Ridgefield city officials laid out the city’s latest developments and future goals in their annual “State of the City” video, released Tuesday, March 18, at Ridgefield High School with community members in attendance.
The video featured Mayor Matt Cole and the Ridgefield City Council addressing key topics such as infrastructure, economic growth and community engagement. Returning for a second year, “Carty the Crane,” the State of the City's animated mascot, guided viewers through various initiatives and improvements, followed by remarks from Ridgefield's City Council.
Managing growth and development
Ridgefield continues to experience rapid growth, and city leaders emphasized planning efforts to ensure sustainable expansion while preserving the city’s character. Mayor Matt Cole highlighted the ongoing work with Envision Ridgefield 2045, the city’s comprehensive plan update, which will guide development over the next two decades.
“Through community efforts like Envision Ridgefield 2045, which is our comprehensive plan update, we’ve been actively engaging residents to help shape this vision,” Cole said. “Together we’ve already held 19 community conversations, tabled at multiple events, hosted seven online surveys, and facilitated a community workshop to hear your thoughts and ideas about Ridgefield’s future.”
Council members detailed projects to revitalize downtown, expand parks and improve infrastructure. Council Member Clyde Burkle spoke about enhancing Ridgefield’s downtown to strengthen its role as a community gathering space.
“It’s more than just a walkable area with small-town character,” Burkle said. “It’s a place where we come together to celebrate, connect, and create memories.”
Burkle highlighted upcoming improvements, including redevelopment efforts at the former Park Laundry site and the installation of historical storyboards in partnership with Ridgefield Main Street and the Clark County Historical Museum.
Economic stability was another key theme. Council Member Judy Chipman noted the city’s business growth, pointing to the recent opening of Costco and its economic impact.
“In 2024 alone, Ridgefield welcomed 34 new businesses, including the highly anticipated Costco, which brought over 300 quality, good-paying jobs to our community,” Chipman said. “It also has brought about $60,000 a month in tax revenue into Ridgefield’s coffers.”
Infrastructure and natural resources
Council Member Lee Wells provided updates on key infrastructure projects aimed at improving Ridgefield’s roads and water system.
Wells highlighted the current widening of Pioneer Street, the main road off the I-5 interchange. The expansion will increase the roadway from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction between 56th and Royle Road. The goal is to ease congestion and transform the corridor into a welcoming, tree-lined boulevard at the city’s entrance.
Wells also discussed efforts to secure Ridgefield’s water supply, including the construction of a new 2.5-million-gallon water tower on the east side of I-5.
“Our infrastructure projects aren’t just about keeping up with growth,” he said. “They’re about ensuring Ridgefield continues to be a safe, connected, and vibrant city for everyone.”
Beyond its practical function, the water tower will feature a creative touch.
“The water tower also presents an exciting opportunity,” he said. “We’ll be putting public art on the side to serve as a cultural landmark.”
Council Member Rian Davis emphasized the city’s commitment to protecting natural resources and expanding outdoor recreation opportunities.
“We’re investing in projects that enhance access to our natural spaces, like improving walking and biking trails, expanding our parks, and creating more opportunities for water-based recreation,” Davis said. “In 2024, we managed 182 acres of parkland and 11.5 miles of trails.”
The WAVE initiative
In his final remarks, Mayor Cole introduced WAVE (Welcoming, Available, Visible, Engaging), a new initiative designed to improve communication and engagement between city leadership and residents.
“The WAVE Initiative is our shared commitment to building a more inclusive, accessible, and vibrant city,” Cole said. “It means fostering a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and accepted.”
WAVE includes several new efforts, such as holding informal office hours at local coffee shops, improving streaming capabilities for city council meetings, and increasing opportunities for residents to serve on boards and commissions. The initiative also aims to deepen community connections through neighborhood block parties and barbecues.
“We had conversations with community members who felt like we didn’t understand what their neighborhoods were going through,” Cole told The Reflector. “So we said, ‘You know what? We’re going to come to you.’”
As part of WAVE, Ridgefield will launch its first-ever city podcast later this year, designed to highlight the diverse voices within the community.
“We have a more diverse community than people give us credit for, and I want to be able to tell those stories,” Cole told The Reflector. “We’ll be piloting that later this year.”
The first WAVE event will be held on Saturday, April 5, during Ridgefield’s First Saturday event downtown, where Cole and Mayor Pro Tem Chipman will host the city council’s first-ever “Coffee Talk.”
“This is an informal opportunity to share updates, answer your questions, and have real conversations about real issues in our city,” Cole said. “So keep an eye on the city’s social media pages for all the details.”
Cole stressed that WAVE is not just about council members being more visible, but also about encouraging residents to participate actively in shaping Ridgefield’s future.
“Strong communities need both consent and dissent, action and accountability,” he said. “These are the things that will challenge us. These are the things that will make us better.”
