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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023.05.08 Council Minutes6- Oki City (Y' asco 411 Washington MINUTES City Council Workshop Meeting 7:00 PM - Monday, May 8, 2023 Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & GoToWebinar CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Blanche Barajas, Mayor. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present: Blanche Barajas, Craig Maloney, Irving Brown, Joseph Campos, David Milne, Zahra Roach, and Pete Serrano Councilmembers absent: None Staff present: Adam Lincoln, Interim City Manager; Angela Pashon, Assistant City Manager; Darcy Buckley, Finance Director; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; Bob Gear, Fire Chief; Jesse Rice, Information Technology Director & Interim Administrative & Community Development Director; Brent Cook, Deputy Police Chief; Jacob Gonzalez, Interim Community & Economic Development Director; Steve Worley, Public Works Director; and Debby Barham, City Clerk. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Mr. Brown reported on recent the Penske's Ribbon Cutting event, as well as the Cinco de Mayo weekend event. Mayor Pro Tern Maloney reported on the 2023 Pasco Taco Crawl and announced that Powell's Inferno Tacos was the winner for this year's event. Mr. Milne reported on the Pasco Chamber of Commerce meeting he recently attended. Ms. Roach commented on the Cinco de Mayo event. Mayor Barajas reported on the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) grand opening event, as well as her conversation with Governor Inslee where they discussed the homelessness issue. She also participated in the League of Women Voters meeting Page 1 of 4 on May 5, 2023. Lastly, she announced that she was in Pullman, WA over the weekend for her son's graduation ceremony and celebration. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION Ordinance - Amending PMC Title 25 Related to Retail Sales of Cannabis Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Ferguson provided a brief overview of the draft ordinance amending the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC) Title 25 Zoning related to the retail sales of cannabis. Council discussed the proposed ordinance and asked clarifying questions in which staff responded. The discussion included: • When will Social Equity Licensing start? As soon as late sping/early summer. • Where does the buffer zone start, from playground equipment or from edge of the park to a retail sales establishment? Mr. Ferguson stated that he would need to research the RCWs for an answer. • Mr. Serrano expressed opposition to the retail sales of cannabis within Pasco. Mr. Serrano moved and Mr. Milne seconded a motion to table the discussion of the retail sales of cannabis and replace it with discussion of the Blake Decision (the Blake Decision was based on the Washington State v. Blake case and in 2021, the Washington State Supreme Court decision ruled the felony drug possession law unconstitutional). Council discussion ensued briefly about whether to table this item or continue it. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved, seconded by Councilmember Milne to table the discussion of the Ordinance - Amending Pasco Municipal Code (PMC) Title 25 Related to Retail Sales of Cannabis and discuss the Blake Decision in its place. RESULT: DEFEATED by Roll Call Vote 2-5 AYES: Councilmember Milne and Councilmember Serrano NAYS: Mayor Barajas, Mayor Pro Tem Maloney, Councilmember Brown, Councilmember Campos, and Councilmember Roach Ordinance - Amending PMC Title 25 Related to Retail Sales of Cannabis Continued Mr. Campos asked for the definition of Parks and reduction of buffer at Peanuts Park. He suggested that Peanuts Park does not meet the RCW definition of a park and recommended it be changed to Peanuts Plaza. Mayor Pro Tem Maloney supported the reduction of the buffer at Peanuts Park, as well as another park located near central downtown Pasco. He also requested that Page 2 of 4 the nuisances sections of the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC) in Title 9 be updated. He recommended the reduction of buffers within the Pasco downtown Commercial Zoned area. He also recommended that there be no limit on retail cannabis stores. Mr. Milne asked about the buffer zone related to school district. Mayor Barajas questioned re -designating Peanuts Park to Peanuts Plaza and she also recommended the reduction of the buffer area in the central downtown area. Mr. Lincoln recommended that the reduction of the buffer zone within the Pasco downtown area would be the quickest and then staff could look to re -designating Peanuts Park to Peanuts Plaza at a later time. He noted that there may not be an option to change it from a Park if state and federal funding is tied to "parks" funding. Mr. Ferguson asked for Council's direction of the amount of buffer reduction from 1,000 feet to lower 100 feet buffer zone from Council. The direction from the majority of Council was to move forward on this ordinance, reduce the buffer zone in the downtown Pasco area only and retain the limit of retail stores as currently noted in the ordinance. Mr. Ferguson stated that he has Council's direction and will update the proposed ordinance and return it to Council in a few weeks. 2022 Fire Department Performance Report Chief Gear introduced Deputy Fire Chief Dunbar to presented the 2022 Fire Department Performance Report. Council asked questions during the presentation and Deputy Fire Chief Dunbar and Fire Chief Gear replied with clarifying answers. MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION Mr. Serrano commented on his recent discussion with Washington State Representatives Rude and Schmick and Senator Boehnke regarding the Blake Decision and they recommended that the City create the local law to address illegal drug usage. Mr. Ferguson responded to Mr. Serrano stating that the City Attorney's Office had been working on an ordinance to make it illegal for the use of illegal drugs in public and then switched to following the Blake Decision. He noted that the updates are going to be shared with neighboring jurisdictions, taking a regional approach for consistency across the Mid -Columbia area. Mr. Campos asked about the remaining ARPA funds that has not been designated and Ms. Buckley provided a brief response to the remaining ARPA funding. Page 3 of 4 Mayor Pro Tern Maloney agreed with Mr. Serrano regarding the need to address the Blake Decision and requested that staff provide the proposed ordinance before Council sooner than later. He also announced that Vinny from Vinny's Bakery was in the audience. Ms. Roach requested that Council consider moving its meetings to start at 6:00 PM. Mr. Lincoln commented on the Cinco de Mayo weekend event. He announced that it was Chief Gear's last meeting as he is retiring at the end of May 2023. However, Mr. Gear will remain working on the construction of Station No. 85 as a part time consultant. RECESS Mayor Barajas called a five-minute recess at 9:01 PM. EXECUTIVE SESSION Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:06 PM for 25 minutes to discuss the consideration of site selection or acquisition of real estate purchase or lease if likelihood that disclosure would increase price per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b); and to discuss with legal counsel about legal risks of current or proposed action per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) with the City Manager, City Attorney, Finance Director, and Fire Chief. Fire Chief Gear left the Executive Session at 9:16 PM. At 9:32 PM Mayor Barajas announced that the Executive Session would continue for another 10 minutes. Finance Director Buckley left the Executive Session at 9:35 PM. Mayor Barajas called the meeting back to order at 9:42 PM. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:42 PM. PASSED and APPROVED this APPROVED: day of , 20�3 ATTEST: 3/ �Z�IL_ of --- h Debra Barham, City Clerk C_�(r,c� ("albneZ , Mto✓ Pro mow. Page 4 of 4