CommitteeKelso

City Council

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for City Council in Kelso.

0 active membersNext meeting Sep 1, 2026Last meeting Aug 18, 202623 summaries in 30d

Summaries

Active roster

Latest activity

Aug 22, 2026

Municipality

Kelso

Latest coverage

Council Removes Pedestrian Safety Project

Published Aug 22, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to City Council.

Briefing

Jul 21, 2026

HOME Funding Remains Unallocated

The council did not allocate $50,124 in 2026 HOME funds after the only applicant withdrew its application. No eligible project was available for funding, and the public hearing drew no comments.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jul 7, 2026

Council Removes Pedestrian Safety Project

The council voted 4-3 to adopt the 2027-2032 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program after removing project T01, which covered pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements on 4th, 5th and Allen streets.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 16, 2026

Transportation program delayed for vote

The City Council unanimously tabled the 2027–2032 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program until July 7, 2026, delaying a decision on planned street improvements.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 2, 2026

Council guarantees aviation grant match funds

The council unanimously approved a resolution guaranteeing that required matching funds will be available for an aviation grant involving the Federal Aviation Administration and the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 19, 2026

Kelso Expands Police Force to 28 Officers

The City Council unanimously increased the authorized number of commissioned police officers to 28. It also unanimously amended the salary matrix for non-represented employees and re-adopted wastewater discharge pretreatment requirements.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 5, 2026

Council Advances Wastewater Pretreatment Policy

The council approved the first reading of an ordinance re-adopting the Three Rivers Regional Wastewater Authority discharge pretreatment policy and amending the Kelso Municipal Code by a 6-1 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 21, 2026

Council Approves Animal Shelter Agreement

The council voted 5–2 to authorize the city manager to sign an interlocal agreement for animal sheltering services with the Humane Society. The council also postponed discussion of the solicitation ordinance until May 19, 2026, for further legal review.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 7, 2026

Kelso Approves Bridge and Road Contracts

The council approved two contracts totaling $480,546: $176,260 for anti-bird netting at Allen Street Bridge and $304,286 for the Kelso Drive inlay project. Both votes passed unanimously.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 17, 2026

Kelso Awards Pump Station Rehabilitation Contract

The City Council awarded Dewitt Construction a $395,323.86 contract to rehabilitate the 592411 Haussler Pump Station, with all voting members supporting the motion.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 3, 2026

Council approves Tilla Drive sewer contract

Kelso approved a $579,875.43 contract for Tilla Drive sewer rehabilitation and a $62,500 on-call NPDES permit contract. The council rejected a proposal to add one police officer, which would have increased the department to 28 officers, by a 5–2 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 17, 2026

Council Approves Routine Business

The council approved a consent agenda that included auditing $3,356,622.23 in accounts. Staff also provided updates on public works projects and police staffing.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 3, 2026

Kelso Approves Sewer Inspection Contract

The City Council unanimously approved a $372,695.74 contract for the 2025 sewer CCTV project, which uses camera inspections to assess sewer lines.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 20, 2026

Council Advances Additional Sales Tax Proposal

The council unanimously authorized city staff to create an ordinance allowing collection of an additional sales tax. The minutes do not identify a tax rate or collection date.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 6, 2026

Council Approves Koppe Metals Site Acquisition

Kelso City Council voted 4–3 to acquire the former Koppe Metals site from Love Overwhelming, subject to the terms of a memorandum of understanding and reversion agreement dated December 18, 2025.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Dec 16, 2025

Council Approves $1.24 Million in Engineering Contracts

The council authorized two engineering agreements totaling $1,242,396: a $169,396 Parametrix contract by a 6-1 vote and a $1,073,000 RH2 Engineering contract supplement by unanimous vote. The city also began billing the new stormwater variable rate, approved a police records labor agreement for 2026-2029, and advanced a replacement taxicab ordinance on first reading.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Dec 2, 2025

Council adopts Allen Street corridor study

The council unanimously adopted the Allen Street Corridor Study. A proposal to direct staff to focus only on the study’s interim improvement options failed 3-4, leaving that restriction unapproved.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 18, 2025

Council approves 2026 property tax levy

The council authorized an increase in the regular 2026 property tax levy and set estimated ad valorem taxes at $1,833,015, with both actions passing 3-2.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 4, 2025

Council approves $227,500 in lodging taxes

The council approved $227,500 in lodging tax requests for Tam O’Shanter Park, the Kelso Highlander Festival, the Visitor Information Center, and Lights in the Park. The vote was 4-2, with one councilmember recused. The council also approved amendments to the city manager’s contract and a telecommunications franchise agreement.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Oct 21, 2025

Council Advances 2026 Property Tax Levy

The council approved a first reading setting the estimated 2026 property tax levy at $1,833,015, or the maximum amount allowed by law, on a 5–2 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Oct 7, 2025

Council Advances New Residential Zoning

Council approved the first reading of a zoning and comprehensive-plan change for two parcels, moving them from commercial and regional-commercial designations to low-density residential and single-family zoning with a 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size. The vote was 6-1.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Sep 16, 2025

Council Advances Business Tax Ordinance

The council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance amending Kelso’s business and occupation tax provisions to conform with the required statewide model ordinance. It also approved $5,916,269.48 in audited accounts by a 6–1 vote.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Sep 2, 2025

Council approves airport budget and sewer repair

The council unanimously approved an emergency resolution for a sanitary sewer break between N Minor Road and Interstate 5, allowing repair work to proceed without formal bidding. It also unanimously adopted the Southwest Washington Regional Airport’s 2026 operating budget.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Aug 19, 2025

Council Adjusts Stormwater Rate Timing

The council approved, 6-1, an ordinance amending the effective dates for stormwater rates and capital recovery fees for 2025-2030. It also approved emergency repairs for a collapsed sewer line near the 1600 block of Minor Road and authorized a Basin 14 Phase 2 engineering contract not to exceed $210,000.

2 min readMunicipal coverage