Council authorizes municipal employees’ contract covering 2026–2028

The Goldendale City Council authorized the city to execute a tentative collective bargaining agreement with municipal employees covering 2026 through 2028.

City Administrator Sandy Wells introduced the package and provided redline and final versions for council review. Tony Neeke, participating remotely, told the council the agreement implements previously authorized guidelines and resolves pay-plan step-equity problems that could have resulted in pay cuts for employees who received promotions. He summarized the wage schedule under the agreement: “for 2026, it calls for a 3%. 2027, it calls for a 2% and 2% also in 2028,” and said calculations of progression will be determined by the city administrator and are not subject to grievance review.

A council member moved to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement; the motion was seconded and the chair called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously with a full council consenting.

The action formalizes the tentative terms presented to the council; the documents (redline and final versions) are included in the meeting packet. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript beyond the unanimous outcome. No amendments were offered during the meeting. The mayor’s office will complete execution of the agreement in accordance with the authorization.

The council moved on to other agenda items following the vote.