Richland City Council Meeting 10-6-2026

The Richland City Council’s October 6, 2026 meeting included several procurement- and funding-related approvals. On the consent calendar, approved unanimously, were Resolution 2026-128 authorizing a consultant agreement for a safety funding program, Resolution 2026-136 distributing 2027 hotel/motel tax funds, and Resolution 2026-137 authorizing a first amendment to Contract 251-26 with the Tri-City Development Council for industrial recruitment, economic development, and regional convenor services. Council also approved Resolution 2026-135, authorizing agreements for a transmission interconnection serving Washington Energy’s planned nuclear-supply-chain facilities. Bonneville will perform preliminary engineering; Washington Energy will pay Bonneville directly, with eligible transmission credits returned to Washington Energy over 20 years. The city said it would not disburse funds for this work. The resolution passed unanimously.

Council approved the proposed 2027–2029 collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 77, representing approximately 31 employees, by a 6–0 vote with one abstention from a council member who belongs to the union. The agreement includes wage increases described as a 6.75% market adjustment and a 7.25% 2027 cost-of-living increase, followed by 4% increases in 2028 and 2029; it also adds a 30-mile residency requirement and a wage opener tied to comparable public utility district rates. Separately, council discussed draft economic-development policies and asked staff to make language about small-business assistance more specific, but no related expenditure or procurement action was taken. Public comments raised animal-shelter operating-model concerns; no shelter contract decision was made.