Summary

Todd Samuel Appointed Interim Councilmember

RichlandJan 27, 20262 min read

At a glance

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The City Council unanimously appointed Todd Samuel as interim councilmember for Position No. 4 in a 6-0 vote. During the workshop, councilmembers favored prioritizing due diligence on the $49 million 1200 Jadwin police station option, while retaining Queensgate as a backup and removing the former City Hall site from consideration.

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What this means

Todd Samuel will serve as Richland’s interim representative for Council Position No. 4. The police station discussion narrowed the preferred options but did not authorize construction. Staff also proposed sewer increases of 6% annually from 2026 through 2028 and a one-time stormwater increase of about 36% in 2026; those proposals will undergo Utility Advisory Committee review before returning to the Council.

Key decisions

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Approved Resolution No. 2026-10 appointing Todd Samuel as interim councilmember for Position No. 4 by a 6-0 vote.
Councilmembers indicated a preference to prioritize due diligence on the privately owned 1200 Jadwin building for a potential police station, retain the Queensgate site as a secondary option, and remove the former City Hall site from consideration.
Staff presented a proposed sewer rate strategy with 6% annual increases in 2026, 2027, and 2028, estimated at $1.50 to $1.75 more per month each year for a typical single-family residence.
Staff presented a proposed stormwater rate strategy with an approximately 36% increase in 2026, estimated at $1.39 more per month, followed by annual 2% increases; the proposal will be reviewed by the Utility Advisory Committee.
Staff reported that draft shoreline reconveyance agreements and a resolution identifying Richland parcels for potential transfer are expected to return to the Council in February.

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