Richland council approves first reading to enable automated traffic safety cameras

Richland’s City Council voted unanimously July 7 to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2026-16, a municipal code update that allows the city to begin the process of evaluating and eventually deploying automated traffic safety cameras.

Assistant City Manager Drew Florence told the council the ordinance is an "enabling" step that "does not authorize the purchase, placement, or installation of automatic traffic cameras" but allows staff to begin required analyses, vendor selection and procurement. Florence said staff will conduct crash and speed data analysis, an equity review and coordinate with the Benton County District Court before any enforcement is implemented.

The ordinance follows state law changes that expanded municipal authority for automated enforcement. Florence cited evidence from other jurisdictions and studies showing camera programs can reduce speeding in school zones, noting examples in Kirtland, Seattle and Kenmore where citations and speeding rates dropped after installation. He said the city plans to start with speed-focused cameras and may later evaluate red-light enforcement.

Public comment earlier in the meeting included a resident, Franchesca Meyer, urging the council to "let staff determine where is the best place to put them" because engineering analysis should drive siting decisions. Several council members asked about siting flexibility, mobile versus fixed units, and data privacy; Florence said those issues will be part of vendor and procurement discussions.

Councilmembers indicated support for a phased approach. Mayor Pro Tem Van Dyke said he was leaning toward a phased deployment but emphasized privacy concerns; Florence said privacy and vendor controls will be part of contracting.

Next steps: following the first reading vote, staff will complete data and equity analyses, engage potential vendors to help refine locations and performance expectations, and coordinate with the county court before returning to the council with procurement recommendations and any ordinance amendments necessary for implementation.