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Richland council asks staff to pursue funding increase for neighborhood traffic-safety program; public urges fireworks and pedestrian-safety actions
Summary
Council member Jones requested additional funding for the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program; City Manager Amundsen said staff will return with a funding package within about one month to six weeks. Public commenters praised new pedestrian signals and urged the city to address fireworks safety before next July 4.
Council member Jones asked the Richland City Council during its Aug. 6 special meeting to consider increasing funding for the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program so more neighborhoods can participate.
Jones said neighborhood groups in Westcliff, Applewood and Cherrywood reported nighttime vehicle noise and racing that has disrupted sleep, and asked council to consider a larger budget or alternative financing so more areas can be served.
"Can we increase the budget for the neighborhood traffic safety program? I don't know what that budget is, and maybe I would like the city council to consider maybe increasing the budget so maybe more, neighborhoods can be improved," Council member Jones said.
Why it matters: Council and staff framed the request as a near-term operational funding decision with clear implementation implications for traffic-calming devices, enforcement and temporary deterrents. If council approves additional funding, more neighborhoods could be eligible for engineering changes, enforcement enhancements or short-term devices the city has used previously.
What the council directed: City Manager Amundsen said staff will prepare a funding package to address the request. "I would anticipate we would have something in the next month to 6 weeks on an increase for that," Amundsen said. That statement was presented as staff direction; no ordinance, budget adoption or formal appropriation was approved at the meeting.
Public comments raised related safety issues. Marie Noorani, a Richland resident, thanked the city for a proliferation of pedestrian signals and urged follow-up on fireworks enforcement and prevention before the next July 4. "I would like to continue to urge the city to deal with the use of fireworks between now and next fourth of July and not relegate it to the back burner," Noorani said, citing a record number of fires, property destruction, several injuries and at least one death she attributed to fireworks.
Discussion context and caveats: Multiple council members praised recent traffic-safety investments, including signage, a traffic-safety unit and new deterrent trailers. Council members said they had received both praise and requests for improvements from residents; none said a funding level was final. Amundsen’s timeline indicates staff will return with a proposal, at which point council would deliberate and could adopt budget changes as needed.
Implementation details and unknowns: The meeting did not specify a dollar amount for any proposed increase, which neighborhoods would be prioritized under an expanded program, or how any additional funding would be sourced (general fund, grants, or a special assessment). Council member Jones and staff indicated a follow-up item would be scheduled; no formal vote or budget amendment occurred at this meeting.
Next steps: Expect a staff report and funding proposal from the city manager within the timeline Amundsen provided; council would need to act in a future meeting to change appropriations or program rules.
