Funding Found for the Animal Shelter
November 15, 2020
Randy Notes translates the gobbledygook of the Richland City Council agenda for you.
If you want to comment on the hearing items go to the city agenda and follow the instructions.
Page numbers given below correspond to the page numbers of the packet items.
City Council Workshop – 5:00 p.m.
- Council members receive training in city social media policy.
City Council Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Welcome and Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda: (Approved by Motion)
Presentations
2. Covid update from City Manager Cindy Reents
Public Hearing: You can have 3 minutes to comment here. Go to the agenda (link above) for instructions. The city attorney reads the rules. Questions are not allowed. The rules normally include prohibitions about clapping and other citizen misbehavior that could result in expulsion. However, since she can’t have you kicked out of a virtual meeting, you are free to clap and boo to your heart’s content.
3. Money found for the animal shelter. Each of the three Tri-Cities’ jurisdictions have responsibility for the area animal shelter. Richland had budgeted $!.5 million for its one-third share of the cost. However, the city needed to find an extra $500,000 for its share when construction estimates came in for a higher amount. Since the Washington State Supreme Court decided that Richland and other cities can keep charging the car tab, $500,000 became available for the extra funding. Look at Pg. 29 “General Fund.” This and other amendments to the 2020 budget can be found on Pg. 25-29.
4. In 2021, the city will receive $305,207 dollars in Community Block Grant Funding. Recipients include Elijah Family Homes and Meals on Wheels. For others go to Page 63. The Tri-Cities HOME consortium will receive $700,367 for down payment assistance, pg.64. Details on the two programs are on pg. 60-107.
5. The city has received an additional $310,301 from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It will be distributed as follows: Microenterprise Business Assistance $161,030; Public Service $118,241; Administration $31,030. Pg. 107-112
6. An update of the city employee compensation plan. Pg. 151-156
7. Relinquishment of a utility easement at 2209 Humphreys Street. Pg.157-160
8. The Port of Benton has requested a portion of easement north and east of Robertson Drive. Pg. 161-164
Public Comments: You have 2 minutes to talk about anything. Same rules as for the public hearings. No questions allowed.
Consent Calendar: The Council lumps everything into this category. The items receive little if any discussion and only one vote so that no one can be held accountable.
Minutes
9. Approval of the November 3, 2020 minutes
Ordinances – First Reading
10. See Item 3 under the Public Hearing section. These are the amendments to the 2020 budget which include the new animal shelter. Pg. 25-29.
Ordinances – Second Reading & Passage
11. Proposed 2021 budget and 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Plan. The budget proposal is online.
12. Amending Chapter 2.04 of the Richland Municipal Code. This eliminates the position of deputy city manager and eliminates the assistant city manager as someone who is hired and instead makes the position someone who is chosen by and directed by the city manager. It also makes the descriptions of the city manager gender neutral. It changes the names of several city committees and departments to reflect their current responsibilities. For instance, Parks and Recreation becomes Parks and Public Facilities. Pg. 30-45
Resolutions – Adoptions
13. Columbia Center Parkway will eventually go through between Gage and Tapteal. This approves the $400,000 funding from the Port of Kennewick. Pg.46-52
14. The Port of Benton will contribute $50,000 for the same Gage to Tapteal project above. Pg.52-59
15. CDBG funding was the subject of the Item 4 hearing under the Public Hearing section. Pg. 60-107
16. CARES Act funding was the subject of the Item 5 hearing under the Public Hearing section. Pg. 107-112
17. This authorizes the circulation of a petition for residents to approve the annexation of Badger Mountain Vineyards at 1106 N. Jurupa Road. The land would be zoned low density.
18. Apollo Inc. of Kennewick submitted the lowest bid, $4,405,295.72, for improvements to about a mile of Columbia Park Trail East. The packet provides details. Pg. 123-145
19. The city has hired a new civil engineer but until that person is up to speed, the city will pay RGW Enterprises a consulting fee for services regarding the new Horn Rapids and North Richland development projects. This will add about $93,000 to the original contract. Pg. 146-150
20. Item 6 from the Public Hearing section, the compensation plan for city employees. Pg. 151-156
21. Item 7 from the Public Hearing section, relinquishment of the easement at 2209 Humphreys Street. Pag. 157-160
22. Item 8 from the Public Hearing section, relinquishment of an easement to the Port of Benton. Pg.161-164.
23. The owners of 4 homes on Allenwhite Drive live on a little island of land in the middle of the city. See for yourself on this map of Richland. The paperwork doesn’t include an explanation as to how this happened, but the annexation petitions reads, “petitioners pray that the City Council of the City of Richland, Washington entertain this petition.” Pg. 165-171.
Items – Approval
24. Lizzy Ridley will be appointed to the Planning Commission. Ridley is a land use planner at J-U-B Engineers. The firm advertises as working in “Transportation, Water Resources and Land Development.” Pg. 175-176.
Expenditures – Approval
25. All checks written in October. Pg. 177-212
Items of Business
Nothing
Reports and Comments
City Manager, Council and Mayor – blah, blah, blah
Secret Executive Session
26. The council estimates 30 minutes for this secret meeting. You can keep your television or computer engaged to see when Mayor Ryan Lukson comes out to declare it completed. Taxpayers are paying for “retained legal counsel” for current or potential litigation.
Thanks. Glad to see they found money for the Humane Society project. They had an attitude problem when it was presented to Council. I wonder if public pressure had any bearing on the decision. I hope so but we’ll never know.
I think it definitely did. The squeaky wheel gets oil.