Fred Brink

1) Should West Richland adopt a “City Manager” form of government, or retain the “Strong Mayor” form of government that we currently have? Please explain your rationale.

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West Richland cannot simply “adopt” a City Manager form of government. Such change requires a majority vote of the people. In general, this process may be initiated either by a resolution adopted by the city council or by a petition process, both of which are then followed by an election on the issue of reorganizing under a different form of government.

Further, while our neighboring cities (Pasco, Kennewick and Richland) utilize the City Manager form of government, it is not the most prevalent local government structure in our state. The “strong mayor” structure, or Mayor-Council, is the oldest and most common form of government in Washington, utilized by small towns and large cities alike. In fact, 228 cities, or more than 81 percent, of Washington cities, presently use the Mayor-Council form of government while only 53 cities in our state, or less than 19 percent, have adopted the City Manager governance structure.

Many Mayor-Council cities often hire professional city administrators to serve under the mayor. A city administrator is usually a full-time position responsible for many administrative and policy-related duties such as budget preparation, personnel administration, and department supervision. This model retains a separately elected mayor who is ultimately responsible for administration of the city, while providing for professional management of the city's day-to-day operations. In theory, a city administrator allows the mayor to focus greater attention on policy development, political leadership, and less on general administrative and operational matters.

However, regardless of whether a city administrator is hired or the city manager form of government is adopted, the cost to our taxpayers will be substantial – IN EXCESS OF $200,000 EACH YEAR FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS. This cost does not even include the added expense of the election necessary to change our form of government to City Manager.

 The amount of tax money needed to staff either of these positions simply does not exist in your city’s general fund budget without making dramatic cuts in other areas, such as closing neighborhood parks, further reducing road repair efforts or laying off city staff. Even if our city had an “extra” $200,000 to spend every year, this money would be better directed toward hiring more police officers, several parks maintenance staff or a number of other critically needed personnel. Once you cut through the rhetoric on this issue, it is clear the most prudent and fiscally responsible decision is to elect a mayor who is fully capable of managing city staff from Day One and ensuring essential city services are delivered in a cost-effective manner.

 In addition to already possessing decades of proven public sector management and leadership experience, I will discuss with city council and our citizens possible future funding of a city administrator position as part of my succession planning as mayor. This choice represents the most widely used city management structure, the most expedient to adopt, and the least expensive option for our taxpayers as no election is required. Nevertheless, the final decision ultimately rests with the city council as your councilmembers must also approve funding this position (or a city manager position) as part of the city’s biennial budget.

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2) The West Richland Mayor currently has sole discretion over hiring and salary decisions for City Staff.  Should that continue or should hiring and salary decisions require concurrence with the City Council? 

 

The answer to this question actually rests with our city council. RCW 35A.12.090 states, “Confirmation by the city council of appointments of officers and employees shall be required only when the city charter, or the council by ordinance, provides for confirmation of such appointments.”  Therefore, the current process could change immediately through a simple majority vote of the council.

It is noted also our city council already has full authority over many salary-related matters, including passing resolutions which establish personnel administrative policy, setting salary ranges for employee compensation, and implementing a pay for performance plan. The mayor is charged with executing those policies set by council. If it is perceived that city employees may be paid excessively, that is a matter for the councilmembers to address and remedy when approving employee salary schedule ranges.

Further, the city already employs a human resource manager who coordinates all hiring actions, schedules candidate interviews, and makes recommendations to the hiring manager and/or the mayor. The current process has worked well as evidenced by the very dedicated and outstanding city staff we presently possess at all levels and as reflected by council’s previous inactivity regarding the RCW cited above. However, if elected as mayor I will fully support and encourage action by council to provide their “advice and consent” on city department head-level hires.

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3) Should there be a succession plan for key city staff positions? 

 

Yes, and a succession plan for key city staff positions is already in place. Succession planning is an essential component of our city’s current administration and it will continue be a key component of my administration if elected as mayor.

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4) What are your favorite aspects of West Richland and what do you think draws people to our City?  Alternatively, what are your leading concerns? 

 

Some of my favorite aspects of West Richland include our community’s family values, the plentiful parks, our extensive pathways, several great schools, the many outdoor sport and recreational opportunities as well as our wide range of housing options available in a safe, inviting, family-oriented suburban community. These are many of the key attributes which draw individuals to move to our city, including my family and I when we moved to West Richland in 2009.

               Alternatively, my top concern is the lack of sufficient retail sales tax base to adequately fund park and road maintenance, police services and other critical aspects of our city operations. Cities and towns in Washington State rely on two major revenue sources for general funds – property taxes and sales tax. Our property taxes are already too high and increased sales tax revenue from business development will help to prevent potential future property tax increases.

Fortunately, our city’s Community Development Director and his team are working diligently to expand our sales tax base by actively soliciting new business. Development of the Lewis and Clark Ranch, already underway, will provide increased opportunity for businesses to locate in West Richland. Working closely with TRIDEC, our region’s economic development council, and our regional and local Chambers of Commerce, in concert with my recent election as President of the Association of Washington Cities, will provide increased visibility to businesses considering to become part of our city.

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5) How should current and future City Park development and maintenance be funded?  Should the City establish a Parks & Recreation department or contract for private companies to provide those services? Should future neighborhood parks be maintained through HOA funding? 

 

There are several options to research and possibly consider in funding current and future park development and maintenance. As the question suggests, options may include establishing a Metropolitan Park District, forming HOAs to fund certain parks within local developments, establishing a city Parks & Recreation department or contracting private companies to provide those services. As such, it is premature to predetermine the best course of action to address our park concerns. However, if elected as mayor I will actively examine every alternative, in concert with our city council, our Parks Board and our citizens, as our city’s parks are a very important resource for our residents and a point of pride for our city.

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6) How would you improve communication between the City Council and citizens? Should more time be given for people to speak at City Council meetings? Should there be more open workshops for citizens to attend? Other suggestions? 

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Although I frequently receive and always reply to individual emails sent to me by my constituents, city communication avenues can always be improved. Possible examples include increasing council workshops and town hall style meetings to present ideas and solicit feedback on important topics or other matters of high interest to the community. In addition, as Mayor I will plan to hold monthly “morning coffee” meetings at our city’s coffee shops, our Senior Center and other venues throughout West Richland where citizens will be able to meet with me in person to share their thoughts, offer suggestions to improve our city, or just to say “hello.”

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7) What is your position on allowing adult-only businesses such as adult entertainment, casinos, etc. within City limits? 

 

As evidenced by my city council votes on such matters since first elected in 2018, I do not support adult entertainment, casinos, retail cannabis sales or other similar adult activities in West Richland as our city is a family-oriented community. In addition to being one of the safest cities in our state, in June, 2025, West Richland was voted by a Travel and Leisure Magazine survey as the “Second Best Small Town to Live In” within the U.S.”  As mayor, I intend to keep our city that way.

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8) What is your position on permitting firework sales and use within West Richland city limits?  Should Municipal Code Section 8.22;  “Fireworks” and Section 9.38; “Noise Regulation” be amended to be consistent? 

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As I have stated in prior council meetings, and which I firmly reiterated at the July 15, 2025, council meeting, I support reviewing our current city ordinances concerning fireworks for potential changes. In addition, as one of your elected fire commissioners for Benton County Fire Protection District #4, our city’s fire and emergency medical service provider, I am working directly with the fire district to gather detailed information concerning July 4 calls for service related to fireworks in our city. I am also speaking with my fellow councilmembers and mayors pro tem in our neighboring cities to help ensure the celebration of our 4th of July holiday across the region is done in a safe and rational manner.

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9) What can City government do to improve transparency with the public when it comes to spending and other critical City decisions?  

 

West Richland is transparent with the public when it comes to spending and other critical city decisions. The city’s biennial budget, for example, is drafted several months in advance by city staff, reviewed by the mayor, and then presented to council for discussion in budget workshops which are open to the public. The proposed city budget is also presented at a minimum of two council meetings during which public comment is welcome and budget modifications are considered by council. Finally, the budget is voted on and approved by city council at an open public meeting. At all steps in this process, budget materials are also available on the city’s website for public review.

Other critical decisions the city faces are the topic of public workshops and/or open houses.  Key recent examples including the construction of our city’s new police facility, the road improvements to SR224 (Van Giesen), and the planning and design associated with the development of the Lewis and Clark Ranch. In each of these major projects, and other smaller ones, the public is routinely afforded multiple opportunities to examine and comment on city plans. In addition to continuing these existing practices, as mayor I will explore other avenues to increase transparency, to expand public awareness, and to provide even greater opportunity for citizen input on critical community matters. Additionally, identifying new avenues to improve communication with our residents was one topic closely studied at the Washington State Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute, which I recently attended.

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10) What can be done to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of our City tax dollars?  

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Unfortunately, the wording of this question implies waste, fraud and abuse of city tax dollars is taking place, which is simply not true. West Richland has an outstanding Finance Department which carefully manages all city revenues and expenditures. Additionally, every city expense, to the penny, is documented, presented to, reviewed and approved by your seven elected city councilmembers during the second council meeting of each month. Further, the city’s finances are extensively examined regularly by the Office of the State Auditor for compliance with all financial rules, regulations and accepted accounting practices. These audits have been clean during my eight-year tenure on council and no evidence of any waste, fraud or abuse of city tax dollars has ever been identified.

Lastly, prior to my retirement as a Special Agent-in-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, I oversaw many federal investigations and the subsequent prosecution of state and local government officials involved in fraud, embezzlement, public corruption and similar financial crimes. As your mayor I will ensure waste, fraud and abuse of your tax dollars never occurs in our city.