KENNEWICK, Wash. — The Kennewick City Council is expected to approve a resolution with the Kennewick School District to jointly oppose the proposed placements of Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) housing for civilly committed sexually violent predators near schools and residential neighborhoods.
The joint resolution will be presented in response to the proposal to place an LRA facility within a Kennewick neighborhood on West 8th avenue. The house would run as a program to provide re-entry housing for sex offenders that the Department of Social and Health Services will monitor.
The Kennewick School District and the community have raised alarms about potential impacts on student safety. City staff have also received numerous concerns from residents and parents about the absence of local input in the decision-making process.
The resolution, which is up for adoption during the council’s February 17 meeting, calls on the Washington State Legislature and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to halt the use of the current site and reconsider policies that allow LRA placements without local approval.
It urges the establishment of a process that ensures local control, transparency, early notification and mandatory consultation with affected jurisdictions.
FOX41 Yakima©FOX11 TriCities©
