Council approves $100,900 in tourism grants after contentious remarks from a council member

The Goldendale City Council voted 5'2 to approve Resolution 7 51, authorizing $100,900 in tourism funding for 2026.

The council discussed recommendations from the tourism committee and a motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed spending. One council member (speaker 4) announced a planned no vote and delivered an extended statement objecting to the inclusion of an organization he described as having an “obvious ******** oriented platform and narrative” and said he would not endorse using taxpayer dollars to “support and promote this type of or any kind of ****** narrative or ideology.” He also referenced efforts by the Fort Vancouver library to curtail LGBT material. The chair and other members acknowledged the comment and proceeded to a voice vote.

The chair called the vote and recorded five ayes and two nays; the motion passed. The transcript does not identify the specific tourism applicants by name beyond the committee recommendation included in the packet, and the council did not amend the funding allocation during the meeting.

The council’s action authorizes spending from the city’s tourism fund; staff will implement the disbursements per the approved resolution and committee recommendations.