August 4, 2026 City Council Meeting

At the August 4, 2026 City of West Richland City Council meeting, the council approved the consent agenda, including authorizing the mayor to execute Amendment No. 5 to the Washington State Department of Transportation participating agreement for the State Route 224 Red Mountain project and accepting the 2026 street striping project as complete. The council also approved an update to transportation impact fees following a study by Transpo. Staff described approximately $137 million in transportation projects planned over 20 years, with just under $42 million eligible for impact-fee funding; the fee is set to rise from about $1,990 to $4,400 per PM peak-hour trip through staged increases beginning January 1, 2027, before returning to CPI adjustments in 2030.

The council adopted a revised purchasing and procurement policy (Resolution 45-26). It sets purchasing authority at $20,000 for department directors, up to $40,000 for the public works director with finance director approval, and up to $60,000 for the mayor with finance director approval; purchases above $60,000 require council approval. Discussion focused on accountability and how the limits apply to expenditures within adopted budgets; staff explained that the policy is intended to reduce administrative delays for routine, budgeted purchases and contracts. No specific new contract awards or vendor selections were made.