[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6374713,"mediaKeyId","2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29","parentId",2143669,"title","Council approves consent agenda including annexation resolution, project acceptances and contract amendments","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",121000,"endMs",264000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29&start=121&end=264","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29/thumbnail_121000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374713/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Council-approves-consent-agenda-including-annexation-resolution-project-acceptances-and-contract-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374713-c93d5427f6a714cf9ab32a8cc9b744b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179070&Signature=EBwxgC6C411IsamCcYKOrpYc5a-28iUeE7nYNfzV6KK6VNR8UeqJi~cGAzq9cSo7XiQMoje2sC9eSi0BwlQRoNIW3El~aUswXrhahyWtya09gZbH070Ngvgkoh1SS4tH15q-DQBnvOIBLbiTJcHS2i3AB0T0bz8iISnzUw2vZiPy4o5jjV0tEegbIPIzZPFCv~BtArzRYQcQWfj7tGn-KqIBvIXz3~UTOvcvK0HTcT7k~-s-mWV0iqna17dHVf1U8sO2wVCrGghqXzfnJYDnqXvrE7z2yqY0bNNZ2mto6LuJMqrRdOI1n7IrH84Zq~vBPJWCJbb5NrwKLzn~P0aLDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Richland, WA","date","2025-01-22T14:13:40Z","article","The West Richland City Council unanimously approved its Jan. 21 meeting agenda and the consent agenda, which bundled routine approvals into a single vote.

Items listed on the consent agenda in the public transcript included payment of the bills, approval of the Jan. 7, 2025 minutes; Resolution 04-25 authorizing staff to pursue annexation of 9.75 acres of city-owned land into West Richland city limits; authorization for the mayor to execute a Public Works Trust Fund loan agreement for a lift station retrofit; approval of a purchase-and-sale agreement for Belmont Lot 3-1; acceptance of multiple public-works projects as complete (Solan and Arlington water-main replacement; 2024 pavement preservation and street striping; 2024 school-zone pedestrian safety project; Candy Mountain Pathway Kennedy Road Crossing); and a reimbursement agreement and planning-services contract amendment related to the Lewis and Clark Ranch EIS.

Council asked whether anyone in the audience wished to speak on the consent agenda; no in-person or virtual commenters asked to speak. A motion to approve the consent agenda was made and seconded and the council voted by voice to approve; the motion \"carries unanimous\" was recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: The consent agenda contains several items that advance capital work and planning for growth, including an annexation authorization and multiple project completions that shift projects into final acceptance.

Ending: The transcript records unanimous approval of the agenda and consent agenda. Individual ordinances or contracts listed on the consent agenda were passed as part of that single vote; no separate roll-call votes on those items appear in the provided transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Januaray 21, 2025 Ciity Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The West Richland council unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda, which included Resolution 04-25 to pursue annexation of 9.75 acres of city-owned land and multiple project acceptances and contract actions.","taxTitle","West Richland, Benton County, Washington","taxId",71679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374718,"Residents press West Richland council on police chief's status as city moves into executive session on potential litigation",3964,320000,4284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29&start=320&end=4284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29/thumbnail_320000.jpg","/articles/6374718/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Residents-press-West-Richland-council-on-police-chiefs-status-as-city-moves-into-executive-session-on-potential-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374718-73df2422da0d3b82161d63c4d0f493bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179070&Signature=D4GL52B2dwkReJG41-8iOJMfTx5BlYF3jDdBpfDMDdDeVxD6N3H5iDJ3TEiSREmuEINYdbFdy7VlcLvk1HQ1ZkXvLG8K2qS~NV9bu~3TMXEsJGFNcWXflpeg8VOh4b24s-LDLhDifIZmpgxQssVzOCOQSFlboG8CZZYz3arDFmX6JIrnw6SaAZZqOkfWREYQUjem419rkOrgOyt2vMo63Hc8FwVRoJGnBID50-qFU0kOFD5v~XDX7GU1N3G8hAQ-y4zmh8IF2lsbOr5SaukbPihVzTPot3GSGfuH~nAykhEQXwynD6RhOFD0Hax56JQ9IBIX9RyzFdr5TqEmJChURg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents used the council's Jan. 21 public-comment periods to press for information about the status of the city's police chief and several pending lawsuits.

At the first public-comment opportunity, resident Lloyd Bender said he had heard a rumor about the chief of police and asked the council to clarify the situation. At the virtual public-comment period, Nancy Aldridge said there are “three lawsuits pending against the city by the police association, a police officer, and the Wylie family” and asked whether the chief had resigned, been fired or placed on administrative leave.

Other speakers reinforced concern about leadership and transparency. Carl Baker said he wanted “a little bit more visibility” about union votes and internal department morale. Several speakers urged the city to disclose more information to both officers and the public.

Mayor (name not stated in the public transcript) responded that the city has engaged a third-party investigator and will rely on that third party for findings of fact before making public statements or decisions. \"Until I get the finding of fact from a non-biased third party, we do not comment,\" the mayor said, according to the public transcript, and added that the city takes all allegations seriously.

After public comment the council moved into an executive session to discuss potential litigation with legal counsel under the state statute cited in the meeting: RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The mayor said the executive session would last approximately 15 minutes and that there would be no action to follow that evening. The public transcript shows the council entered the executive session and then returned, with the mayor confirming there was no action following the session.

Why it matters: Residents and some councilmembers asked for clarity because the dispute involves litigation that could have financial implications for the city and because residents expressed concern about leadership continuity in the police department. The council emphasized its reliance on third-party fact-finding and legal counsel and said it would release findings once the investigation is complete.

Ending: The transcript records repeated public requests for information and the mayor's promise to release third-party findings. The record shows the council entered an executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) to consult legal counsel about potential litigation and that the council took no public action immediately afterward.","Multiple residents asked for clarity about the employment status of the West Richland police chief and pending lawsuits. The mayor said the city is awaiting a third-party fact-finding review and placed the council into an executive session under RCW; no action followed, per the public transcript.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6374723,"West Richland council debates zoning change to permit utility facilities citywide; amendment to include minor utilities approved",1950,715000,2665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29&start=715&end=2665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2143669-9def54642aa7774ac8444b793a0a4b29/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6374723/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-council-debates-zoning-change-to-permit-utility-facilities-citywide-amendment-to-include-minor-utilities-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374723-fdc4faf7a12a614eb3f56c0e3091d130/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179070&Signature=M2QVr967bEv0W8droPCI0~cOfDv7ZYkEj7vyD7AXDilS4yFtXXBnwOV9yi5KD4jgcPeeJnBSfOTQfji7eWMEGNfe3wQyaZXcx47ahrwmkoCZI2xCab-Px4hNpHismVYbLs9lwKuN8tweHPz7qvYh1fOH7E0xIwlnqD43f4WgmZ0InFW8TELirtNyJF647o0QRAj3VWfzhRct-1brlV8Rx0q~bNQ-SMJnrS021cuKNn063YpKP05FL~BmLicFHzJ4RyIZ5zyxOuC5E37wmxHoVPw4b6ZPaRXaIndApfP0yr1C784Z8KmTM2qP14FmnHMdAlNzFD9xEC2BnJwV2lgfYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Richland City Council considered a text amendment Jan. 21 that would change the municipal code to allow utility infrastructure such as water towers, reservoirs and wells in all zones.

City Community Development Director Eric Mindenhall told the council the change is intended to “help facilitate a lot of the existing infrastructure that the city has” and to avoid delays that staff said occur when the city must process conditional-use permits for city-owned facilities.

The amendment drew extended debate from council members who said they were divided between streamlining long-planned capital projects and preserving public notice and review. Councilmember John Smart said making such utilities a permitted use would remove the planning commission and council-level review that currently gives neighbors notice and an opportunity to comment. “I don't think it's frequent enough to be that much of a bother. I'd like to keep it the way it is,” Smart said.

Other council members, including Councilmember Richard Bloom and Councilmember Ben Stoker, said the city is facing multiple utility projects already and that the change would avoid duplicative permitting for facilities the city itself owns and plans to operate. A member of staff and other speakers said the prior removal of a “capital facilities” zoning category during an earlier comp plan revision left city-owned infrastructure without a clear zoning path, putting several planned projects at risk of delay.

Council members pressed staff for practical details. Mindenhall said a simple conditional-use review typically takes “30 to 40 hours” of staff time and that more complex cases could double that. He said the “last major utility facility” processed was a Benton REA substation off Rupert Road and that, because of development around the city (including the Heights at Red Mountain and the Lewis and Clark Ranch project), staff expects to see several utility siting requests per year.

Council discussed whether state environmental review would still provide public notice; staff said SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) requirements depend on the nature and size of the facility and that some facilities may be exempt.

After discussion, a councilmember moved to adopt Ordinance 01-25, amending the West Richland Municipal Code to change major utility facilities to a permitted use in all zones. Council then voted to amend that motion to include minor utility facilities as permitted in all zones as well. The amendment to include minor utilities passed on a voice vote with all in favor. The public record in the transcript does not include a later roll-call vote explicitly adopting the original ordinance as amended.

Why it matters: Councilmembers said the change could speed key water and sewer projects already in design, but opponents warned it could remove a procedural safeguard that alerts neighbors and allows mitigation before facilities are sited. Staff and at least one public speaker said the amendment is intended as a temporary “band aid” until a more comprehensive capital-facilities zoning update can be completed as part of the comp plan process.

The council did not take a further recorded action on final adoption in the public record provided; council staff signaled that planned city-owned projects that are already advanced would proceed and that a longer-term zoning fix would be addressed in the comprehensive plan update.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff said SEPA, federal funding reviews (NEPA) where applicable, and subcommittee scrutiny will still apply to many projects. The transcript shows the amendment to permit both major and minor utility facilities passed on a unanimous voice vote, and staff signaled further code refinements and comprehensive-plan work will follow.","Council and staff debated a text amendment to the West Richland Municipal Code to allow major utility facilities in all zones. Council amended the proposed ordinance to also permit minor utilities citywide; the amendment passed unanimously. A final roll call on adoption was not recorded in the public transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent agenda including annexation resolution, project acceptances and contract amendments

Residents press West Richland council on police chief's status as city moves into executive session on potential litigation

West Richland council debates zoning change to permit utility facilities citywide; amendment to include minor utilities approved