[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-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",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6365390,"mediaKeyId","2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c","parentId",2160186,"title","Pullman honors retiring Fire Chief Mike Heston and confirms Brett Nash as new fire chief","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1756000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c&start=1756&end=1756","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c/thumbnail_1756000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6365390/Pullman/Whitman-County/Washington/Pullman-honors-retiring-Fire-Chief-Mike-Heston-and-confirms-Brett-Nash-as-new-fire-chief","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365390-a1bd0d803ed297d803a979f4b0dfffaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172675&Signature=RjwwwEDnrfXNWeiBjbmRL~~mXpRcis3HSGyBO3rpOh2YX0whuCcoeZEp0NMBelFo2-Ll2gC0zM3WMPZK1qoctWf6HRd4kpzOCxH1T4wD1u-K-DhJhK19WhhEW9hwbpdwgzhgbGLXplHbUIntGljck~YFj4slpPJj6T8igDAGzC4NJA8VT3KlYTw3az~WTLuDr6bSKkojJkgvMpfFnJgCfvcOt3pmIUtT8GjVpE5o9s6Y6mMuaYrOhhDRtPu0oddejrNE-gayTM6CBWE2le79qPVaT66oPlYXdHWXPA42MAqOpzvrZHeEo3jUeKH~Z3B0PmtCHF0CZ3kUoCog6IsyPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pullman, WA","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Pullman City Council recognized Fire Chief Mike Heston at its Jan. 28 meeting ahead of his retirement, and later confirmed Brett Nash as the next Pullman fire chief.

Mayor Benjamin read a proclamation thanking Heston for his service, noting Heston was hired by the City of Pullman on Oct. 9, 1996 and that he has 43 years of service in fire departments including earlier work with Washington State University-area departments. The proclamation invited the public to an event at Fire Station 1 at 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 to mark Heston’s retirement.

Mike Heston addressed the council and said, “It's been a privilege and an honor all these years. Thank you for the support from city council every year for the fire department. It's been outstanding and all the memories and friendships I won't forget.” He said he will remain active in the community but is “learning how to say no.”

Shortly before the meeting’s consent and regular agenda actions, the council considered and voted to confirm the appointment of Brett Nash as Pullman’s new fire chief. Council members who served on the interview panel spoke in support of Nash’s appointment; Nash and his wife are relocating from Nevada and are expected to attend the next council meeting for his swearing-in.

Why it matters: A confirmed chief affects departmental leadership, emergency-response oversight and ongoing relations with regional fire partners; the council’s confirmation begins the administrative onboarding process for Nash.

What was decided

- The council adopted an official expression of appreciation for Mike Heston and announced a retirement event scheduled for Feb. 7 at Fire Station 1.

- The council voted to confirm Brett Nash as fire chief; Nash will be sworn in at the next council meeting once relocation is complete.

Implementation notes

Council members and staff said they look forward to Nash’s arrival and plan to complete onboarding and scheduling for the formal swearing-in. No implementing personnel agreements or start dates beyond the planned swearing-in were specified in the meeting transcript.

Ending

Council members and staff thanked Heston for decades of service and said they anticipate a smooth transition once Nash completes relocation and takes the oath.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-01-28 Pullman City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Fire Chief Mike Heston was honored for 43 years of service during the Jan. 28 Pullman City Council meeting; the council also confirmed Brett Nash as Heston’s successor and scheduled Nash’s swearing-in for the next meeting.","taxTitle","Pullman, Whitman County, Washington","taxId",59132,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":44,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":49,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6365395,"Votes at a glance: Pullman council approves Hopkins Court vacation, purchase-card update, ChargePoint chargers and several consent items",714,2470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c&start=1756&end=2470","/articles/6365395/Pullman/Whitman-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Pullman-council-approves-Hopkins-Court-vacation-purchase-card-update-ChargePoint-chargers-and-several-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365395-f1555d26a62f87b3ca08ee648deb0864/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172675&Signature=j~Kr4mmZFAy5BBB~ZzcuPOzvlAEu08JbHM69RN2kYj~UNSnbiuJXjKcjYJx5E~q~J8fE6xj0ao2SSRWH5vCHWE-jX2UZFe1Fdl8xPya8w-AnqCIs~8tdKXZlVznhucKf~JeLVJkYzQ0oqrKYv5xvrW3ONMSPd4ECHyjy4Q--e2b68cCVg-Z-drxH00u6pNDZBy9nrc-IT99-OTZK66uxEvGOGyp8uYc8VmEI60efanzc2lCsQV88a9w7v6xm9kt6ZzLVBLKyJD7cTDkpedYKhm-eE-wgagmy1yirGKNi5Q8arX9uBrWmweWwVKAkZLaie9-xsxFIqmt30Ozx3eGRIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pullman City Council approved several formal actions at its Jan. 28 meeting, including an ordinance to vacate a portion of Hopkins Court, a resolution updating city purchase-card policies, a contract for three electric bus chargers and the confirmation of a new fire chief. The consent agenda — encompassing routine minutes, multiple disbursement approvals, a transfer to the CIP reserve fund, acceptance of a completed construction contract, authorization of a contract with Spin for electric scooters and bicycles, and a rules-of-procedure resolution — was also approved in a single motion.

Quick summary of formal outcomes

- Hopkins Court/Andrus Drive vacation (Ordinance No. 25-1): Council adopted Ordinance 25-1 vacating approximately 5,544 square feet of right-of-way adjacent to Lot 45 of the Port of Whitman County Industrial Park Subdivision No. 2. Staff advised that a 60-foot right-of-way would remain, utility easements and a pedestrian-access easement would be retained, and because the dedication occurred less than 25 years ago the compensation rate is set at 50% of appraised value. The ordinance passed on voice vote with no recorded dissent.

- Purchase card policy update (Resolution R-03-25): The council adopted Resolution R-03-25, updating the city’s purchase-card policies to align with State Auditor suggestions. Changes include revised card limits, updated restrictions and a new cardholder responsibility section; the motion passed on a voice vote.

- Electric bus chargers (procurement via national contract): Council approved a motion to accept ChargePoint’s quote (contract 042221-CPI) for three electric bus chargers to be installed at the transit garage this spring and paired with three incoming electric buses. The chargers include a five-year warranty, onsite inspection and cloud services; the motion passed on voice vote.

- Confirmation of Brett Nash as fire chief: Council moved and approved the confirmation of Brett Nash as the city’s fire chief; Nash was not present at the meeting and is scheduled for swearing in at the next council meeting. The motion to confirm passed on voice vote.

- Consent agenda: Items approved on the consent agenda included: approval of Jan. 14, 2025 minutes; multiple accounts payable disbursements (three check runs and payroll/electronic transfers totaling more than $4.9 million combined); transfer of sales tax revenue of $416,755 to the CIP reserve fund for Q4 2024; acceptance of the Teraview and Crestview Pass contract as complete; authorization of a Spin contract for scooters and bicycles through Dec. 31, 2025; and Resolution R-02-25 updating council meeting times and rules of procedure for a limited February–April 2025 schedule.

How council described each vote

City staff presented background information on each item before council action. For the Hopkins Court vacation, the city surveyor explained the area is part of an obsolete turnaround and that utilities and pedestrian access easements would be retained. For the ChargePoint purchase, transit staff noted prior upgrades to the transit facility (a new transformer and breaker capable of supporting up to eight chargers) and said the purchase represents chargers 4–6 in that system. Finance staff said the purchase-card policy update responded to a State Auditor recommendation and would be accompanied by updated staff training.

Record of motions and outcomes

All the above votes were taken by voice vote with no recorded opposition noted in the meeting transcript. Where the council had previously taken formal steps (e.g., Planning Commission review for the vacation), staff noted those actions on the record.

Ending

Council members and staff described next steps for implementation — executing the ChargePoint contract and proceeding with design/installation; preparing the ordinance paperwork for the Hopkins Court vacation; rolling out purchase-card training; and scheduling Brett Nash’s swearing-in at the next council meeting.","At its Jan. 28 meeting the Pullman City Council approved an ordinance vacating part of Hopkins Court, adopted updated purchase-card policies, authorized three electric bus chargers, confirmed a new fire chief and approved the consent agenda (including a scooter/bike operator contract).",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6365398,"Pullman business owners tell council downtown foot traffic and stability remain strained",395,603000,998000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c&start=603&end=998","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2160186-362f0cf10a80e8a9e81537537f85bc6c/thumbnail_603000.jpg","/articles/6365398/Pullman/Whitman-County/Washington/Pullman-business-owners-tell-council-downtown-foot-traffic-and-stability-remain-strained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6365398-bdded3593c19248dbf10e99cc53671a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172675&Signature=Swo3ekdPpaJLF4WzkhQ-o3o1Q8Lm535bL4xA4MVGRXOMV~il5B7UHaHkphVFIARQjQsLnN5~0JxQHxWv4J8KjsQb3hitTAZbqNbZ4rvu~uEZLiIrG2cLrRLTj6O2ab5q~~IPrp2cc~20cW9Ati4aAC2XGLRTOCPTPg2I7yBYxgatoX5bvZEd28Jg4ThyXPT3wWefT163JjPZwvnWaM9WdZkJQ-4Y3gcQwpPsy3ZMHICQVTgTpZ29PmKOBiWTFvsSWulmzLl8aVX5mPwJHGaPuG9eBbtxYFCvBGpWUP1bIrLzkN~zlCeDFmPbBCUQbjEtbYW0IA1eGqgL~yITzv9wXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several downtown Pullman business owners said at the Jan. 28 Pullman City Council meeting that construction, reduced foot traffic and unstable, short-term commercial leases are harming the local retail economy, forcing some longtime businesses to close or relocate.

The comments, made during the meeting’s public comment period, included accounts from Michelle Kelly, owner of Michelle’s Closet, Dominic (who identified himself as a downtown plant shop owner and “modern plantsman”), William (owner of Shagit’s Bagels in nearby Moscow, Idaho) and a representative for the Montessori School of Pullman that said the nonprofit preschool is struggling with enrollment and building-heating issues.

Why it matters: Council members said the complaints are consistent with what constituents have told them and urged residents to shop downtown. Business owners asked the council for more active outreach, targeted support for storefront stabilization, and clearer, faster permitting and permitting-waiver processes for things such as temporary heaters and public events.

Owners’ reports and requests

Michelle Kelly said she previously warned the council in August that six downtown businesses were running critically low on funds; since then three have closed and three more are at risk. Kelly said her own foot traffic was down about 20% compared with pre-construction levels and that some proprietors exhausted retirement savings or took loans to stay open. “I plead that you guys come see downtown,” she said, urging council and staff to visit and meet merchants.

Dominic, who has moved his plant business to Pullman from Colfax and has relocated multiple times since 2023, said instability in lease terms and high turnover in commercial spaces pose a barrier for both new and existing small businesses. He encouraged the council to study successful small-town programs, pursue grant and donor support, and coordinate with Whitman County and Washington State partners to find funding and regulatory fixes.

William, owner of Shagit’s Bagels, described receiving hostile online comments after offering free Hanukkah bags to students. He read a passage from a community member criticizing Council member Eric Farajon’s public remarks related to Middle East policy and said the episode underscored tension felt by some community members during the holiday season.

Jane, a representative of the Montessori School of Pullman, said the school — operating in the Gladdish Community Culture and Arts Center building — remains open but faces very low enrollment and is seeking licensing waivers to allow space heaters while building heating problems persist.

Council response and next steps

Council members acknowledged the testimony and pledged follow-up. Council member Fajarin said she is shopping downtown and urged residents to do the same. Council member Parks noted the Downtown Pullman Association has hired a new executive director and is pursuing grant funding to support façade improvements and business grants.

Council member Weller said she will visit downtown businesses and bring a notepad to record concerns and ideas. Council member Guido said several work groups (including housing and tourism) continue to pursue complementary efforts, and he praised the housing work group’s engagement. Council members discussed allowing each council work group to set its own meeting frequency (monthly, quarterly or otherwise) so groups with lighter workloads do not unduly burden staff time.

What was not decided

No formal commitments of new funding or ordinance changes were adopted at the meeting. Council members asked to meet one-on-one with business owners and for staff to coordinate next steps. Specific program amounts, timelines for any grants, and detailed permit-waiver decisions were not specified at the meeting.

Ending

Council members asked business owners to share more granular information about lost revenue, permit issues and lease terms so staff can evaluate short-term relief and longer-term strategies. Several council members reiterated a general request that residents patronize downtown businesses while construction concludes this spring.","Multiple downtown business owners told the Pullman City Council on Jan. 28 that construction, low customer turnout and unstable commercial leases are forcing closures and repeated relocations; council members said they will meet with owners and seek flexible support from city departments and partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pullman honors retiring Fire Chief Mike Heston and confirms Brett Nash as new fire chief

Votes at a glance: Pullman council approves Hopkins Court vacation, purchase-card update, ChargePoint chargers and several consent items

Pullman business owners tell council downtown foot traffic and stability remain strained