City of Battle Ground

109 S.W. 1st Street
Battle Ground, WA 98604
360-342-5000

www.cityofbg.org

General Information

Incorporation: City of Battle Ground, incorporated June 18, 1951.

Population: 16,710 (2008).

Rank in size: 57th largest in Washington

Area: 3.6 square miles (1/2007)

Form of Government

Council/Manager

Elected Officials

Battle Ground adopted the council/manager plan in 1997. Under this form of government the elected officials are the community leaders and policy makers who establish a vision for the city and appoint a city manager to carry out policy and ensure that all residents are being equitably served. The manager coordinates the work of department heads and other employees, who help ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of services. By building public/private partnerships, the manager targets all of the community's resources to solve current issues.

City Council

Michael Ciraulo, mayor

Term expires 12/31/13

Phil Haberthur, Deputy Mayor

Term expires 12/31/11

Alex Reinhold, Jr.

Term expires 12/31/13

William Ganley

Term expires 12/31/13

Chris Regan

Term expires 12/31/11

Lisa Walters

Term expires 12/31/13

Paul Zandamela

Term expires 12/31/11

Engagement Opportunities

City Council meets the first and third Monday of each month at 7 p.m., and the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

All City Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers at City Hall – 109 SW 1st Street.
Meetings of various departments, committees and councils are open to the public as well, and advertised on the city’s website

Staff

Brian H. Wolfe, city attorney

Webb Willbanks, building official
Claire Lider, city clerk
Dennis Osborn, city manager
Robert Maul, community development director
John Williams, deputy city manager
Cathy Huber Nickerson, finance/information services director
Dennis Mason, fire chief
James McDaniel, police chief
Scott Sawyer, public works director/city engineer

Notes of Special Interest

The origin of the city's name comes from a battle, which never took place. In 1855, some Klickatat Indians escaped from Fort Vancouver. Captain Strong headed up the army in charge of bringing the Indians back to the fort. Upon meeting up with the Indians, the Indian chief, Chief Umtuch, promised Captain Strong that the Indians would return to the fort. There are different versions of what happened next, but Chief Umtuch was killed. Captain Strong allowed the Indians to bury the chief. He returned to the fort with the Indians' promise to return. The Indians did return, and for not forcibly bringing them back, Captain Strong was presented a petticoat for bravery and courage. This area later became known as "Strong's Battle Ground".The first known settler to homestead the Battle Ground area was John Tuke. In 1862, he chose the area near the hill now known as Tuke's Mountain for his farm.
A common mistake is to spell the name of the city as all one word. "Battleground" is, in fact, incorrect. The name of the city is Battle Ground.
Every year in the summer time Battle Ground puts on Harvest Days. There are a number of community events including parades, street dances, and carnival and chili cook-off.

Battle Ground is an almost yearly winner for the “Float Best Exemplifying Community or Civic Involvement and Pride” in the Portland Rose Festival's Grand Floral Parade. In 2006, however, it received the Sweepstakes Award for Most Outstanding Float.