Richland City Council moved the regular first Tuesday council meeting to Monday night. Aug. 1 so members of the council could attend the National Night Out event on Tuesday. The Monday meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. at city hall but will also be broadcast live on Channel 192 and the City View website.

Richland City Councilmember Theresa Richardson’s son, Jet, is back on the city agenda giving a presentation to council in his role as director of Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity. Jet took his mother’s job as director of the organization after she retired. He was recently named to the Richland Planning Commission

Tri-County Habitat has built 151 houses in the 28 years that it has served Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla counties, according to information provided for the council packet. The packet information also says that eight of those were built in Richland.

The Habitat presentation includes a proposal for creating a group that would address the shortage of affordable housing in Richland. In the material provided, the group is described as a “collaborative group of community members and city staff that will provide recommendations to City Council for the long-term supply and sustainability of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities in our community.”

1.Health Center Week Proclamation. According to the National Health Center website, “National Health Center Week (August 7 – 13) is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades.” Pg. 4-5

2.Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity presentation.  Pg. 6-16

3. A presentation by Mirror Ministries, a group that helps minors who have been victims of sex trafficking Pg. 17-32

4. New hires and retirements (no information provided)

Public Hearing: You have three minutes to talk about “the item for which the hearing is convened,” according to the agenda.

5. Proposed amendments to the 2022 budget for capital construction fund, wastewater utility fund and equipment replacement. Pg. 241-245

Public Comments: You have 2 minutes to say anything you want to say. The council will sit there poker-faced and make no comments.

Consent Calendar All of these are voted on together and receive no discussion.

6. Approving the July 19, 2022, council meeting minutes and the minutes for the July 26 workshop. Pg. 33-41

7. Amending the Richland city code related to emergency shelters and transitional housing. In May 2021, the Washington state legislature passed a bill meant to “encourage cities to take active steps to accommodate transitional housing, emergency shelters, and similar homelessness-related facilities through local planning and changes to local development regulations,” according to the information in the city council meeting packet.  There are almost 150 pages in the packet outlining the changes in the city’s municipal code that are needed to conform to the state requirements.  Pg. 42-188.

8. Amending the Richland city code related to domestic violence and non-domestic violence court orders. In 2021, the Washington State legislature rewrote several statutes on domestic violence, adult protection orders and anti-harassment. These changes update the municipal code to reflect the changes in state law. Pg. 189-202

9. Amending the city code related to metered fire hydrant deposits and refunds. Contractors sometimes use water out of fire hydrants. Pg. 203-205.

10. Adopting the long-range plan for West Village Park in the Badger Mt. South development. A map is included on pg. 209. The park will have multi-use fields, a dog park, splash pad, and eight new pickleball courts. Pg. 206-209

11. Authorizing a perpetual parking easement from the United States of America. Some of the city hall parking lot belongs to the U.S. government. Pg. 210-222

12. Authorizing a contract to Pipe of Washington, Inc. for about $847,000 for the North Richland UV Improvements Project. The water treatment plant uses ultraviolent light to kill bacteria in the water.  Pg. 223-227

13. Authorizing a contract for almost $1.8 million to Premier Excavation, Inc. for the Center Parkway Extension North Project. Pg. 228-238.

14. Appointing David Boothroyd and Terri Rice to the Arts Commission. Nine people applied for the position. According to the packet summary, “no conflicts of interests were identified.” Rice is an artist and art teacher.  No information about Boothroyd’s background was available at press time. pg. 228-238.

Items of Business: These require a separate vote of the council.

15. Amending the 2022 budget for the items listed in the packet. See item 5. Pg. 241-245.

City Manager and Council Members blah, blah, blah