HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.09.23 Council Minutes MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, September 23, 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 attending remotely: None
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: 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, Public Works Director; and Debby Barham, City Clerk
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Ms. Barajas arrived at 7:02 PM.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne reported on unveiling of a mural on the Moon Security
building. He visited Mattox Dog Training Academy over the weekend. He
commented on the traffic calming session held earlier in the day with staff. Lastly,
he also commented on a COPA event he recently attended.
Mr. Perales reported on the Moon Security wall mural event. He commented on a
Chiawana football game he attended and new Pasco restaurant Volos La Rey
where he had dinner.
Mr. Grimm reported on the Benton Franklin Council of Governments meeting, as
well at the traffic calming session he recently attended.
Ms. Barajas announced the three high school students whose art was featured at
Moon Security at the unveiling of the new mural on the building. He commented
on the recent State of the Downtown event she attended. Lastly, she expressed
appreciation to staff regarding the traffic calming session.
Mayor Serrano reported on the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory
Committee he attended earlier in the day.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Presentation - Pasco School District
Ms. Sigdel introduced Superintendent Michelle Whitney, from Pasco School District
(PSD), who provided the presentation regarding the PSD's various programs. Ms.
Whitney also introduced Alternative Highschool Planning Principal Seth Johnson
and Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Supports Raul Sital who were in
the audience.
Council and Ms. Whitney continued discussing the PSD programs, school impact
fees, ways to partner with the City, staffing, graduation statistics, etc.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Citywide Injury Minimization and Speed Management Implementation Update
Ms. Serra introduced Sean Messner, Project Manager, CivTech Inc. who provided
an update on the Citywide traffic safety report, development of a City Speed Limit
policy and implementation plan.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne suggested mobile speed cameras be placed on specific
corridors within the City to deter speeders. He asked Mr. Messner to discuss Road
96 and Balfour speed reductions, as well as the frequency of the speed limit studies.
Mr. Messner stated that road cushions were installed on Road 96 and further
barriers of candlesticks will be installed to funnel the traffic so vehicles will not try
to go around the road cushions.
Mr. Perales asked about the policies and procedures for traffic speed limits.
Mr. Messner responded that the goal of a traffic speed limit policy is to make sure
that everything has a data point, what needs to happen, and one that may be
implemented across the City.
Ms. Barajas addressed Mr. Perales noting that there was an opportunity to meet
with staff to have his questions answered in detail earlier in the day. Mr. Perales
responded to Ms. Barajas comments noting a work conflict and that he did his own
research.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Dawn Griffitts, Pasco resident, expressed concern about speeding along Balflour
Drive between Road 96 and Road 100.
Loly Martinez, Pasco resident, also expressed concern about speeding along
Balflour Drive.
Resolution - Project Acceptance for Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase 2B
Outfall Replacement Project
Ms. Serra provided a brief report related to the closeout of the Watewater Treatment
Plant Phase 2B Outfall Replacement project.
Mr. Grimm expressed appreciation to Ms. Serra for keeping the project under
budget.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Ordinance - Amending Sections of the Pasco Municipal Code Title 17 Sign
Code, and PMC 25.95.050 Related to Billboards
Mr. Gonzalez provided a brief report related to the proposed updates to the Pasco
Municipal Code (PMC) related to billboards.
Ms. Blasdel asked if staff has done any research related to light pollution in
Washington state and if the billboards would be a factor to light pollution.
Ms. Barajas commented about the placement and adaptive lighting of billboards.
She expressed support for the PMC amendments.
Mr. Perales expressed appreciation to staff working with Mr. Layman and
expressed support for the PMC amendments.
Mayor Serrano stated that there is no need for a public hearing related to billboards
updates.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
John Layman, Oregon resident and Metal Outdoor Sign representative, expressed
support for the PMC updates related to billboards.
Resolution - 2025 Community Development Block Grant Annual Work Plan
and Allocations (10 minutes)
Mr. Gonzales introduced Craig Raymond, Deputy Community & Economic
Development Deputy Director and Kristin Webb, Block Grant Administrator.
Together, they presented the Community Development Block Grant Program for
2025.
Mayor Serrano asked about the CDBG Program Administration funding and asked
for an explanation for the debt repayment Section 108 Loan. Ms. Webb and Ms.
Sigdel explained the duties of the CDBG Program Administration and the
repayment scheduled for the Section 108 loan.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - 2025 HOME Annual Work Plan and Allocations
Ms. Webb, Block Grant Administrator presented the proposed 2025 HOME Annual
Work Plan and proposed allocations.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Property and Sales Tax Basics Presentation
Ms. Sigdel provided a presentation related to property and sales tax within the City
of Pasco.
Mr. Grimm commented on the property tax levy comparison between Pasco,
Richland, and Kennewick.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Ms. Sigdel announced that next week, September 30th, is a fifth Monday and no
Council meeting was scheduled for that evening.
Mr. Rice provided a brief recap of the recent Fiery Foods Festival. He announced
the upcoming RAVE Foundation Futsal Courts event scheduled for Sunday,
September 29th.
Ms. Barajas commented on the District 1 Watch meeting with the Pasco Police
Department staff she attended recently. She announced the next District 1 and
District 2 meetings scheduled later in the week. She invited Council and the public
to participate in the Chiawana High School mock interviews scheduled for October
18, 2024.
Ms. Grimm expressed appreciation to Ms. Sigdel and Ms. Serra and the time they
took to meet with him earlier in the day.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:23 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on October 7, 2024.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk