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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.02.05 Council Minutes MINUTES City Council Regular Meeting 7:00 PM - Monday, February 5, 2024 Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & GoToWebinar CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Pete Serrano, Mayor. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present: Pete Serrano, David Milne, Blanche Barajas, Melissa Blasdel, Charles Grimm, Peter Harpster, and Leo Perales Councilmembers absent: None Staff present: Adam Lincoln, City Manager; Richa Sigdel, Deputy City Manager; Angela Pashon, Assistant City Manager; Darcy Buckley, Finance Director; Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; Jacob Gonzalez, Community & Economic Development Director; Jesse Rice, Parks & Recreation Director; Ken Roske, Police Chief; Maria Serra, Interim Public Works Director; and Debby Barham, City Clerk The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of Meeting Minutes for January 16th and January 22nd To approve the minutes of the Pasco City Council Regular Meeting held on January 16, 2024, and Special Meeting and Regular Workshop held on January 22, 2024. Bills and Communications - Approving Claims in the Total Amount of $8,525,026.97 To approve claims in the total amount of $8,525,026.97 ($6,075,804.07 in Check Nos. 261268 - 261559; $59,157.19 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 844422 - 844437, 844489 - 844648, 844660 - 844677; $20,336.14 in Check Nos. 54637 - 54651; $2,369,578.85 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 30202046 - 30203343; $150.72 in Page 1 of 4 Check No. 957). Resolution No. 4417 - Bid Award for Sylvester Street Safety Improvements Project To approve Resolution No. 4417, awarding the construction contract for Bid No. 21227 - Sylvester Street Safety Improvements Project to Granite Construction Company of Yakima, WA in the amount of $3,215,920.00, and further, authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents. Resolution No. 4418 - Architects West, Inc. Professional Services Agreement for Services Martin Luther King Community Center Remodel and expansion Project To approve Resolution No. 4418, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Architects West, Inc. for the Martin Luther King Community Center Remodel and Expansion. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Harpster to approve the Consent Agenda as read. RESULT: Motion carried unanimously 7-0 AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember Barajas, Councilmember Blasdel, Councilmember Grimm, Councilmember Harpster, and Councilmember Perales PROCLAMATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Proclaiming February 2024 as "Black History Month" Mayor Serrano read and then presented the proclamation proclaiming February 2024 as, "Black History Month" in Pasco, Washington to Pasco community member Irving Brown Sr. Mr. Brown Sr. expressed thanks to Mayor Serrano and Council for the proclamation and stated that this proclamation was a call to action for standing together in Pasco. RECESS Mayor Serrano called a five-minute recess at 7:10 PM for photo opportunities related to the Black History Proclamation. PUBLIC COMMENTS Abbey Cameron, Three Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) CEO and Richland resident, explained 3RCF mission and purpose, and stated that it it has distributed between $600K to $1M per year to local not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Cameron Page 2 of 4 suggested that 3RCF partner with the City to distribute ARPA, State and Federal funding to Pasco non-profit organizations. David Hannum, Pasco resident, commented on liberty and freedom in the United States and expressed concern of the impending loss of liberty and freedom due to specific government and private entities. John Lehman, Meadow Company Representative from Oregon State, proposed an economic opportunity for Pasco by use of billboard signage and suggested that amendments to the Pasco Municipal Code related sign requirements would be simple to enact. He provided packets for the Council to City Clerk Barham to distribute before the meeting. Colin Hastings, Pasco Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Pasco resident, also expressed support on the use of billboard signage within Pasco. Matt Murphy, Tri-City Chamber of Commerce Government & Regional Affairs Director and Pasco resident, introduced himself. He recently joined the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to working with the Pasco Councilmembers. Stephen Bauman, Franklin County resident and B4 Development and Consulting, LLC owner, distributed a document to Council related to a Broetje development and on behalf of his client expressed concern on the approved, permitted, Cul-de-sac design due to safety concerns for eight of the lots as currently configured. Katelyn Ashford, Kennewick resident, stated that they are representing the Party of Socialism and Liberation and asked Council for a resolution regarding the Israeli and Palestinian conflict for seize fire and lasting peace between the two groups. Stephen Bauman, also asked for a response related to his public comment given at the January 16, 2024 Council Meeting. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS Verbal Reports from Councilmembers Mr. Grimm reported on the Pasco Chamber of Commerce Meeting and a Pasco Police Department event, held at Tierra Vida Event Center, that he recently attended. He also stated that he and Mr. Perales held a Water Rights Subcommittee meeting recently and that more information from that meeting will follow. Lastly, he announced that it was his five-year anniversary volunteering at Tri-City Union Gospel Mission. Ms. Blasdel reported on the Visit Tri-Cities Board meeting she recently attended. Mr. Perales reported on the HAPO Center Advisory Board meeting he recently attended. Page 3 of 4 Mayor Serrano commented on the Boys and Girls Club's Youth of the Year Competition that he and Ms. Barajas recently attended. Financial and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Updates Ms. Buckley reported on the financial standing of the City including updates related to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Council and Ms. Buckley briefly discussed status of the City's finances, as well as the unallocated ARPA funds. Mayor Serrano expressed support to obligating the ARPA funds to either the MLK Center project and Boys & Girls Club improvements as both have significate merit in helping Pasco youth. MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Mr. Gonzalez shared that the City was recently awarded a $2M grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce for affordable housing. Mr. Perales commented on the signage in Pasco and suggested that staff look into the adding billboards within the City. He held up the document that Mr. Bauman distributed at the January 16th Council Meeting. Lastly, he commented on the Downtown Pasco Development Authority's (DPDA) Washington State Audit. Mayor Pro Tem Milne also commented on the billboard opportunity and the DPDA audit. Mr. Grimm also commented on the billboard opportunity and would also like to hear from the public on the topic. Mr. Harpster and Mayor Serrano concurred that these and other topics may be discussed at workshops and during the upcoming Council retreat to determine Council's priorities. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:23 PM. PASSED and APPROVED on ____________________. APPROVED: ATTEST: Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk Page 4 of 4 February 20, 2024