Members of the Vader City Council discussed the possibility of amending city code to allow residents to drive off-road recreational vehicles and golf carts on city streets during their first regular meeting of the month on Dec. 3.
Councilors also discussed an update to Vader’s comprehensive plan during a public hearing with SBN Planning LLC consultant James Eager, focusing on talks of trying to preserve the city’s tree canopy with future development and growth planned.
Additionally, councilors approved the city’s 2026 budget and property tax levy on their second and final reading along with an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Lewis County to co-manage Vader’s urban growth area (UGA).
Multiple municipalities around the county have ILAs for UGA co-management with the county — with the agreements dictating county staff must ensure any developments submitted to them for permitting and approval in a city’s UGA must not only be up to county code but also that city’s code.
This ensures the development will be up to the city’s code whenever city officials finally decide to move forward with the UGA annexation process.
Also approved was a resolution setting in motion Vader’s Water Utility Action Plan, which if completed, will allow Lewis County officials to transfer control and ownership of Vader’s water utility system back to city staff.
2026 Vader budget, Water Utility Action Plan
As for Vader’s 2026 budget, the beginning general fund balance was estimated at $77,494, with projected revenues next year totalling $995,673 and projected expenditures totalling $1,041,510. This leaves the city with an estimated ending general fund balance of $31,657.
All funds combined including the general fund had an estimated beginning balance of $627,582 with revenues projected at $1,342,270, expenditures projected at $1,604,723, leaving an ending balance of $365,128.
While the 2026 budget is balanced as required by state law, Vader Mayor Joe Schey still expressed concerns about the city falling short of having a surplus equal to two months’ worth of expenditures. According to Schey, the city council had only raised the property tax levy three times over the past decade, leaving the city with 21% worth of banked capacity to raise it on top of the annual 1% increase allowed by state law.
In order to help generate more revenue to account for inflation driving up costs of operation and equipment and to be able to continue offering city employees competitive salaries, the council chose to use 10% of that banked capacity to raise the levy lid at their previous meeting on Nov. 19 as previously reported by The Chronicle.
Vader’s 2025 property tax levy rate was just over $1.01 per $1,000 of assessed property value, putting the 2025 property tax levy collection at $83,496.79 with the total value for all properties within Vader city limits at $82,274,754. The 10% increase raises the property tax levy for 2026 by $8,349.67.
A sewer rate increase equating to approximately $8 a month was also discussed during the meeting. While not present at the meeting due to a prior work commitment, Councilor Nicole Hansen did express opposition to the proposed sewer rate increase, which Schey noted during discussion.
“She thought that the property tax increase is enough of a burden. To also do a 6% sewer increase would just be a step too far,” Schey said. “She just wanted me to share that.”
In another effort to help generate budget revenue, councilors approved the creation of Vader’s Water Utility Action Plan, which if completed and approved by state officials, will allow the transfer of the water utility system from the county back to the City of Vader.
“In the receivership agreement that was drafted 15 years ago or so, what needs to happen is that a Water Utility Action Plan is drafted. And then it gets submitted to the (Washington state) Department of Health (DOH) for review,” Schey said. “... What this Water Utility Action Plan is, is a checklist. It is the things that we need to do in order to get the water system back.”
According to Schey, the reason county officials assumed control of Vader’s water system was because the city was not raising utility rates to match the rising costs of maintenance.
“In 2010, the city was bankrupt, penniless, and the council didn’t even know,” Schey said.
He added the city has six months to complete the requirements outlined in the action plan, and it would be sent to county officials for approval, who would then submit it to the DOH for final approval.
“I’ve already been playing with the future Vader water system in the (draft 2027) budget, you’ll really love it when I get the water budget to you next year,” Schey told the councilors.
The council will hold the vote on whether to approve the budget during its next regular meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Comp plan, recreational off-road vehicles and golf carts
As for the discussion of Vader’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan update, according to Eager, preventing loss of the tree canopy was a focus of the plan, which dictates future development and growth in Vader.
SBN Planning is a Seattle-based consultant firm focused on interdisciplinary planning solutions for social, built and natural environments.
The State of Washington requires comprehensive plans to be maintained and updated in order for municipalities to continue receiving state grant funding.
Eager explained the focus on Vader’s tree canopy came from suggestions made by Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials.
“The broader context is that the tree canopy has been declining. The plan also notes there has also been a delay in what tree canopy data we get and what year we’re in. I think the most recent tree canopy data was like 2021 or 2022,” Eager said. “And since then, there’s been additional clear-cutting in the city. What I’m sort of posing to council here, is whether the city wants to set a specific goal, whether the city wants to set a specific target, or just change the language around tree canopy to be a little bit more firm or stronger.”
He added a simple solution might just be for the city to require a higher percentage of tree canopy in the city by doing things like requiring street trees. Current City of Vader code does not require developers to plant trees along streets when building. Planting more trees in public parks was also proposed.
“I think it’s very important for us to preserve the canopy in our parks and to furthermore, make sure it’s maintained and enhanced throughout the years,” Councilor Mike Ferguson said.
As for the proposal to amend city code to allow residents to drive their off-road recreational vehicles or golf carts on city streets, opinions were mixed on the issue.
“I like the idea of us being able to have them, but I don’t like people rallying around the neighborhood,” Ferguson said.
According to Schey, Hansen proposed limiting engine size or power of the vehicles allowed on city streets.
“She’s not excited about gas-powered four-wheelers or motorcycles cruising around town, shockingly loud,” Schey said.
Hansen also proposed the possibility of only allowing electric powered recreational vehicles and golf carts in order to keep the noise down. The council only had discussion on this issue, and Schey added it would be brought up again at a future meeting for further discussion.
