Camas Government - 101

Welcome to Camas Goverment - 101, a page dedicated to helping you navigate your government. Here you'll find frequently asked questions, as well as other information you may find useful.  We'll add to the list as we go, to make a one-stop shop for all your City of Camas questions!

• Who is the Mayor of Camas?
  • Steve Hogan is the current Mayor of Camas and his term is from Nov. 23, 2021 - Dec. 31, 2023. More information on Mayor Hogan can be found here
• Who are the City Council Members for Camas?
  • Camas has seven total Council Members, with six representing three different wards, and one at large Council Member. Each member of the public has three Council Members they can reach out to concerning issues, their two ward Council Members and the At large Council Member. 
    • Ward 1- Council Members Marilyn Boerke and John Nohr.
    • Ward 2 - Council Members Bonnie Carter and Tim Hein.
    • Ward 3 - Council Member Leslie Lewallen. The additional Ward 3 seat is currently vacant.
    • At Large - Council Member Don Chaney is at large representing all wards.
• When are City Council Meetings?

  • City Council Meetings are held the first and third Monday of the month from 7:00 p.m. until adjournment at Camas City Hall, 616 NE 4th Ave. To participate remotely, see the agenda, published four days before the meeting, for the Zoom details.  Note: if a holiday falls on the Monday of a Council meeting, the meeting is held on Tuesday. Please note, the regular council meeting is considered the business meeting, and is designed for Council to take final action on items

  • City Council Workshops are also held the first and third Monday at Camas City Hall, 616 NE 4th Ave. To participate remotely, see the agenda, published six days before the meeting, for the Zoom details.  Workshop meetings begin at 4:30 p.m. Please note the workshop is just that, a working session.

• Can I speak to the Council Members during a City Council Meeting?

  • There are two public comment periods included on the agenda. Anyone wishing to address the City Council may come forward, or raise their hand virtually, when invited (see Resident - Public Meetings Guidelines); please state your name and city of residence for the record. Public comments are typically limited to three minutes, and written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk. Special instructions for public comments will be provided at the meeting if it's a town hall, public hearing or quasi-judicial matter scheduled on the agenda. 

• Are public comments retained in the record?

  • The purpose of the public comment period is for members of the public to inform the Council of their views on matters. As such, public comments are directed/provided to Council. As the comments are for the Council to consider, there is no need to make a permanent written record of the public’s observations and it is not a requirement of the Open Public Meetings Act. Public comments are an opportunity for citizens to come forward to simply state their support, opposition or concerns about issues before council, or to bring items to their awareness.

• Should I use public comment to ask a question I want answered or solved?

  • For questions or problems, it's important to start with staff first and move on from there:

    • Begin at the staff level

    • If needed, reach out to the City Administrator or Mayor

  • If you feel the issue still hasn't been resolved you can:

    • Raise the issue with your three Council representatives

    • Contact all Council Members regarding the issue.

    • Finally, use public Comment for the unresolved issues.

  • Residents shouldn't rely on the public comment periods of Council meetings as their primary mode of communication with Council. The public comment portion of council meetings is meant for Council to hear what their resident's opinions are on matters that are coming directly before them for decision.

• Can I be alerted about upcoming meetings?

  • Yes, you can follow this step-by-step guide to sign up for email notifications, or to add certain meetings to your calendar. Additionally, we post information about upcoming meetings at our public meetings page and through our various social media accounts. 

• Can I send an email or message to just select Council Members?

  • Yes, you can send messages to select individuals on Council, or multiple members of Council. However, in the interest of best practices, the City of Camas follows the policy of "if one knows, all know."  It is the policy of the City, and more specifically the Clerk’s Office, that if there are emails provided to select members of Council, the entire Council will be copied on the message.  This internal policy provides all members with the same information, which allows them to make informed decisions.