[{"_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",6671451,"mediaKeyId","2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4","parentId",2159820,"title","Richland amends Tripeppi Smith contract and outlines outreach for $20M downtown connectivity project","audioSeconds",432,"startMs",2268000,"endMs",2700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4&start=2268&end=2700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4/thumbnail_2268000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6671451/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-amends-Tripeppi-Smith-contract-and-outlines-outreach-for-20M-downtown-connectivity-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671451-e2319cd1158a5f081cdc37a2a4f70999/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604057&Signature=LoVKSKtgTjUA6cYfnex0jmKYK--RaZSnWOc2f2RXIBkaUQhs1UsbBadmxNBnExntFUZh4jmNuk0tATVKpTyfJ3h3TRyibeANOS~SChgHEzsPdmYtpQr1RB23KIHVLrbjhQhzDXp1EnLqvDKCGBxyPJZysSAUS8cY7jZ7mmkRCNQUy8ihIpQTspDyroYZww9qduIQb7IkcIiBBN6yEh-1XJtLm~kC2ViM8G8kVoWKZhzbduVhGJxOc-mPTjnXs1iEH2zou0sv8sMulXvMTvia61tgs98QwqA0Xcz5zg7Q3xzuQMqlo6SBOVFNZ5SBC2cvFePCNGCRiP1~Q2bU5cxAQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Richland staff said they amended the contract with communications firm Tripeppi Smith to provide public relations support for the Downtown Connectivity Project and outlined a phased public outreach plan on Jan. 28.

City staff and consultants described the project as a multimillion‑dollar effort to improve walkability, bicycle access, lighting, stormwater, on‑street parking and placemaking by repurposing right‑of‑way on George Washington Way and Jadwin. The selected design converts the two streets into a one‑way pair between the George Washington/Jadwin and Simons intersections, while aiming to preserve current traffic level‑of‑service where possible.

Carlo (city staff) and consultants reviewed the project history and funding. Ben Franklin Council of Governments, the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant and other sources have provided design and construction funds. City staff stated committed funding from grants and city allocations totals nearly $20 million, excluding 2025 budget additions. Department of Ecology funding for construction was described as pending.

Consultants said they will apply lessons from the communications assessment to outreach for the downtown project. The outreach scope presented includes two immediate sub‑phases (phase 1a and 1b) and a construction phase (phase 2):

- Phase 1a (prep and business outreach, flexible January–August): project kickoff; a project sublogo and tagline; a dedicated project website; direct phone and email outreach to enumerated affected properties; two virtual focus groups with businesses; a mailing and toolkit for businesses and residents.

- Phase 1b (general community outreach, timing tied to procurement and construction schedule): a short animated explainer video, one in‑person and one virtual community meeting, a digital advertising campaign (boosted posts, YouTube/Google ads), press releases, active social monitoring, and targeted variable message boards.

- Phase 2 (construction communications, anticipated late 2025–mid‑2027): ongoing, flexible support on a time‑and‑materials basis for construction‑period messaging, signage, amplified outreach in response to timeline shifts and temporary economic impacts, and coordination on public safety and access concerns.

Staff emphasized targeted outreach to businesses as an early priority, including door‑to‑door and phone contact to ensure businesses know how to remain open and to collect contact information for real‑time updates. City leaders repeatedly referenced past examples elsewhere in the Tri‑Cities where businesses said they lacked adequate notice, and said the goal is to avoid that outcome.

Consultants emphasized multiple channels and recommended utility‑bill inserts, variable message signs, boosted social posts and geotargeted advertising to reach local drivers and customers. They also suggested metrics for measuring success (public awareness, business confidence that they were notified, and responsiveness to public feedback).

Council and staff discussed pacing outreach so the public is neither surprised nor prematurely alarmed, noting some project elements depend on outside funding and permitting schedules. City staff flagged potential external risks: recent federal executive orders and litigation briefly paused some federally funded projects elsewhere; staff said they are monitoring those developments and that timing could change based on federal actions.

The presentation closed with an outline of expected deliverables and flexible scheduling tied to the project's procurement and construction milestones. Staff said Tripeppi Smith will return to coordinate the project rollout and help the city implement the communications recommendations during design and construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richland - City Council Workshop - Jan 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Richland staff said they amended the contract with communications firm Tripeppi Smith to provide public relations support for the Downtown Connectivity Project and outlined a phased public outreach plan on Jan. 28.","taxTitle","Richland , Benton County, Washington","taxId",5097,"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},6671456,"Consultants present communications assessment; city schedules Feb. 27 virtual workshop",510,1703000,2213000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4&start=1703&end=2213","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4/thumbnail_1703000.jpg","/articles/6671456/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Consultants-present-communications-assessment-city-schedules-Feb-27-virtual-workshop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671456-55b16fbd50878194037bebfc08160006/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604057&Signature=GTktW2OQwP425QwxiFbdUZ8wRXYbeH4iNDZMZnrxSLtXvuY71N~fwTi4Tp5wpxyEniciWyq3ZRekgY7fFGi1rLOXI5SbKpXW~o3V6b6cq7ycGjpRGWMb4ucRF2ENyQwtNcBCddvgQwfs8JY5vyrIVFZEmkzVKRYBoSAYQlu8vk33UDWZBeE3IAlZhrnRwBwOd0qXQBPpTuXvLkpgBqlSESLpHFf9oa3EawKRDCQYVRfYTAP2nWnKDfUa2ms6hVsnmsZjYjRrtqMNnTY5aqoGBU8kXDwAN7CLD8h-U25oFsQu~9f0hwi0Z94qAwoZUaH7DMcHaUMrPub6CczvnjEdlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Consultants from Tripeppi Smith presented a communications assessment to the Richland City Council on Jan. 28, detailing platform metrics, audience reach and recommended steps for a citywide strategic communications and community engagement plan.

The consultants said the assessment reviewed a full year of the city’s digital platforms (September 2023–September 2024), interviews with staff and stakeholders, and the city’s community survey that informed the 2024 strategic plan. They recommended a mix of quicker “wins” and longer-term investments, and scheduled a virtual community workshop for Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. to get public priorities before drafting an implementation plan.

The report summarized how many residents the city currently reaches on each channel and noted distribution limits on social platforms. Ryder Smith, a consultant with Tripeppi Smith, said the firm’s working principle is “content times distribution equals impact,” and argued the city should pair stronger content with targeted distribution so produced materials are actually seen.

Key findings the consultants highlighted include: an estimated city population of about 63,000; Facebook followers for the city page at roughly 18,000; registered voters at about 41,000; Instagram and LinkedIn followings noted in the tens of thousands; and a business email list in the mid‑20,000s. The consultants noted Facebook’s organic distribution often reaches only about 4–7% of followers, while Nextdoor can yield 25–50% distribution for local audiences. Sydney Overly said the team pulled platform metrics through a social‑media management tool and can provide definitions of the engagement measures on request.

Recommendations in the assessment include: adopt a monthly metrics report to measure reach and prioritize spending; strengthen the city email strategy as a low‑cost direct channel; consider adding Nextdoor to platform mix while weighing monitoring capacity; formalize brand pillars and a style guide; and expand distribution tactics (boosted posts, geotargeted ads) to make videos and other investments more effective. The city has already hired a new graphic designer, a point the consultants flagged as addressing one recommended item.

Consultants described a two‑phase approach: the assessment (completed) and a phase to convert findings into a prioritized strategic plan with cost estimates and timelines. They said phase‑two work will map to staff capacity and budget priorities and aim to return a draft plan in roughly three months. The Feb. 27 virtual workshop will feed public input into that prioritization.

City communications staff and council members posed questions about resource allocation, youth engagement, and whether the city should push more people to the city website as the system of record. Consultants said email remains “the killer app” for direct outreach when the city has sufficient penetration, and that some content can be repurposed across platforms to improve ROI.

The consultants also recommended using utility‑bill inserts and variable message boards as high‑reach, non‑digital touchpoints. They stressed monitoring and responsiveness—acknowledging public feedback and acting on it—as essential to maintaining trust during major initiatives.

The consultants will return with a draft strategic plan and proposed implementation steps if the city proceeds with phase two.","Consultants from Tripeppi Smith summarized a yearlong audit of Richland’s communications, highlighted platform reach and gaps, and recommended measures including a stronger email strategy, monthly metrics reporting and consideration of Nextdoor. A virtual community workshop is set for Feb. 27 to help prioritize implementation.",{"_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},6671446,"Richland police propose alarm permits, verification and fines after 1,509 alarm responses in 2024",282,4009000,4291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4&start=4009&end=4291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159820-78cee59d7943072b45f0812a7b116fb4/thumbnail_4009000.jpg","/articles/6671446/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-police-propose-alarm-permits-verification-and-fines-after-1509-alarm-responses-in-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6671446-ae8c14ad398c3773575f39250a6ae95c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604057&Signature=e2QUktK2V-~t2G0W~nFCytkK2AhHT1ErfD2zIETsaYKF-rpOs2LaN1tQvEUVsHffiP6QCSjZ2JZg45JU5qvO5grfEJZdJcrIFml4TrbUnHOBjUg~r9~sGyjfh7AaFA7nwq1jFT7FsLLrohw64kGhlidyi0MA5dhy0C5Gjk62KIDsqbwkcZP9z8oQcI-XmTbE5TMqlwjQBXD59hpC1kmuPNL41PAVU~5l26pImv7YF1vSiRM~541oiNGSO0UfPnAgLXpn5rzMvSiFGTSUj61rG0YOPri8d3SgDCyp7vAnQuChf~JYH4tv-LBAi6swU2zNr3gOHA93C-9qU9h0vlw5Rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richland Police Chief Marty Pilcher told the City Council on Jan. 28 that the department responded to 1,509 alarm calls in 2024 and that more than 98 percent of those calls were false alarms, and presented options to reduce responses and recover costs.

“Nationwide, statistics indicate regularly, and it certainly has been throughout my career, that 94 to 98% of alarms are false,” Chief Marty Pilcher said. He also said each alarm call typically requires “about 20 minutes of time from 2 officers” to travel, investigate and clear the call.

Chief Pilcher said the department’s top 10 most frequent false‑alarm locations were commercial sites and together produced 356 of the 1,509 calls in 2024. He presented an estimated monetary cost of roughly $145,000 per year when dispatch, equipment and staff time are rolled up; the presentation noted a more limited estimate of $48,000 if only median officer pay is counted in a simplified calculation.

City staff and the chief outlined policy options used by other Washington municipalities, including:

- Require alarm permits and annual renewal so the city has current subscriber contact information;
- Require enhanced call verification by alarm companies (call the subscriber before dispatching officers); and
- Implement a sliding fine schedule (example shown in presentation: a floating six‑month window where the first call may be exempt and fines escalate with repeat alarms).

Chief Pilcher said an outside vendor can administer permitting, tracking, fines and collections under contract, or the city could operate the program internally; staff noted outside providers typically require a multiyear contract and take a portion of collected fees.

Council members raised concerns about equity and enforcement. Council member Meyer said fines can disproportionately affect lower‑income residents and preferred call verification and permit suspension options over automatic fines. Council member Van Dyke and others said fines can motivate businesses and vendors to address recurring issues; several members recommended a two‑tier approach with higher penalties for habitual commercial offenders. Council members also asked about legal liability and whether revoking a permit would expose the city to risk if a subsequent emergency call required immediate response.

Staff took council feedback and said they would return with benchmarking on fee levels, options for permit suspension or revocation, and legal analysis of liability and enforcement mechanisms. Kennewick’s ordinance, cited in the presentation, was noted as an example — staff said Kennewick adopted a false‑alarm ordinance in 2018 and reduced false alarms by roughly a third afterward.

Council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting; staff were asked to bring back a draft with comparative fine schedules, administration options (city‑run vs. third party), and an appeal process. Chief Pilcher said officers will continue to respond to alarm and 911 calls in the ordinary course until a policy change is adopted and implemented.","Chief Marty Pilcher told council the police department responded to 1,509 alarm calls in 2024, more than 98% of which were false. Staff outlined options including requiring alarm permits, enhanced call verification and a sliding fine schedule; council requested benchmarking, equity analysis and legal review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Richland amends Tripeppi Smith contract and outlines outreach for $20M downtown connectivity project

Consultants present communications assessment; city schedules Feb. 27 virtual workshop

Richland police propose alarm permits, verification and fines after 1,509 alarm responses in 2024