City manager reports progress on shoreline reconveyance with tribes; City Hall RFP drew nine submittals, pool partnership talks continue
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Summary
City Manager Eerdman told the Kennewick City Council on Nov. 4 that shoreline reconveyance talks with tribal counsel are close to agreement and that the City Hall RFP closed Oct. 29 with nine submittals; staff will narrow candidates and report back.
Kennewick, Wash. — City Manager Eerdman updated the Kennewick City Council Nov. 4 on several capital and land-use items: shoreline reconveyance discussions with tribal governments are advancing, the City Hall request for proposals has drawn nine submittals, and preliminary conversations continue about a potential pool partnership with the local school district.
Eerdman said city and tribal legal counsel met to align jurisdictional goals for the REEC-adjacent property and that the city will bring a memorandum of agreement, a cultural-practices easement and related protocols to council for adoption "probably December, early January." Eerdman said staff will continue to refine legislative documents and begin outreach to federal legislators in February 2026 to advance the reconveyance.
On the City Hall project, Eerdman reported the RFP closed Oct. 29 and the city received nine submittals. Staff is narrowing the pool and plans interviews next week, followed by negotiations; a workshop and additional council discussion were forecast for December, when more cost and scope details will be available.
Eerdman tied the City Hall timeline to capital prioritization and the pool conversation, saying the mid-biennial budget review scheduled for Nov. 18 will provide updated projections of fund availability through 2030. He said staff has had preliminary discussions with some school board members about possible partnership options for a pool and that refurbishing the existing pool remains under consideration depending on available capital.
No formal council votes on the shoreline reconveyance, City Hall contractor selection or pool funding occurred at the Nov. 4 meeting; staff identified next steps and anticipated a return to council with formal items for adoption.