[0:00] Well, good evening everyone. Um, it is 6
[0:03] pm and I will call the September 1, 2026
[0:07] meeting of the West Richland City
[0:09] Council to order. And before we get
[0:12] started, I'm going to ask our city
[0:13] clerk, Stephanie Hog, to read the new
[0:15] meeting rules and then call roll for
[0:17] city council.
[0:19] >> Right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tonight's
[0:21] meeting is being held in person with a
[0:23] remote viewing option available via
[0:25] Zoom. Public comments will generally be
[0:28] accepted in person. Individuals who
[0:30] requested an accommodation to provide
[0:32] public comment remotely by 3 PM today
[0:34] will be recognized through Zoom during
[0:36] the appropriate comment period. We did
[0:38] not have any requests for tonight's
[0:40] meeting. When the mayor calls for public
[0:42] comment, please raise your hand if you
[0:44] would like to speak. One once
[0:46] recognized, please come to the podium
[0:48] and state your name and city of
[0:49] residence for the record. Each speaker
[0:52] will have three minutes to provide
[0:53] comments. You will be notified when your
[0:55] three minutes have ended. Comments
[0:57] should relate to city business and
[0:59] comments regarding to a specific item on
[1:01] tonight's agenda will be taken when that
[1:03] agenda item is heard. Public comment is
[1:06] an opportunity to address the mayor and
[1:08] the council. It is not a question and
[1:10] answer period. We ask everyone in
[1:13] attendance to be courteous and follow
[1:14] the council's rules of decorum. Please
[1:17] refrain from disruptions including
[1:19] calling out, clapping, cheering, booing,
[1:21] making remarks out of turn or otherwise
[1:23] interrupting the meeting. With that,
[1:25] I'll call the role for city council.
[1:28] Fred Brink
[1:29] >> here.
[1:30] >> Richard Bloom
[1:30] >> here.
[1:31] >> David Cole
[1:32] >> here.
[1:34] >> Fetto
[1:34] >> here.
[1:36] >> Moran
[1:36] >> present.
[1:37] >> And Richie
[1:38] >> here.
[1:39] >> John Smart
[1:40] >> here.
[1:41] >> Ken Stoker
[1:42] >> here.
[1:46] Right. Thank you. And now moving on with
[1:47] the agenda. Council member Richie, would
[1:50] you kindly lead us in the pledge of
[1:51] allegiance?
[1:55] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[1:58] United States of America and to the
[2:00] republic for which it stands. One nation
[2:03] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[2:06] justice for all.
[2:10] >> Thank you, Council Member Richie.
[2:13] I council, you have an agenda before
[2:15] you. Are there any changes?
[2:18] Hearing none, do I have a motion to
[2:20] approve the agenda as presented?
[2:22] I move to approve the agenda as
[2:25] presented.
[2:26] >> Second.
[2:27] >> I have a motion and a second to approve
[2:28] the agenda as presented. All in favor,
[2:30] please say I. I.
[2:32] >> Any oppose say no. Motion carries. All
[2:36] right. We have two presentations this
[2:38] month. Uh the first one is recognizing
[2:42] uh September 2026 as attendance
[2:45] awareness month. Regular school
[2:47] attendance is essential to student
[2:49] achievement, well-being, and ultimate
[2:51] graduation. During the 2425 school year,
[2:55] one of four students in the Richland
[2:56] School District was chronically absent,
[2:59] meaning they missed 10% or more of the
[3:01] school year. Chronic absentism
[3:05] affects not only the students who are
[3:07] absent, but also classrooms and learning
[3:09] as a whole. Whereas chronic ab
[3:12] absenteeism can be significantly reduced
[3:15] when schools, families, businesses,
[3:18] elected leaders and communities work
[3:20] together to promote regular on-time
[3:22] attendance and address barriers that
[3:25] keep children from attending school. Now
[3:27] therefore, I, Fred Brink, mayor, city of
[3:30] West Richland, do hereby proclaim that
[3:32] the city of West Richland stands with
[3:35] the nation in recognizing September 2026
[3:39] as attendance awareness month.
[3:42] Our city council affirms its commitment
[3:44] to the academic success of all students.
[3:47] Together, we can continue to build a
[3:48] community we a and a culture that
[3:51] ensures our children have an equal
[3:53] opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive
[3:56] as they gain knowledge and skills needed
[3:58] for high school graduation,
[4:01] future education, and future careers. We
[4:04] are also privileged to have a
[4:06] representative here from United Way, ATA
[4:10] Bon Hail, and uh I kindly ask her to
[4:13] receive the proclamation. If you would
[4:15] please come up to the podium, I will
[4:16] meet you there.
[4:44] Thank you, Mayor Brink and City Council
[4:46] for issuing this proclamation. Again,
[4:48] I'm Osta Bono, the community impact
[4:50] director for the United Way. Um, sorry.
[4:55] Um, thank you guys. This is my third
[4:57] year coming and I know you've been
[4:58] issuing this proclamation a little bit
[4:59] longer than that, but we appreciate your
[5:01] continued support and your leadership in
[5:03] helping us raise awareness of attendance
[5:06] um by issuing the proclamation. Our
[5:08] United Way works to give local kids a
[5:10] better future and kids who regularly
[5:13] attend school are in a we're setting
[5:15] them up for success, right? Getting to
[5:17] school is the most important thing. It
[5:19] sets kids up for success not just in
[5:20] their coursework but also socially and
[5:23] emotionally. Um, celebrating September
[5:25] as attendance awareness month helps
[5:28] remind all of us as parents and
[5:29] caregivers or grandparents, friends,
[5:31] neighbors that we can all support our
[5:32] kids in getting to school. So, united we
[5:36] can help our kids reach their full
[5:37] potential. It's our new tagline. So,
[5:39] thank you again um, city of West
[5:40] Richland for your time and for
[5:42] supporting our attendance awareness
[5:43] efforts. Thank you.
[5:44] >> Thank you very much.
[5:47] Our second uh, proclamation is suicide
[5:50] prevention awareness month.
[5:53] Suicide is a serious public health
[5:55] concern that affects individuals,
[5:56] families, schools, workplaces, and
[5:59] communities throughout Benton and
[6:01] Franklin counties. Prevention requires a
[6:04] communitywide commitment to awareness,
[6:07] education, early identification, access
[6:10] to support, and reducing the stigma
[6:13] associated with mental health and
[6:15] seeking help. The Benton Franklin
[6:18] Community Health Improvement Program
[6:20] identifies mental health as a community
[6:23] health priority and emphasizes the
[6:26] importance of coordinated efforts among
[6:28] healthcare and behavioral health
[6:29] providers, schools, first responders,
[6:32] faith communities, employers, community
[6:35] leaders, and residents. So whereas
[6:38] education and training for community
[6:40] leaders, employers, educators, health
[6:43] care professionals, and other trusted
[6:45] community members increases awareness of
[6:48] suicide warning signs, encourages early
[6:51] intervention, and fosters environments
[6:54] where mental health is supported and
[6:56] helpseeking is encouraged. Now
[6:59] therefore, I, Fred Brink, mayor, city of
[7:01] West Richland, do hereby proclaim
[7:03] September 2026 as suicide prevention
[7:06] month in the city of West Richland. And
[7:08] I call upon community members to educate
[7:11] themselves about suicide prevention,
[7:14] recognize warning signs, connect
[7:16] individuals to resources, and help
[7:18] create a community where mental health
[7:20] is prioritized and seeking help is
[7:22] supported without stigma. We have a
[7:25] representative here from the uh the
[7:28] executive director of the Columbia Base
[7:30] and Veterans Center, Mr. Christopher
[7:32] Deer, to receive the proclamation. Would
[7:34] you please meet me at the podium, sir?
[7:41] » You send me that picture.
[8:00] Thank you, mayor and city council and
[8:03] all everybody else that's here. It's an
[8:05] honor to be with you and I'm here
[8:07] representing uh bigger than just the
[8:09] veteran side of things, but no matter
[8:12] where you sit and I want to just read
[8:13] this so you kind of understand the the
[8:15] list of names that are involved. We have
[8:17] be behavioral health providers, public
[8:19] health and prevention partners, school
[8:21] districts and education staff, healthc
[8:23] care organizations, community- based
[8:24] organizations, individuals with lived
[8:26] experience, prevention and crisis
[8:28] response partners, and veterans serving
[8:30] organization. And I say that just
[8:32] because if you think about all that we
[8:34] do, this hits every sector that we're
[8:36] talking about. I did send something to
[8:38] uh Councilman Fedto that he can share
[8:40] with everybody. It's a little sheet that
[8:42] can give you some information.
[8:44] Hopefully, you'd share that for me. Uh the biggest thing I'd share with you
[8:47] no matter what uh who we're talking
[8:49] about isolation is the biggest problem
[8:52] we have right now and I think you can
[8:53] see that happening as people stare at
[8:55] their phones even as they sit next to
[8:56] you that this it's an issue that's going
[8:58] on. So there's a lot of people who find
[9:01] themsel uh right next to you but
[9:03] isolated. And so my challenge to
[9:05] everything we're doing here is to really
[9:07] walk forward opening our eyes giving
[9:09] them a nudge maybe grabbing their phone
[9:11] and throw it in the lake. I don't know
[9:13] whether something of that fashion but I
[9:15] would just say uh what we're talking
[9:17] about is crucial and it affects our
[9:19] children and it affects a few uh all the
[9:21] way up to our veterans and even it
[9:23] sounds crazy but some of our largest
[9:25] population is uh our later stage in age
[9:29] uh people have strong suicidal
[9:31] tendencies. So and then there's a couple
[9:33] things you can get involved with.
[9:35] There's take stride suicide prevention
[9:37] on Wednesday September 30th. Now, I'm
[9:39] not running this, but I can tell you on
[9:41] that there's information that will be
[9:42] sent out. It's something you can be a
[9:44] part of. There's an out of the darkness
[9:45] suicide prevention walk on Saturday,
[9:47] October 24th. And then for the veteran
[9:50] side of things, the month of November,
[9:52] you've probably seen those signs. I
[9:53] think I came last year and held them up.
[9:55] We're going to have them again this
[9:57] year. If you'd like to be a part of
[9:58] sponsoring some signs, bringing some
[10:00] signs, putting them out there, we'll
[10:01] bring you some and we'd love that. It
[10:03] has our suicide prevention number on it
[10:05] and then also how people can get a hold
[10:06] of us. So, thank you so much. Truly
[10:09] appreciate it. It means a lot. Thank
[10:11] you.
[10:12] >> Thank you, Mr. D.
[10:17] » All right. Moving on the agenda. Uh this
[10:19] is now our first public comment period.
[10:22] For items not on the agenda. So, if you
[10:24] wish to provide comments, uh please
[10:27] raise your hand so that you're
[10:29] recognized. I'll ask you to come to the
[10:31] podium and you'll have three minutes to
[10:32] provide your comments. The first public
[10:35] comment period is limited to a total of
[10:37] 30 minutes to allow council to move
[10:39] forward with meeting business. If we're
[10:42] unable to hear from everyone who wishes
[10:43] to speak before the 30 minute period
[10:46] concludes, there is of course another
[10:48] opportunity at the second public comment
[10:50] period later in tonight's meeting. And
[10:53] please remember once again, council
[10:54] cannot respond to questions during the
[10:57] comment period. And this time frame is
[11:00] for comments not relating to items on
[11:02] the agenda as we'll ask for comments
[11:04] about agenda items as they're discussed.
[11:07] Is there anyone that wishes to come
[11:08] forward, please? And I kindly ask you
[11:12] state your name and city of residence
[11:13] for the record.
[11:16] >> Thank you, mayor. I'm Jerry Bogs, city
[11:18] of West Richland. I just have a short
[11:20] comment. I understand that there is a
[11:22] probability the city will do a town hall
[11:25] on data centers when that becomes a more
[11:29] uh relevant issue in the sense that we
[11:33] can believe it will happen. So what I
[11:36] recommend to you strongly, not strongly,
[11:38] it doesn't matter. I recommend it to you
[11:41] is that you involve the public, not just
[11:43] as an audience, but as a source of
[11:46] information, positions, and and facts
[11:50] and things that aren't facts. There's at
[11:53] least one organization in our our Tri
[11:56] Cities that deals with data centers as a
[12:01] whole for each of the cities and they
[12:03] have a leadership group that seemed to
[12:07] be well-versed that put on a meeting
[12:10] through Indivisible at the Richland
[12:12] Library on Saturday and it was good. I
[12:15] went there. I enjoyed it. I thought it
[12:17] was fairly well presented. sometimes
[12:20] lacking context for the comments and
[12:22] conclusions that were made. But my point
[12:26] is, please don't treat the public as
[12:28] just a passive
[12:31] uh entity. Use them and get their
[12:35] opinion through at least the group or
[12:38] representatives of that group that are
[12:39] actively involved. Thank you.
[12:46] Please
[12:58] text Bender 786 South 38th Avenue here
[13:01] in West Richland. Um, I wanted to
[13:03] comment about the data centers also. And
[13:05] last time we were here, we talked, we
[13:06] asked questions about that. And then we
[13:07] see in the newspaper that Tremble Crow
[13:10] is rolling around here looking at stuff
[13:12] in here and it's been going on since
[13:14] before you, right? And we asked about
[13:16] that and no one gave us a straight
[13:18] answer that, oh, we know this is
[13:19] happening. There's nothing going on. And
[13:21] we kind of know your position on because
[13:23] you said we needed peerreview stuff to
[13:25] bring it to you. Well, you're not going
[13:25] to get peerreview information in
[13:27] something like this. You're going to get
[13:28] the accounts of people that that
[13:30] actually deal with this stuff. And um
[13:33] 70% of the people are against this. It's
[13:34] just a fact. And why? Because they don't
[13:38] want they don't want the stuff in their
[13:39] backyard. And I I I don't blame them.
[13:41] Just looking at what's we're reading,
[13:43] what we're seeing. But um it it's not
[13:46] going to be a conducive thing for us, I
[13:48] don't think. But what we want more than
[13:49] anything is our city council to be
[13:52] square with us because you're not our
[13:54] government. We are the government. And
[13:56] you guys work for us. And when you hide
[13:58] stuff from us or you're not truthful
[14:00] with us, then that that puts a a stain
[14:02] on us and a stain on you. And we don't
[14:05] like to be, you know, we have this rule
[14:06] in life I've gone all my life with. Fool
[14:08] me once, shame on me. Fool me twice,
[14:10] shame on you. And the retaliation that
[14:12] comes back like recalling people, you
[14:16] know, those kind of things. That's what
[14:16] needs to start happening because if our
[14:18] government doesn't yield to us, then we
[14:20] don't have a govern anymore. We have a
[14:22] dictatorship. And that's what we dealt
[14:23] with a lot with the last mayor. I feel
[14:27] in all the years I've lived here and I
[14:28] don't want to go through that again. I
[14:30] want my vote, my children, my
[14:31] grandchildren, my everybody that lives
[14:33] here to have a say in this deal because
[14:35] that's what our constitution guarantees.
[14:37] This is our government. Okay, that's all
[14:39] I wanted to say about that. Thank you
[14:41] for your time. Thank you.
[14:46] Is there anyone else present that would
[14:48] like to make comment?
[14:51] All right, seeing none, we'll move on
[14:52] with the agenda. Tonight's consent
[14:55] agenda includes approving minutes of the
[14:57] regular meeting August 18, 2026, the
[15:01] special meeting August 25, 2026.
[15:04] Resolution 51-28
[15:07] authorizing the mayor to execute a site
[15:09] lease agreement
[15:10] with PI Towers development LLC. Motion
[15:15] to approve the final plat of Red
[15:17] Mountain Industrial
[15:19] uh 3phase 1, file number plat 019-2025.
[15:26] Motion authorizing public works director
[15:28] to apply for a public works board flood
[15:31] resilient grant. At this time, I'll open
[15:34] comment for items that I've specifically
[15:36] mentioned on the consent agenda. If
[15:38] there's anyone that would like to make a
[15:40] comment on the consent agenda items,
[15:42] please raise your hand. I will recognize
[15:44] you and ask you to come to the podium.
[15:46] Once again, I kindly ask that you limit
[15:48] your comments to three minutes and state
[15:51] your name and city of residence for the
[15:53] record. Is there anyone present who
[15:55] wishes to comment on the consent agenda?
[16:00] All right. Seeing no one council,
[16:03] may I have a motion to for the consent
[16:06] agenda?
[16:07] >> I move to approve the consent agenda as
[16:09] read.
[16:10] >> Second.
[16:11] >> Have a motion and a second. All in
[16:13] favor, please say I.
[16:14] >> I.
[16:15] >> Any opposed say no.
[16:18] Motion carries. Thank you, councel.
[16:22] So, council will move on to item eight
[16:25] on the agenda. Item eight is a public
[16:29] hearing for a moratorum citing less
[16:32] restrictive alternative or LR facilities
[16:35] serving sexually violent predators.
[16:39] City Attorney Jessica Folultz will
[16:41] present the staff report.
[16:44] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor and members of the
[16:46] council. Um, in 1990, the Washington
[16:48] legislature enacted the Community
[16:50] Protection Act, which is currently
[16:52] codified at chapter 7109 in the RCW.
[16:56] Uh, this these statutes authorize the
[16:58] indefinite civil commitment of people
[17:00] that are determined by courts to be
[17:02] sexually violent predators, um, also
[17:04] known as SVPs. Uh these people have com
[17:08] uh completed, excuse me, their criminal
[17:10] sentences, but have been found by the
[17:12] court to be likely to reaffend if
[17:14] they're not confined in a secure
[17:16] facility. Uh subsequent case law has
[17:18] determined that uh there is recurring
[17:23] uh evaluation of these individuals to
[17:26] determine whether they qualify for
[17:27] placement in what's called a less
[17:29] restrictive alternative setting. Um
[17:32] there was a very recent um LRA situation
[17:36] that occurred in Kenowick. Um these are
[17:38] often group homes that can be located in
[17:41] residential areas. Um and the law allows
[17:45] uh some regulations as far as their
[17:48] sighting. Um but but we are limited and
[17:50] that was part of what the issue was in
[17:52] Kenowick. Um so in addition to the LRA
[17:56] facilities which are kind of what we
[17:58] consider as a a more of a residential
[18:00] placement um there are also regulations
[18:03] on what we call secure community
[18:04] transition facilities um which are a
[18:07] more structured placement uh that some
[18:10] of these individuals reside at. Um those
[18:14] uh facilities meet the definition of
[18:17] essential public facilities under RCW
[18:19] 3678200.
[18:21] uh cities planning under the growth
[18:22] management act um which includes West
[18:25] Richland um are uh required to include
[18:29] provisions for the sighting of those
[18:31] facilities in their development
[18:32] regulations. Uh so the city does have uh
[18:35] some regulations that we passed in the
[18:38] last several months um to try to uh
[18:41] address this issue. However, it's come
[18:44] to light since that time that there is
[18:46] going to be a somewhat of a regional
[18:49] conversation about this with the other
[18:50] cities um which we think is in West
[18:53] Richland's best interest um to ensure
[18:56] that you know one city doesn't have
[18:58] lesser restrictions and then that's um
[19:00] where these may be cited um or just in
[19:04] general that we're not inconsistent with
[19:06] each other. Um, so in order to preserve
[19:10] the ability to develop those
[19:12] regulations, uh, council may remember
[19:14] that a moratorum was passed on July
[19:16] 14th. That was ordinance number 1526,
[19:19] which established a six-month moratorium
[19:21] on the sighting of LRA facilities within
[19:23] the city of West Richland. Um the law
[19:26] requires the law regarding moratoriums
[19:28] requires that if we did not adopt
[19:30] findings of fact at the time of entry,
[19:32] we have to do that within 60 days to
[19:34] establish why a a continued moratorium
[19:36] is necessary. Uh so tonight's public
[19:39] hearing is to provide an opportunity for
[19:41] the council to receive comments from
[19:43] staff um and to consider public
[19:45] testimony regarding the moratorum. Uh
[19:48] following the hearing uh staff will be
[19:50] recommending uh ordinance number 2026 be
[19:53] adopted which would support retention of
[19:56] the six-month mortorium through entry of
[19:58] findings of fact. Um those proposed
[20:01] findings uh that we'll address after the
[20:03] public hearing recognize that our
[20:05] existing regulations may not adequately
[20:07] address these facilities especially
[20:09] considering what the regional landscape
[20:11] will look like. Um all other cities
[20:13] within our region have a current
[20:15] moratorium in effect um in some
[20:18] uh place or another. Some have extended
[20:21] theirs because they adopted them
[20:22] earlier. Um some are relatively newer
[20:25] moratorums such as ours. Um and we
[20:28] actually um met earlier today with the
[20:31] other cities and their appointing
[20:32] directors and mayors to kind of discuss
[20:35] preliminary stages of conversations
[20:37] about this. Um so again uh this
[20:40] moratorum is intended as a temporary and
[20:42] measured response that will provide us
[20:44] adequate time to study the applicable
[20:46] law, evaluate existing regulations that
[20:49] we have in place, discuss with other
[20:50] cities um a coordinated effort to
[20:54] regulate these to the extent that we can
[20:56] and to develop appropriate regulations.
[20:58] Um [clears throat] so city staff um
[21:01] following the public hearing will
[21:02] recommend adoption of ordinance 2026.
[21:06] I'd be happy to answer questions.
[21:08] >> All right. Thank you, counselor. I will
[21:10] now open the public hearing at 6:21
[21:14] p.m. Is there anyone that would like to
[21:17] make comment on this particular item,
[21:19] which is of course moratorium citing
[21:21] less restrictive alternative housing
[21:23] facilities.
[21:37] It's Bender here again. Uh 786 South
[21:40] 38th Avenue, West Richland. I'm for
[21:42] that. I'm for us never having those. I
[21:45] spent some years, me and my son back
[21:46] here, protecting victims of this. And
[21:49] they don't quit. These these guys don't
[21:50] quit coming. They don't quit coming. No
[21:52] matter what the law says, no matter what
[21:54] goes on, they still show up in the
[21:55] middle of the night and we ride out and
[21:57] we get rid of them. We take care of
[21:58] them. We put take them to the police. We
[21:59] do whatever we have to do. They don't
[22:01] care what the law says. It's no
[22:03] different than any other criminal. Yet,
[22:05] they have a thing that that drives them
[22:07] in insanely. No matter what they do,
[22:09] they find them. We hide them. They find
[22:11] them. They go get them. And you have to
[22:12] get those people away from them. We
[22:14] protected hundreds of young children
[22:17] that we took them to court. We did all
[22:19] kinds of thing and protected them from
[22:20] these evil people. And the bottom line
[22:22] is they don't change. Doesn't matter
[22:23] what's going on with them. I mean, we
[22:25] had situations where there's 25 of us
[22:27] bikers sitting there and the people roll
[22:30] up and in one of the incidents they're
[22:32] there to pick we're helping these little
[22:33] girls and there's a courtappointed
[22:35] psychologist there and he threaten he
[22:37] threatens to kill her because he can't
[22:39] get at his daughters and this is a guy
[22:42] from works at Pendleton as an officer
[22:44] down there in Pendleton you know at this
[22:45] prison and so but we had that we saw it
[22:48] everywhere and they never quit coming
[22:50] middle of the night we're riding out
[22:51] someplace you know we're going here
[22:53] we're going to court things you hear the
[22:54] things that happened to these kids,
[22:55] little kids that have been molested and
[22:57] raped for four to five years from time
[22:58] they're eight till they're 12 years old
[23:00] or whole families of kids that this
[23:02] happened to where they were put in
[23:03] adopted home or care homes and the
[23:05] caregiver was doing that to them. And so
[23:08] it doesn't stop and they don't ever stop
[23:10] and these people won't change because
[23:11] they're reprobate. Their minds are
[23:13] reprobate and they don't care about
[23:15] those children. All they care about is
[23:16] that desire they have to hurt to get
[23:19] what they want and that's all they care
[23:21] about. And we've seen it over and over
[23:22] again. And I think we had I think we had
[23:24] around 153 children that we protected.
[23:27] And there was another hundred waiting on
[23:28] the waiting list for us to come and
[23:29] protect here in the Tri Cities. And you
[23:32] know, and so we got rid of a a guy like
[23:34] that because we sat outside of his house
[23:36] and handed out flyers because he wasn't
[23:38] going to live that close to a school
[23:40] where they walk back and forth and we
[23:41] got rid of him, right? And and so it's
[23:45] sad that we had to step in and of our
[23:47] court systems and our and our legal
[23:49] system and get rid of these guys and
[23:50] keep them out of our hair. They don't
[23:51] ever change and we saw that it was 99.9%
[23:55] of the time they never changed. They
[23:57] never gave [clears throat] up. So, I
[23:59] just wanted to say that. So, but I'm all
[24:00] for the mortoriiums and I think
[24:02] everybody should be. We don't want them
[24:03] in our city. We don't want them in our
[24:04] area. There's plenty of places in in
[24:06] Washington where they can be by
[24:08] themselves and not bother anybody. And and I was over visiting with the the
[24:12] prosecutor attorney over in King County
[24:14] and she that's what she does specialize
[24:16] in this. And they don't get any time.
[24:18] They can do this to a kid and they get a
[24:19] year, right? They get six months or time
[24:22] served. They don't go to jail for 15
[24:23] years to get rehabilitated. It's just a
[24:25] slap on the hands out. They come again
[24:27] and they're ready again. And the average
[24:29] is 300 children they bother before they
[24:32] ever get caught. And no one understands
[24:35] that. 300 children. I know I got
[24:37] children or grandchildren that, you
[24:40] know, I mean, the reality is you just I
[24:42] just got to get rid of them. Thank you
[24:44] for your time.
[24:45] >> Thank you.
[24:50] Is there anyone else present that would
[24:51] like to make comment on this particular
[24:53] agenda item?
[24:55] All right. Seeing none, I will close the
[24:58] public hearing at 6:25
[25:01] p.m.
[25:03] And council, I will ask you for a
[25:05] motion, please. Following the
[25:07] >> I move to adopt ordinance number 2026
[25:11] adopting findings of fact in support of
[25:13] retaining the six-month moratorium
[25:15] established by ordinance number 1526
[25:18] on the sighting of less restrictive
[25:20] alternative facilities serving sexually
[25:22] violent predators.
[25:24] >> Second.
[25:25] >> All right, we have a motion and a
[25:26] second. Now's time. Any further council
[25:29] discussion, comments, questions?
[25:34] Uh, Mayor Promble Bloom, go ahead.
[25:37] >> Uh, is the county also included in that
[25:40] discussion with the cities?
[25:44] >> At this time, uh, this is a cityon
[25:47] discussion there. I think that's
[25:49] intentional um, in that I think there
[25:52] was something brought up about there is
[25:55] sometimes
[25:56] a a tension between county and city
[25:59] regulations on these types of matters.
[26:01] Um and so I think we have not had our
[26:05] this meeting today was um a lobbyist
[26:08] kind of giving an overview about the
[26:10] general status of this and what options
[26:12] maybe there were to take to the
[26:14] legislature. Um when we start to have
[26:17] regional meetings between the attorneys
[26:19] for each jurisdiction, I think at that
[26:21] point we could discuss involving the
[26:23] county if we think it's um consistent.
[26:26] But at this time, all the cities have
[26:28] signed a um an agreement that allows us
[26:32] to speak together without risk of
[26:34] attorney client privilege issues. Um and
[26:36] we have not yet expanded that to the
[26:38] county.
[26:38] >> Well, the only reason is donut holes in the city. So, thank you,
[26:49] » Council Member Smart. Yeah. So, uh,
[26:51] Jessica, if I could ask a question
[26:53] besides what you just um said, what what
[26:55] can you um what is the course of action
[27:01] that we're that's going to be happening
[27:02] between now and the time this moratorum
[27:05] comes pass?
[27:06] >> Our plan is to um schedule regional
[27:10] meetings to discuss some of the cities
[27:13] um have been working on regulations.
[27:16] Part of the challenge is the law is not
[27:20] has not really been tested in this area.
[27:23] Um, and it's not super clear. And so I
[27:26] think part of the thought was getting a
[27:29] few minds together um, and making a
[27:33] decision about the best course of action
[27:34] moving forward. Um, so our initial plan,
[27:38] and we didn't discuss this today, but if
[27:41] Kenowick's kind of taking the lead on
[27:42] this, um, if they don't reach out in the
[27:44] next few days, I'll send an email out to
[27:47] schedule a regional meeting between the
[27:48] attorneys, kind of touch base about
[27:50] where people are at with their
[27:52] regulations, um, discuss any concerns or
[27:55] changes that we should have, and then
[27:56] there's kind of a separate effort with
[27:59] the lobbyist, who I think works formally
[28:02] for Kenowick and Pasco, um, to try to
[28:04] get some legis legislative interest in
[28:07] some changes. So that's our plan.
[28:12] » And so what what's the um what's the
[28:15] anticipated reporting to city councils
[28:17] on these meetings? Um is this going to
[28:19] be working through a subcommittee or
[28:21] through our directors?
[28:22] >> So yes, probably staff updates. Um we
[28:26] will
[28:27] our moratorum is up sometime towards the
[28:30] end of the year. I think all the other
[28:31] cities are in the same boat. Um, so
[28:33] we're going to we'll be updating council
[28:35] as far as if we're ready to bring
[28:37] something to council if we have to
[28:39] extend the moratorum, which we can do.
[28:41] Um, if we if we're not at a point then
[28:43] where we can uh develop regulations. Um,
[28:46] I I guess I do want to be clear that and
[28:49] just set expectations. We are not going
[28:52] to be able to prohibit these um and
[28:56] state law would not allow that. So,
[28:57] we're we're trying to kind of navigate
[28:59] um what makes sense in compliance with
[29:02] the law and also uh trying to keep the
[29:04] community safe.
[29:10] » Council member, Bryant, go ahead.
[29:14] >> Thank you. [laughter]
[29:17] Um I would just like to echo that if
[29:20] there is any way possible to include the
[29:22] county because of those donut holes. I
[29:24] hadn't even thought of that, but that is
[29:26] a very good point. We don't want to have
[29:28] something that's near the edge but still
[29:31] in the city have the possibility of
[29:34] having more lax requirements and then
[29:37] ending up having something like that
[29:39] focused right there. So, if there's any
[29:42] way to include the county on that,
[29:43] please.
[29:44] >> I think that's certainly something we'll
[29:46] evaluate. Um but I will say you know
[29:50] that there are uh buffer requirements
[29:53] that for example they have to be a
[29:55] certain number of feet from a school or
[29:56] things of that nature. So um we would we
[30:01] will consider that um as we look at you
[30:03] know where are the potential pockets. Um
[30:06] I just we don't know where the county's
[30:07] at right now. Um but I appreciate that
[30:10] and we'll certainly keep that in mind as
[30:11] we move forward.
[30:14] Council member Richie.
[30:16] >> Uh, thank you. Um, Miss Folz, to that
[30:18] end, I want to echo what Council Member
[30:22] Moran said and wholeheartedly support
[30:25] getting the county on board. We've
[30:27] already been through a few fiascos with
[30:30] donut holes in the city of West
[30:31] Richland. And so, to that end, I want to
[30:35] make sure that that we close this one up
[30:38] tight. Thank you.
[30:43] Council member Smart,
[30:44] >> one one other comment on that note. Um,
[30:48] you know, I would encourage our citizens
[30:50] to reach out to our county commissioners
[30:52] and make this a point of importance to
[30:54] them because uh without cooperation, you
[30:59] know, we could see uh these placed in
[31:02] county lands
[31:05] um without almost without any
[31:08] acknowledgement of what's sitting next
[31:10] door inside the city boundary, whether
[31:12] it be a neighborhood. and hopefully they
[31:14] would respect the school boundaries, but
[31:17] I'm concerned also about the residential
[31:19] neighborhoods that abut our um county
[31:22] lines.
[31:24] >> Thank you, council member. Um I will ask
[31:28] uh councelor Folultz to give council
[31:30] regular updates as meetings are held to
[31:33] keep all of you informed as to the
[31:36] status of these discussions. I did sit
[31:38] in on today's discussion uh and and did
[31:41] share some perspectives from the
[31:43] Association of Washington City's
[31:45] viewpoint which this issue is common
[31:48] throughout the state uh with the
[31:51] possible sightings of course Kenowick
[31:53] sighting being the one that's nearest
[31:55] and dearest to us but I will ask uh
[31:58] councelor Folultz to make sure that keep
[32:00] council up to date on this as the
[32:02] conversations are conducted.
[32:05] All right. If there's no other
[32:07] discussion on this topic, council, we
[32:10] have a motion for ordinance 2026 citing
[32:14] less restrictive alternative facilities
[32:16] serving sexually violent predators. All
[32:19] in favor say I.
[32:20] >> I.
[32:21] >> Any opposed say no.
[32:23] >> All right. Thank you, councel.
[32:26] >> We don't have any unfinished business
[32:27] this evening, nor do we have any new
[32:29] business. So, we next up is the second
[32:32] opportunity for public comment. Once
[32:34] again, if you wish to speak, please
[32:36] raise your hand. I'll recognize you and
[32:38] you will have three minutes at the
[32:39] podium. I would ask anyone who wishes to
[32:42] speak to kindly state their name and
[32:44] city of residence.
[32:46] Is there anyone present who would like
[32:47] to speak?
[32:59] » Yep. Take your time, Mr. Bender. Um,
[33:03] text Bender 786 South 38th Avenue, West
[33:06] Richland. Um, I agree with her because I
[33:08] know from the county they don't they're
[33:10] not in the same boat we're in.
[33:11] Otherwise, we wouldn't have these dumb
[33:12] donut holes, right? If they were in the
[33:13] same boat, we would have a boat like we
[33:15] have behind me on 38th out to the water.
[33:17] There's a big donut hole behind me
[33:18] there, you know, and and they they don't
[33:20] make any sense because that's where the
[33:22] problems go. during the COVID thing and the the crazies that were coming to
[33:26] town. We had quite a few people camping
[33:27] in our in our that area back behind
[33:30] there on 29 acres and couldn't get the
[33:32] county to do anything, you know. I mean,
[33:35] you know, we I even had a run in with
[33:36] them where they came in up in the yard
[33:38] and we're trying to steal stuff out of
[33:40] my out of my off my yard, the Trager,
[33:42] you know. It's like, wow, great. You
[33:44] know, and so, but the police did respond
[33:46] to get that because they were looking
[33:48] body bags and get them out of the yard.
[33:50] But the bottom line is um the county is
[33:53] not on our side on all this stuff, you
[33:55] know, and you've seen that. You see that
[33:56] no matter where you go in the state of
[33:57] Washington, you see it. I saw it on the
[33:59] west side. You see it here. The county
[34:01] will will just drag you down. What needs
[34:03] to stand is the people that stand inside
[34:05] these cities because they're the
[34:06] majority that hold the county. And
[34:09] that's how we take the count make the
[34:10] county move where we want them to go is
[34:12] that majority is in each one of these
[34:13] cities. Pasco and their county down
[34:16] there and and Kenwick and and Benton
[34:17] County. That's us that takes care of
[34:19] that. And we force them to do it do the
[34:21] job they're supposed to do and that's
[34:23] protect the citizens. That's the first
[34:24] number one priority. And these these perverts and these people, they're
[34:28] not a they're not a priority in our
[34:29] society and they never should be. The
[34:32] welfare of your family, my family, our
[34:34] grandkids, and and the children all
[34:35] around us, that's what's important.
[34:38] Nothing else. These people have lost
[34:40] their opportunity to be cared about when
[34:43] they committed the crimes they
[34:44] committed. And so, um, [clears throat]
[34:46] that's just all I want to say. I just
[34:47] the getting the the county on board. We
[34:51] do it ourselves. We make the county get
[34:53] on board with us. And that's how you you have to sway. You have to use the
[34:56] majority that we have, you know. Thank
[34:59] you for your time.
[35:01] [clears throat]
[35:04] Is there anyone else present that would
[35:06] like to make public comment?
[35:10] All right. Seeing no one, we'll move on
[35:12] to uh staff and council announcements
[35:15] reports. I'll start with city staff,
[35:22] community and economic development
[35:24] director Mendall.
[35:27] >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the
[35:29] council. Uh typ typically we don't make
[35:31] this kind of announcement, but um the
[35:35] TIGS has sold their land to Traml Crow.
[35:37] Um just wanted to let you know that that
[35:40] has occurred. So just wanted to share
[35:42] that as the public is definitely
[35:44] concerned and has some interest but um
[35:46] wanted to share that information. Now
[35:49] there will be a public process if we
[35:51] were to receive an application for a
[35:53] data center. Again we have not received
[35:55] one. It would go through a significant
[35:58] public process similar to what the
[35:59] Louiswis and Clark ranch went through
[36:02] and I'd be happy to talk with anyone
[36:03] after the meeting on that. Um I've got
[36:06] my cards here and can and be happy to
[36:08] share that with them.
[36:11] Thank you, Mr. Menhal.
[36:14] Any other staff comments? No. All right,
[36:16] council, your turn. Any council member
[36:20] care to make comments or reports?
[36:23] I will start with council member Stoker.
[36:26] Save you from putting up your card.
[36:28] >> Yeah.
[36:29] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so it is
[36:32] September and like September of every
[36:34] year, I try to put my stick in that to
[36:37] me this is Constitution Month. Um
[36:40] September 17th is the day the
[36:42] constitution was basically signed. Not
[36:46] really signed, but okay. It's the
[36:47] accepted signature date. Um so hopefully
[36:50] this month I'd like to encourage council
[36:53] staff and our fellow citizens to read
[36:57] the constitution. It's not that hard. Um
[37:01] it's only a few pages. [laughter]
[37:04] Um and um I think next next time I will
[37:07] try to bring some of my pocket
[37:09] constitutions that I have and willing to
[37:11] hand them out to anybody who would like
[37:12] to be interested in one. So September
[37:15] 17th is Constitution Day. Um so please take the time to understand a
[37:21] little better the the bedrock foundation
[37:23] of this great nation. And thank you
[37:26] >> you council member Moran.
[37:30] >> Sorry my pen died. Um, so since our last
[37:36] business meeting, I attended a Benton
[37:39] Franklin Council of Governments Board
[37:41] meeting and a Benton County uh, housing
[37:46] continuum of care meeting and uh, I will
[37:51] just say that the way that the COG is
[37:54] going um, I really like the way that
[37:58] it's continuing to progress and I know
[38:00] that there is discuss discussions with
[38:03] uh the tech board member as uh Mr. Slate
[38:07] as well as myself coming up soon uh
[38:09] after Labor Day so that we can talk to
[38:12] the cog about well just how things are
[38:15] going for the city. Uh other than that
[38:19] um I hope everybody has a safe Labor Day
[38:22] weekend.
[38:24] >> Thank you, Council Member Moran. Uh,
[38:27] council member Fedto.
[38:31] » Thank you, sir. Uh, Legislative Council,
[38:34] Tricer Regional Chamber and HBA are uh
[38:36] hosting the elect reception October 1st
[38:40] at the reach. Um, I don't know if this
[38:43] went out to everybody. If not, I'll
[38:45] forward it to Stephanie and have her
[38:48] pass that along. Um,
[38:51] and don't forget 920 is Iron Man. Um
[38:56] that's in 19 days. So Sunday the 20th,
[38:59] just be prepared um for an
[39:01] inconvenience. Thank you,
[39:04] >> Council Member Richie.
[39:08] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh so just a
[39:10] couple of things. Uh yes, Iron Man. And
[39:12] if you want to know when your roads are
[39:15] going to be closed, go look at the
[39:17] city's website and there is a link that
[39:21] you can follow there that will give you
[39:23] the approximate times that the racers uh
[39:28] participants will be passing by your
[39:31] streets. So I've had concerns expressed
[39:35] by citizens, I can't get out, I can't
[39:37] get in, etc., etc. that'll help you to
[39:40] go ahead and plan your day because it
[39:41] they do kind of take over our city. Last
[39:45] thing I'll say is that the roundabout on
[39:48] the south side of town, I got to be the
[39:51] first guy to go through the new
[39:53] roundabout on the south side of town and
[39:56] it is just as smooth as smooth can be.
[39:59] So, Mr. Slade, you're you're doing a
[40:01] great job. I do have some concerns uh
[40:04] near the little strip mall there in
[40:06] middle of town uh down by uh MetalFab,
[40:10] but I see that you're getting that under
[40:12] control as well. So, keep up the good
[40:13] work. Thank you very much.
[40:16] >> Right. Uh Council Member Smart.
[40:20] >> Uh yeah, I had a couple things here. Um
[40:23] one just to uh chime in with
[40:26] Constitution Month. Um, uh, citizens,
[40:30] uh, your homework for this month is to
[40:32] read the Constitution
[40:34] and decide why socialism and communism
[40:37] is antithetical to our US Constitution.
[40:39] I'm not going to give you the answer
[40:41] tonight, but you should read it and
[40:44] determine for yourself why those two.
[40:47] And if you don't know what those two
[40:48] things are, read about them, too. It's
[40:50] all over the internet. So, these are
[40:52] important things, important issues,
[40:54] unfortunately, these days that we have
[40:55] to be concerned about. And um I just
[40:58] encourage you and your children to
[41:00] learn, you know, why we have the
[41:02] freedoms we have and why we won't have
[41:04] the freedoms we have if we adopt
[41:07] socialism or communism. Uh after that, I
[41:10] want a more cheerful note. Um I took a
[41:13] bus ride to the fair. It was free. It
[41:16] was great. It was on time and it was so
[41:19] convenient and I didn't have to pay and
[41:20] I didn't have to walk out in the a dark
[41:23] gravel parking lot. [clears throat] Um,
[41:25] what a great service and my daughters
[41:28] and I really appreciate that it was
[41:29] again free. So, we plan to do that again
[41:32] next year, I'm sure. Data centers. I um
[41:35] received an email today from a resident
[41:38] reminding me to respond to her about
[41:40] concerns about water for data centers. A
[41:43] couple things about this one.
[41:46] to my knowledge, like we just got the
[41:48] information we got. Residents here and
[41:50] online realize that that's all we knew
[41:53] and now we know that. Um, until it gets
[41:56] announced at a at a subcommittee meeting
[41:58] or at this council meeting, we don't
[42:00] officially know anything more than you
[42:02] do, honestly. I mean, there's just no
[42:04] secrets here. Um, when something
[42:06] happens, it happens and then we hear
[42:08] about it and then you know about it and
[42:10] so do we. So, there's no hiding.
[42:13] Certainly not on my part. No lying. I
[42:16] know that's happened in other
[42:17] communities. Um I would admonish staff
[42:20] that if there's ever anything that
[42:23] happens of importance, especially on
[42:24] this topic, that we get notified as soon
[42:26] as possible like we did tonight. Thank
[42:28] you. Um so that we aren't accused of
[42:31] hiding something that has progressed or
[42:34] happened with regard to data centers in
[42:36] this community. So I'm I I won't speak
[42:39] for all of us, but I'll speak for
[42:40] myself. That's that's my feeling on the
[42:42] topic and I hope that we continue to
[42:44] have an open conversation about this. I
[42:46] also um the the email I got today had
[42:50] interesting information about a
[42:52] non-replenishing aquifer out in the in
[42:55] the
[42:57] Louiswis and Clark Ranch area and
[42:59] concerns about how if a if a well was
[43:02] drilled that it might you know be
[43:04] putting I think she said everybody's got
[43:06] the same straw in the milkshake. Um I I
[43:09] don't know right now what a proposal
[43:12] would uh what a data center proposal
[43:14] would propose to use for water source.
[43:16] They might they might pipe it from the
[43:18] Colombia. They might bring their own in
[43:20] from the ocean. I have no idea. There's
[43:22] no not knowledge of that at this point
[43:24] at least as a council member. I don't
[43:27] know. Um
[43:29] our our city community development
[43:32] director, Mr. Menenhal, will probably be
[43:35] one of the first to know. So, I'm gonna point to him and say, you
[43:39] know, if you want the latest and
[43:40] greatest information, write to Eric.
[43:43] He's got an open door. Um, he'll answer
[43:46] your question and if you learn something
[43:47] we don't already know, I'm sure he'll be
[43:49] right on that, too. So, um, you know,
[43:52] when we get a proposal, we'll we will
[43:54] have a better understanding of what's
[43:56] being proposed and whether it's a closed
[43:58] loop system, what's going to happen to
[44:01] the water. It's going to take time. A
[44:02] data center is a big facility. I'm sure
[44:05] this analysis of what they propose is
[44:07] not going to be finished overnight. And
[44:09] as our residents have stated tonight, we would welcome I personally will
[44:14] welcome the input from our community. We
[44:16] have smart people in this community.
[44:19] Okay? I mean worldclass knowledgeable
[44:22] geologists, hydraologists,
[44:25] you know, folks that have dealt with the
[44:26] nuclear plants out there. Um,
[44:29] groundwater movement, um, environmental
[44:32] concerns of all nature, all of these
[44:35] areas of expertise are represented right
[44:37] here in our even in just West Richland,
[44:39] let alone the whole Tri Cities, right?
[44:41] So, if you have these concerns when
[44:43] these proposals come in and and they
[44:45] probably will, we don't know. Maybe they
[44:47] will, maybe they won't.
[44:49] You know, don't organize based on
[44:53] anti-data center rallies just for the
[44:56] sake of being against data centers
[44:58] because you think, you know, big
[44:59] brother's going to be breathing down
[45:00] your neck. That that, by the way,
[45:01] already happens. These data centers,
[45:04] what we're concerned about is how are
[45:05] they going to impact our quality of life
[45:07] with their industrial presence here in
[45:10] our community? Okay? Are they going to poison our water? Are
[45:13] they going to create some sort of nasty
[45:15] noise that we don't want to live with?
[45:17] Um, I can assure you that they will take
[45:20] up some acreage. Fortunately, in West
[45:22] Richland, we have 22 square miles of
[45:25] acres of of 22 square miles of land.
[45:27] We're not going to run out of land
[45:28] anytime soon, but all the other
[45:31] concerns, I mean, that's everybody has a
[45:33] good point there. So, the question is,
[45:35] what are the exact concerns? What are
[45:37] the where are the studies that show us
[45:38] what we should be um
[45:42] asking our data center proponents about?
[45:46] What are the pointed questions that we
[45:48] need to ask them and get them to answer
[45:49] and mitigate? Um and if they can't
[45:52] mitigate them, then to to my
[45:55] satisfaction, I will not be supporting
[45:57] the the in introduction of a data
[45:59] center. If they can mitigate a concern,
[46:02] in all fairness,
[46:04] I I I guess if it's mitigated, it's
[46:06] mitigated. If it's whisper quiet
[46:10] and somebody's got to complain about
[46:11] noise and they've assured us with
[46:12] engineering details that it's not going
[46:14] to be noisy, well, I mean, what else can
[46:17] we say? It's, you know, the the the the
[46:21] automotive shop down the street might be
[46:23] noisier than the data center. We have to
[46:26] play fair. We can't just hold a grudge
[46:28] because they have the name data center
[46:29] on them. But uh that said, I mean, I
[46:32] just want to point out here that that my
[46:34] purpose is to be objective about this.
[46:37] look at the information, the studies,
[46:40] and the parameters that go along with
[46:42] any industrial uh installation, whether
[46:44] it's a data center or or anything else,
[46:48] and make sure that it doesn't adversely
[46:49] impact our residents,
[46:52] that it's safe for the environment, it's
[46:54] not going to poison our water, not going
[46:55] to pollute our air, not going to create
[46:57] lots of noise.
[46:59] Okay? I mean, it's that simple. I and I I would invite our other council
[47:03] members to chime in on this, but I I'm
[47:05] not I'm not trying to hide anything from
[47:07] any any resident, and I'm welcoming your
[47:11] concerns, your your information. If you
[47:14] have studies, if you have information on
[47:15] other data centers that that are failing
[47:18] in one of these areas, uh let us know so
[47:20] that we can really quiz these future
[47:23] proposals on those topics and make sure
[47:25] that any concerns like that are
[47:26] mitigated before we even give them a
[47:28] foothold. So, appreciate your ear on
[47:30] this. Thank you. Bye,
[47:34] >> Council Member Cole.
[47:37] >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I just want to
[47:38] say, hey, amen to what Council Member
[47:41] Smart said. I could re repeat all of
[47:44] that, but
[47:46] what he said would probably save us some
[47:49] effort. Uh, I want to thank Mr. Bender.
[47:52] I agree with your comments and uh as a
[47:55] city I would like to encourage us to
[47:57] consider the strictest measures that we can uh based on as I understand
[48:04] what Jessica explained to us that there
[48:06] is some lack of clarity in the law uh
[48:09] with respect to cities and these things.
[48:12] So, I'd rather lean towards let's let
[48:15] them tell us we were too strict than to
[48:19] find out that we didn't go far enough.
[48:22] Um, and then lastly, um, Council Member
[48:25] Smart suggested a homework assignment on
[48:28] the Constitution. I'm going to I'm going
[48:30] to give them a little bit of help. I
[48:32] recommend you start article 4, section
[48:34] four. That'll probably lead you right to
[48:36] the answer.
[48:39] >> Thank you, Council Member Cole. Um,
[48:42] Council Member Moran, did you have one
[48:43] quick comment?
[48:44] >> Yes. Uh, apologies. I got distracted by
[48:47] the the information we got and my pen
[48:50] running out of ink at the same time. So,
[48:52] I lost my uh train of thought that I was
[48:54] going to say. Um, uh, briefly just
[48:56] wanted to say, um, yeah, that was the
[49:01] first time we had heard about the sale
[49:03] to Traml Crow. So, we're not keeping
[49:05] secrets, trust me. Uh sometimes
[49:09] without meaning to we get treated not
[49:14] that's unfair. Sometimes I feel as if
[49:17] I'm a fungi but I know that I'm not.
[49:20] It's just
[49:22] the way that the beast is. Um but uh
[49:25] that's kept in the dark and fed crap.
[49:28] But I know that the staff doesn't do
[49:29] that to us. It's just anyway. Um, but I
[49:33] will say regarding the free fair, sorry,
[49:36] regarding the free fair for uh, Ben
[49:38] Franklin Transit, uh, we did speak at
[49:41] our last meeting about wanting to do a
[49:44] test run when school was in session
[49:47] because during the summer could be very
[49:49] different than how it is when school is
[49:51] in session because the students will be
[49:52] using the buses. So, there will be
[49:54] another trial run, we've been told,
[49:58] sometime during the school year. So, we
[50:00] can look forward to that and we'll be
[50:02] able to crunch the numbers and see how
[50:04] it looks going fair free. I'm rooting
[50:07] for fair free to win, but we'll see how
[50:09] that goes. Thank you,
[50:11] >> Mayor Pro Tim Bloom.
[50:14] >> I think I'll follow up on that. I am
[50:15] totally opposed to fair free uh from the
[50:18] standpoint of uh and I sent something
[50:22] [clears throat]
[50:22] to the current uh
[50:25] um
[50:27] chief executive officer. Um my my nephew
[50:32] happens to be a bus driver
[50:34] and
[50:37] um and they had they got sued because
[50:42] they let somebody on the bus who stabbed
[50:44] somebody without a fair. And so
[50:48] reinforcing fairs has become the rule.
[50:52] And that and the the key comes down to
[50:55] is
[50:58] we the fairs that you get charged on the
[51:01] bus is minimal. It it doesn't cover
[51:05] even 10% of the cost and but it is
[51:10] important from a standpoint of
[51:12] maintaining safety for those that are
[51:15] riding the bus. So before you make a
[51:19] position for West Richland, I think we
[51:21] as a council should be on the position
[51:24] of whether that's the what we want to
[51:27] support because it's important for the
[51:29] safety of our citizens
[51:32] that that there is some control of who's
[51:36] getting on the bus and some aspects of
[51:39] that. So I just wanted to bring that up.
[51:42] Uh heard on the news tonight we got a
[51:45] second West Nile confirmed case in the
[51:47] Tri Cities. Uh a couple of weeks ago I
[51:51] uh mentioned that good news and bad
[51:54] news. The good news is there less
[51:56] mosquitoes. The bad news most of them
[51:58] are poisonous. Uh
[52:02] it is and just recently there were some
[52:05] eldulide
[52:07] uh aerial applications mainly because
[52:09] we're still seeing the mosquitoes with
[52:12] West Nile in most of the traps. So if
[52:16] you're out use mosquito repellent.
[52:20] We cannot protect you. There are just
[52:22] too many nasty mosquitoes out there
[52:24] along the river, the Yakimma River.
[52:28] Those nasty mosquitoes don't carry
[52:30] Midwest Nile.
[52:32] So, so it's kind of strange. They're
[52:35] specific brands. So, it's mostly in the
[52:37] city and look in your backyard. See if
[52:41] you got a pot of water that's breeding
[52:43] mosquitoes, things like that. But be
[52:46] careful, be wise.
[52:49] It may be too late because usually we
[52:52] don't find out until a month after
[52:54] you've gotten bitten. But I can tell you
[52:57] we're trapping and the mosquitoes are
[52:59] coming back positive and we're doing
[53:02] everything we can to knock them down.
[53:05] Um, I guess I I promised Mr. Slate I was
[53:09] going to ask a question of the cell
[53:12] tower leases for the other cell towers.
[53:14] Are they still active? Uh, you know,
[53:17] this was the one uh we did tonight, lot
[53:20] two, you have two on lot one.
[53:27] So, we do have there's three cell towers
[53:30] up on top of flattop.
[53:32] There's only three. Um, one is expired
[53:36] and it was expired last year. Spent 18
[53:39] months negotiating
[53:41] a renewal and uh couldn't come to terms,
[53:44] so it expired. And that's why tonight
[53:47] you did a new lease thing uh under the
[53:50] same terms they could have had under the
[53:52] renewal except uh instead of having
[53:55] legal terms from 10 years ago, they got
[53:57] it updated to current. So um and they
[54:00] paid for all staff time and attorney
[54:02] time dealing with us. Uh that is on the
[54:05] north side, I'd say the norththeast
[54:10] corner. It's the newest cell tower
[54:13] that's up there and the revenue from
[54:15] that one um goes into the general fund.
[54:18] So, what you adopted tonight is a
[54:20] 10-year uh initial term and they do have
[54:23] a 10-year uh renewal. Uh on that same
[54:27] side of the street on the north side of
[54:29] Historia, there's a Verizon cell tower.
[54:32] Um that one was uh initially
[54:37] I think it was in December of 2004 had
[54:40] initial term of 10 years and it's on
[54:43] 5-year renewals and they're unlimited
[54:46] 5-year renewals. So the last one that
[54:48] council did was in October of 2024. So
[54:51] that one expires in December 31st of
[54:54] 2029.
[54:56] And the last one that's on the south
[54:58] side, um, I've been negotiating with
[55:01] them since March and theirs expires at
[55:04] the end of September. So, we'll see if
[55:06] they are able to get a renewal. Um,
[55:10] been staff's been pretty straightforward
[55:13] with it. This is what the rent is. If
[55:14] you don't want to pay it, take your
[55:15] tower down and move it somewhere else.
[55:17] So, uh, you either pay for a market or
[55:19] go somewhere else. Um, so we'll see if I
[55:22] get an answer in the next few things,
[55:24] but that could be coming uh to the
[55:27] September 15th city council meeting for
[55:30] uh a renewal on theirs.
[55:33] >> Okay. Thank you. Um
[55:37] I guess my question on the data center,
[55:40] just for clarification of the property
[55:42] that we've purchased, it's in the purple
[55:45] area out there on the on the map.
[55:48] >> Correct. the purple area on in the
[55:50] Louiswis and Clark Ranch area. So, um,
[55:53] as you head north of Rupert Road,
[55:55] northwest of Rupert Road, it's that
[55:57] purple area on the map.
[55:58] >> And how many acres?
[56:01] >> Uh, approximately a thousand acres.
[56:06] Um,
[56:09] so thank you. I think that's
[56:16] never mind. Thank you. All right. Um,
[56:20] just a few quick remarks. So, I will get
[56:22] us out here before 7 pm. That's good
[56:25] news. Um, budgets, uh, council, as
[56:28] you're all aware. Uh, this is budget
[56:30] season. You're going to have meetings
[56:32] probably every week. Some of you will
[56:34] enjoy two meetings a week if you're part
[56:36] of the finance subcommittee or other
[56:38] committee meetings as well. But, uh, I
[56:40] had my first discussion of this budget
[56:44] with senior staff. It was really just uh
[56:47] finance director Gwyn presenting
[56:48] everything, a summary of their requests
[56:51] individually to the collective uh group
[56:54] so that they can review it and get back
[56:57] to uh Aaron as soon as possible with
[57:00] regard to what their true priorities
[57:02] are. Uh so we're working on that. You
[57:05] will meet next week to have your first
[57:07] discussions. I think finance committee
[57:09] is meeting Monday. Is that correct?
[57:11] Wednesday. Wednesday of next week. And
[57:15] um if you do
[57:18] Yeah, there'll be a special council
[57:20] meeting Tuesday. Okay.
[57:23] For those of you that may have questions
[57:25] about data centers, I know it's had a
[57:27] big topic of conversation tonight.
[57:29] Please contact Mr. Menenhal directly. He
[57:33] is going to have the information. He's
[57:35] going to know it before I know it
[57:36] because he has to come to me to tell me
[57:38] what's going on so I can share it with
[57:40] everyone else. So, if you do have
[57:42] specific questions, uh, direct them,
[57:45] please to, uh, Director Mendenhal. You
[57:48] may copy me or include me on any email
[57:51] messages. I want to hear what you have
[57:53] to say, where your areas of concern are
[57:55] as well. But please keep that
[57:57] communication open and my suggestion is
[58:00] go directly to Mr. Mendenhal. Lastly, if
[58:04] you saw the uh sandwich board out in the
[58:06] lobby,
[58:08] um Council Member Smart, Public Works
[58:11] Director Slate, and myself are going to
[58:12] be at Yolks uh on Saturday the 12th.
[58:16] This is the Yolks on Bombing Range Road
[58:19] uh from 9:30 to 11. I see Rosco, you're thrilled and enthused with it. Um
[58:26] yeah, but it is a chance for you to have
[58:28] open, candid conversations with myself,
[58:31] with Mr. Slade and with council member
[58:33] Smart. Uh we'll be there to just meet
[58:36] you, answer any questions you have, give
[58:38] you any up-to-date information we might
[58:40] have. But please take advantage of that
[58:43] and I will continue those and invite
[58:45] additional council members to each one.
[58:47] I'm doing it slowly just so you know we
[58:50] get a feel for how it's working. But uh
[58:53] council member Smart graciously
[58:54] volunteered to be the first test uh of
[58:57] council members. Uh, but I want to get
[58:59] everyone out there so that you can
[59:01] engage directly and have a conversation.
[59:04] This is not a conversation. One-on-one
[59:07] is a conversation. Thank you all. It is
[59:09] not yet 7 o'clock. I adjourn tonight's
[59:11] meeting at 6:59 p.m.