[{"_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",6543887,"mediaKeyId","5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc","parentId",5906837,"title","Votes at a glance: Richland council approves consent calendar, appointments and procedural items","audioSeconds",210,"startMs",1356000,"endMs",1566000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc&start=1356&end=1566","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc/thumbnail_1356000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543887/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Richland-council-approves-consent-calendar-appointments-and-procedural-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543887-66284c3a8a5206c07c02bf65a2b6e402/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753580&Signature=ED44g6dZltTQAz7m4EyT3c1Hnqb5rtw~RTyPtkmckQwzPUjrgox4J69aEGNXifhIUJZ5AF8tqZ6~xgW8TsYA1S0Npz30sD9soREexFY6URZldhXPTvB55Yac-f6ofNAul9Vf9C0awuaa9iLaPSBOMh1-rPRuVjgby~CBaIAadBqlRY5~lXp~SbnQITQ4Szd3K14y5quV6BX5HZEsu2glP23GZKZFQ3QjFi0SPa~SOI4E1uwEyLR-q33uGZTbMaNxrpkvTH-9ThuAd4gkcgkMj7FXgPWT-LGKOOKhOJlV6E58b6SNaewb3MK3ipMBDsf41UBmnIpbmJCQqm17CRML7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Richland City Council on Oct. 7 approved the meeting agenda and the consent calendar, and confirmed a series of routine ordinances, resolutions and appointments listed on the published agenda.

The council first approved the meeting agenda by voice vote. The consent calendar — which the clerk read into the record — included: approval of minutes from prior meetings; first-reading and dedication of right-of-way (Ordinance No. 2025-27, Morningside Parkway); second-reading items amending delegation authority (Ordinance No. 2025-24) and imposing an additional sales tax of 0.1% for the Richland Transportation Benefit District (Ordinance No. 2025-25); and several resolutions for procurement, contract changes, public-hearing scheduling, consultant agreements, equipment purchases, facade-improvement grants, and grant applications, among others.

The specific resolutions and consent items read by the clerk included:
- Resolution No. 2025-122: purchase agreement with Crown Technical Systems LLC for switchgear for Dallas Road substation Bank 1.
- Resolution No. 2025-123: change order No. 3 to Prater Electric Inc. for Stevens Drive substation expansion Bank 1.
- Resolution No. 2025-124: set public hearing date to vacate portion of Snively Road right-of-way.
- Resolution No. 2025-125: consultant agreement with Common Street Consulting LLC for right-of-way acquisition for DuFour Tale Street Improvements.
- Resolution No. 2025-126: ratify purchase order with Axon Enterprises Inc. for public safety video camera system.
- Resolution No. 2025-127: award commercial facade improvement grant funds to E and J Hospitality Inc. for 1301 A George Washington Way.
- Resolution No. 2025-128: authorize application to Washington State Department of Commerce Clean Energy Siting and Permitting grant program for planning activities related to Horn Rapids, the Richland Innovation Center, and the Northwest Advanced Clean Energy Park.
- Resolution No. 2025-129: first amendment to the 2017 cable television educational access grant with Washington State University.

The council also approved appointments of Adam Morash and Pete Rogalski to the Economic Development Committee. No council member requested removal of any consent item for separate discussion; the consent calendar was approved by roll call vote with all members present voting yes.

Ending: The meeting proceeded to the substantive ordinance and resolution items after the consent calendar passed unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council","oneSentenceSummary","At the Oct. 7 meeting the council approved the agenda, the consent calendar (which included ordinances, resolutions and appointments), and a set of consent resolutions and motions listed on the published agenda.","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},6543891,"Richland council adopts 2025 clean energy implementation plan and related assessments",435,1979000,2414000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc&start=1979&end=2414","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc/thumbnail_1979000.jpg","/articles/6543891/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-council-adopts-2025-clean-energy-implementation-plan-and-related-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543891-72df417490fea20310855b04086ac1dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753580&Signature=UmXOHRUjccYAdzFrWJW138wLQEHaXawHnwNU5PaNrxEpleshYIo4W5cKD7KfjbKy74mYK5ua7mVoi6IVz7BrTa65Gk-LyPsGo4H2Hz0fkWiHt0aVxGwHVwYU4a6xnoDYgpkP2UAvzMtdZ~LndO~ksi6kUDUU4Eb3GrJ60xTV7wAySvxuZ1N0SFT2JQxb4vJjemapN4ZSmSLY~gl~fZ2rf3rhhxIIcHPZWJ30JQ-ga0eEhGIgVCrCmjHicyXkC2j0aLyEArvLyotuPMq6J3IUHCyiPcB6yTrJmVW8z2ZDAFwQnl~iWx8UQIzDJapfm8lfJkbd98IupcR7fJKB-I0QMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richland City Council on Oct. 7 adopted Resolution No. 2025-121, approving the city’s 2025 Clean Energy Implementation Plan along with a conservation potential assessment and a demand-response potential assessment. The resolution passed by a unanimous voice vote following a staff presentation.

City staff framed the plan as part of the state's overlapping requirements under the Energy Independence Act and the Clean Energy Transformation Act, which ask municipal utilities to assess conservation and demand-response opportunities and set targets for reducing carbon intensity. In the presentation, staff noted that Richland’s wholesale power portfolio is approximately 92% carbon-free, supplied primarily by Columbia Generating Station and hydropower, exceeding the state’s 80% benchmark.

Staff said the three consultant reports clarify the city’s remaining conservation potential, demand-response opportunities and recommended implementation actions. Public workshops and community partner meetings were held in April and August to gather input, staff said. One community request that emerged during outreach, staff noted, was to reduce utility deposits for low-income or highly impacted customers; staff tied the deposit proposal discussed elsewhere on the Oct. 7 agenda to recommendations in the clean-energy outreach process.

The Utility Advisory Committee reviewed the reports and supported the recommendations, staff said. If approved, staff will submit the three reports to the Washington State Department of Commerce as the city’s plan under state law.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made and seconded; council approved it by voice vote. Mayor Richardson and all councilmembers present voted in favor.

Ending: The council approved the resolution unanimously; staff will submit the adopted plans and assessments to the Washington State Department of Commerce and proceed with the implementation steps outlined in the consultant reports.","The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2025-121, approving the city's 2025 Clean Energy Implementation Plan, Conservation Potential Assessment and Demand Response Potential Assessment and directing staff to submit the reports to the Washington State Department of Commerce.",{"_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},6543895,"Richland council adopts lower flat utility deposits to ease move-in costs",397,1602000,1999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc&start=1602&end=1999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906837-add24e3387fffa78ee07f1d85e1339dc/thumbnail_1602000.jpg","/articles/6543895/Richland/Benton-County/Washington/Richland-council-adopts-lower-flat-utility-deposits-to-ease-move-in-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543895-538a9612905e8a135d2d9fbac96bc848/orig.mp4?Expires=1770753580&Signature=CYvj1AhuuhC7mbLIjtTdAzxVEiL6MIy2cbd3f7iZ~BeZ8hmXcWZd3-W~9d~iP8rUSsFsUPrTLTod6Zs9bxZ1Jt61eky8yeTJ7TOXVMQbI9Nhh5k~~S8nM525q1ql091r3aMIikPfAvGVfu4An3IqwvHthz4l6O5ucyokgVqRtYddpW9HxdAga1DB59Jc4-MvShc17fFzH1ItRDHktqV3YhfXHwy~-fEQkSDhJt1iljcEM~bbLKWX2XvN-JreEs7TfLF7z~UNqsGhvJ4Z0HHaEnQVEMnAFAesxORFLo2SN6GCV1vICnOjBn46wV4JgwL31qaKJkWWaBYgemhPbF8oUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Richland City Council on Oct. 7 approved Ordinance No. 2025-28, amending chapter 3.26 of the Richland Municipal Code to change utility security deposits from a usage-based formula to lower flat rates. The measure passed by roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

City staff told the council the existing policy charged new tenants deposits equal to roughly two months of historical utility usage, an amount staff said can average more than $400 and create a financial barrier to moving into a rental. Brandon Allen, a city staff member presenting the proposal, said the city proposes flat deposits to simplify administration and reduce upfront costs for customers.

Allen said the proposal sets a $100 deposit for apartment units and a $250 deposit for single-family or house rentals. He told council the change will lower the administrative burden of calculating usage-based deposits and make move-ins less costly for renters. Allen said deposits already held by current customers would not be reduced retroactively.

Allen acknowledged a potential increase in loss risk — customers leaving with unpaid balances — but described the risk as small. He said the city’s total held deposit balance is currently “around $700,000 to $800,000” and estimated the balance would fall over time under the new flat-rate scheme. Council member Kent asked for specific data on the frequency and dollar amount of unpaid accounts; Allen said he did not have exact counts at the meeting but offered to provide the information to the council.

The ordinance retains waiver and refund provisions Allen described: customers may have a deposit waived if they provide 12 months of good payment history with a prior utility provider, and deposits are refundable after 12 months of good payment history with the city. Allen and Mayor Pro Tem Kent both noted the change had been reviewed by the Utility Advisory Committee, which recommended moving forward.

The ordinance was moved and seconded, then approved by roll call: Mayor Richardson — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kent — aye; Councilmember Jones — yes; Councilmember Luxon — aye; Councilmember Meyer — aye; Councilmember Winton — aye; Councilmember Van Dyke — aye.

City staff said the change is intended to reduce move-in costs for renters while maintaining options to pursue collections for unpaid accounts. Staff also said they would report back to council with more detailed loss-rate data after compiling historical account information.

Councilmembers and staff did not propose further amendments at the meeting. The new deposit amounts will be incorporated into city billing procedures as directed by the ordinance.

Ending: The council adopted the ordinance unanimously; staff will finalize administrative changes and provide requested historical data on unpaid balances to the council at a later date.","The Richland City Council voted unanimously to replace usage-based utility deposits with lower flat rates for renters and single-family rentals, a change staff said will reduce barriers to housing and gradually lower the city's deposit balance.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Richland council approves consent calendar, appointments and procedural items

Richland council adopts 2025 clean energy implementation plan and related assessments

Richland council adopts lower flat utility deposits to ease move-in costs