[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-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",[32,74,86,97],{"_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",6397786,"mediaKeyId","2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361","parentId",2091258,"title","West Richland council approves consent agenda; second executive session item removed and a late exec‑session request denied","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",189000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361&start=189&end=189","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361/thumbnail_189000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6397786/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-council-approves-consent-agenda-second-executive-session-item-removed-and-a-late-execsession-request-denied","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397786-c27893870ebed79ca4891508eb539af8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198681&Signature=ZrLV0P3QqA3cgCfNoxUJ5xcV8JbF8VQvrBdgTce-ckobHGvvaU5Ydv~5fg4nW5Iw5XCO2ziqBdW6UKVL4nO8ruzQZ0ybZKvUUw3MgWLu9IZUiRNOR72JiYyGvjyd6VDO69U78w51Vzk5Off0px6r1sL8iG39qjnVmIOAOM9HngtMy5wQJvXlL-ILiVjS-pkeJ2mdh7nZ06AeQbrKErcXMdQWarO7Jeg2uF7UHMHc~N1jPj32hpZiy68n1KVLm~aIvLGBhlGvFPU6IFdeAoHJDAurq7abZhBgl-NIbk18nutQCrzGSCFZpQws9B1et-sCSdJsK1ZUeOB3Rig9AfAwTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Richland, WA","date","2025-01-08T14:18:12Z","article","The West Richland City Council voted to approve the Jan. 7 agenda as amended and approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting, City staff said.

Items included in the approved consent agenda were: the Dec. 17, 2024 regular-meeting minutes; Resolution 0125, authorizing the mayor to execute a transportation impact-fee mitigation agreement with The Grove; Resolution 225, setting a public hearing date to consider a sewer easement vacation (file no. VACA-003-2024); Resolution 0325, declaring a surplus postage mail-stuffer/ inserter machine; and a motion authorizing the mayor to execute a lease agreement for a postage folding system. Council approved the consent agenda by voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion carried.

Early in the meeting staff announced that the second executive-session item scheduled for the night (item 13[b]) would be removed from the agenda and postponed to a later meeting; staff told council additional information would be provided when available. City counsel also said a separate request from Council member May Hayes to add an executive session the previous day did not meet the legal notice or exemption criteria required to add the session that evening; the request was therefore denied and council staff invited Council member Hayes to meet with staff to discuss the matter.

Later in the meeting the council entered an executive session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(c) (to consider the minimum price at which real estate may be offered for sale or lease) and said the session would last approximately 15 minutes; at the public readout the council stated there was no public action to follow the session.

No detailed vote tallies with individual councilmember votes were recorded in the transcript for the consent-agenda approvals; the meeting minutes or clerk’s record should be consulted for roll-call records if required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 7, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved the consent agenda on Jan. 7, including minutes and several resolutions. The council removed item 13(b) — a second executive session — from the agenda for later consideration and denied a council member’s request to add a late executive session because notice criteria were not met.","taxTitle","West Richland, Benton County, Washington","taxId",71679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6397791,"City staff announces new businesses, comp‑plan work and Lewis & Clark Ranch planning activity",62,578000,640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361&start=578&end=640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6397791/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/City-staff-announces-new-businesses-compplan-work-and-Lewis-Clark-Ranch-planning-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397791-8b91f374992f88cb13143b7ec5ebfb92/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198681&Signature=XFZ-zk7ov1e~3afTlXyHBINh7IeD6BvHhuKUu597S55xZoIpTsdtFc42AbOYEbtd22AbQ89yp~XiiJIo6MOOyItdoyBHM2Wf4nCNCTj7ybvT~TMZqywuuUbNBdc0847w7EbhZSjc7X-9P2kD4Im2v9HZFSrWeIxK3xMGNKCnFkM~U7wGa6gT47trHcDVr-4oxjQMB1F5PZcnLeLisU6uqHMM5GtAxIeOoFht5tTyuwvkte8wVBchfXta8Je1XDocsKgrbqJvdBnZyW8PHyigC4ahnzrcZ4o8ugkiavxTk0VDr89MBgEhM0ZjoASNK1NXZlNJvTRDgmjk5cS-Omgeqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Jan. 7 West Richland City Council meeting, a city staff member identified as Eric reported commercial activity and planning work coming in 2025. Eric said a Dutch Bros coffee stand is scheduled to open in March, a tenant called Miss Tamales will occupy a neighboring unit, and a Firehouse Subs location should reopen this month. He also mentioned a T‑Mobile promotional note from the company’s app.

Eric said the TIGS group will restart the comprehensive-plan amendment process for the Lewis and Clark Ranch project and that 2025 will be busy for planning because the city is undertaking a periodic comprehensive-plan update. He said many proposed changes will address recent state mandates, particularly provisions related to housing and affordability.

Council member Fero, representing the chamber, said Keith Moon began Jan. 1 as the West Richland Chamber’s director and that she (the council member) was the new chamber president for the next two years. She invited council and the public to a chamber luncheon featuring a speaker from Washington State University’s Cougar Tracks program.

No formal land-use decisions or zoning changes were made at the Jan. 7 meeting; staff said council will see agenda items in coming months to authorize steps in the comp‑plan amendment and related processes.","City staff and council members reported expected openings for Dutch Bros, Miss Tamales and Firehouse Subs, and said the TIGS group will restart a comprehensive-plan amendment process for Lewis & Clark Ranch as part of the city’s periodic comprehensive plan update focused on housing and affordability.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":77,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6397795,"West Richland staff to seek park board review of draft ordinance allowing supervised youth fishing and nonmotorized boats",478000,540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361&start=478&end=540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361/thumbnail_478000.jpg","/articles/6397795/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-staff-to-seek-park-board-review-of-draft-ordinance-allowing-supervised-youth-fishing-and-nonmotorized-boats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397795-6335697e980e9fb3a5f07601d9e534f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198681&Signature=lCUKdJ7lFYh3UOacuxmKEWnWlnVAy-yTO1WW~YD4N~VZ8aJ7Aq4i5tK~nn3oqeB2yW~1Kay4ve8Gp0q3n83AS3vZ-YXqYqE-umAPAuvkyxilhVOP-5iYsQdMX1CpYF6T54xWISfKC9cdVXphC-MMM5l4nyCH4cJeYTwWZQR1jFLYXqFybKuSxlAwMgsk~t9YnPyNBYPaX28Gx2e4vrlsfi~9dl~JelsXcIoXrKv8oh820B4ocCvd8hH9ECafsATn-5Y4K1upIIrS3V5riZXQXLhozrBglR9QtMwF6IJ-kGG0rVjibxq~PrZDupmFyvNm9PnUXCcGcjVawRQq7iZHMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ruskell, a City staff member, told the West Richland City Council on Jan. 7 that the city has drafted an ordinance to regulate recreational use of the lakes, including youth fishing and conditional use of nonmotorized boats. The draft ordinance will be reviewed by the park board at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, Ruskell said.

The draft ordinance would allow nonmotorized boat use — paddleboards and similar craft — under conditions such as required personal flotation devices. It also would allow youth bank fishing with adult supervision, include catch-and-release provisions and require adult supervision for minors, Ruskell said. If the park board issues a favorable recommendation, staff will return the ordinance to the City Council for consideration at its Feb. 18 meeting, with signs ordered and implementation intended in the spring.

Resident Terry Davies raised the lakes fishing item during public comment and asked for status on the previously announced fishing report. Council and staff encouraged Davies to remain after the public comment period to discuss details with staff (Ruskell and other staff were present), and Ruskell said the park board review is the next formal step.

No formal council vote was taken on the ordinance at the Jan. 7 meeting; the item remains under review. The city asked interested residents to follow the park board meeting notice and indicated signage and implementation steps would be coordinated if the ordinance is adopted.","City staff said a draft parks ordinance that would permit youth bank fishing (with adult supervision) and conditionally allow nonmotorized boats will go to the park board Jan. 27; council could adopt it Feb. 18 if recommended.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6397800,"West Richland police report sharp estimated drop in local crime in 2024",167,723000,890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361&start=723&end=890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091258-f2c340bc4b99d4934141897e0d1e1361/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6397800/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-police-report-sharp-estimated-drop-in-local-crime-in-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397800-de79030fc681cbb7445d0b027600eef6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198681&Signature=cFO5y~tLgFoxfO1ONsGIVbaumEqxqJgWrCW0TyH1e4-isgypNzMdUcahIwaMKnneQUFp~NbNb3adG0l96CuvOq5LaOWSyYZTKygu0tsQcDTioPxLlNFlegOjb~2NnkJpxYKWKlTCWoeTwnIACafO~p4~Uglq2SOUluRcLipX65snFgY5kcc2e~X3c9c8YunyoHTeg-4Er~rQzGSEaacdRv5ORDz2RbchpKKGDh3e4hx8yKbV236~~GCXRtkts5bEwmYvzgSgusA1oNzDMqdF7duG05s54GQf80-BaCRWS5R9CwEZvva9HNHTKgtSLBpxDVlUFqs1An0TSpWVKmawUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Grama, the West Richland police chief, told the City Council on Jan. 7 that preliminary local figures indicate a drop in several crime measures for 2024 compared with 2023. “Group A crimes is down,” Chief Grama said, reporting an estimated 30% decrease in Group A crimes and a roughly 15% drop in Group B crimes.

The chief said other local measures also fell in 2024: arrests resulting in bookings were down about 30%, criminal citations not resulting in booking declined about 20%, and calls for service decreased roughly 15% (from about 13,000 calls in 2023 to about 11,000 in 2024). He characterized the department’s approach as “aggressive, proactive” policing and credited regional and federal partnerships for the results.

The council’s mayor, Brent Gary, added context about regional cooperation, and Chief Grama said the department’s work with metro and federal task forces has helped produce the local declines. “We couldn’t have accomplished any of this without all the partnerships,” Chief Grama said.

At the same meeting the chief also read select findings from a national crime report released through a Washington-state law enforcement group. He said the FBI’s comparison of 2019–2023 data shows statewide increases in several categories (including murder and vehicle theft), and he noted Washington’s trends differ from national trends. Chief Grama said the city will await the statewide tally later this spring to compare formal counts.

The figures Chief Grama presented were described as the department’s internal tallies and estimates; he said the city will defer to the statewide report (expected in May) for official comparisons. No formal action or new policy was adopted during the meeting on the basis of the report.

Council members and the chief discussed that a rise in recorded crime rates in some jurisdictions can reflect more aggressive enforcement rather than greater underlying criminality; the mayor and chief said cross-jurisdiction task forces and arrests can temporarily push regional numbers higher while removing repeat offenders from the streets.

The presentation concluded without a council motion. Council members thanked the police department for the work described and asked staff to continue providing monthly crime reports to the council as they have throughout the past year.","Police Chief Grama told the West Richland City Council on Jan. 7 that preliminary local figures show declines across major crime categories in 2024, while citing a separate statewide FBI report showing increases in several crime metrics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

West Richland council approves consent agenda; second executive session item removed and a late exec‑session request denied

City staff announces new businesses, comp‑plan work and Lewis & Clark Ranch planning activity

West Richland staff to seek park board review of draft ordinance allowing supervised youth fishing and nonmotorized boats

West Richland police report sharp estimated drop in local crime in 2024