Council urges county to provide formal air-quality guidance for outdoor events

At a regular College Place City Council meeting, the chair said the Community Health Advisory Board discussed air-quality thresholds and recommended the county clarify whether it will issue guidance or advisories for outdoor events. The chair said the advisory board will send a memo to the Board of County Commissioners asking the county to define responsibility for canceling or advising against outdoor gatherings when air quality or extreme heat poses public-health risks.

"It would be nice to have something more official, and based on, you know, data and reasons and medical rather than my own personal opinion," the Chair said, describing the advisory board's preference for a data-driven, health-department-led approach. The chair also noted complaints from vendors who said other nearby cities had not canceled similar events: "Walla Walla hasn't canceled theirs, Milton Free Water hasn't canceled theirs, and College Place is quick to cancel ours."

Council member Green and other participants emphasized that the county health department already maintains thresholds for extreme-weather and air-quality responses and that formal county guidance would reassure residents and event organizers. An agency official pointed out that Labor & Industries (LNI) rules apply to staff working outdoors, creating additional employer responsibilities when events continue during poor air quality.

The council did not vote on a local ordinance; the action noted during the meeting was the advisory board's plan to send a memo to county commissioners for further consideration. Council members said they will share updates if the county responds or adopts formal guidance.