[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6362985,"mediaKeyId","2167010-3d1ff211eb220888ce95f3fd58773269","parentId",2167010,"title","West Richland planning staff outline heavy 2025 workload, state-mandated periodic update and Lewis & Clark master plan","audioSeconds",252,"startMs",2518000,"endMs",2770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167010-3d1ff211eb220888ce95f3fd58773269&start=2518&end=2770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167010-3d1ff211eb220888ce95f3fd58773269/thumbnail_2518000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6362985/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-planning-staff-outline-heavy-2025-workload-state-mandated-periodic-update-and-Lewis-Clark-master-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362985-cb260b63cdd7c1f97247ba60bee50885/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=cgdKgFNLWkPr8-PnA2rZHBRNAqIYfNs3SiyiA8GzAocQiP-RHm7oojzn1X2ejv7K4It5tYeu9uTtVgIplSbERv7CHgilKJyo3CVYm-mv2QeHCIYYXXy5gNHdpsYFOC8csMmLBDS6gqWE5NAQgkHZnvLRnMqd3Fb6nKXpWDmNAaBihffMdyjI6F41Gwm0JnP1Ujp8NtEpu8VepGT8nlr3ZUu2zLiC5oZuiNUy0o3MjlYAix67kRan6w-SZxmllaTxy-8e29GKAF93~ksXUcA75d9sPMGeTJJIEGT8W7MF7jnfdmacbBj06tf9zB2PBpCwTF2-ZY3HJnWd56MlzIW-gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of West Richland, WA","date","2025-01-29T18:34:55Z","article","At the Jan. 28 special workshop, Eric of West Richland’s Community Development department presented the department’s 2025 work plan and a status update of “parking lot” items, telling the City Council that state-mandated updates and a large master plan will drive staff priorities and that limited personnel will constrain other projects.

Eric said Washington’s periodic update process requires jurisdictions to revise their comprehensive plans roughly every eight years and to incorporate recent state legislation. “This year includes adding a climate element to the comprehensive plan,” Eric told the council, and West Richland has partnered with Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and Benton County for a regional approach.

Key mandatory changes Eric listed include a climate element, significant housing-element updates to address affordability and to allow a wider range of housing types (including multifamily in some residential areas and up to two accessory dwelling units per lot), and environmental-element revisions. Eric said these code changes will require “significant public outreach, feedback, and council discussion.” He emphasized deadlines tied to state review: the periodic update work is due to Commerce by June 2026.

The council also reviewed the Lewis & Clark master plan, which Eric said began in 2021 and includes analysis of water, sewer and transportation. A private property owner has funded the consultant for that master-plan work, and Eric said staff is aiming to finish the plan by October 2025 so development proposals can move forward.

Eric described available grant funding tied to the periodic update and the climate element. He said the city has roughly $500,000 in climate-related grant funds (the city’s portion of the regional award is about $100,000) and a separate periodic-update grant of about $125,000. Portions of the climate funding have been earmarked for implementation work, Eric said, and staff reallocated some funds to cover additional consultant support.

Staffing constraints were a recurring theme. Eric said his department lacks the staff levels typical for this scale of work: he named Roscoe and himself as the two planning staff currently available to handle permits and the periodic update. Several council members and staff noted prior requests for a senior planner had not been funded in prior budgets. “I don’t have staff to work on those,” Eric said, referring to the unfunded parking-lot items, and he warned that missed deadlines could halt grant-funded capital projects tied to other departments.

Council members asked clarifying questions about which parking-lot items are funded, the timeline for master-plan adoption, and whether the city could seek outside planning help. Eric confirmed that highlighted items on his slide are funded; other items are not funded and will remain lower priority. The mayor noted the list could be revisited during the 2026–27 budget cycle when council can consider adding staff or reprioritizing projects.

No formal motions were made. The council asked staff to distribute the slide deck and noted that, if additional staff or consultant support becomes available, some parking-lot items could be advanced. Eric said he has requested a senior planner in prior budget requests and that he will continue to press for resources to meet state deadlines and complete the Lewis & Clark master plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 28, 2025 City CouncilWorkshop","oneSentenceSummary","Community Development presented a prioritized 'parking lot' list and described state deadlines, grant funding and limited staff capacity. Council was told many nonfunded items will remain on hold while mandatory updates proceed.","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},6362990,"West Richland council reopens fireworks debate but takes no action amid enforcement, staffing limits",141,149000,290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2167010-3d1ff211eb220888ce95f3fd58773269&start=149&end=290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2167010-3d1ff211eb220888ce95f3fd58773269/thumbnail_149000.jpg","/articles/6362990/West-Richland/Benton-County/Washington/West-Richland-council-reopens-fireworks-debate-but-takes-no-action-amid-enforcement-staffing-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6362990-309927d3f9d8c635be05ff5ad20c9685/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200061&Signature=F~mqZajTNd145bhEbVOtbiNNFPNEs2w7EvS5haaRpl9cUTq5ICJ9dmzalmSXrkQC8uxdgIDSpQhGD5YUiKC0-2ladCsQjd9IsKBnTPm3rIkXLHI2ODPivmoe6kfDTgfOxuyY4DYTrt5jvuZhlOMLaByNjbZvy3r8BcwMHTjlwQB3~-8qeED8Xq8cu0KGkWzHQxWqjc8ezCUJk4~NlO7V~W7vSMck9xUSmzFuuR87tpWFAeZh5WoCBanJhVN2Ugqja0mozLwiMteFVsQyToSv1dVGSKxK94eJnZ3QQJ05cMHBH-J3lkTbyGR7Mtw1ZQ6Lu89TP16QixH5PqdkGVwRKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Jan. 28 special workshop, the West Richland City Council discussed possible changes to the city’s fireworks rules, including reducing days when fireworks are legal and adding vendor or purchaser permit requirements, but the council took no formal action.

The discussion came after Community Development staff summarized the city’s recent history with fireworks regulation — public forums in 2012 that reduced permitted days, and a 2023 community survey that was narrowly divided on further change. “Fireworks have been a divided topic for citizens of West Richland for many years,” Eric, Community Development staff, told the council.

Council members framed proposed changes largely as compromises. Mayor Pro Tem Brink argued that reducing permitted days would “have less demand on fire, less demand on police resources, less trauma for the humans and the pets that suffer,” while Council member Moran and others urged limiting the size or loading of aerials and cutting the number of permitted nights to reduce public-safety calls.

Police and fire leadership cautioned that stricter rules would be difficult to enforce. Police Chief Grego said enforcement is “next to impossible” under current staffing: an officer must be present to issue a citation, and limited personnel and competing emergency calls mean fireworks complaints are frequently deprioritized. Grego added that when a fire occurs, law enforcement is tasked with road closures, evacuations and scene security, stretching available officers further.

Staff and council also discussed enforcement side effects and practical limits. Eric told the council that tighter laws “may not have the intended effect” because some people would turn to illegal sources or avoid reporting fires for fear of citation, slowing emergency response. He also noted there is no current funding for extra patrols or for the public-engagement process a text amendment would require.

Council members suggested several possible nonregulatory approaches. Ideas raised included targeted public education at fireworks stands, voluntary one-page safety flyers distributed by vendors, and asking vendors to post city rules at sales locations. Eric and staff noted a legal constraint: the council was told that state law prohibits charging for a permit at fireworks stands, so a fee-based vendor permit would not be allowed. Council member Stoecker (who described experience working at fireworks stands) and other members cautioned that vendor requirements create administrative burdens on small sellers and may be ineffective during busy sale periods.

The council heard practical details about the current code and common consumer products. Council members referenced the existing local limit for mortar diameter and loading — a 2.5-inch diameter mortar with a 40-gram load was discussed as among the larger permitted devices — and discussed complaints about ground-level devices tipping and starting brush fires.

No ordinance, motion or vote was proposed during the workshop. Mayor (presiding) and staff said that, given limited staffing and budget this year, any ordinance change would require public hearings, outreach and extra staff time the city does not currently have.

The mayor directed that the topic be noted for future priority-setting; staff said fireworks is low on the department’s current priority list compared with state-mandated planning work and large projects already underway. Council members divided in opinion: several favored reducing permitted days (many mentioned restricting legal discharge to July 4 only), while others favored maintaining current rules with increased education and enforcement where feasible.

The council did not schedule a follow-up vote or set a formal timeline for drafting code changes.","Council members discussed reducing allowed fireworks days and vendor permit ideas but made no immediate changes. Staff and police warned enforcement and funding constraints would limit any new rules.","actionData","errors"]

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West Richland planning staff outline heavy 2025 workload, state-mandated periodic update and Lewis & Clark master plan

West Richland council reopens fireworks debate but takes no action amid enforcement, staffing limits