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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 Page 1 of 7 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. Page 2 of 7 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 Page 3 of 7 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. Page 4 of 7 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. Page 5 of 7 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 Page 6 of 7 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 Page 7 of 7 December 2, 2024