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West Richland council approves multifamily design standards, zoning changes, easement vacation and budget amendment; approves employment‑contract extension for
Summary
The council adopted Ordinances 14‑24, 15‑24, 16‑24 and 17‑24, passed Resolution 46‑24 vacating two Benton REA utility easements, and approved extending employment‑contract authority to several senior staff and police commanders; votes were voice votes with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript.
The West Richland City Council adopted multiple ordinances and a resolution during its July 16 meeting, and approved a personnel change to broaden use of employment contracts.
Land‑use and zoning actions: Community Development Director Eric Mendenhall presented findings supporting interim multifamily design standards; after a public‑hearing period with no public speakers, the council adopted Ordinance 14‑24 (findings of fact for interim multifamily design standards) by motion and voice vote. The council also passed Resolution 46‑24 to vacate a 20‑foot and a 10‑foot utility easement to allow construction of a new Benton REA facility; staff reported no objections from other utilities or the public.
Administrative and zoning code changes: Council adopted Ordinance 15‑24 to dissolve the rarely used Board of Adjustments and assign variance review duties to the Planning Commission. The council also approved Ordinance 16‑24, a zoning text amendment to increase permissible accessory‑building size for larger RM‑zoned lots (establishing a three‑quarters‑of‑an‑acre cutoff and adjusting height provisions), after staff explained the rationale and the planning commission’s recommendation.
Budget amendment: Finance Director Erin Gwynn presented Ordinance 17‑24, the 11th amendment to the 2023–24 biennial budget. The changes total an increase of $2,039,121 in appropriations (with $1,814,121 in increased resources) and include two police grants ($36,481 and $5,400), a $30,000 appropriation for legislative advocacy services, $1,772,240 for the SR‑224 Red Mountain project, $160,000 in appropriations for North Lake East Roadway Repair, and $35,000 to purchase a one‑acre parcel near Twin Bridges for a future booster pump station. Council passed the amendment by voice vote.
Personnel policy: The council approved extending the city’s use of employment contracts to include the city clerk, IT manager, HR manager and police commanders. HR Manager Salida Smathers said the maximum payout equals five months’ salary pro‑rated by years of service (one month per year, capped at five) and that there is no payout if an employee is terminated for cause or if they resign. Council members probed definitions of cause, payout scale and legal vetting; staff said contracts are vetted with legal counsel and the insurance pool (WCIA).
Why it matters: The ordinances adjust local land‑use governance and zoning standards that affect developers and property owners; the budget amendment directs state and grant funds toward capital projects and maintains police and program resources; extending employment contracts aims to stabilize senior staff and key police positions through election cycles.
What’s next: Staff will implement the adopted code changes and budgeting actions; the easement vacation will proceed per the resolution authorization; personnel contracts will be prepared consistent with the terms described and legal review.
