Richland City Council Meeting 10-20-2026

The Richland City Council’s October 20, 2026 regular meeting addressed 2027 revenue and property-tax proposals, procurement-related consent items, and a police guild labor agreement. The council approved the consent calendar, including resolutions rejecting all bids for the George Washington Way sidewalk improvements and South George Washington Way pavement preservation projects; purchase-and-sale agreements for property connected to pedestrian-crossing safety improvements and the Richland Innovation Center redevelopment plan; an agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc. for radio-equipment replacement on behalf of Benton County Emergency Services; and a Washington Traffic Safety Commission grant agreement for high-visibility traffic enforcement. The consent calendar also included September expenditures totaling $35,808,712.78. A resolution declaring certain city vehicles and equipment surplus was scheduled and presented, but the transcript does not capture its final disposition.

The council approved a three-year Richland Police Guild collective bargaining agreement, Resolution 2026-148, with wage and benefit changes. In budget discussion, staff proposed an 8% property-tax levy increase using banked levy capacity, estimating about $1.7 million in additional revenue; the levy rate was projected to decline as the library debt levy expires. The council advanced the 2027 property-tax levy ordinance on first reading. Council members also discussed comprehensive-plan provisions concerning data-center siting and upcoming public workshops on possible Columbia Park West development.