HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.11.25 Council Minutes
MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, November 25, 2024
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar
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: Blanche Barajas
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, Land Use & Planning Advisor; Jesse
Rice, Parks & Recreation Director; Ken Roske, Police Chief; Maria Serra, Public
Works Director; and Debby Barham, City Clerk
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Mr. Harpster reported on the ribbon cutting event for Pasco's new water storage
tower. He also attended the State of the Cities event and Hilton's Home to Suites
ribbon cutting event.
Ms. Blasdel provided a status of the sale of wreaths for Wreaths Across America.
Mr. Perales discussed the recent Chiawana Highschool football win.
Mayor Serrano reported on Tri-Cities National Park meeting he recently attended.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
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Update: Ordinance - Amending Pasco Municipal Code Title 23 Related to the
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Thresholds
Ms. Sigdel introduced Jacob Gonzalez, Land Use & Planning Advisor and Bob
Sterbank with Foster Garvey. Mr. Gonzalez provided a brief report on the SEPA
thresholds and the proposed amendments to the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC)
related to Title 23 Environmental Impact.
Council, staff and Mr. Sterbank discussed the option.
Councilmembers Perales & Grimm, and Mayor Serrano preferred the phased
approach with first reviewing the residential standards and issue one required 60-
day notice for both residential and non-residential exemptions.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Ms. Francik, Pasco resident and Basin Disposal, Inc. (BDI) staff member, stated
the BDI receives SEPA notices and asked when is it the best time for BDI to
provide their input before plats are approved. She stated that some development
sites prohibits BDI trucks from providing service in neighborhoods due to the
configuration of the plat.
Mr. Padvorac, Padvorac Consulting, expressed support for making the SEPA
thresholds consistent with the neighboring cities. He also commented on some
overlap of SEPA between residential and non-residential property.
Presentation of 2025-2026 Biennial Budget
Ms. Buckley explained the financial impacts to the proposed Biennial Budget
based on Council's recommendations to continue specific programs and activities
from their last meeting.
After Ms. Buckley's presentation detailing the programs with the funding amounts
that Council was considering to add back into the budget, Council and staff (Ms.
Buckley, Mr. Lincoln and Police Chief Roske) discussed those programs.
A majority of Council agreed to hold only one Citizens Academy per year.
A majority of Council also concurred that more discussion was needed for the
proposed police program as some Councilmembers suggested cutting the
program in half and/or consider a phased approach to the program during the
2025-2026 Biennial Budget.
Ms. Sigdel indicated that a budget amendment could be brought back in the new
year once the parameters were agreed to.
Council and staff continued discussion related to increasing revenues and
determination of the City's various fees schedule.
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Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
2025 Administrative/Professional Wage and Management Salary Plans
Mr. Lincoln presented options for Council's consideration related to the Cost of
Living Allowance (COLA) for all non-represented staff and management staff for
2025 and asked for their preference on the increase of no increase, two-percent
or three-percent increases.
After a brief Council discussion, a majority of Council supported the 3% COLA for
both non-representative staff and management staff.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Resolution - Basin Disposal Inc. 2025 Proposed Rate Increase
Ms. Sigdel provided a brief report on the proposed 2025 rate increase for solid
waste services with in the City.
Ms. Francik commented on the process of assisting income limited BDI
customers.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Proposed 2023-2024 Budget Supplement
Ms. Buckley explained the proposed supplement reflects increases in revenues
and expenses of $8.811M and $9.583M respectively. Net expense increase is
$772K and primarily the result of original budget in CDBG represented below
expected grant awards.
Council and staff briefly discussed the proposed amended 2023-2024 Operating
Budget.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Resolution - Project Acceptance for Transmission Main – West Pasco Water
Treatment Plant (WPWTP) to Zone 3 Project
Ms. Serra provided a brief report regarding the Transmission Main project noting
that it will come back to Council for final acceptance of the project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
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forward to speak.
Resolution - Project Acceptance for Argent Rd Widening Phase 3
Ms. Serra provided a brief report regarding the Argent Rd Widening Phase 3
project noting that it will come back to Council for final acceptance of the project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Resolution - Project Acceptance for Court Street Overlay Project
Ms. Serra provided a brief report regarding the Court Street Overlay project noting
that it will come back to Council for final acceptance of the project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Resolution - Acceptance of Work for New Pasco Animal Control Shelter
Ms. Serra provided a brief report regarding the new Pasco Animal Control Shelter
project noting that it will come back to Council for final acceptance of the project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Mary Mahoney, Pasco resident, commented on the Tri-Cities Animal Control
Authority and new facility.
Resolution - Bid Award for Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
Remodel and Expansion Phase 1 Construction Project
Ms. Serra provided a brief overview of the bid process and the awardee for the
Martin Luther King Jr (MLK) Community Center remodel.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Mary Mahoney, Pasco resident, commented on the MLK Community Center and
the City's and the Pasco Public Facilities District's budgets.
Resolution - I-182/Broadmoor Blvd. Interchange Project Change Order No. 9
Approval
Ms. Serra explained the need for the Change Order No. 9 to the I-182/Broadmoor
Blvd. Interchange project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
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Resolution - West Pasco Water Treatment Plant Phases 3 & 4 Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund Additional Loan Acceptance
Ms. Serra reported that due to availability of remaining Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law (BIL) funds and the City’s ranking on the 2023 DWSRF Project Priority List,
the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) awarded an additional $1.17
million loan beyond the initial $12 million previously awarded. Both the initial loan
and the additional award funds from DOH will be used for full construction of the
expanded membrane filtration system, cyanotoxin treatment, service pumps, and
backwash recovery system.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Resolution - "Amtrak" National Railroad Passenger Corporation - Intermodal
Transportation Facility Lease Agreement
Mr. Rice provided a brief report on the proposed ten-year lease agreement with
Amtrak.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came
forward to speak.
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Recommendations for 2025
Ms. Pashon provided a brief report on the LTAC's funding recommendations for
2025.
Council, Ms. Pashon and Mr. Ferguson discussed the funding recommendations,
including additional details of some of the applicants and options/process
available to Council to adjust the funding amounts.
Mr. Harpster suggested removing the Swim the Snake and Charro events and
reallocate the funds to other applications.
Mr. Perales agreed with Mr. Harpster and recommended additional funding be
given to the NWAC Basketball Championship, CBC Volleyball Championship,
Juneteenth and Water Folly events.
Ms. Blasdel noted the makeup of the LTAC included two representatives of
businesses that collect the lodging tax and two representatives that are involved
in activities authorized to be funded by the lodging tax along with and elected
official, the Pasco Mayor, as the Chair of the LTAC. She noted that the LTAC
deliberated on providing funding to those that can bring dollars back into the
community, also referred to as "Heads in Beds." She stated that all of the events
will place heads in beds in Pasco.
Ms. Barajas recommended removing the COPA Symphony funding and reallocate
additional funding to the Juneteenth event.
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Council determined that more discussion was needed and this item will be placed
on the next workshop.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Mr. Granbois, downtown business owner, commented on the LTAC funding for
the downtown murals funding. He also commented on the COPA Symphony and
how it provides benefits to the downtown businesses.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mr. Lincoln announced that the City's public facing offices will close to the public
at 2:00 PM on Thanksgiving eve, November 27th. He also announced a need to
hold a Special Meeting on December 9th before the Council Workshop. Lastly, he
asked for Council to consider cancelling the December 16th and 23rd the
regularly scheduled Council meeting and workshop.
Council concurred with the meeting schedule for December 2024.
Mr. Harpster asked how many dogs and cats have been sent to Washington State
University (WSU) for research purposes and Mr. Rice stated no animals have
been transferred to WSU for research purposes.
Councilmembers expressed thanks for various reasons as they enter into the
Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.
RECESS
Mayor Serrano called a five-minute recess at 9:40 PM.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:45 PM for 30 minutes returning at
10:15 PM to consider 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 current or potential litigation per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i) with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Attorney and
Land Use and Zoning Advisor.
Mr. Gonzales left Executive Session at 10:05 PM.
At 10:15 PM Mayor Serrano announced that the Executive Session would
continue for another 15 minutes or until 10:30 PM.
At 10:30 PM Mayor Serrano announced that the Executive Session would
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continue for another 5 minutes or until 10:35 PM.
At 10:35 PM Mayor Serrano announced that the Executive Session would
continue for another 5 minutes or until 10:40 PM.
Mayor Serrano called the meeting back to order at 10:40 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on _______________________.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
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December 2, 2024