City Council planning for growth

RITZVILLE — The City Council on May 16 approved a housing action plan after holding public hearings in March and April.

“The goal of the HAP is to encourage the construction of additional affordable and market rate housing in a greater variety of housing types at prices accessible to a variety of incomes,” according to the ordinance outlining the plan.

The lengthy plan, produced with the assistance of contractor SJC Alliance, includes a housing needs assessment, recommended policy and code changes, and various housing strategies. Before implementation, the plan will “undergo its own process for review, adoption, and engagement,” according to the resolution.

The plan updates demographics and community data presented in 2015, eight years ago.

It provides data on the city’s historical population and recent population growth, noting that “while Adams County is experiencing a higher growth rate than the city of Ritzville, the city is still experiencing steady growth.”

The plan also states that “population growth has occurred largely outside of the city limits over the last several decades.”

The plan anticipates that an additional 419 people will be added to the city’s population by 2042, an increase of 24% from the current population.

To address the expected increase, the plan lays out options for housing, public services (utilities, schools, etc.) and future economic development.

Strategies outlined in the plan include amendments to the city’s regulations to encourage more diverse types of housing developments, including townhomes and senior and assisted living facilities.

Other strategies include the pursuit of partnerships with developers and the encouragement of downtown development.

The study notes that certain barriers preventing usage changes to vacant and underutilized buildings could be removed.

In other actions:

The City Council discussed increasing golf fees for both season passes and regular tickets. No resolutions were adopted.

Public Works Director Dave Breazeale noted that Avista will provide a bid for installing electric vehicle charging stations downtown.

Clerk/Treasurer Julie Flyckt said the city is conducting interviews for a new utility billing clerk. She also presented the city’s cash and investment activity for the first four months of the year.