Richland City Council approves consent calendar, budget amendment and several resolutions

The Richland City Council approved the consent calendar and adopted Ordinance No. 2025-08, amending the city’s 2025 budget, during its April 1 regular meeting. All recorded votes were unanimous among members present; Council members Luxon and Witten were not present for the roll calls.

Council approved routine items on the consent calendar by a single motion. The clerk read numerous consent items into the record including approval of meeting minutes (March 14 annual retreat; March 18 regular meeting; March 25 workshop), a second-reading ordinance amending Chapter 3.06 of the Richland Municipal Code related to sale or lease of city real property (identified in the packet as Ordinance number 2025-07), and several resolutions and appointments. Among the resolutions read into the record were: a consultant agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group for SR-240 Aaron Interchange improvements; ratified grant applications to the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments; authorization of $549,500 from the TPA reserve (Visit Tri Cities request); award of a bid for the Richland Library outdoor children’s area; a purchase and sale agreement for property at 2622 Henderson Loop; consultant agreement amendments for environmental site assessment work; continuation of Microsoft licensing through InSight Public Sector; and an agreement with Motorola Solutions for radio equipment replacement on behalf of Benton County Emergency Services. The clerk also announced appointments to several boards and commissions.

Later in the meeting the council considered Ordinance number 2025-08, a budget amendment totaling about $4.9 million across funds, largely driven by new grant revenue and appropriations for street capital construction projects; the council voted to adopt the ordinance by roll call. City staff said approximately $4.1 million of the amendment is tied to the Streets Capital Construction Fund and new grants; about $600,000 of the amendment will draw on fund balance with the remainder from newly received revenues.

Recorded roll call votes following the consent motion and the budget ordinance adoption show the same five members voting in favor: Mayor Richardson; Mayor Pro Tem Kent; Council member Jones; Council member Meyer; and Council member Van Dyke. The two absent members were not recorded in the roll calls. No motions failed and no items were tabled.

Votes at a glance (as read into the record):

- Motion: Approve consent calendar including minutes, appointments, Ordinance number 2025-07 (second reading) and listed resolutions. Outcome: Approved (unanimous among members present). Vote: Mayor Richardson — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Kent — Aye; Council member Jones — Yes; Council member Meyer — Aye; Council member Van Dyke — Aye. Absent: Council members Luxon and Witten.

- Motion: Adopt Ordinance number 2025-08, amending the 2025 budget in various city funds (total ~ $4.9 million). Outcome: Approved by roll call. Vote: Mayor Richardson — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Kent — Aye; Council member Jones — Yes; Council member Meyer — Aye; Council member Van Dyke — Aye. Absent: Luxon, Witten.

- Listed resolutions approved on the consent calendar (as read): • Resolution number 2020Five-forty — consultant agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group for SR-240 Aaron Interchange Improvements. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-forty5 — ratifying grant applications to the Benton Franklin Council of Governments 2025 Call for Projects. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-forty6 — authorizing $549,500 from the tourism promotion area reserve account for supplemental tourism-related projects in 2025. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2025Dash47 — award of bid to Vincent Brothers LLP for Richland Library outdoor children’s area. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-forty9 — authorizing a purchase and sale agreement with HTD Holding, LLC for property at 2622 Henderson Loop. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-fifty — authorizing an amendment to consultant agreement with Moll Foster and Eilonghi for environmental site assessment. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-fifty1 — second amendment to 3-year agreement with InSight Public Sector for Microsoft volume licensing (year 3). Outcome: Approved on consent calendar. • Resolution number 2020Five-fifty2 — agreement with Motorola Solutions for Prosser Butte site radio equipment replacement on behalf of Benton County Emergency Services. Outcome: Approved on consent calendar.

Council members transferred no consent items for separate discussion. City staff will proceed with the appropriations and contract actions authorized by the adopted motions and ordinance; staff noted several grant-funded streets projects will move into design and bid phases following the budget amendment.