Richland council renews contract with state corrections for landfill litter services after questions about voluntary labor

Councilmember Vermeijer asked the council to pull Resolution 202645 (agreement with the Washington State Department of Corrections for litter services at Horn Rapids Landfill) from the consent calendar to request clarification on two points: whether the DOC labor used under the contract remains voluntary and whether the renewal expands the number of workers.

"I raised the question as to whether or not the labor used at the Department of Corrections...this was a voluntary program," Vermeijer said, urging vigilance about continuing the arrangement.

City staff member Carlo responded that he had "no reason to believe that it isn't still a voluntary program" but that he would follow up to provide a definitive confirmation. Carlo said this item is a renewal of a contract that previously ran as a two‑year term and that the new contract under consideration would extend to 2030 as a five‑year term.

Vermeijer said he was not seeking to block the contract but asked for follow up because he did not want the city to take for granted that participants were working by choice. After discussion, Councilmember Vermeijer moved to approve Resolution 202645; the motion was seconded and the council approved the resolution unanimously by consent.

The motion authorizes the city to enter the agreement with the Washington State Department of Corrections for litter services at Horn Rapids Landfill; staff committed to confirm and report back on the voluntary status of participating workers.

The council did not specify the number of workers covered by the renewed contract in the packet; the sample contract attached to the agenda was blank on workforce counts, and staff noted that detail will be provided on follow up.