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Kennewick council adopts ambulance permitting, updates municipal code and approves master fee schedule
Summary
At its Aug. 19 meeting the Kennewick City Council adopted an ordinance updating non‑emergency ambulance permitting, adopted housekeeping changes to the municipal code related to domestic violence references, approved a citywide master fee schedule, and approved a docket of 22 fee‑related code amendments.
The Kennewick City Council on Aug. 19 approved several ordinances and a resolution intended to update municipal code references, clarify ambulance permitting and centralize city fees.
Key outcomes
- Ambulance permitting ordinance adopted (unanimous 7‑0). The ordinance updates Title IX, chapter 9.36 of the Kennewick Municipal Code to align local definitions and permit conditions with current prehospital emergency medical care guidelines used in Adams, Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties. It requires clearer labeling of non‑emergency ambulances, public education to call 911 for emergencies and gives the city auditing authority over permittees.
- Domestic violence code housekeeping ordinance adopted (unanimous 7‑0). The ordinance updates Kennewick Municipal Code references to align with current state statutory citations noted by staff; the change replaces an out‑of‑date reference last amended in 2017.
- Resolution adopting a master fee schedule approved (unanimous 7‑0). The resolution creates a single, publicly accessible master fee schedule that consolidates fees previously scattered throughout city code and other documents. Staff said the schedule does not raise fees and recommended an annual review process. The council discussed "matter of right" or privileged record access for collision and certain medical records; staff said those records would be available via the portal for involved parties with identity verification and that the city attorney would review complex redaction questions.
- Docket of 22 housekeeping ordinances approved (6‑1). As a follow‑up to the master fee schedule, the council approved 22 separate municipal code amendments (items 5D1–5D22) removing fee language from the code and instead referencing the new master fee schedule. The docket included updates across parks impact fees, small‑cell permits, public works standards, business activities, adult concessions, traffic and utility charges among others.
Council procedure and votes
The clerk read ordinance and resolution titles before staff presented reports. Motions and recorded outcomes in the meeting transcript are summarized below. Where the transcript did not capture individual roll call votes, tallies are included as announced in the meeting.
For each item the council motion language in the record was "adopt the ordinance as presented" or "adopt the resolution as presented." The clerk announced the tallies after each vote.
Staff comments and clarifications
- Ambulance ordinance: Chief Heffner told the council the updates standardize definitions for critical care, emergency and interfacility transports, clarify the scope of providers and add permittee transparency requirements. Staff said the changes are intended to improve patient outcomes and operational coordination.
- Master fee schedule: Staff said the schedule would not increase current fees and would streamline public access to fee information. A $5 nominal charge for "matter of right" privileged records (for involved parties seeking quicker access to certain collision or medical records) was proposed to cover hosting costs; staff emphasized the fee is a reimbursement for city costs rather than a revenue increase.
What the votes mean
The ambulance ordinance and domestic violence housekeeping ordinance become part of the Kennewick Municipal Code as amended; staff will implement the permitting and code reference changes. The master fee schedule will be posted on the city website and staff proposed a second step to amend municipal code sections to reference the schedule. The docket of 22 ordinances implements that second step for multiple code sections.
Council members did not identify any immediate litigation or external approvals tied to the adopted items. Several council members praised staff for compiling the master fee schedule and noted the effort required to reconcile fees across departments.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance: Amend sections 9.36.110, 9.36.120 and 9.36.150 (ambulance services). Moved: Council member Millbauer. Second: Council member McShane. Outcome: Approved unanimously, 7‑0.
- Ordinance: Amend sections 10.01.290 and 10.01.300 (domestic violence reference updates). Moved: Mayor Patan Torelli. Second: Council member Anderson. Outcome: Approved unanimously, 7‑0.
- Resolution: Adopt master fee schedule. Moved: Mayor Pro Tem Torelli. Second: Council member McShane. Outcome: Approved unanimously, 7‑0.
- Docket: Ordinance docket items 5D1–5D22 (housekeeping updates to reference master fee schedule). Moved: Mayor Pro Tem Torelli. Second: Council member Milbauer. Outcome: Approved, 6‑1.
The consent agenda and approval of the meeting agenda were also approved earlier in the meeting (consent agenda passed 6‑1; agenda approval passed 7‑0).
