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Kennewick council authorizes mayor to sign MOA to accept 72 acres of Columbia Park from Army Corps
Summary
The Kennewick City Council unanimously authorized the mayor to sign an amended memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and regional partners to transfer 72 acres of Columbia Park to the city, subject to cultural-resource protections and future government-to-government consultations.
Kennewick’s City Council voted unanimously Oct. 1 to authorize Mayor Gretel Crawford to sign an amended memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Walla Walla District) that would convey 72 acres of Columbia Park to the City of Kennewick.
Parks Director Nick Varlene told council the MOA includes signatories and invited parties such as the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Wanapum Band and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Varlene said the agreement preserves treaty and cultural protections and would remove the Corps from routine park maintenance approvals that can be costly and time-consuming.
Council members pressed staff about the MOA’s dispute-resolution and termination language. Councilmember Trumbo said he was concerned that an invited signatory could initiate a termination process; Varlene and Deputy City Manager Lisa Beaton (speaking to procedures) said the MOA includes a multi-step dispute-resolution process that does not immediately involve courts and gives the city time to respond and remedy concerns before a final determination is made.
The MOA also requires the city to complete a cultural resource management plan within two years and commits to annual government-to-government meetings with signatories and invited tribes to discuss future projects in the 72-acre area. Varlene said the timeline for when title would formally transfer to the city remains uncertain because additional signatory actions and internal Corps processes remain outstanding.
Supporters on the council framed the action as a regional step forward. Councilmember Anderson thanked the Corps and the tribal and state partners and said he hoped other invited parties would participate in the future. Councilmember McShane described the MOA as foundational groundwork to allow the city to use the park land in ways that meet local needs rather than long federal review cycles.
The council approved the authorization by motion and a 7–0 vote. Mayor Crawford said the transfer should allow the city to respond more quickly to maintenance and irrigation issues while maintaining consultation with tribes.
