[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6232500,"mediaKeyId","3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95","parentId",3426083,"title","Goldendale building official reports steady permits; code enforcement work and several demolition, nuisance and RV cases advancing","audioSeconds",162,"startMs",216000,"endMs",378000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95&start=216&end=378","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95/thumbnail_216000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6232500/Goldendale/Klickitat-County/Washington/Goldendale-building-official-reports-steady-permits-code-enforcement-work-and-several-demolition-nuisance-and-RV-cases-advancing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232500-80cdba320ed3412c3f91029ed480bee2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783743&Signature=mgVqNYU8wbWhncEFOLoKm6CMe0h22w6ryizJVFq4wdKMOFMhF0G9z0ajHCsOUZ950PxkjlnW52C4oC1cypfLJ~vYiPmH~EBaKN8VW6mh8SPJas49zDM-eD2bj2MLYKx1dRWzBbBaAtAdOv577rlKSQorbKcUmjvbXoXQRrD68Vq-Z2O~B~3mt~0PWZ7sw0jJ-OTnySsa714UBFt4wKpPhGiacXtEkHxFuSCLaCVNfZsbfWYYK5PMn18HgNAcL9eD59ITyD8QpX2DyyNyoUu5fT46aGrOmAPiTJ3qUH9TjhHmwlD1ebCunEo6Do~QF66jkxkWuRppkAqGncTa5zYTTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Goldendale City, WA","date","2025-05-21T16:44:12.36Z","article","Robert Thompson, Goldendale’s building official, updated the City Council on building activity and code enforcement. He said the building department had issued 44 permits year-to-date, including 18 building permits (transcript: “44 permits, 18 billing permits”), one demolition permit and several mechanical and plumbing permits, producing about $13,840 in revenue.

Thompson said the department expects four to five new single-family dwellings to start in the near term and that plans for a new football stadium — described as a larger project that would include a field, restrooms and parking — are on his desk; he estimated the stadium as a roughly $10,000,000 project pending bids.

On code enforcement, Thompson reported 31 active cases this year, including grass/weeds, vehicles, recreational vehicles and other nuisance matters. He described work to secure compliance through letters, citizen-review-board processes and the potential use of liens and abatement in some cases where property owners have not remedied violations after notice. Thompson said the department sent courtesy GRAMA letters in April asking owners of vacant lots to mow grass ahead of the top-of-year growth period.

Councilmembers and staff discussed specific enforcement matters Thompson flagged: an accumulation of vehicles on Brook Street, an abandoned house on East Broadway that has been vacant for years, burned structures on Railroad and East Main and a motorhome parked on Grama Street. Thompson said one burned property has a prospective owner seeking to obtain a demo permit and a dumpster once funds (for example, a tax refund) become available; staff said they had not confirmed the owner’s timeline and would continue to monitor and enforce as needed.

Thompson said one motorhome case involved an owner claiming a “caretaker” exception; the matter was pulled from the citizen-review-board calendar pending documentation needed to meet the code’s caretaker criteria. Thompson said a similar RV/caretaker request had been denied previously in the city and that the city intends to follow its code criteria.

Councilmembers pressed for repeated attention to problem properties and asked for coordination with the city attorney where liens or abatements may be necessary. Several councilmembers emphasized consistency in applying the code and the need to provide owners opportunities to comply while proceeding to legal remedies when compliance is not achieved.

Public comment raised a related parking and street-maintenance complaint in the West Broadway area; councilmembers directed that the public-works committee meet to review West Broadway parking and that staff provide public notice of the committee meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05192025 Council Meeting Video","oneSentenceSummary","Building Official Robert Thompson told the Goldendale City Council the building department issued 44 permits year-to-date with $13,840 in revenue, and flagged 31 active code-enforcement cases including abandoned and burned properties as well as RV and vehicle issues.","taxTitle","Goldendale, Klickitat County, Washington","taxId",73808,"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},6232504,"Goldendale fire chief announces June 2 burn ban, cites improved insurance rating and new equipment grant",389,967000,1356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95&start=967&end=1356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95/thumbnail_967000.jpg","/articles/6232504/Goldendale/Klickitat-County/Washington/Goldendale-fire-chief-announces-June-2-burn-ban-cites-improved-insurance-rating-and-new-equipment-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232504-f5db0281c40ad7892f0c3193792ae150/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783743&Signature=VnS3eME21oUgF-pE4Wgec1t8CHyTwCAGAfvixSBLvovHvJcARz21JK7AKxjreOd2tjciZ6317~cyjJ2LDAe8fzxR1AfdWSE1dOR2tUfVY3JH0wW~PiTnohcmbtbAw34aZOW6UkEypwdrFIBEjJiN~RO5VIHI4a18MYqO9XP41IqxdRo66n4pdQGdoYr6vymUCi9oXurDf~CTUV~KhwRpk4XxJ~RkRagA173OIm1-SYS1FavZPJ-kW7cL9oPlzbyi~eVmSO1fs0QECMDJqMmSRpxTdQU6NwOveaaO-gD9DS~J9qUkIGlSXxWejsLY~SJtGOXHEHa5I~5pY495CqoAFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Manilla Hall told the Goldendale City Council that a citywide burn ban will take effect on June 2 and that the city’s WSRB (Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau) rating improved from a 6 to a 5 following recent reviews and work by volunteers and staff.

Hall said the improved rating could lead to lower fire-insurance premiums for some residents, and he credited volunteer hours, truck checks, mutual-aid agreements and improvements in the city’s permit and inspection practices for the change. He said the rating review also considered 9-1-1 dispatch performance.

Hall also reported the city received $21,638 from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) House Bill 1168 funding; the money will buy six portable radios and eight pagers for the fire department.

Council members and staff discussed the broader problem of wildfire risk and insurance. Hall said some homeowners in the city are receiving letters from insurers and losing coverage because of wildfire risk; he cited that the recent WSRB wildfire-capability review was the first year the bureau examined that dimension for Goldendale. He also noted that some properties in the flood plain need elevation certifications to avoid mandatory flood insurance.

Council members discussed fuel-break and mitigation work along the creek and Observatory Hill. A representative from the conservation district told the council the district has applied for federal funding to create fuel breaks and would coordinate with the city if awarded.

The burn ban and equipment purchases were announced as operational matters; no council vote was required to enact the burn ban notice. Council members said they will continue to coordinate with the conservation district and public-works staff on mitigation and fuel-break planning.

","Fire Chief Manilla Hall told the council a burn ban will take effect June 2, the city reduced its WSRB rating from 6 to 5, and the department received $21,638 to buy portable radios and pagers.",{"_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},6232508,"Goldendale council directs staff to prepare 0.1% public safety sales-tax measure for 2025 ballot",530,3963000,4493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95&start=3963&end=4493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95/thumbnail_3963000.jpg","/articles/6232508/Goldendale/Klickitat-County/Washington/Goldendale-council-directs-staff-to-prepare-01-public-safety-sales-tax-measure-for-2025-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232508-efcd70cd0a77f760907c1def9b3557dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783743&Signature=UCuEY-Px4M0l~RZpZqTlik9B4smWFTnxbqDHEzwmiCVwDyVHq1KoZPeggCnh9VCjLBiYt53EuNJwIaLkfsc7OwN63WxL2A7z7z6SQNULep4n1fEmYbZF2c6OL97l3zX3i1HT7ASQ8FwIQKYFcpzGoQqL7O58Sqz3EdklTR8V1qENoPSNVbvZjRSlHc-K4tZIeqN0vVJC~vrryVDEGnr-2lpZsloGsMbLUF9xxS7AbJAwHtnIeZgSv~EgmdYvuSj8y7UHURtEYOgnjdmuFSD5ajTiABM5uYmLZlmjMJily5tr7kQc0~mf~1cxtQQXLzGBIWqTK4u1yup5aCUC9WOAjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Goldendale City Council voted to ask staff to prepare a resolution to place a 0.1% public safety sales-tax measure on the 2025 general election ballot and directed that the city retain the full allowable share — roughly 85% — to fund police and fire services.

Councilmembers discussed RCW 82.14.450, which authorizes a 0.1% sales tax dedicated to criminal justice and fire protection purposes with voter approval. The mayor noted the proposal would allow visitors and nonproperty owners who use city services to share in the cost and quoted a city estimate that the tax could generate about $90,000 to $100,000 per year for public safety.

Under the motion, the draft resolution will go to the council’s ordinance committee for review and recommendation before returning to the full council. The council’s motion also specified that the full funding amount allowed to the city (about 85% of revenue under the statute when a city implements the tax) be designated for the police department and fire department rather than the general fund.

Councilmembers asked whether the county might adopt a similar tax; staff noted the county had previously declined to pursue a sales tax in recent conversations with city officials. The council discussed statutory language about potential uses, including criminal justice, behavioral health and programs that reduce interactions with the criminal justice system, and concluded those definitions do not force a council’s hands but provide flexibility within statute.

The motion passed on a recorded count in the meeting: four votes in favor and one abstention. Council members said the ordinance committee will draft the language and return a recommended resolution and ballot title for council vote and then for placement on the 2025 general-election ballot if the council approves the resolution.

","The council instructed staff to draft a resolution placing a 0.1% public safety sales tax on the 2025 general election ballot, with an ordinance-committee review and a directive that the city retain the full allowable share for police and fire.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6232513,"Goldendale council approves amended airport manager consulting agreement; airport team outlines grant-backed runway work",931,1983000,2914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95&start=1983&end=2914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426083-23cbc40f90a1020efdc0ee9d62879a95/thumbnail_1983000.jpg","/articles/6232513/Goldendale/Klickitat-County/Washington/Goldendale-council-approves-amended-airport-manager-consulting-agreement-airport-team-outlines-grant-backed-runway-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232513-1a224a74c69531eb88ab12e1a91c370e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770783743&Signature=i6uycP-t5iwuRkfNyj80FGhA~DFVZJRyyL~3xgSX6xGN-QONclQBUdOehcBGbPk8rXZWYHrax0GJAfhYgHSPaZnlGqkRV1GaC3qZll7eFowgEKFY54ahp0f-MFwb55MPUd51sQFIGSfG-5dpZjZnhZ--F~hcHEE4vpCpkzc5ZSk2U9UtD6H9G1GzWf2NjCJQQzOmaelVI-2F-M6AsuoLogCSytVHFGoi9N8OkLmcgVF7ybd-vbqmAFS4VrV3VBuPx7K7yIrHQX2vySWubnY2DyRsG8w9JDxXo9J8ZHNBteBQt3fYO0iJAEXpJ4JVk9sLseh0as4bVeHxvCEklkbFfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Goldendale City Council voted to authorize the mayor to execute an amended airport manager’s consultant agreement with Richard (Rick) Lundin, the city’s airport consultant, following a motion that added annual review language and clarified financial reporting responsibilities.

The council’s action formalizes a six-month trial arrangement recommended by the budget committee and includes amendments requiring the airport advisory committee to review proposed salary and hours and return recommendations to the council for any changes. The amended motion also removed language that would have assigned broad responsibility to the consultant to “coordinate all development and improvements” and instead requires coordination on finances and reporting with the clerk-treasurer.

The change was moved, amended on the floor and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers and staff said the amendment was intended to keep final budget and policy authority with the council and the city’s finance office.

Mayor (name not specified) presented the item and noted the agreement is a consultant contract, not a city employee position, and the budget committee recommended the six-month trial. Councilmember (name not specified) amended the motion on the council floor to require that the budget committee “review the salary and hours spent, and instead of ‘adjust accordingly,’ they will give suggestions back to the council for council vote,” and to change the review to an annual review instead of automatic two-year renewals.

Airport consultant Richard Lundin gave a substantive update after the vote. He said the airport has secured a $360,000 state grant that the city will use for an initial property purchase and for Phase 1 engineering work to address a wetlands constraint to the north of the runway and to define culvert sizing and other design work. Lundin also described a possible WSDOT airport aid pot that could provide about $780,000 to place conduit and begin the soil and compaction work needed to create the proper shoulder and support a widened runway.

Lundin said the Phase 1 engineering would allow the city to plan a runway widening (a target 60-foot width was discussed during the update) and to “displace the threshold 200 feet to the west” on one end to improve safety; the council discussed keeping overall runway length unchanged by displacing both ends. He also said the team is researching replacement of the airport’s runway lighting controller, which is old and for which manufacturer support no longer exists.

Lundin told the council he is preparing an updated airport layout plan and an airport master-plan update, which staff and the airport advisory committee will review before the council considers formal adoption and subsequent grant applications. He said the city is pursuing inclusion in federal airport aid eligibility language and has asked state legislators’ offices to help restore prior exclusion language that, if successful, would make the airport eligible for larger federal programs.

The council also agreed to convene its ordinance committee to consider airport-related fee and revenue options (tie-down fees, landing fees, land leases and hangar issues) and to meet in late May to work on draft ordinances.

City staff and council members framed the consultant role as an advisory and project-steering position that will bring expertise to identify potential return-on-investment projects and prepare grant-ready documents; final decisions on development and budget actions remain the council’s responsibility.

The amended consultant agreement and the airport advisory committee’s materials will return to the council for follow-up as staff prepares contract paperwork and the consultant readies the airport layout plan and Phase 1 engineering scope.

","The Goldendale City Council approved an amended consultant manager agreement with Richard Lundin and heard updates about grant funding and early engineering work aimed at widening the airport runway and addressing wetlands and lighting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Goldendale building official reports steady permits; code enforcement work and several demolition, nuisance and RV cases advancing

Goldendale fire chief announces June 2 burn ban, cites improved insurance rating and new equipment grant

Goldendale council directs staff to prepare 0.1% public safety sales-tax measure for 2025 ballot

Goldendale council approves amended airport manager consulting agreement; airport team outlines grant-backed runway work