You ready, Stephanie? >> Okay.
Uh, good evening everyone and uh, welcome to the August 18th, 2026 meeting
of the West Richland Count City Council. I will call the meeting to order at 6
PM. And before we get started, I'm going to ask our city clerk, Miss Stephanie
Hog, to read the hybrid meeting ground rules and then call roll for city
council. >> Thank you, mayor. Tonight's meeting will
be held in person with a virtual meeting component. If you are participating
virtually, please make sure the name shown at the bottom of your video view
is the name you would like the mayor to use. You can change this by
right-clicking on your video view and selecting rename. Audience members
present in the council chambers will be called upon first during public comment
periods. Those participating remotely should virtually raise your hand if you
wish to speak. To virtually raise your hand, click on participants and then
click on raise hand. If you are participating by phone only, press
asterk 9 to raise your hand. Please limit comments to three minutes. And
just a note that this is the last meeting um that we will be accepting
virtual comments. Um and more information on the new process will be
published on the city's website and shared on social media uh which will go
into effect for our meeting on September 1st.
All right, roll call. Fred Brink >> here.
» Richard Bloom >> here. David Cole
» here. >> David Fedto
» here. >> Kate Moran
» present. >> Dan Richie
» here. >> John Smart
» here. >> Ben Stoker
» here. >> All right. Thank you, city clerk. And
now I will ask council member Cole to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.
Please
» flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One
nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» Thank you, Council Member Cole. Uh, council, you have an agenda before you.
Are there any changes to the agenda? Hearing none, may I have a motion to
approve the agenda as presented? >> I move to approve the agenda as
presented. >> Second.
» Have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as presented. All in favor,
please say I. I. >> I.
» Any oppose, say no. Motion carries. Thank you, councel. And uh
presentations. We have one presentation this morning. I'm going to ask our
finance director, Miss Aaron Gwyn, to present the financial report for the
first quarter of 2026. Miss Gwyn.
» All right. Thank you, Mayor Brink. Good evening, council citizens. Uh this
evening I'm presenting the 2026 first quarter financial report. The flow will
be similar to the reports I've given in the past starting with an overview of
the economic update followed by specific financial information regarding the
general fund followed by the other funds.
Uh for the first overview of the economy slide uh we'll start with the
unemployment which was increased to 5.2% 2% in Benton County. Uh, another
economic indicator is the um consumer price index um
which nationally had a 12-month percentage increase of 3.3% when
comparing March of 25 to March of 26. This is slightly up from 2.7 in
December. Uh Seattle metro is a little bit higher even at 3.9%
uh which was up from 3.1. Uh the trend is hovering around 3% range
which is a more normal inflation rate compared to recent years.
Uh locally we look at city's building activity. Single family permits issued
in the first quarter were up 63% for the same time period last year with 31 new
single family homes and multifamily were also up with 12. In terms of revenue
generated, the city received more than two and a half times the amount of
building permit revenue that it did first uh quarter last year.
Uh this is another view of the new single family home permits. Uh the bar
graph shows the years in comparison and the green line showing the addition uh
of assessed valuation for first quarter. Uh the city's single
family home permits are higher than the past three years. Uh this graph also
demonstrates the volatility of the building industry.
Uh the next several slides look at specific details regarding the general
fund. This slide shows where the money comes from in terms of budget. Uh you
can see for general fund revenue is generated from taxes at 68%.
Uh the primary sources are sales tax, property tax, and utility tax.
Here's a view of the general fund revenue collected. Uh the city collected
16% more revenue in 2016 compared to 2025.
Uh sales tax and building permit revenue were both saw significant increases at
13.7% and 269%.
Uh these increases help offset the decrease in charges for services.
So when reviewing trends, it's important to look at how we're doing compared to
what was budgeted. Uh, in addition to the year-to-year changes, this slide
compares the budget to what was collected through first quarter of 26.
The general fund collected approximately 64.3%
of budgeted revenues. We're aiming for about 62.5%
at this point in the budget. Um, so we're on track to meet our
projections. These next two slides will take a look
at sales tax revenue. As shown in the previous slide, uh sales tax increase
13.7% compared to the prior year. Here's another view uh with the
different business sectors. Construction sector increased 27% and represents um
just under a third uh 31% of sales tax collected. Uh retail is another large
sector increased by 4% and it represents uh 35%
of sales tax from the city. Another major revenue source in the
general fund is utility taxes. Overall utility tax revenue decreased 3%
compared to first quarter of 2025. Um a second look at the utility tax. So
water, sewer, storm, and garbage taxes also increases. While your electric and
gas, telephone, and cable were all decreases, which we've seen in the past
with the electrical, it tends to, especially the coming out of the winter
tends to depend on how cold it is. Another major general fund revenue
source is property tax which increased 1% compared to the same time period but
the majority of these taxes are collected in the second and fourth
quarters. So where does your money go? Most
expenses in the general fund are for public safety at 46% of our budget. Um
this is pretty close to the 50% mark but slightly under. And a lot of that has to
do with the big transfer out at 8% which we're still transferring money out for
the well two and well three project.
Um another look by department on where your money goes. Uh total general fund
expenditures were at 56% for the banual budget as a
general guide. Again we're looking for something below the 62 and a half%. So
again, uh on track. Um the city has special revenue funds
for street streets, park impact, criminal justice, and library.
This graph displays the major revenue source for each fund.
Uh every special revenue source saw an increase on first quarter. Uh you'll see
the park impact saw the most significant increase. Um, this is primarily due to
issuing the building permit to the Copper View Apartments and it was their
park impact fee that they paid for that. Uh, this is a picture of the special
revenue fund expenditures. The two significant differences in the first
quarter are in the criminal justice fund 105 and the library fund both saw
increases in expenditures. The criminal justice fund is mostly due
to the increase in the transfer out to cover police personnel uh costs
associated with PST funds. And the library increase is primarily
due to the contract costs associated with Mid Columbia.
So next we'll look at our capital project funds. This slide outlines the
funds and their purposes. So, fund 301. Um,
this fund holds the state route 224 project as well as real estate excise
tax for REIT one. Uh fund 302 is REIT 2 funds primarily for pavement
preservation and fund 355 is the transportation improvement program where
most of that is transportation impact fees
for revenues for project funds. We have seen activity pick up in fund 301. Uh
this is primarily due to the state route 224 project and the revenue coming in
from the state to reimburse the project costs.
The other two funds uh remain fairly flat in the first quarter.
The primary source of funds 301 and 302 come from real
estate excise tax. There was a 33% increase through first quarter 26
compared to 25. Uh the bottom portion of the graph in
the slightly darker blue uh reflects what the rece received through first
quarter and the lighter blue on top or teal uh for the rest of the 2026 bar
reflects what we have budgeted for the year.
[clears throat] Revenues for fund 355 are traffic impact fees. Uh the city
received more than budgeted uh amount for the year in the first quarter. Uh
the primary source of these funds uh were collected again from the
copperview apartments.
Uh this graph shows expenditures for capital project funds uh through first
quarter. Spending again has picked up in fund 301 which is the state route 224
red mountain project. And these last few slides take a closer look at our utility
funds for water collections uh increased 2%.
Uh we had approximately 6,52 water utility counts build at the end of
March. Uh sewer collections increased 6%
uh primarily due uh to new residents this past year and some rate increases.
Uh here's an image of our irrigation. Irrigation decreased 4%. Um this is a
really small utility and pretty volatile and the timing of payments uh on this
one. I think we'll see see it pick up in quarter two.
Uh this graph displays storm water collections up 8% compared to first
quarter of 25. uh again due to increase in rates and
increase in number of residences. And the last utility revenue is solid
waste up 5% also primarily due to rate increases. And this final slide is a
view of the utility fund expenditures. Most funds were fairly flat with the
exception of the water sewer fund which had some larger projects including well
two and three.
Thank you, Miss Gwyn. Uh, council, do you have any questions for our finance
director?
Council member Smart. >> Yeah, I was just wondering, you said,
um, Aaron, uh, 6,52 water connections. Um, what was it prior to this year
roughly? >> Um, I think December was around five. We
were at the 5900 mark, maybe 5960 or so. >> Oh. Uh, when we build these apartment
complex, is that a is that a water connection for each unit or is it for
each or for the whole? That's a great question for
» No, I don't think we count for the water connections. No. Uh, not per unit. We
don't count those ones. >> Okay. Thank you. And then we count them
on [clears throat] the water uh not when the building permit is issued but it
would be when the water meter is dropped.
» Right. Okay. Appreciate that. Thanks. >> Mayor Prom Bloom.
» Um actually this isn't for Eric. Um you you Erin, you you said that there was a
traffic impact fees mainly from the apartment. Um Rosco, what are we going
to spend those on? What what improvements? There have been a lot of
concerns about the apartments and what their impact's going to be on uh
Belmont. >> It it goes into the 355 fund, so I can't
tell you exactly what it is, but you can look at the the projects that are funded
in there. >> Okay.
» Uh my guess um I I don't remember, but there's a number
of projects that are 355, and I'd say it's spread out through multiple
projects.
Any other questions?
» All right, Council Member Moran. >> Thank you. I have to get that out
faster. Um, I'm just wondering as a general, I know that um, we ask in the
past or I've asked in the past if we could get copies of these to our email,
but especially with me noticing for mine that I'm running out of space more and
more. Is there any way just to put this on the website so that we all so that we
wouldn't have to have it in each of our emails so that it's that file times
seven or eight? Um would we be able to just put that and save some space on our
servers? >> Miss Sydney.
All right. >> Thank you. That would be fantastic if we
could do that.
No other questions. All right. Thank you, Director Gwyn. Um, we'll now move
on to the consent agenda. Tonight's consent agenda includes payment of the
bills, approving minutes from the regular meeting of August 4th, 2026.
Motion to authorize West Richland Chief of Police to apply for the cops
community policing development micro grant. Motion to authorize West Richland
Chief of Police to submit the Criminal Justice Training Commission ESHB 2015
Public Safety uh program grant application
and then ordinance uh to amend the 2025 2026 bianial budget. At this time, I'll
hear any public comment on these particular items only. Please, if
there's anyone that would like to speak to an item on the consent agenda, please
come to the podium and kindly state your name and city of residence for the
record. And please limit your comments to 3 minutes.
Seeing no one here in the chamber, I will turn to our online participants. If
there's anyone attending online that would make like to make a comment
pertaining to the consent agenda items, please raise your virtual hand or you
may press star 9 if you're calling by telephone. The city clerk will recognize
you and you'll have three minutes to provide your comments.
I see no one online. So, seeing no comment, council, may I have a motion
for the consent agenda? >> I move to approve the consent agenda as
presented. Second. >> Have a motion and a second to approve
the consent agenda. All in favor, please say I. I.
» Any oppose, say no. Motion carries. Thank you, councel. All right. Here we
have the first period for public comment. And this is for items not on
tonight's agenda. If you wish to make comments, please come to the podium.
Kindly state your name and city of residence. And I please ask that you
restrict your comments to three minutes.
Good evening. I'm Chelsea Blair. I'm a resident of Richland, Washington. Um,
but I am here to say thank you to all of you, to Mayor Brink and to city council,
to the staff of West Richland. I am the board president of the Mid Columbia
Children's Museum. Um, I just want to take a minute to say thank you for your
enthusiasm for the project of bringing a steam centered hands-on children's
museum to the community and specifically to West Richland. Uh, we're incredibly
excited about this partnership for the enthusiasm that you showed about the uh
growing the future of West Richland and the entire Tri Cities community. Uh, the
decision to pursue this public private partnership reflects that shared belief
in investing in our children and investing in the future of our
community. Uh we're so very grateful that the your amazing city staff and all
of you um are supportive of that mission and the mission that it it grows the
community in an economic way. It grows that workforce development. It grows our
families, the quality of life in our community. We're excited to be your
neighbor. We're excited to welcome the rest of the community and the Mid
Columbia and visitors into West Richland to be part of the Mid Columbia
Children's Museum and to see all the amazing things that West Richland has to
offer. Um, and we're just excited to be here. It's been a three-year journey for
us to bring this mission to fruition and having an address and a location and a
partner in this project through West Richland really is just a testament to
the excitement of the community. Um, so thank you. It will take all of us and
this is the first big step to show that this really is a community project. Um,
and we are so excited to be your neighbors. Thank you.
» Thank you, Miss Blair. >> Is there anyone else who'd like to make
comment present here in chambers? Please.
» Hello. I would also like to second that. I'm really excited. Oh, I'm Anna from
Westland. Thank you. And I would I'm very excited about the idea of a
children's museum nearby. So that is awesome. And I'm here today because I
wanted to hear your thoughts um eventually on what your thoughts are on
considering a moratorum. I listened in on the last meeting and I heard your
responses to data centers and I'm grateful for your openness and about the
issue. I hear you that you do care about what gets put in West Richland and I
know that you want to put don't want to put anything here that negatively
affects our environment or our health. I heard Council Member Richie state that
Washington has stringent regulations. And while that sounds promising, it
doesn't ensure that the regulations will protect our unique area. We need time to
research and put policies in place that uniquely apply to our area. I also heard
the comment that if an application gets put in, we will have a lot of
opportunities to have our voices heard in regards to data centers. While we are
grateful that for that opportunity, we do not want to wait for an application
to have our voices heard on this. We want to put policies in before an
application. We want the developers to work within our guidelines rather than
trying to convince us that their existing guidelines are sufficient.
We need a moratorum. I heard similar comments from council member Smart. I
heard you say that there is a possibility that more modern data
centers are bringing their own power and then some. Quoted. So there is a
possibility that having a data center locally may actually enhance our power
supply. I don't know. Now, we won't know unless we see a proposal. I want to
focus on the idea that we are waiting for a proposal to learn more about
what's being put in. We need to get ahead of this. We need to put policies
in place that give us a peace of mind so we know that we are protected from the
start. A moratorium is a step that is necessary in every town with a data
center. I believe this move will show us citizens that our concerns are a
priority to you. It will show us that we are more important than the timets of
large corporations and that you're representing the constituents of this
city. Personally, I don't think there is enough information to know for a fact
that we won't be negatively impacted by a hyperskll data center here. However,
regardless if we are allowing one here or not, we need a moratorum to give us
time to research more. Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Is there anyone else present here tonight that would care to make comment?
Good evening. Um, my name is Josh [clears throat] Lozano. For the record,
I live here in West Richland. I also work in West Richland up the road at
Bettona, um, the electric cooperative that provides power to, uh, the city of
West Richland. Um, I'm here to today to also address the topic of of data
centers in our service territory, West Richland in particular. Uh, and really
the first thing that I want to say is that I appreciate the council and their
your willingness to listen to uh to the community on this topic. Um, I certainly
appreciate the transparency. Uh, and I also want to say that I I believe that
there are many concerns within our community and and so those those
concerns should be listened to and and they are deserving of careful and
transparent review. Um, you know, I'm no expert on the topic of all things uh
data centers, but you know, I do have a bit of knowledge on the energy side of
things. Uh, I do have the privilege, as I said, of working for Bentona as the
director of energy policy. And so I I want to say that Benton REA is certainly
working to ensure that there are safeguards in place for members to
protect existing members. Um, you know, in fact, we have a general policy in
place that essentially states that, uh, data centers will bear all the cost
associated with their their growth and development here in our communities. Uh,
and those costs include many things. They include the power supply. Uh, but
in addition to the power supply, that would include willing that power uh,
into our communities. And that's going to also cover transmission and
distribution services, any system upgrades that are needed, uh, including
engineering, operations, maintenance, uh, and other project related expenses
and financial risk. Uh, existing members will not be responsible for subsidizing
data centers or any large load for that matter. uh you know we believe that our
our members uh should be protected and and we want to ensure that that takes
place and we're we're working towards that effort through policy. Uh and so
existing members will not be left responsible in the event that the
infrastructure or power commitments are not fully um you know uh come to
fruition. Uh and so I do want to talk about rates as well. Um, you know,
there's a a recent study that I want to quote and I have that study here. It's
an E3 study. I can leave that with the clerk or I can email that as well. Uh,
but essentially properly structured data center loads can actually generate
revenue uh that meet and exceed the utility's cost of service. And so this
study points out, it looks at a handful of local data centers. it points out
that um they can generate surplus value beyond the cost of service. Uh so this
surplus can be used to offset shared system cost and create downward
pressures. So I believe that's by I will
» if I could um just to be fair to everyone I just have to ask you to stop
but there's a second comment period if you wish to finish.
» Absolutely. Thank you. >> Thank you.
There anyone else present that'd like to make comment?
I'll move to our virtual attendees. Uh if there's anyone attending virtually
who would like to make comment, please raise your virtual hand. You may also
press star 9. City clerk will then unmute you and you will have three
minutes to provide your comments.
I see no one virtually wishes to make comment. Do you, Stephanie?
» I do not see anyone. No. All right, then we'll close this public comment period.
As I mentioned, we do have a second one later on in the meeting. So, we'll move
on to ordinance, resolutions, motions, and public hearings. The first item is
ordinance 18-26, admissions tax.
City clerk Stephanie Hog will present the staff report.
» Thank you, Mayor and Council. As discussed during the council retreat
back in April, council has been looking at opportunities to diversify general
fund revenues and identify revenue sources that can help support city
services while minimizing the impact on residents. At that retreat, council
discussed the possibility of reinstating an admissions tax and directed staff to
bring regulations forward for consideration. [clears throat] West
Richland actually has some history with an admissions tax. Shortly after
incorporation, the town at that time council adopted an admissions tax in
1955. That tax remained in place until 1959 when it was repealed and the city
has not imposed an admissions tax since that time. Washington law authorizes
cities to levy an an admissions tax and the ordinance ordinance before you
tonight would create a new chapter 3.88 88 of the West Richland Municipal Code
and establish a 5% admissions tax on qualifying admission charges to places
of amusement and entertainment within the city. For perspective, a 5% tax
would be would add 25 to a $5 admission, $1 to a $20 admission, and $2.50 to a
$50 admission. The ordinance also includes a number of exemptions
including qualifying activities sponsored by schools, government
agencies, and bonafide charitable and nonprofit organizations. It establishes
the process for collection and remittance of the tax along with
business licensing, recordkeeping, enforcement, penalties, and an
administrative appeal process. The finance director would be responsible
for administering the program. Revenue collected through the admissions tax
would be deposited into the city's general fund and could be used to
support general municipal services. At this time, staff has not estimated a
specific annual revenue amount because that would depend on the number and size
of qualifying events held within the city. Staff recommends approval of
ordinance 1826 creating chapter 3.88 of the West Richland Municipal Code to
provide for the levy and collection of an admissions tax. And one note, the um
copy of the ordinance that was included in packets, I noticed that in section
two, it's it indicates uh that it will go into effect 5 days after publication,
but in fact, the intent is that it is effective January 1st, 2027.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Hog.
Um, we will now hear in-person comments on this particular topic and then
virtual comments. If anyone present tonight would like to step to the podium
and make a comment, please do so and kindly limit your comments to 3 minutes.
Seeing no one, I'll turn to our virtual attendees. If there's anyone attending
virtually who would like to comment on this particular ordinance, please raise
your virtual hand or press star 9 and kindly limit your comments to three
minutes. I see no one virtually. Do you see
anyone, Stephanie? >> I do not.
» All right, council, it's your turn. May I have a motion, please?
» I move to approve ordinance 18-26 creating chapter 3.88
of the West Richland Municipal Code to provide for the levy and collection of
an admission tax. >> Second. Have a motion and a second.
Council, any discussion on this topic?
Seeing none, call for the vote. All in favor of passing ordinance 1826,
please say I. >> I.
» Any oppose, say no. All right. Motion carries. Thank you, councel. We'll move
on to our next item, adopting the economic development element of the
comprehensive plan. Planer Colin Cortez will provide the staff report. Mr.
Cortez.
[sighs and gasps] Good evening, honorable mayor and members of council.
Uh for those in the audience, my name is Colin Cortez and I present to you on
agenda item 8. Uh starting with the economic development element. Uh as you
probably remember, the comprehensive plan periodic update project is ongoing.
Specifically, it's an update of the comprehensive plan that dates from 2017.
And tonight, we will be discussing in total four different elements of the
plan. uh element being a term used to the various chapters uh various topics
within the plan. Uh the purpose specifically for each
element is to review new and revised goals and policies and secondly to
obtain a council majority agreement uh through passage of the draft resolutions
that are included with the elements in your agenda packet. Uh for context,
later this year there will be a public hearing with a draft ordinance for
adopting the whole of the updated comprehensive plan uh that's scheduled
for December 15th in order to meet the state deadline of end of the year to
have a new comprehensive plan and to be in keeping with the terms of the grant
from the state funding the project. about the economic development element
in particular. Uh the element contains almost verbatim the same goals, policies
and texts as something called the econom economic development plan which city
council had last revised back in October 2013.
Uh so for this reason uh given that there was a clear policy direction from
the council and pastimes staff simply revised the goals and policies in the
economic development element to add references to this development plan.
Those references didn't exist previously and also updated the demographic
employment and financial statistics in the element.
Uh leading up to this point, the planning commission met July 23rd and
recommended the city council adopt the economic development goals and policies
that you find in your packet. The council community development
subcommittee met July 21st and recommended due pass for the goals and
policies and as specified in the staff report.
And then lastly, both the subcommittee and the commission recommend that this
evening the council adopt um or I should say accept more precisely the economic
development goals and policies. >> Thank you, Mr. Cortez. I'll now hear
public comment on this particular topic. If there's anyone here present that
would like to make comment on this item, please come to the podium, state your
name and and residence for the record. Seeing no one, I will turn to our
virtual attendees. If there's anyone attending virtually who would like to
make comment, please raise your virtual hand or press press star9 on the
telephone. City clerk will unmute you and I kindly ask that you limit your
comments to three minutes. I see no one online. Do you see anyone,
Stephanie? >> I do not.
» All right. Council, may I have a motion, please?
I move to pass resolution number 47-26 accepting the economic development
element goals and policies for the 2026 update of the comprehensive plan.
» Second. All right. Have a motion in a second. Any uh comments, questions from
council. Seeing none, council, we have a motion.
Oh, we do. I'm sorry, Miss Moran. Go ahead.
» Thank you. Um, just going back to the fact that uh this is based off of the
economic development plan that was last revised in October 2013.
Um, we've we've gone over this before, right, in a couple of workshops
previously. A lot >> we have and and that is a stale
document. I think that's what you're getting at is a 2013 document, right? It
is very stale. Uh, we didn't have funding. the state didn't provide
funding for us to go out and update that document. So, until we have the proper
funding to go do so, um it's just continued to be stale and will be so
until we've got funds to go and update that economic development plan. Um
hopefully someday in the near future we can do that. But meantime,
we just updated, as Colin mentioned, the statistical data, made sure that the
document was correct and accurate and up to date
» and it meets all of the current state requirements for what we need to have in
our comp plan. >> Yes, ma'am.
» Okay, that's all I need to hear. >> Council member Smart.
Yeah. So, thank you. Um so Eric on this plan or uh there are a lot of words that
say encourage. So, it's asking the city to encourage business climate um
encourage uh business growth um achieve vibrant commercial are I just want to
make sure that it's clear that this is not a um this is not a statement of
action but a statement of goals and and sort of spirit of our operation and that
if there's um specific action that would be taken on one of these goals that it
would be that it was going to cost us money, frankly, that it would be brought
to council as a proposal and that we would get to see that before it just
gets done behind the scenes. That that's correct.
» That is the common practice, sir. >> Awesome. Thank you. I just wanted to get
that on record. Appreciate it.
» Yes. Yes. I can be a stickler. So,
» thank you, Council Member Smart. Uh, seeing no other comments, council, all
in favor, please say I. I. >> Any oppose say no. All right. Motion
carries. Thank you again, councel. Next item on the worklist for tonight is
adopting the parks and recreation element of the comprehensive plan. Once
again, I'll ask planner Colin Cortez to present the staff report
about the second element. A little bit of background. So the city adopted the
parks and recreation master plan 2023 2028 uh back in May of 2023.
So because this is a fresher document that clearly outlined policies regarding
parks um staff updated the much older parks element accordingly uh pretty much
to reflect the information about parks in the parks plan to be in the parks
element. Uh the planning commission admit May 14th and recommended that city
council adopt the revised element that was in your packet and specifically
to adopt the goals and policies found in the parks element.
Thank you very much Mr. Cortez. Um we'll now hear public comment on this
particular item. Once again, if there's anyone present uh who would like to make
public comment on this item, please come to the podium, state your name and
address for name and resident, city of residents. For the record, please limit
your comments to three minutes. >> Josh Lozano again, uh resident of the
city of West Richland. And I just want to say that I reviewed the plan and you
know, I grew up in a small community and I think we had one park, the city of
Granger, uh well two parks. we had the dinosaur park and then we had another
park where we held the cherry festival which they no longer do unfortunately.
Um and so moving to the Tri Cities and moving to West Richland in particular,
uh I just found it really just welcoming to see so many parks and the various
neighborhoods and have a three-year-old son and we spend time we used to live up
on Collins Ridge. We used to spend a lot of time at Flattop Park. Uh we now live
uh right off of South Highland and so we we visit both of the parks on South
Highland uh go to the bombing range complex. Um and it's just it's really um
really good to see that the city is investing time and effort and funds into
uh amenities like parks that families can enjoy. So I just encourage you to
continue to look at uh investing in those parks and in green spaces and uh
places for families to continue to enjoy our our local community. So, thank you.
» Thank you, Mr. Lozano. Is there anyone else present that who would like to make
comment on this item? >> All right. Seeing none, I will turn to
our virtual attendees. If there's anyone attending virtually who would like to
make comment on this particular item, please raise your virtual hand or press
star 9 on the telephone and kindly limit your comments to three minutes.
I see no one online. Do you see anyone, Stephanie?
» I do not. All right, council. May I have a motion?
» I move to pass resolution number 48-26 accepting the park parks element goals
and policies for the 2026 update of the comprehensive plan.
» Second. >> All right, have a motion to second. Any
council comments, questions? >> Council member Richie.
» Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I'd like to echo the comments that Mr. Lozano made. Uh,
this is one of the things that makes West Richland a great place to live.
And, um, I've lived here for going on 40 years, and this is one of the reasons.
And when you walk down to the park with your grandson in tow, your five-year-old
grandson in tow, and he can't wait to get there and then take a bus ride, hey,
it it it just doesn't get any better than that. So bottom line being that uh
this is it's imperative that this is one of the things that we take care of in
ensuring the quality of life in in the city of West Richland. Thank you.
» Thank you, Council Member Richie. Council Member Moran.
» You um I would also like to echo this and I have been recently going to a lot
of parks because I just started playing uh an app game that involves a lot of
walking around. It's It's not the one you're probably thinking of. It's the
one that that one's based off of. But needless to say, I have become very
appreciative of all of the trees that we have in all of our parks because I am
very pasty white and the sun hurts me if I walk around too long without trees.
So, thank you, >> Council Member Smart.
Yeah, I certainly appreciate parks. I think that was one of the things that
drove me to be on the city council back in 2015 actually was to protect our
parks. Um I'm now in a position to protect our budget as well. And so
again, similar to the question I had last time or just to bring it out front
on page 171 on the last paragraph of our packet um this is the uh red corrected
version of the text. Um, last paragraph indicates that West
Richland should consider expanding ser city services and addressing emergency
emerging community needs for a formalized recreation program as future
resources allow. Creating a standalone parks and recreation department will
require dedicated ongoing funding for staffing and program costs.
Uh that's all very true and uh but I I don't suspect this will happen anytime
soon. I I understand why it's in there, but um you know I will I will vote in
favor of this um uh uh resolution. Um but I have been a stickler on having
the local government fund recreation programs. I have no
problem with recreation facilities. And I also question at this time whether or
not um a separate department is necessary versus I I'm not sure that
taking care of the parks for a town of 18,000 people or even 20 um rises to the
to the level of a department head. So, I'm just a little leerary about that and
I just want to make that clear. Um, I'm not saying no and I'm not saying yes.
And I know this isn't doing either either. But, um, it's something I wanted
to point out because, um, I think as citizens in a small town, unless we do
run into a pot of gold somewhere, um, there are so many other things that need
to be funded besides having a city fund a baseball coach or a softball coach
when when that should can easily be done privately and with the support of local
businesses. So, that's just a comment. Um, hope I'm not throwing wet rags on
the parade here, but I will vote in favor of this resolution. Thank you.
» Thank you, Council Member Smart. Uh, as staff is preparing the 2728 budget, I
can assure you there will be no coaches in the city budget.
» Excellent. All right. So, um, no other comments. Um, council, we have a motion
and a second for resolution 4826. All in favor, please say I. I.
» I. >> Any oppose, say no. All right. Motion
carries. Next thing to tackle is adopting the
capital facilities element of the comprehensive plan. Once again, um, I'm
going to ask planner Colin Cortez to present the staff report.
» Thank you. And I can say even though we live in a city, it takes a village. And
by that I mean for this element in particular, it's not just the city of
West Richland, but a whole number of other governments and service providers
and agencies were involved in updating this because as you can imagine, the
very boring sounding phrase capital facilities involves a lot of stuff that
we take for granted. Um that makes public life civilized and possible. Um
more specifically uh public schools for instance coordination with public
libraries, fire stations, police stations, emergency medical services and
other city buildings. And with consultant help and particularly the
help of the public works director, we comb through the various types of
services described in the element uh the information and demographic information
as well and thoroughly updated that uh to present to you this evening as part
of your packet. Uh, and I'd add also that the planning commission had held a
meeting July 23rd and recommended the city council adopt the element goals and
policies in your packet. >> All right. Thank you very much, Mr.
Cortez. Is there anyone present here in chambers who would like to comment on
this particular item? If so, please come to the podium.
Seeing no one, I'll turn to our virtual attendees. Is there any anyone attending
virtually who would like to comment on this particular item? If so, please
raise your virtual hand or press star 9 on your telephone so the city clerk may
recognize and unmute you. I see no one online. Do you see anyone,
Stephanie? >> I do not.
» All right, seeing no one. Uh, council, may I have a motion on this particular
topic? I move to pass resolution 4926 adopting the capital facilities element
goals and policies for the 2026 update to the comp of the comprehensive plan.
» Is there a second second? >> Oh, several seconds.
» Point of information. Uh just to be clear, is it acceptable to say
approve rather than accept for this
uh that I cannot answer specifically. City clip.
» Um so the motion is intended to approve the resolution which the action of the
resolution is to accept that portion of the plan.
» Right. It's just that what was said was move to pass a resolution approving the
capital facilities element. I'm sorry. adopting the capital
facilities element. So, it's okay to say adopting for that. Okay. Thanks. Just
want to make sure. >> I didn't notice.
» Yeah. All right. >> Thank you, Council Member Moran. So, I
have a motion in a second. Council, any discussion on this topic?
» All right, Council Member Smart. I'm I'm forced to
uh stick with my critique here. Um on page uh 191
um we it it has a goal policy goal five policy M which is provide adequate space
for community interaction fellowship and recreation. Uh consider the feasibility
of providing a community center. Um and and then uh that's that's just the only
point that I that I have there. Um, I I'm I'm hopeful and I'm assured that
that we won't actually put money into considering the feasibility of a
community center until that's brought before council as a topic of
consideration. Is that correct? >> That is correct. And this is not a new
goal or policy. It's a redundancy from the last one, just rolling it over. So,
yes, as as stated previously, John, that is the standard procedure. If there is
something that's in here that would require funding that council's directed
to move forward with, it would come forward to council for approval to fund
that project. >> And that happens before we invest staff
time and considering or any significant staff time in considering such a thing.
» Absolutely. Wasting staff time is not on our agenda.
» Very good. >> We don't have enough of that.
» Thank you, sir. Appreciate that comment. That's all I had. All right. I see no
other comments. Council, we have a resolution. We have a motion to pass
resolution 4926. All in favor, please say I.
» I. >> Any oppose say no.
» All right. Motion carries. All right. Last bit of business is sitting before
us now, and that is to adopt the climate element of the comprehensive plan. I
will once again ask Mr. Cortez to present the staff report.
I'll take a little longer to describe this one because it's new and
interesting to say the least. So, the climate element is newly required by
state government. Uh, specifically, the Washington State Department of Commerce
indicates that climate elements throughout the state must address a
minimum of six topics that are codified in statute.
Um leading up to this a major objective was to adapt policies uh created by a
regional consortium. So namely throughout the tri cities a number of
governments got together in concert to come up with a whole bunch of potential
policies that would conform with state law. And that led to a spreadsheet from
which uh city of West Richland staff chose and winnowed down to a certain
number of policies that went through a number of local reviews to get to this
point. Um a little bit more about that. The Climate Commitment Act of 2021 is
passed by the legislature and it was Benton County, cities of Kenowick,
Pasco, Richland, and this city uh with the assistant of the Benton Franklin
Council of Governments that came up with the spreadsheet of potential policies.
Um that regional consortium handled technical analyses about whether it
would meet statute, handled a degree of public engagement, and came up with a
very handy spreadsheet. That spreadsheet found its way to the community
development subcommittee meeting through city staff which gave its opinion on
which goals were more amendable um for consideration.
Um that happened on May 26 and councelor Spar in particular was instrumental in
recommending uh specific uh goals and policies uh which were indicated in the
staff report. The planning commission then met June 11th and made its own
recommendation for specific goals and policies for that spreadsheet. Following
that, the community development subcommittee met again on July 12th or
excuse me, 21st and uh after considering with the commission and recommended uh
came up with a new recommended set of policies that reconcile the
recommendations and recommended due pass for the goals
and policies that are in your packet tonight. Uh overall the policies relate
to risks such as extreme heat, flooding, greenhouse gas emissions, uh reduction
thereof, water conservation, and wildfire. And most importantly, they do
comply with these six uh six statutory requirements. Uh and I'll stress that as
the staff report indicates, policy number four is the only one that meets
uh one of the statutory requirements specific to greenhouse gas emissions
reduction. So it does have to be adopted. Um, other than that, that's
climate in a nutshell. >> Right. Thank you, Mr. Cortez. I'll now
open this topic up for public discussion. Is there anyone here that
would like to make comment? Seeing no one present in the room, I'll
turn to our virtual attendees. There's anyone attending virtually who'd like to
make comment, please raise your virtual hand or press star 9. Kindly state your
name and city of residence for the record.
I see no one online. Do you see anyone, Stephanie?
» I do not see anyone. No. >> All right. So, with no public comment,
council, may I have a motion? >> I move to pass resolution number 50-26
accepting the climate element goals and policies for the 2026 update of the
comprehensive plan. >> Second. All right. Council questions,
comments that have not yet been addressed in the staff report.
Council member Richie. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, so now my
understanding, what I heard a moment ago is that the state sent us a list. We
took and amended that list, consolidated that list. Was it then sent back to the
state for review? My question, my question wants to make sure that we hit
all the high points that they require. So you'll notice in the in the element
there towards the end where you have all the goals um in one of the columns it
lists each of the six requirements that we're supposed to hit. And so as Colin
mentioned the very last one hits all of all three within a certain section
that's required and then the other three are a mixture of the other three
requirements that we're supposed to have updated. So yes, we do we haven't sent
it to the state yet. That doesn't happen until towards the end. So, we'll be
sending that into them for their blessing and and yes, you meet all of
the criteria. So, should they disagree with any of this, we'll be bringing back
some modifications um at that point in time. But we believe uh from our review
that we meet all of those requirements. I have had multiple conversations with
Department of Commerce just to make sure I understood that very principle because
um the direction given to staff was is that we didn't want to go overboard
here, that we wanted to keep this very focused. So we we kept it very focused.
» Excellent. Thank you,
» Council Member Moran.
» Can't even get my name out. Uh I would just like to give a big thank you to
staff because with this being a new one, I'm sure this one required the most
amount of work. So thank you for that. And I am especially very happy to see
the part that talks about the tree canopy because again this skin is not
doing well in the sun and I would really like to be a little bit more active
outdoors when it's not freezing outside. So thank you for this to all of the
staff >> here. Prom Bloom.
» Well, I'd like to see the mulching practices in the policy. Uh, as I've
said, we need to have aation of the soils here. And
unfortunately, Richland's compost is not the best in the world, but I did get a
truck two truckloads delivered to my property before I put in my grass. But
it did help. And uh I I still think we need to focus that on the new
development that they you know let's not plant grass on sand because it's kind of
tough. Um but um it there is a a reference to a
tree planting program. Do we have a tree planting program
ongoing? No. Okay. Thank you.
Right. Second question. Go ahead, Council
Member Murray. >> Actually, uh, just more of a statement.
You know, one of those ways to not have to worry about abading your soil is if
you have a non-monoculture and have a lot of the native plants out
instead, which actually is less expensive and doesn't require you to mow
it all the time. And it can stay green with just a little bit of water. I'm
just saying, you don't have to amend your soil if you want the native plants
and they're pretty. >> Thank you. With no other comments, I
will ask council for a vote on resolution number 50-26.
All in favor say I, please. >> I.
» Any oppose say no. All right. Motion carries. That gets us through uh that
part of the agenda. We have no unfinished or new business. So, we will
turn to our second public comment period. If there's anyone present here
that would like to step up to the podium and make comment, uh please do so at
this time. kindly limit your comments to three minutes.
Think you're the only one, Josh. >> Monop monopolize the tech.
» If you would just restate your name as >> Josh Lozano, city of West Richland. Um,
speaking on behalf of Benton REA, my employer. Uh, I just want to wrap up the
remarks on the potential for uh, rate benefits. Um the E3 study I that I cited
further found that large load investments can also support uh much
needed grid expansion and modernization uh improve system capacity and
reliability uh local infrastructure investments as well and the development
of new power supply resources including advanced nuclear geothermal and long
duration energy storage. Um you know this topic data centers it it presents
legitimate questions that deserve careful and transparent review uh from
an electric utility perspective. Bettona does have policies in place to manage
the financial uh risks and operational risks and with the right safeguards in
place as we have a well structured project um can certainly protect our
existing membership. uh while also contributing to grid investments and
long-term uh rate stability. Uh Benton's approach is is simple. Protect existing
members, preserve reliability, and require large loads to pay for
themselves. Thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
» Thank you, Mr. Lozano. Is there anyone else present that would like to make any
additional comment? All right. Seeing no one, I will turn to
our virtual attendees. If there's anyone attending virtually who would like to
make public comment, please raise your virtual hand or press star 9. Our city
clerk will unmute you. Kindly ask that you state your name and city of
residence for the record. And please limit your comments to three minutes.
I see no one attending online who wishes to make comment. Do you, Stephanie?
» I do not. >> All right. We'll now turn to staff and
council reports. I'm going to look over to my right. Staff members, anyone care
to make comment? I will start with public works director Slade.
» Thank you, Mayor Brink. Uh just two quick items. Uh tomorrow I'll join
council member uh Smart. We've got a uh legislative transportation tour. So this
is with Good Roads. We'll be meeting in Pasco and uh taking our legislators uh
local. And we also have Representative Fi who's the house chair of the
transportation uh commission will be there um touring. Um Westerson doesn't
have a project. That's a good problem to have because uh SR224 Red Mountains
fully funded and so is our uh Keen Road widening project. So those came off so
we'll still participate in it but uh we don't have a project on the list. So
that's tomorrow evening and then uh followed by a dinner meeting. Um, the
other one is, uh, I'll make it public. Uh, the email went out to council so
they know that the Keen Road Van Geese roundabout will be open not this Friday,
but next Friday, uh, August 28th. So, the contractor continues to make great
progress. We delayed it a few days. I kind of jumped the gun getting that date
out there, but there's some extra concrete that needs to be poured that we
don't want to have to close down the roundabout at a later date. So, we're
going to give them a couple extra days, open it up on Friday. Uh, we're still
ahead before school opens. So, but there's a lot of people that'll be glad
that they can not have to do that detour down Paradise and be able to go through
it, but projects moving forward still on schedule and and under budget. So, thank
you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Slade. Uh,
community development director Mendall. >> Sorry for the late name. I didn't want
to feel left out with everyone else speaking tonight. But, um, no, I do have
a couple things. One, uh, thank you, council, for your support as we go
through these comprehensive plan update elements. I know they're um a lot to
chew on, but at least you're getting them in elephant bite- sizes and not
having to eat and choke the whole elephant down in one meeting. So, um if
you do have questions, again, feel free to reach out as we're going through the
process. Happy to have those conversations. Uh you know, I appreciate
John. He's been very involved in a lot of this with his his input on climate
change particularly and and we appreciate his insights there. Um and
help so that we don't get hung up, right? I mean, that's that's a big point
is we don't want to get hung up here in the meeting. So, your questions, your
your involvement early on is important and we appreciate uh and I appreciate
you being involved there. Also want to thank uh the Mid Columbia Children's
Museum being here tonight too. Um you know, they made their press release last
week. It was very exciting. We are very excited that they are here um as the
economic development uh department as well um as the community development.
It's very important to have these kind of cornerstone pieces in our community.
Uh they will drive economic development. Having them be here, similar to the
racetrack being here does drive some economic development. They're going to
be driving economic development for us as well by bringing children to our
community, which then maybe we get a Chuck-E-Cheese. Who knows, right? I'm
not saying that they've talked to me because they haven't. But maybe we will
and maybe we will get other those types of businesses that come in because of
that museum being here. And my my estimation is and I'm sure Chelsea can
testify to this, but I believe that we're going to be pulling from within
200 miles um kids to come to this facility and enjoy and participate in
West Richland. And so that's that's a a big deal for us and we're excited to
have that. Plus, we beat Richland so you know in the in the proposal. So that
always makes us feel good. Um and then lastly, uh with regards to the data
centers, I just encourage anyone that has questions about what the data
centers, you know, about them, how it might impact the city. Um happy to talk
with them, happy to sit down and have a face to face and go over any questions.
I know council all of you u and I have had conversations about it at some point
uh when answering your questions. I invite the community to do that as well.
Uh because for instance for noise, we already have a noise ordinance that
would make sure that they aren't going to be impacting the neighbors. There's a
200 foot setback additionally that council approved that would require them
to set back 200 feet from the property line to help with that noise mitigation.
So there's there's things out there that that are being said. there's information
that's being shared that I just would love to have a conversation with people
about and have that face to face to go over those questions that they have to
maybe help them understand that while there are and and and that as Josh
mentioned there are a lot of justification for concerns uh but I
believe that our code is very robust the state code is very robust but if there's
any policies that they believe we should be looking at that we should have that
conversation and I'd love to hear what those policies are that they're
considering we need to look at. So, I'll leave it at that.
» Finance Director Gwen. >> Yeah, I just want to let you know uh the
state auditors have started their audit um for I guess it's really three audits.
So, financial uh accountability as well as a single audit for all the federal
funds we've spent. So you guys will probably council will see an email from
one of our auditors uh inviting you to an entrance conference. I don't know
some time in the near future. >> Police Chief Fry.
» Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um tomorrow I will be speaking at the
Chamber of Commerce on um some crime statistics and different things that are
going on in the community and some of our events that we are planning for. And
I'd also like to give a shout out to um Detective Magna who just cleared a
federal case that was um quite large drug case and he did a great job
preparing for that and working with um federal prosecutors on that to um help
keep drugs out of our community and it's been a long ongoing one. But it's always
important to have a um finalization on those and and he did a great job doing
that. >> Right. and I'll turn to councel.
» All right. Um, council member Stoker, I will start with you.
» Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, couple things. I
sorry to see that, uh, Mr. Cortez left. So, if you could pass on to him that I
certainly appreciated. uh the extra effort he goes through this evening
presenting to us four elements of the agenda pretty pretty uh ostentatious
pretty pretty large task to take on. So definitely pass that on to him. Um
uh I also wanted to mention too that um as was mentioned earlier tonight's
meeting is our last remote citizen comment. So, um,
I'd hoped we'd get some comments coming in from the remote people, but I guess
if you have nothing to say, you have nothing to say.
Also, to Mr. Smart, um, I've coached a lot of kids sports. I did grid kids,
little league, Tri City girls fast pitch softball, Richland Reck Park or Parks
and Wreck, uh, basketball. never got paid. So, I don't think you'll have to
worry about a a coaches uh requiring funds.
So my last piece I want to bring up is um so recently we had quite a discussion
on fireworks and um one of the things that got me curious is uh when we saw
the flyer that listed uh our sister cities including ourselves
uh different dates for when sales are allowed
and um Richland, Pasco and Kenowick allow
fireworks sales um the period before New Year's Eve and
we don't um I went and looked up their code.
Richland and Kenowick are word for word the same. Kenowick just swapped out the
word city of Richland for city of Kenowick. Well, it basically says the
sale and discharging of fireworks within the city of Kenowick or Richland shall
be in accordance with Washington state fireworks law chapter 70.77 RCW and
chapter 212-17 whack unless otherwise provided in this
section which there is nothing about sales throughout the rest of their
section. Pasco from what I can see basically copied and pasted what is in
RCW70.77.395.
And um so the one thing that the RCW states
that ours does not allow for is that um from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m. on each
day from the 27th of December through the 31st of December of each year
fireworks are sales are allowed. Our code says fireworks may not be sold or
may be sold in incorporated areas of the city of West Richland during the period
commencing at 12 noon on the 28th day of June of each year and ending at 12 noon
on the sixth day of July each year. Now, we may be out of compliance here
because the state RCW actually says ends on the fifth day of July, not the sixth.
So, we may have to rewrite this whole sentence. But um with this, I would like
to make a motion that either in the September 1st meeting or the September
15th meeting, this be put on the agenda. And we will either copy and paste what's
in the RCW or add the portion that says and from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m. on
each day from September or from the 27th of December through the 31st of December
of each year. Yeah.
I would second that. All right. Clarify. Council member Stoker, you would like
staff to develop change to the fireworks ordinance allowing sales uh in
accordance with RCW for the New Year's Eve period December 27th through January
» December 31st. >> December 31st. Okay. Correct.
» All right. I do have a second on that. So like all other procedure, I'll open
this up for discussion uh among council members. Are there any council members
who wish to speak on this particular topic?
So council member Fedto, >> if we're going to talk about this again,
let's make the switch from finance director to community development
director for permitting as well like we talked about, but never passed at the
last ordinance. >> I would accept that.
Are there other comments on this particular motion and second?
Uh, Council Member Moran. >> Yes. Um,
I don't recall since I've been on council in 2020 ever hearing anybody ask
for this. So, I'm just not sure why this is being brought up. Um, it
just seems like we're adding more problems than
what we already have to me. So, it just without people asking, I haven't seen
any emails asking for it. I'm just concerned that this is something that's
just a we want to have fireworks more often, more and more often. And while I
will say I would rather have fireworks in December than in July, I would rather
not have it in both times because it is very expensive to do so
when you have things that you have to prepare for your animals and everything
else. It's just going to cost me more money and I don't like it. So that's
what I got to say about that.
» Yeah. So I I actually like this idea whether it's been asked by the community
or not. And the reason is because um first of all, if I've said before that
I've had friends that move from states where there is no regulation on
fireworks restrictions on particular days, right? You know, they can shoot
fireworks off 365 days a year, birthday parties, corporate events, whatever.
Um, and and what I've learned from discussing that that that uh that
terrain of of psychology is that when the 4th of July comes around, it's not a
huge deal. I mean, they celebrate the 4th of July for sure, but it's not
everybody expending a year's worth of fireworks energy in one night. Um, and
so for so that's reason number one that I I like the idea of of allow making it
easier for people to um get some of this out of their system in January when it's
like foggy and wet and damp and it's good luck trying to start a fire around
here in the in the grasslands. Um, but the other the other reason is that
people store fireworks, okay? Like they buy all these fireworks in the
summertime before the 4th of July and then they stash the rest of them. Where
do they put them? I mean, very few places. I bet they don't put them in
fireproof safes. Um, they're going to stash them on some shelf in their garage
where kids can get to them throughout the year. Uh, heat can get to them. They
can become degraded. Maybe they get forgotten for a couple of years. Um, and
that that probably um I don't know. Fortunately, we haven't had any issues
with that. I don't know of any structure fires that have started from stored
fireworks, but but this but if it has, I mean, this would help maybe eliminate
some of that. So, and the other thing is it just seems to do no harm. I mean, it
might give a chance for some of the nonprofits to make an extra buck in the
middle of the year or the beginning of the year. Um I I it would be interesting
to see if it actually in increases the number of people that launch fireworks
on um the first of the year. Uh but but I guess they already do and um I I I
think it's probably the safest time of year to do it. So anyway, I would
support this motion. Thank you. >> Um Council Member Cole wish to speak on
this topic? >> Yep.
» I I really [clears throat] didn't. had my here, but I I would just
» spare a whole lot of repeating what's already been said is I think this is a
good idea and I support it. >> Council member Richie
» and for myself, I've said it before, say it again. Consistency. We're
inconsistent. The cities have painted this this problem. We've created this
problem because we're all inconsistent. Nobody does it the same way. And so what
you do is you drive the problem from one place to the other. Right. And so I
would argue to be consistent with our sister cities. And this may not be where
we stop. Maybe there's other ways that we can be consistent with fireworks and
and help to alleviate some of that problem.
» Thank you. Um yes, second round. Council member Stoker, you you're up first.
» Well, I just wanted to say that um first I think Ruditerate what I think Mr.
Smart already said was that fireworks are already being discharged on New
Year's Eve. So, I don't know how this is necessarily going to change that um as
far as how it affects other people. Um but secondly uh I have been approached
um by one entity that sells the fireworks and um you know they don't
like the fact that the other cities do allow it and so those they tend to I
don't know if competition is the right word because they're over there and
we're over here but you know they're wondering why we don't allow [snorts]
firework sales at this time that the other cities do. Personally,
um I mean no knock to our sister cities, but I like to be a little more free than
they are possible.
» Thank you. Um I will say it is interesting that the one organization
that has spoken with you is the one that would profit off of it, but um for me
when it comes to this, yes, we do allow it. But if we're going to allow the
selling of fireworks a day, couple days before we actually
allow them to be discharged, I can automatically see people saying, "Oh,
well, they're being sold." Well, so we should be able to light them off at this
time, not remembering or realizing or caring that it's only on the one day. So
I Yeah. And while I will say that yes, I agree that storing them during the win
during the summer, I believe there was somebody whose
I think it was their garage burnt down in West Richland. It was off right off a
bombing range if I remember correctly because of stored fireworks. So, I will
say yeah, that is a problem. But I would think that if we're going to sell
fireworks before the uh before the New Year's, I would much
rather prefer us have the sale of fireworks, especially because so few
people do have it just be that day of just because I can automatically see
people lighting them off early. Thank you.
I don't see any other cards up for discussion on the topic. So, I'll just
reiterate the motion just to make sure uh I have it clear. Um but a motion has
a motion has been presented and second is for staff to develop uh a change to
the fireworks ordinance to allow for sales in accordance with the RCW for the
period of December 27 December 31st. and alternate
» with a change also for uh going yeah permitting with the uh
» finance to community development. Well, did that have a second?
» I'll second that >> right
» now.
Yes, let's let's do it formally. Let's vote on unless there's a comment on this
amendment. All right. Go ahead, Mayor Pro. The other question comes down to is
the question of whether we allow to the sixth or the fifth consistent with state
rags. >> We can't be broader than state record.
» Correct. >> We are broader. That's
» we are now and not and so we're out of complaint. Yes. It's I copied it right
out of our municipal code. It says the sixth.
» Yeah. I will I will direct staff to look at
that and confirm that and if in fact we are out of compliance as you stated
we'll make the appropriate amendments as well for council to consider.
All right. So uh we have
» amendment. >> Yes.
» We're going to vote on the amendment to change the permitting from finance
director to community development. So that is the first vote. A yes vote is to
make that change. A no vote is against that change. All right. All in favor say
I. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Just to clarify, it's not
to to take action to do the change, but to bring back for to bring back for
action. >> Correct.
» All in favor say I. >> I.
» Any opposed? Okay. And then finally on the main motion to bring it to staff to
prepare appropriate ordinance changes with regard to firework sales during the
authorized New Year's Eve period. All right. A yes vote is in support of
that. A no vote is against that. All in favor say I. I.
» I. >> Any opposed?
» No. I so I will ask staff to make the appropriate uh draft the appropriate
ordinances for staff's approval for council's review and approval.
» That that includes looking at the dates for the July.
» Yes. If there is an error, we will correct that administratively too.
» Very good. >> Right. Any other comments, Council
Member Stoker? >> That is all. Thank you. Oh, well, there
will be some more of these forthcoming. I have some others in mind that I'd like
us to address. >> You know what? I welcome that
opportunity. >> So, since we've opened this can of
worms, we're going to move that way. >> All right. Um, any other general
comments from council? Council member Morant.
» Thank you. Um, I will just caution if we remember our staff is rather overwhelmed
with things that we've tasked them to do that I'm pretty sure our parking lot is
fairly large right now of all of the things that staff has been tasked to do.
So, my concern is if we bring about these that we might be using up staff
time that could be used for bigger necessary things in order to comply with
state laws. Um, so I would just caution against that. Uh, but for my comments, I
will say uh I'm I would like to I'm I'm very appreciative that you're here, Mr.
Lozano. Um, and something that I've been thinking about for a while that I'm
hoping maybe can happen uh after speaking with someone who has been on
the Native Plant Society. I believe he was the founder of it and also uh is
very familiar with the conservation districts that there is a hope that
perhaps Benton REA the conservation districts and the native plant society
could work together especially with the amount of water usage that's going on to
work towards helping to find a solution for our members so that they wouldn't
have to spend as much money on watering their yards. I know that when I was in
the Navy and stationed in San Diego that SDG& had a program specifically for
assisting folks in going from a monoculture of just having grass that
required a lot of water to allowing for more native plants that didn't require a
lot of watering. Um, I'm I'm not certain if incentives are something that could
be in play, but that would just be something interesting and maybe even
just a um a I can't remember the name of the word,
but where you have a garden that shows off how it looks near Bentonier,
especially if you want to beautify the site. Um, so that's something that I
would love to talk more to you about. Second, um I would again like to thank
the police department and animal control for putting out the microchip reader. I
think that is fantastic. I personally had an experience over the weekend where
a friend of mine thought for sure that this cat they found was abandoned in the
apartment complex they were at because it was scratching at this door that had
been abandoned. The apartment behind it had been abandoned. So I was like, well,
you know, I can take it to verify the chip reader and foster it. if not. And I
had it chip read and we found the owner. It was just in another part of the
apartment complex. So, also a big reminder, if you find an animal, make
sure you check the microchip before you just decide you're going to adopt it or
believe that it was abandoned or put out on purpose. Uh, but thank you again to
the policeart the police department for that. Um, I would also like to applaud
the police department for looking at the grants. I think it's really important
that we look at these grants that are out there um because they can be
beneficial to us, especially since they don't have to be repaid. Those are big
for us. Um let's see. I did not bring my special eyes, so I'm trying to read my
handwriting here. Three, four. Oh. Um talking about when I was using that when
I'm using this app for this game, I would just really like to say that the
parks are looking really good. Um, I am appreciating how green they are. Uh, the
trees have been fantastic. I have been basically running from shade to shade
under each tree so that I can play this game. And it's nice that I don't have to
run far. So, that is very appreciated. Uh, let's see. So, when it comes to
meetings that I've been to, uh, I was just last week at the Ben Franklin
Transit Board. uh big discussion item that we had was July's fair free. Uh we
have asked the staff to go back and from that uh figure out okay how much would
it actually cost if it would be a positive or a negative thing to the
transit to continue with fair free because it does cost a lot of money in
order to try and collect money. Um but it did seem like it was a big hit.
writership was up significantly. Uh, and I think we might even try it sometime in
the fall when schools are in session so that we can have those numbers as well
to make a good decision for that. Uh, let's see. Next Friday, I'm going to go
to the BF Ben Franklin Council of Governments meeting. Uh, it is hybrid as
always. It is going to be on Friday next week starting at 10. And then finally, I
will say that uh in advance, I'd like to let you know that the Tuesday after
Labor Day, I will not be in attendance. I will be on uh I will probably be in
Seattle airport if I'm not on a flight. So, I will not be here. So, let's please
not make any big decisions while I'm gone. Thank you.
» Thank you, Council Member Moran. Uh Council Member Richie.
» Thank you, Mayor. Um, on the subject of fireworks, I want to
uh uh let everybody know that there are summaries that were uh put together by
the West Richland Police Department as well as our Benton County Fire District
uh uh chief. And so those are available. If you want to know what the exact
statistics were with regards to fires across the 4th of July, they're
available and I'd be happy to help you get hooked up with those. Uh, one of the
things I want to be sure and point out is that the chief in his report talks
about how when there were complaints that the officers went out and educated
the citizens and then after that that complaint went away. That was not a
problem anymore. Too often I think that's what the problem is is it's not
malicious but rather just uninformed individuals.
um data centers. I'm not convinced yet that a moratorium is needed. Uh we don't
have a project. Um when we get a project and we can we can look at what it is
we're we're talking about. Right now you're just speculating. And so and and
one of the things that I keep seeing is that they keep we keep talking about
what's going on down at Boardman and in Oregon. And I'll tell you right now,
that's not applicable to the state of Washington. what happened down there.
That may be a concern that you might want to ask the question, but the state
of Washington is going to look into that with our our our EPA uh uh our SEIPA
checklist and our environmental impact statement checklist. And and I encourage
you to to go and look and review those. I also encourage you to go visit a data
center. And that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go visit a data center. I
want to find out more about it. I want to see what they've got going. I want to
hear what the local community has to say about it because they're the ones that
are living the dream right now and and can come back and and give us real time
data uh with regards to to what's really going on. So uh I'm encouraging
everybody to prep your questions and get ready for it. And and last and I'll shut
up is uh kudos uh uh uh to our economic director Menhal uh that children's
museum in West Richland. I am excited. I've got a five-year-old that's like 10
minutes away from that and and and I just When's it open? Do you know when
it's going to open?
» Okay. So, let me know and and we'll be there when the doors open. Thank you.
» Uh Council Member Cole. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um couple of
things live. Um let me find my notes. Um, week before last, I attended a
two-day training session put on by the Association of Washington Cities uh that
helped was geared towards council members um in the budgeting process. So
my hope is that even though it's only two days and I don't know everything
there is to know about budgeting, I know a little bit more and maybe I can be
kind of earn my keep with Aaron and and and the rest of the finance committee
members. Uh second thing I just I want to say I regret that I wasn't here last
meeting um because I was in training. Um and I
don't I'm not playing old ground. I just want to say that um I I hope that
there's a better solution. I know that uh council took a vote on um turning off
the citizens opp uh ability to uh to speak uh in from the remote capabilities
and uh I'm committed to finding some other hopefully we can come up with a
better solution than just shutting it off. Um, I want to also say thank you.
We are super stoked that you're here. There's a four-year-old and a 5-year-old
who've taken the word no from my vocabulary, we'll be we'll be taking
them, too. Uh, and I want to thank u Mr. Lozano. Um I I think that um the
information that we can get like that as it pertains to power needs for data
centers and how that impacts us um because
when I mean we need to listen to what what people are telling us but we also
need to you know if we're saying hey we want to enact some policies you know
that with with respect to regulating data centers we could use some
suggestions on what that looks like at least I could. Um, thank you.
» All right. Thank you, Council Member B. Council Member Pedto.
» Thank you, sir. Um, yeah, last week Chelsea came presented to my Rotary Club
and I believe we were the first to hear the message after the announcement.
Alino. Um, so if you want more information, she will also be talking
tomorrow at the Westeron Chamber lunchon um to a group of excited Chamber Lunchon
attendees uh about the upcoming museum uh as well as uh Kevin Lewis Visit Tri
Cities. Iron Man is September 20th uh well 18 19 181 1920 they'll be in town.
Um, so if you live anywhere near uh Bombi Ramp Paradise, um, be prepared to
have a little traffic delay on Sunday, but please be respectful of the of the
riders. Um, this is a huge economic boom for the Tri City region as a whole last
year with 7.5 million of estimated spending brought to the region. Uh, but
that again is going to be September 18th, 19th, but the actual race is on
the 20th, but we'll see riders on the road, so just be careful.
Uh it's all thank you blue.
» All right. Okay. >> You're welcome.
» Which
Okay. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Mayor Prom. Appreciate that. Uh uh just
pair it with the same thanks Chelsea for bringing the Mid Columbia Children's
Museum here. That's totally awesome. and I was uh thrilled since the first time
it uh was presented to us as an option. So that's great. I also want to thanks
Josh for sticking around because I want to thank you for the tour yesterday of
the new Bentonier dig down the road here. That was that's a very impressive
building and um just really appreciate the investment in our community and I
think it's going to serve us all well. Um, other than that, uh, I don't think I
have anything else. Um, but just to say that West Richland is a great place to
live. I mean, I constantly I've been on travel for a couple weeks, different
places, and um I and even places that have trees and I wouldn't trade this for
anything. This is a great place. We have Well, we have well manicured park trees.
Yes. But other than that, um, as far as data centers go, I'll just mention I I
believe we're being very vigilant and I do appreciate all of the comments. I
encourage specifics. I I would like to parrot the the thing that I think Mr.
Richie said and and others is that, you know, we we are uh I I personally am
very anxious to have a a very um specific list of questions and concerns.
Um, and then, uh, if there's data to back up a concern, if there's
information or a study or something like this, I heard one just the other day
about low frequency vibrations, and it's like, okay, I haven't heard of that one
before. Um, where where's the information about that? That's what I
want to see is I want to see the detailed information so that we can um,
if a proposal comes to bear, we can challenge the proposer on those specific
issues. Um, so I'm all about keeping West Richland a great place to live and
uh and hopefully if any project like that or any other large um project comes
to bear that it would be an enhancement to our to our community and not a
detriment for sure. So that's the end of my comments. Thank you.
» Mayor Pro Timble. >> Well, I'll start off with the uh news I
shared with you and Mr. Smart. Uh the department of energy has basically
decided to blow up the Hanford advisory board. Um and as such I don't know if I
will be on the board or Mr. Smart will be on the board. If we are on the board
we will no longer be representing West Richland. Uh we would be just citizens
commenting on what's going on. Um, I personally do not believe this is
beneficial to the Department of Energy, but that's just what they're doing. Um,
not necessarily the Hanford Advisory Board was that beneficial,
but it had a function. Um uh in addition to that uh as far as uh data center goes
um my son is living the dream because he's dealing with 10 data center
proposals in Cheyenne and has 10 active data centers. So um he shares with me
the nightmares and the and the some of the insights. Uh uh so from that
standpoint I do not see other than the one comment
I recently received and shared with uh Mr. Medall
uh relative to groundwater impacts out on the on the ranch. Um I I really don't
see and from what he's telling me there's some economic quirks that I
might talk a little bit with Benton REA and the mayor uh relative to electrical
issues uh on-site offsite that type of stuff.
But um there's not that much of an impact. It's a big freaking building.
That's about it. So um if the water issue gets you know groundwater
discharge if that's coming up should be
uh I mean groundwater withdrawal would be the bigger issue uh for any data
center that would go out there. So that's about it. Thank you.
» All right. Thank you Mayor Prom Bloom. Just a couple short things uh for me. I
want to thank once again Josh uh Loausano for the tour in addition to
Council Member Smart, Council Member Richie was there. Several staff members
were there, but appreciate the time that you uh the CEO and other members of
staff put in. It was very informative. Um, of course, uh the uh Children's
Museum, enough has well, no, not enough has been said about that yet. Um, I'm
I'm so uh proud to know that West Richland beat out several other
jurisdictions and uh and I appreciate the board's wise decision uh in choosing
our site. But I also appreciate council's support on this endeavor, the
chamber's support on this endeavor. Truly was a team effort and I know our
city's committed to making this work and work for generations. So, thank you very
much. Um, we have uh open u open house or what
what we're calling grounds for conversation uh with myself with uh
director or excuse me with director Slade and with council member SMT at
Yolks on Saturday September 12th. All three of us will be there in the morning
from 9:30 to about 11. Uh it's just an open conversation. any citizens that
want to come by uh and uh talk with us, uh you're welcome to do so. And uh I
invite you all to come out there. We'll be in the uh the cafeteria dining area
of Yolks, which is to the right as you enter the Yolks on Bombing Range Road,
not the Yolks in Richland, the Oaks here in West Richland. And lastly, I will
just remind council we have a special meeting planned for next Tuesday at
5:30. So uh please be sure to attend. It is important. It will be primarily an
executive session. So that is all I have. I appreciate everyone spending
time with us this evening. It is 7:38 and I will adjoin adjourn the meeting.
Thank you.