Residents of the Tri-City Heights in Kennewick would receive fire and medical services from the city fire department instead of Benton County Fire District 1 under a new agreement shown to the city council Tuesday.
There would be a trade-off in resources instead of an exchange of cash that will better serve the entire region and both agencies, said Fire Chief Neil Hines.
Benton County Station 130 at Canal Drive and Grant Street will become a base for the Hazardous Materials Team, and fire response equipment will come from one of two Kennewick stations within about four minutes of the Tri-City Heights area, Hines said.
The city had planned to annex the residential area, which is generally north of Canal Drive between Grant Street at the west to Neel Loop to the east.
Those plans prompted the Benton County fire district to plan to close Station 130 this year. But the city decided late last year not to pursue the annexation, leaving the fire protection issue unresolved.
Hines said the proposed deal has been approved by five fire agencies in the Tri-Cities that are part of a regional interlocal agreement.
No action was needed from the Kennewick council.
"We believe trading resources is fair and equitable. Leaving the money with (Fire District 1) will provide better overall services," Hines said.
In other matters at the council workshop:
w Police Chief Ken Hohenberg gave the 2008 annual report, noting that his department achieved a 1.9 percent reduction in the crime rate over the previous year. "It's not that we have a lot of cops. It's how we deploy our officers," he said.
w City Attorney Lisa Beaton had a presentation about do's and don't's relating to city e-mail and the state's Public Records Act. She said council members need to archive city business-related e-mails on both their city e-mail accounts and their home computers.
w Russ Burtner, director of municipal services, said Kennewick and Richland are close to signing an agreement to hire someone to prepare a development plan for the west end of Columbia Park. About 95 acres are in Kennewick, and about 41 acres are in Richland. The interlocal agreement should be ready for the council to review and sign next week, he said.
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Franklin Co. could decide on 'doughnut hole' today
Franklin Co. could decide on 'doughnut hole' today
Franklin County could decide tonight whether to allow Pasco to continue efforts to annex a so-called county "doughnut hole" using a new process.
Franklin County commissioners plan a 7:30 p.m. public hearing at the Franklin County Courthouse to decide if they want to enter talks with Pasco and Franklin Fire District 3.
Without the county's approval, the process created by the state Legislature to use an interlocal agreement for annexation can't happen.
Dog problem persists in Franklin County 'doughnut hole'
Dog problem persists in Franklin County 'doughnut hole'
Efforts to control dogs running loose in a large county "doughnut hole" inside Pasco city limits have stalled.
For months, Franklin County commissioners have wrestled with how to provide animal control to the urbanized area where 4,000 people live.
Still on the table is one proposal from the Tri-Cities Animal Control Authority to have Franklin County and West Richland join forces and split the costs of providing animal services.
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
Here is a listing of the agendas this week for Mid-Columbia public agencies:
Wednesday
* Richland Planning Commission, 7 p.m., city hall council chambers, 505 Swift Blvd.: Elect officers.
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
Here is a listing of the agendas this week for Mid-Columbia public agencies: Monday
* Benton County Commission, 9 a.m., courthouse, Prosser: meeting canceled.Pasco City Council, 7 p.m., city hall, 525 N. Third. Ave.: discuss proposed memorandum of agreement for the Quad-Cities water permit and consider code amendments for rabbits and hens in residential zones.
* Walla Walla County Commission, 9:30 a.m., commissioners chambers, 314 W. Main St.: will hold an exit audit meeting with state auditor's office representatives about the 2010 county audit.
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
AGENDAS: Mid-Columbia public meeting schedule
Here is a listing of the agendas this week for Mid-Columbia public agencies:
Monday
* Walla Walla County Commission, 9:30 a.m., commissioners chambers, Public Health and Legislative Building, 314 W. Main St.: will hear budget presentation and review from human services, auditor and sheriff departments. Public hearings to consider adoption of 2012 property tax levies and the county budget; Action items include approval of request for grant funds from Pelo Foundation for access to baby and child dentistry, discussion regarding claims against the county; executive session on personnel issues and collective bargaining negotiations.
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