Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

The Kennewick City Council wants to see more progress made toward building a regional facility, and likes the idea of using a metropolitan parks district to pay for it.

The council discussed a possible regional facility during a workshop meeting Tuesday.

Such a facility could be an aquatic center or a performing arts center, but the council would like to see the Regional Facilities Oversight Committee step back and take a look at all possible projects.

The committee is made up of representatives from Kennewick, Pasco and Richland and has led the discussion of a facility all three would combine to build for the last few years.

But Kennewick council members are getting antsy that not enough is happening and agreed Tuesday to tell the committee they want something done.

Among the messages they plan to send is that they want the committee to find an independent third party, such as the League of Women Voters, to lead a public forum so Tri-Citians can say what kind of facility they want and how they’re willing to pay for it.

The council said it leaned toward wanting a parks district that would levy property taxes, than a regional public facilities district that would rely upon sales taxes.

Source: Tri-City Herald

Source: Herald staff:

Tuesday Sept. 1:

Kennewick Irrigation District, 9 a.m., 12 W. Kennewick Avenue., Kennewick: discuss formation of the Red Mountain South Local Improvement District and receive an update in executive session about the process to interview applicants for the secretary-manager’s job.

Kennewick City Council, 6:30 p.m., 210 W. Sixth Ave.: workshop to hear a financial update on the first quarter of the biennium and a presenation on a proposal for regional facilities in the Tri-Cities that could bring an aquatics center and a performing arts center to the community. A regular meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. to approve a consent calendar and an ordinate establishing policy for reimbursement on infrastructure costs from owners who develop their properties after improvements have been installed.

Richland City Council, 7 p.m., council chambers, city hall, 505 Swift Blvd., library artwork, Bradley Boulevard alignment, Duportail bridge and Lee Boulevard improvements.

Wednesday Sept 2.

Franklin County Commission, 9 a.m., courthouse, 1016 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco: meeting canceled.