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Council adopts amended proclamation policy after debate over role of mayor and council
Summary
The council approved Resolution 12-25 to amend the city's proclamation policy, returning discretion to the mayor for issuing proclamations while retaining council consent for keys to the city. The measure passed despite two council votes against it amid concerns about politicization.
The West Richland City Council on Feb. 4, 2025, approved Resolution 12‑25, which amends the city's proclamations and "key to the city" procedure to remove a requirement that proclamations receive council consent and restore discretion to the mayor for issuing proclamations. The council retained a council-consent requirement for keys to the city because of additional cost and prestige.
City Clerk Stephanie Hogg summarized the proposed change as reverting proclamation practice "back to the way that it was before this formal policy was adopted, which was relied on the mayor to make those decisions." Hogg told the council that the exhibit attached to the resolution removed the section requiring council consent for proclamations but kept the key-to-the-city process under council approval.
Council debate included sharply different views on whether proclamations should remain a city function. Councilmember John Smart said he would prefer eliminating proclamations entirely. "I ... recommend that the city just eliminate proclamations altogether," Smart said, arguing they could place the mayor and the city in the position of appearing to endorse groups that not all residents support. "I don't plan to support this for that reason," Smart added.
Councilmember Richard Bloom defended the amended policy as clarifying the nonbinding and honorary nature of proclamations, noting the document explicitly says proclamations are "strictly honorary" and "are not legally binding and do not constitute an endorsement of the city of West Richland." Bloom said removing council approval reduces emphasis and politicization of proclamations.
Councilmember Kate Moran and others said reverting to mayoral discretion would reduce politicization and reduce time the council spends on wording ceremonial proclamations. Councilmember Ben Stoker expressed concerns about presenting proclamations during council meetings and was also opposed to the change.
The council voted on Resolution 12‑25; the motion carried with two dissenting votes. The meeting record shows Councilmember Ben Stoker and Councilmember John Smart voted "nay," and the chair and remaining members voted "aye," yielding passage of the amendment.
The amended policy will take effect as adopted; staff said the key-to-the-city process still requires council consent and that requesters may indicate a preference for presentation method in the application materials.
