October 6, 2026 City Council Meeting

The October 6, 2026 West Richland City Council meeting approved its consent agenda, including a lease agreement for the 35-acre raceway property with FOMAC, the 2026 Benton County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, an interagency agreement with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, an amendment to the jail-facility use agreement, solid-waste fee changes, and acceptance of the SR 224 Red Mountain vicinity improvement Phase 2 project as complete. The consent agenda also included stormwater-code amendments and a planning commissioner appointment; no dollar amounts or contract numbers were stated. Separately, the council approved Ordinance 23-26, updating fireworks rules to allow New Year’s sales December 27–31, correct the Independence Day sales period, and transfer permit administration; the vote was 5–2. It also adopted a resolution designating West Richland a Purple Heart City, with staff noting there was no direct expenditure and any signage costs would be considered separately. Comprehensive-plan resolutions for the environmental, housing, and land-use elements passed; the land-use resolution was amended to strike Policy 28. Some other agenda items were postponed for staff review.

Public comment and council discussion focused largely on a proposed hyperscale data center at Lewis and Clark Ranch. Residents urged a moratorium, a public hearing/conditional-use process, and further study of water, power, noise, environmental, safety, and property-value impacts. No moratorium or data-center action was put to a vote. Council members described ongoing review of the issues, and the mayor said a council workshop would be arranged. The finance discussion included concern about the city’s budget and a possible levy lid lift, but no related spending action was taken. Staff reported that the Keene Road South Islands Boulevard signal project was out to bid and that an award item was expected at the October 20 meeting; a separate land-use item was being revised and deferred to a later meeting.