West Richland council approves consent agenda, sets Feb. 24 special meeting to fill vacancy

West Richland — The West Richland City Council on Feb. 17 approved a consent agenda that included a new collective bargaining agreement for the West Richland Police Officers Association and multiple routine resolutions, the mayor announced.

The council voted to approve the agenda and later the consent agenda during the 6 p.m. meeting. The consent package listed payment of bills; minutes from the regular meeting of Jan. 20 and the special meeting of Jan. 13, 2025; Resolution 0 5 25 authorizing the mayor to sign the West Richland Police Officer Association collective bargaining agreement; Resolution O 6 25 amending the salary schedule; Resolution 0 7 26 relating to surplus firewall; Resolution 0 8 26 (park impact fee mitigation agreement for Ridge/Candy Mountain Phase 2); Resolution 0 9 26 authorizing the mayor to execute a second amendment to an interlocal sewer extension agreement with Richland School District and 7 H A Family LLC; an amendment to the engineering services contract for the water system plan update (JUB); an engineering services agreement for wastewater treatment plant access road flood mitigation (JUB); and a letter to the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs regarding leasing of water rights for a proposed veterans cemetery site. The consent motion carried, and the mayor described the vote as unanimous.

On the police contract, the mayor thanked Chief Fry and Sergeant Ayer, the president of the Police Officers Association, ‘‘for his willingness to come forward and to start these negotiations again,’’ and noted the department had been operating without a contract for ‘‘13 and a half months.’’ Human Resources Director Ms. Mathers was also acknowledged for her role in completing the agreement. The contract will expire at the end of the year, the mayor said, and the city will need to begin negotiations again before that expiration.

Public Works Director Roscoe Slade updated council on the city's general sewer plan, which he said has been reviewed by the Washington State Department of Ecology and is now in the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process. Slade said the plan is ‘‘1,500 plus pages’’ and covers finance, capital improvements and other system elements; once adopted it will guide sewer policy for about 10 years. Slade said the plan is available on the city's website under Government > Public Works > Sewer and will go next to the utility committee before returning to council for formal adoption.

Council member John Smart said he received a citizen letter expressing concern about fireworks and that residents have discussed a possible 250-year community celebration; he said no immediate council action was planned. Council member Fred Cole thanked staff for an onboarding tour for new council members. Mayor Pro Tem also reported attending a ribbon-cutting for the Grove and participating in applicant screenings for the council vacancy.

The council set a special meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 24 to interview those applicants selected by the subcommittee and to appoint a new council member; the city clerk will notify selected applicants. The mayor also said the annual citizen survey will be launched in March and will include questions about fireworks.

There were no public commenters in the in-person or virtual comment periods. The mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:14 p.m.

Votes at a glance: The consent agenda (which included the items listed above) was approved as a single motion and carried unanimously; the record does not provide a separate roll-call tally for each listed resolution.