City Manager update: April 2026

Over the past year, Vancouver residents have continued to invest in the services that keep our community strong. That investment shows up in ways that matter every day: safer neighborhoods, improved streets and parks, and services that support the most vulnerable in our community.

State of the City

On March 6, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle reflected on these investments in her 2026 State of the City address. Her speech highlighted some of the priorities driving Vancouver forward, including community safety, sustainability, and improved livability for all.

She also acknowledged the challenges facing many in our community because of ongoing Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in our neighborhoods, including the harm and destabilization these activities are causing. The City's Small Business Resiliency Grants launching this month are just one way we are demonstrating our commitment to the small businesses in the Fourth Plain Investment Area.

The mayor also highlighted key achievements and milestones from 2025.

• Investment of nearly $15 million through the Affordable Housing Fund to help build 360 new homes, operate shelter beds, and provide rental assistance. 

• Broke ground on a 120-bed Bridge Shelter, thanks in part to more than $7.5 million in funding from community partners.

• Secured $64 million in grant funding to address PFAS in drinking water.

• Added 2,000 trees, 14 acres of parkland, two new playgrounds, and Vancouver's first pickleball courts.

• Thanks to the passing of Proposition 5 last November, we'll add 13 new police officers to improve response times in 2026 and beyond.

Finally, Mayor McEnerny-Ogle introduced Inspire Vancouver, a new grant program to expand access to arts, culture, and science. We anticipate launching this new grant program later this month.

Your tax dollars

In 2025, your property tax dollars helped fund core services our community relies on. That includes public safety response, infrastructure maintenance, parks and recreation, affordable housing, homelessness response, and more. Behind every dollar invested is a real outcome and continued progress on some of our community's most complex challenges.

Learn about how much the City receives and where it invests your tax dollars.

What's next?

Demand for essential City services continues to rise, and the costs to provide them are rising as well. As we prepare to launch the 2027-28 budget process, our priority is to sustain the services the community relies on today while making deliberate choices that position us well for the future. I look forward to sharing more about the budget and opportunities to participate in a future update.