During its Thursday, Jan. 23 meeting, the Ridgefield City Council appointed Matt Cole to the role of mayor following the Jan. 9 retirement of Ron Onslow.
Councilor Judy Chipman was appointed as mayor pro tem.
Cole, who has been a City Council member since 2022, brings extensive experience in local governance. He previously served on the Ridgefield Planning Commission, represented the city on the Clark County Mosquito Control Board and acted as a citizen adviser on Ridgefield’s Budget Advisory Committee.
In his remarks, Cole thanked the City Council for appointing him and praised Ridgefield’s strong sense of community. He highlighted the city’s ability to preserve its small-town charm despite significant growth and emphasized the community’s active involvement and dedication to maintaining its identity.
“Community engagement, smart growth and a careful balance between progress and preservation will be my guiding principles as mayor,” Cole said. “We can honor our past while ... building the future that lifts everybody up. We’re all collectively part of Ridgefield’s story, and I thank you for that. I’d say we’re approaching an especially good chapter with everything we’re going through, so thank you again for your trust in me and helping me write it. So what do you say? Let’s get to work.”
For his second day on the job, Cole traveled to Olympia to attend the Association of Washington Cities Mayors Exchange, where he planned to connect with other Washington city leaders.
“I’ll probably be the greenest mayor on that group tomorrow, but [I’m] looking forward to it,” Cole said.
Council endorses two upcoming school levies
Immediately following Cole’s appointment on Thursday, Jan. 23, the Ridgefield City Council held a public hearing on a resolution endorsing two Ridgefield School District levy proposals aimed at addressing the district’s growing needs. The proposals will appear on the Feb. 11 ballot.
The school district is proposing a capital and technology levy, a new funding initiative different from bonds, which can last up to 20 years.
Instead, this levy would span three years and cost property owners an additional $0.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Over its term, the levy is expected to generate $21.2 million for the district. A new elementary school, projected to cost $52.5 million, would receive $15 million of its funding from this levy. The remaining costs would be covered by $21 million in developer-paid impact fees and $16.5 million in state funding.
The levy would also fund up to $4.7 million in deferred maintenance at Union Ridge and South Ridge elementary schools and allocate $500,000 annually to maintain devices for students and staff, such as laptops. This funding would ensure the continuation of the district’s four-year laptop replacement cycle.
The district is also asking voters to renew an existing educational programs and operations (EP&O) levy, which expires in late 2025.
The renewal, known as Proposition 12, is essential for funding basic staffing, programs, athletics and professional development. The replacement levy has an estimated rate of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed value. The capital and technology levy, or Proposition 13, has an estimated rate of $0.84 per $1,000. Both measures are set for three-year terms, with collections starting in 2026 and ending in 2028.
Matt Cole commended Superintendent Jenny Rodriquez for crafting a revised proposition that addresses community feedback. Bonds proposed last April failed to achieve a 60% supermajority, with many residents citing their high costs. To reduce construction expenses for the proposed elementary school, the design was scaled back by approximately 6,000 square feet without removing any classrooms. Both levies require a simple majority to pass.
“Thank you for listening and showing that you listened and coming up with … what I consider a very creative package … I’m optimistic that voters can move forward with,” Cole said.
Attendees shared their support for the new propositions during the public hearing. Ridgefield resident Michael Jennings was the first to share his support.
“The information sent out does not include ... the reason why it’s so important ... that happier children is good for the entire community,” Jennings said.
Rodriquez further highlighted the district’s rapid growth over the past decade, noting that both Union Ridge and South Ridge elementary schools currently serve over 700 students each.
“With a three-year capital levy, elementary No. 3 would be paid off in three years, unlike a 20- to 40-year bond plan,” Rodriquez said.
The public hearing also featured remarks from Cole’s son, Henry Cole, a third grader at Union Ridge. Standing at the microphone, Henry voiced his support for the levies and received applause from the audience.
