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West Richland council approves two-year agreement with Chamber of Commerce; president abstains from vote
Summary
The West Richland City Council approved a 2025–2026 service agreement with the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce. Council member David Feddow, the Chamber's sitting president, recused himself and abstained from the vote after counsel cited RCW rules allowing a remote/non‑salaried nonprofit officer to have a "remote interest."
The West Richland City Council approved a two-year agreement for services with the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce covering fiscal years 2025–2026 at its March 18 meeting. City Attorney Fultz advised the council on state conflict-of-interest law and the council adopted the agreement after a presentation from a Chamber representative.
City Attorney Fultz told the council that the Revised Code of Washington provides for an exception that allows a council member to maintain a "remote interest" when serving as a non‑salaried officer of a nonprofit corporation. Fultz said the interest must be disclosed, recorded in the minutes, and the council member must not vote or attempt to influence the outcome. To avoid any appearance of influence, Council member David Feddow, the sitting Chamber president, left the room during the discussion and abstained from the vote.
Paul Madsen, introduced at the meeting as a past Chamber president and a local business owner, gave a short presentation on the Chamber’s recent rebrand, membership growth and planned events. Madsen said the Chamber completed a rebrand in 2024, has hired an executive director (Keith Moon) and plans to support community events including the Veterans Day Parade, the “Wednesdays in West” food-truck program, and a large Easter egg hunt. He told the council the Chamber had a positive outlook for 2025 as membership increased.
Council members voted to approve the agreement. The vote was recorded at the meeting as approved with one abstention by Council member David Feddow. Meeting remarks indicated the abstention followed Feddow’s recusal; the council did not record any further conditions on the agreement at the March 18 meeting.
The council’s minutes will reflect the disclosure and the abstention as required by state law, and the agreement is a recurring partnership the city said it has used to advance economic-development and community-event objectives.
