🏙️ Klickitat County City Governments – August 2025 Round-Up

City Council & Tree Board highlights from White Salmon, Bingen, and Goldendale

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🌆 White Salmon

🌳 Tree Walk & Urban Canopy Advocacy

• The Tree Board continued planning for a White Salmon Heritage Tree Walk, featuring iconic local trees like Tulip Trees, Big Leaf Maples, and Western Red Cedars.
• Board members expressed concern over preserving mature trees during upcoming sidewalk and street projects on SE Oak and NE Columbia.
• They reviewed the city's 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program, advocating for tree-conscious design.

🛣️ Infrastructure & Streetscape Planning

• City Council reviewed early options for Complete Streets and Safe Streets grants, particularly for pedestrian safety and sidewalk repair.
• Staff and council discussed ways to better coordinate tree preservation and property owner impacts in construction areas.

⚖️ Land Use Appeals

• Council discussed concerns about inconsistencies and confusion in the appeals process for land use decisions.
• Staff noted that some parts of the city’s Municipal Code are outdated, particularly in how they:
  • Define who has standing to appeal
  • Set deadlines and procedures
  • Interface with the Hearing Examiner system
• Council members expressed interest in reviewing and updating the process to ensure clarity and fairness for both applicants and neighbors.

📌 Next steps: Staff are expected to bring draft revisions or a schedule for updates in fall 2025.

🏘️ Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Regulations

• A review of White Salmon’s ADU ordinance was referenced, in light of:
  • State legislative changes that require jurisdictions to allow more ADU development
  • Local implementation challenges (parking, utility access, lot size)
• Council and staff flagged the need to align zoning with new state mandates and modernize the language around:
  • Owner occupancy requirements
  • Minimum/maximum sizes
  • Location of ADUs on lots (attached vs detached)
• The Planning Commission may take the lead on reviewing draft ordinance changes in September or October.

📌 Watch for: A public hearing or workshop later this fall.

💵 Budget & Payroll Actions

• At the August 20 special meeting, Council approved over $937,000 in total expenditures. No other legislative actions were taken.

📂 White Salmon Meeting Materials

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🏛️ Bingen

🚓 Police Funding & Call Volume Review

• Council reviewed July call volume: 102 in Bingen vs. 182 in White Salmon.
• Bingen’s police contract cost share was set at 28.23% based on call data from July 2023–June 2024.

Voters recently approved a Public Safety Sales Tax, to begin January 1, 2026, pending council adoption in September.

💧 Wastewater & Waterline Projects

• Council reviewed scope for wastewater plant upgrades funded by a $630K Ecology loan, cost-shared with White Salmon.
• 90% design specs were received for East Steuben waterline sections 2 & 3. Staff flagged a need to coordinate with other roadwork in Bingen Point.

💰 Investment Strategy & Budget Review

• Council moved city reserve funds into higher-yield CDs at Riverview and First Interstate Banks, boosting earnings from under 1% to over 4%.
• July’s Treasurer’s Report confirmed all city books balanced to the penny.

🏗️ Small Works Policy Adopted

• Council adopted new direct contracting policies to streamline infrastructure procurement, beginning with a new RAS pump for the treatment plant.

📂 Bingen Council Meeting Info

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🏙️ Goldendale

🎉 Community Events & Fire Recovery

• Council celebrated Community Days and the Back-to-School Bash, with over 350 backpacks distributed.
• Goldendale Pride drew strong attendance in early August.
• The city is coordinating with FEMA on possible reimbursements for mutual aid and emergency traffic control during recent wildfires.

🚧 Infrastructure Progress & Delays

• The Darland Street Project start was delayed but expected to launch mid-August.
• State approvals are still pending on Broadway and Collins Street curb painting.

📈 Development & Permit Activity

• Year-to-date:
  • 64 permits issued
  • $1.46M in total valuation
  • $24,400 in permit fees collected
• Council discussed ongoing code enforcement, including repeat nuisance property violations.

📂 Goldendale Council Documents

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✉️ Want to get involved?
Every city in Klickitat County allows public comment at council meetings. Check your city’s website for agendas, Zoom links, and minutes.