HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.02.12 Council Minutes
MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, February 12, 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; 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.
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Mr. Grimm reported on the Ben Franklin Transit Board meeting he recently attended.
He also commented on a recent Business Watch with Pasco Police, Pasco Chamber
of Commerce's Economic Development Committee meeting and Chiawana High
School's Career Development Day.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne reported on a COPA Board meeting and Pasco Chamber of
Commerce lunch meeting he recently attended.
Ms. Barajas commented on the COPA Board meeting where she was appointed to
the Board as its Vice Chair.
Mayor Serrano announced that there will be a rally cheering on the Chiawana High
School Wrestling Team as they vie for a 5th State Wrestling Championship the
coming week.
Page 1 of 3
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
Downtown Pasco Development Authority Update
Ms. Sigdel reported on the status of the Downtown Pasco Development Authority
(DPDA). She explained required state audits that the City of Pasco has to
complete noting that the accountability audit is the most critical. She then
explained the biennial audit that the state performs on the the DPDA. She
discussed the results of the most recent audit of the DPDA and provided a list of
pending issues associated with DPDA. Ms. Sigdel stated that staff is
recommending the dissolution of the DPDA.
Council, Mr. Lincoln, Ms. Sigdel and Mr. Ferguson continued to discuss the
DPDA, which included:
Risks associated with the dissolution of the agency.
Dissolution process.
Explanation of the City's role in overseeing the operation of the DPDA.
Discussion of who is responsible to pay the DPDA debts.
Hold the DPDA accountable for the debts.
Inquired about what other cities that have like a PDA and Non-profit
organization.
Discussion of the Main Street program and the possibility of encouraging it
be reestablished and/or downtown associations.
Clarification of public and private grant funding.
Clarification of audit findings verses a fraud report and the state audit
included only findings and no fraud report.
Clarification that the City has only resumed the City's assets which
includes the Farmer's Market and the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.
Council will need to make a decision soon on whether to fund DPDA to get
it solvent or to dissolve it.
Mr. Grimm suggested that Council move forward on pursuing criminal prosecution
to recover the public funds and restore the public's trust.
Mr. Harpster asked that Council has an opportunity hear from the public before
taking any action on this request to dissolve DPDA and to not place this on the
Consent Agenda.
Mr. Lincoln confirmed that when this topic comes back to Council for action, it will
not be placed on the Consent Agenda.
Resolution - Interlocal Agreement - Cable Bridge LED Lighting System
Ms. Sigdel provided a brief report on the proposed interlocal agreement related
updating the lighting on the Cable Bridge.
Council, Mr. Lincoln and Ms. Sigdel discussed the pros and cons of the proposed
Page 2 of 3
interlocal agreement and Council was split on support for and opposition to
approving the agreement. At the end of the discussion, staff was directed to bring
this item back to Council for formal approval or denial of the interlocal agreement.
Resolution - Project Acceptance for West Pasco Water Treatment Plant,
Phase 1 Project
Ms. Serra introduced Senior Engineer Puna Clarke who provided a brief report on
the proposed acceptance of the completed West Pasco Water Treatment Plant
(WPWTP) Phase 1 Project.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Ms. Serra announced that the Lewis Street Overpass project (LSO) has another nine
change orders that will be brought forward to Council for approval at the next Council
meeting. Ms. Serra also noted that Lewis Street, between Oregon Ave to 2nd Avenue,
will be closed for eight weeks commencing on February 26th related to the completion
of the Lewis Street Overpass.
RECESS
Mayor Serrano called a four-minute recess at 8:16 PM.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:20 PM for 20 minutes returning at
8:40 PM to discuss with legal counsel about current or potential litigation per
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Community &
Economic Development Director and City Attorney.
Mayor Serrano called the meeting back to order at 8:40 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on ___________________.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
Page 3 of 3
February 20, 2024