licensing. So we have a licensing office for automobiles, trailers, boats, motorcycles. We have one office in the county building for licensing services. And then we have nine private businesses licensing subagents that we have responsibility for oversight of. And then finally, the area that gets the greatest amount of public attention, auditors say it's what gets you in the paper the fastest. We're responsible for registering people to vote and conduct all public elections. So just let me throw you with this

11:53 question. But what's the difference? So the treasurer, when it comes to the financial, the difference between the treasurer role and your role? So the treasurer collects the tax. The treasurer sends bills out to property owners, tells them how much they owe in property taxes, and then receives those tax monies from taxpayers, distributes that tax money out, not just to the county, but also to all the other governments in the county. So school districts and port districts and fire districts. So all the governments that get property tax revenues, the treasurer's office is responsible for collecting those and then distributing them to the appropriate agencies, governments, in the correct amounts. And then also is responsible for investing any available excess funds that the county has or some of these districts as well. So I think we have about a $1.5 billion investment fund that the county treasurer is responsible for managing. And then also manages debt that some

12:53 of the governments issue, school districts primarily, as well as the county's debt issuance. Okay, so that's the difference. Okay. So looking back, what do you see as some of the biggest service improvements you've helped oversee over these 20 plus years? Oh, that's easy. That's easy. And very early on in the career, you know, I came into office and at that time the office was in the old courthouse, in the courthouse building on the ground floor. We had people coming in who were recording documents, and then they'd have to go over to the treasurer's down the hallway. They might have to go down to the assessor's office and do stuff. And I thought, this is, why are we sending people all around for this? And then, so then the county was moving into a new building, public service center, and it really seemed like a good opportunity to combine all those services into one area. And I had to get a law change to allow the auditor staff to perform that administrative clerical task. But the creation of the joint lobby, where the service

13:53 is from the assessor's office, the auditor's office, and the treasurer's office are available to citizens all in one location, I think is absolutely the best service improvement we've done in the county in my time in office. Close second, very close second, the expansion of the elections office work area. We've gone from seven front counter workstations for voters to 13. You might recall the last presidential election, we had almost a four-hour wait for people. I remember the line. Huge line. That should never happen again. In addition, expansion of the elections office work area significantly increased our throughput capacity of process ballots. So it means that on election night, the number of ballots we can report out on results, preliminary results, has increased dramatically. So our throughput's increased, which gets people want results faster, and that's a big benefit, and then better service to citizens who are coming to vote on election day. Let's talk about the,

14:53 the joint lobby. Now, it's, it's been under construction. What, what's the, the latest on it? So, yeah, we did a remodeling of the joint lobby, improved security, improved workspace for the staff, improved, really, access for the, for citizens as well. So that's been completed, and it's, it's definitely creating a better work environment for staff and a better experience for citizens. So it is open currently? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Now, what's, now, you talked about, the county elections, so you oversee county elections. If someone isn't registered to vote, how do they register, and what are the deadlines? So if someone has a Washington driver's license or Washington identification card, they can register to vote online, and the deadline for that is October 26th, or they can, you can mail in a form as well. In person, you can register in person until 8 o'clock p.m. on election day. So,

15:53 those are the opportunities for folks. Okay. So when someone, when should someone expect the, we're recording this on August 10th, so for the general election, when should people expect their ballots to arrive? So ballots are required to be mailed out 18 days before the election, and then, you know, maybe a week after that is a reasonable time period for the post office to get the ballot to folks. So I would say, you know, the following Wednesday, October 22nd or 23rd, if you haven't received your ballot at that point, contact the elections office. We want to make sure everyone gets a ballot. They're entitled to vote, but we do want to, we do want to encourage folks to give it a little bit of time before they get that replacement ballot. Okay, and what's the voting deadline, what's the voting deadline for elections, and when the ballots actually have to be received? So in our state, thankfully, thankful to a recent Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court decision,

16:53 we can count ballots that are postmarked on election day that are received in our office up to the day before certification. So election day is November 3rd, but they have to be postmarked election day or received in one of our 22 official ballot drop boxes by 8 o'clock p.m. election day. I really want to encourage folks to use the ballot drop boxes. If they do decide to use the post office to deliver their voted ballot to the elections office, please, please give it to the post office at least one week before one week. One week before. And a final option, again, want to emphasize, encourage people to use about official ballot drop boxes, but if they're determined to use the post office and they missed that one week deadline, take it inside, get a clerk to hand stamp it so you can make sure we get that election day postmark. Okay, can you give us an overview of the steps your office has taken to ensure elections are secure and all valid ballots are counted?

17:52 Well, do we have a couple hours or just a brief overview? Just a brief overview. Well, it starts with our voting system that we use, the Hart Inter-Civic Voting System, has been certified by the federal government and also by the Secretary of State's office. We have a number of audits and tests in place to ensure that the voting system we're using to conduct the election is performing the way we expect it to perform. From the point where ballots are received at the ballot drop box or removed from the ballot drop box or received by the, from the post office to us, the elections office, those ballots are controlled under a very strict chain of custody. From that point all the way through certification and beyond during the retention period. There are a number of audits and and control procedures in place that test the voting system to make sure it's working the way it's it's supposed to

18:52 work. All of this is observed by certified election observers from the three organizations, the two major political parties, and also the League of Voters. So anytime ballots are being processed, those certified election observers are able to come in and ensure that we're following the practices and procedures that we're required to. And then at the end of the process we have what's called the reconciliation that we're we're calculating and ensuring that the number of voters who are given credit for voting equals the number of ballots that were received and also equals the number of affidavit envelopes we received. And then of course the final test that people should find reassurance about the integrity of the process, the best test of the integrity elections process, is a recount. And every one of our recounts has reaffirmed the original results and so I've been very pleased with that. And as we've talked in the past, like the server that calculates, that tabulates all the votes, it's not touched by internet, correct?

19:52 Yeah, thank you. Yeah. One of the requirements under the certification from the federal government and the Secretary of State's office is that the voting system, it has no connection to the internet, has no wireless transmission capability. It's all kept, those systems are all kept under serial numbers, security tags, to limit access to those systems. So access to that voting system is very tightly controlled. Great, thank you. So back in 2024, one of the ballot drop-off boxes in East Vancouver was set on fire. What steps has your office taken to help improve election security at those ballot drop-off boxes? Well, that was a very dramatic point in my career. That was one thing I will never forget. But yeah, we've taken a number of steps to improve security of our ballot drop-off boxes. Probably the biggest one is we've got a much, much more capable fire suppression system. We had fire suppression systems, we had fire suppression

20:52 systems in those drop boxes. They had been recently replaced. They were the fire suppression devices recommended by the Secretary of State's office. It's the same fire suppression device that we used in Multnomah County, where their ballot box was bombed as well. And they had worked really well over there. For some reason, it didn't work well for us. But after that event, we did put a lot of effort into trying to figure out what is the best fire suppression device you can buy and install. It turns out it's a company here in Vancouver that provides them. So we've installed these much more capable fire suppression devices in each of the ballot drop-off boxes. We've installed these devices that will send us a text message. If the temperature inside the box, I think, achieves over 170 degrees, if the ballot drop-off box is moved out of a geofence area, if the ballot drop-off box receives an impact of a certain amount, we'll get a text message informing us of that. Then in addition, and now video cameras are not the ultimate solution, that ballot drop-off

21:52 boxes are a great option. The Fisher's Landing that was bombed had a video camera on it. We can see the bad person doing bad things. But we are installing, we're in the process of installing video cameras at each of the 22 ballot drop-off boxes at this point. Okay. What are your plans once you leave office? Well, I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm actively working on that. I do have, I do plan to be, to do some work with the Ruckelshaus Center at the University of Washington, work in the civic engagement area. And I've got a couple other things I'm working on. If nothing else, I plan to go into my old alma mater, Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School, and help kids learn how to read. And then, you know, plan to spend a little more time in Seattle with my four-year-old granddaughter. Oh, sounds wonderful. Is there anything else you'd like to share with viewers? You know, serving as the Clark County Auditor has truly been the honor of a lifetime. It

22:52 is with deep gratitude and appreciation that the voters have deemed it appropriate to place their confidence in me. Truly a great honor. Also, it gives me an opportunity to encourage voters to track the status of their ballot. We didn't get to that, but we should, we'd really encourage voters to track the status of their ballot. You can do that on VoteWire.gov. You can sign up for a text, get a text message. It'll tell you when the ballot was mailed to you. The date it was received back in our office, and whether the ballot was challenged or put forward for processing. So, that's my closing message to voters. Closing message. Okay. And people, the Clark County Elections website is? ClarkVotes.org. ClarkVotes.org. Phone number 564-397-2345. Email elections@clark.wire.gov. And again, VoteWire.gov is a really good resource for voters.

23:52 You can log on there and see their own sort of, their own ballot, their own voter's pamphlet, see the status of their ballot. VoteWire.gov. Well, Greg, it's been such a great pleasure working with you all these years, and best luck to you in the future. Thank you, Jim. A man rides electric bicycle down a paved road. E-bicycles and electric motorcycles are more popular than ever across Clark County. A rider pedals an electric motorcycle along a dirt path. E-bicycles and electric motorcycles are more popular than ever across Clark County. Knowing the laws, riding responsibly, and understanding the risks can help prevent serious injuries. A rider speeds along a narrow dirt trail on a red electric bicycle through the woods. Injuries. Man stands in park. Hi there. I'm Sergeant Matt Volker with the Clark County Sheriff's Office, and I'm here today to talk to you about E-bicycle and E-motorcycle safety. Some of the concerns with E-bicycles and E-motorcycles in Clark County are they're growing in popularity, but that also means that

24:52 we're seeing increased incidents involving injury. Recently, for example, Clark County Sheriff's Office deputies A damaged car sits on a street at night with a crumpled hood and a shattered windshield. responded to a 12-year-old involved in a collision. A crashed electric motorcycle stands on a sidewalk at night. A 12-year-old is riding an E-motorcycle at night, in the dark, on the street, and collided with A car's windshield is shattered. a vehicle that didn't see him. Fortunately, that 12-year-old survived, but did have very serious injuries, including broken bones. This particular incident could have been avoided by following all the rules that we currently have in the state of Washington as they relate to E-motorcycle and E-bicycle safety. An electric bicycle with a headlight on handlebars If we're riding at night, we should have a light on our vehicles, and we should wear reflective clothing so we're easily seen by others. Let me give you a few examples of what E-bike enthusiasts should do to ride safe and smart. An electric motorcycle Should know what type of cycle you're riding and only ride it in areas that you're allowed. An electric bicycle with a helmet hanging

25:51 from the handlebar Should wear proper safety equipment, even including a helmet, regardless of your age. You should also provide extra courtesy to pedestrians Parents, if you're purchasing an E-bike or an E-motorcycle for your child, it's important you understand also the classification and where it can be ridden. These things move fast, and if your child's driving in an area they're not allowed to, they can get hurt. An electric bicycle leans against a large tree while the man stands beside it. It's important to understand what leads to the accident. It's important to understand what leads to the accident. It's important to understand what leads to the accident. It's legally qualifies as an e-bike in Washington. First, it must have fully functioning pedals. Foot pegs don't count. Second, the electric motor cannot exceed 750 watts. If the motor is capable of producing more than 750 watts, it isn't considered an e-bike in Washington law. The man points to a label on the electric bicycle's frame. Washington law requires all e-bicycles to have a

26:46 classification sticker. That classification sticker will list the classification of the bike, the power of the motor, and the top speed that will go assisted. There are three classes of e-bikes. Class 1 is pedal assist only with assistance up to 20 miles an hour. Class 2 may include a throttle and can travel up to 20 miles an hour as well. Class 3 is a pedal assist only with assistance up to 28 miles per hour. Riders of class 3 e-bikes must be at least 16 years old. The man stands beside an electric motorcycle on a dirt path. Electric motorcycle is exactly what it sounds like. It's a motorcycle powered by electricity and it meets the same legal requirements as a gas-powered motorcycle. That means that it needs to be registered and to display a license plate. The rider needs to carry insurance, wear a helmet, and have a motorcycle endorsement. Electric motorcycles are intended to be operated on public roadways. They're generally not allowed on sidewalks, shared use paths,

27:46 or in Clark County parks. Everyone should ask themselves a few basic questions before they ride. First, what am I riding? Where can I ride it? Am I wearing the proper safety equipment? And can other people, like vehicles, see me? Clark County. The Sheriff's Office just wants to remind you that e-bikes and e-motorcycles are a lot of fun, but we've got to do it safely, and we've got to know the law, and we've got to follow the law so we don't injure ourselves or our community members. For more information, please visit wtsc.wa.gov forward slash e-ride guide. A volunteer paints a fish as part of a large mural. Volunteering can be exceptionally rewarding. Volunteers in safety vests collect litter along County Road. It's a satisfaction that comes from seeing a public space made better by your efforts. Volunteers pulling ivy in a county wooded park. Clark County Public Works take pride in knowing that e-bikes and e-motorcycles are a part of the

28:46 community. With their efforts to keep parks beautiful and safe, reduce pollution, and protect wildlife habitat. Volunteers doing restoration planting. We say that volunteers are an invaluable asset to the county. Volunteers raking leaves in a park. Volunteers are essential to maintaining and enhancing the quality and the beauty. Cindy Gonzalez, volunteer coordinator, Clark County Public Works. Of our public lands, our parks, our transportation corridors, our trails. Volunteers pruning fruit trees. Volunteers picking up litter along Columbia River. Volunteers maintaining a trail. County Public Works offers a variety of ways for individuals, families, and groups to give back to the community. We do have the Adopt-A-Park program. We have the Adopt-A-Road program. Adopt-A-Drain. We also have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have the Storm Drain Medallion Kit. We have

29:39 individual volunteers who go out independently. We also have group events. Volunteers wearing company-branded shirts spread sand at park. Where people reach out to us and they want to give back to the community. Volunteers planting trees. We also have partnerships. We worked with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership in their restoration project on the Lower East Fork Lewis River. From pulling ivy to picking fruit. Public Works organizes and schedules volunteer activities throughout the year. Last year alone, we had more than 1,300 volunteers collect more than 5,500 gallons of litter. They also helped pick more than 1,300 pounds of pears from county properties, which were then donated to local food banks. And volunteers also helped paint the 400-foot-long Salmon Creek mural.

30:39 The activities that volunteers perform support Public Works' mission of enhancing the quality of life in Clark County. Volunteers are an extension of the community. So when we aren't able to get to certain projects, the volunteers are able to kind of fill that gap. The hours that they spend helping us definitely make a difference in our local community. To express their gratitude to local volunteers, the Clark County Council declared July to be County Volunteer Appreciation Month. Because Volunteer Month is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who strengthen our community through their generous service. Sue Marshall, Chair, Clark County Council and Public Hearing Room. Volunteers cleaning and repainting park signs. Volunteers are an invaluable resource, collectively making a difference and inspiring us all to give back to the community. We want to thank the volunteers for showing up, giving up their time, their energy.

31:39 A lot of volunteers express that it's very satisfying. They have an immediate reward. They're able to see their results and for them to come back and see their work. Volunteers celebrate Salmon Creek mural ribbon cutting. For more information and to sign up for volunteer projects, visit clarkcountypublicworks@clark.wa.gov/publicworks/volunteer.