HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.03.17 Council Meeting Minutes
MINUTES
City Council Regular Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, March 17, 2025
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:
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: Dave Zabell, Interim City Manager; Richa Sigdel, Deputy City
Manager; Angela Pashon, Assistant City Manager; Darcy Buckley, Finance
Director; Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; Craig Raymond,
Deputy 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.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of Meeting Minutes for February 28th, March 3rd, March 7th and
March 10th
To approve the minutes of the Pasco City Council Special Meetings held February
28th and March 7th, Regular Meeting held on March 3rd and Regular Workshop
held on March 10, 2025.
Bills and Communications - Approving Claims in the Total Amount of
$3,743,876.74
To approve claims in the total amount of $3,743,876.74 ($1,159,010.99 in Check
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Nos. 270055 - 270324; $1,328,434.55 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 849424 -
849426,849430,849438 - 849441, 849450, 849454 - 849456; $15,958.95 in
Check Nos. 54899 - 54905; $1,239,931.14 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 30222213 -
30222857; $541.11 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 344 - 346).
Resolution No. 4575 - Change Order No. 3 for Wastewater Treatment Plant
Phase 2A Construction Contract with Apollo
To approve Resolution No. 4575, authorizing the City Manager to execute
Change Order No. 3 with Apollo, Inc. for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase
2A Improvements Project.
Resolution No. 4576 - Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Pasco
To approve Resolution No. 4576, authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute
the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Pasco for participation in the ATF
Violent Crimes Task Force.
Resolution No. 4577 - Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Pasco
for NIBIN Enforcement Support System (NESS)
To approve Resolution No. 4577, authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute
the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the City of Pasco for participation in the
National Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) program.
Resolution No. 4578 - Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington
State Department of Commerce and the City of Pasco for participation in the
Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT)
To approve Resolution No. 4578, authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute
the Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State Department of
Commerce and the City of Pasco for participation in the Domestic Violence High
Risk Team (DVHRT).
Resolution No. 4579 - Letter of Agreement Between the Geiger Institute and
the City of Pasco for Implementation of the Danger Assessment for Law
Enforcement (DA-LE) Model
To approve Resolution No. 4579, authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute
the Letter of Agreement between the the Geiger Institute and the City of Pasco for
implementation of the Danger Assessment for Law Enforcement (DA-LE) model.
Resolution No. 4580 - Service Agreement between Hanford Mission
Integration Solutions (HIMS) and the City of Pasco for use of the Emergency
Vehicle Operations Course
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To approve Resolution No. 4580, authorizing the Interim City Manager to execute
the the Service Agreement between Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HIMS)
and the City of Pasco for use of the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course.
Approve Visit Tri-Cities Tourism Promotion Area Reserve Funding Request
and 2025 Work Plan
To approve the 2025 Special Project Expenditures for the Tourism Promotion
Area (TPA) in the amount of $549,500 to be allocated from the TPA Reserve
Balance.
-and-
To approve the Visit Tri-Cities 2025 Work Plan as presented.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Blasdel
to approve the Consent Agenda as read.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by Roll Call vote. 7-0
AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember
Barajas, Councilmember Blasdel, Councilmember
Grimm, Councilmember Harpster, and Councilmember
Perales
PROCLAMATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pasco High School Dance Team Recognition
Mayor Serrano read and then presented letters of congratulations to the Pasco
High School Dance Team Members for their recent win at the National Hip Hop
Dance Competition.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Thomas Granbois, Pasco resident and downtown business owner, expressed
appreciation for the Graffiti Abatement program and Park Ranger assigned to the
downtown area. He also provided Ms. Mahoney a list of her public records
requests, which was a response to a public records request he had submitted
asking for all of her public records requests and responses.
Mary Mahoney, Pasco resident, commented on the bald eagles, PPFD Aquatic
Facility, Pasco Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and various Animal Control
topics.
Amber Wade, Pasco resident, commented on a water pressure issue at the
Sundance Mobile Home.
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REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS
Verbal Reports from Councilmembers
Mr. Grimm reported on the Ben Franklin Transit Board meeting he recently
attended.
Mr. Harpster reported on the Pasco Chamber of Commerce meeting he attended
earlier in the day.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne reported on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
meeting he recently attended.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATING TO HEARINGS
Ordinance No. 4764 - Columbia River Walk Apartments West Rezone from I-
1 to R-4 (Z 2024-009)
Mr. Raymond provided a brief report on the proposed rezone.
Mr. Ferguson announced that the proposed rezone was a quasi-judicial action
and he read the quasi-judicial procedure including how the Appearance of
Fairness Doctrine applies to it. Next, he asked all Councilmembers a series of
questions associated with potential conflicts of interest to disclose such potential
conflicts or appearance of conflicts. With no response from the Councilmembers,
he asked if any members of the public were seeking to disqualify a member of
Council from participating in the proceedings. No one came forward.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Blasdel
to adopt Ordinance No. 4764, amending the zoning classification of certain real
property located at 2326 W A Street, on the south side of W A Street at the
intersection of W A Street and S 23rd Avenue, in Pasco, Franklin County,
Washington, from I-1 Light Industrial to R-4 High-Density Residential and,
further, authorize publication by summary only.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously. 7-0
AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember
Barajas, Councilmember Blasdel, Councilmember
Grimm, Councilmember Harpster, and Councilmember
Perales
Resolution No. 4581 - Fourth Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement
with Benton County Emergency Services (BCES)
Mr. Ferguson explained the updates in the proposed Interlocal Agreement that
were not in the copy presented to Council at their March 10th Workshop.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Blasdel
to approve Resolution No. 4581, authorizing the Interim City Manager to
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execute a Fourth Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement for the Benton
County Emergency Services.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously. 7-0
AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember
Barajas, Councilmember Blasdel, Councilmember
Grimm, Councilmember Harpster, and Councilmember
Perales
Ordinance No. 4765 - Amending 3.35.220 & 3.65.150 and Creating 13.85.095
with Regards to Irrigation Utility Rates
Ms. Serra explained the two options for the proposed increases with the Irrigation
Water connection fee and the annual rates. She also commented on the reduction
of the fee for low-income households.
Mr. Harpster and Mayor Serrano commented on the two options and both
expressed a preference for Option B with a $1,000 connection fee and increased
percentage with annual fees for the next five years.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Blasdel
to adopt (Option B reduced connection fee) Ordinance No. 4765, Amending
Pasco Municipal Code Sections 3.35.220 "Irrigation Water Utility Fee" and
Section 3.65.150 "Senior Discount" and creating Section 13.85.095
"Connection Fee" and, further, authorize publication by summary only.
RESULT: Motion carried. 6-1
AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember
Blasdel, Councilmember Grimm, Councilmember
Harpster, and Councilmember Perales
NAYS: Councilmember Barajas
NEW BUSINESS
Transportation Impact Fee Study - Fehr & Peers (15 minute staff presenation)
Ms. Sigdel introduced Kendra Breiland, Principal at Fehr & Peers, the
Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) study consultant.
Ms. Breiland provided an update on the status of the TIF study. Council
interjected questions during the presentation and Ms. Breiland responded with
answers.
Council provided the following feedback for a TIF calculation.
Ensure that the fees are reviewed every four to five years
Provide a draft of a districts rate fee structure
Provide more predictability for developers
Add Road 90 and Sandifur project to the TIP
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Needs to include process improvement
Suggestion to organize it by in-fill verses new growth instead of creating
districts
City Manager Recruitment
Ms. Matzen provided a brief report on the status of the City Manager recruitment.
She stated that three (3) agencies provided proposals for Council consideration.
The agencies included GMP Consultants (Greg Prothman); Prothman (Sonja
Prothman); and Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions (TSTS). She provided a
comparison of the three agencies.
Council agreed that there was no need to seek out other recruitment agencies
and there was no need to listen to presentations from the three as the materials
they provided were adequate. They discussed three agencies and their
preferences.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved, seconded by Councilmember Blasdel
to use GMP consultants for the City Manager search.
RESULT: Motion carried unanimously. 7-0
AYES: Mayor Serrano, Mayor Pro Tem Milne, Councilmember
Barajas, Councilmember Blasdel, Councilmember
Grimm, Councilmember Harpster, and Councilmember
Perales
Request for Zoning Code Text Amendment
Mr. Zabell stated that the City of Pasco received a request for a zoning code text
amendment recently from a property owner. The owner desires to build a car
wash on that site and is requesting text amendment to reduce the 300-foot
distance requirement, contingent on providing noise suppression between the car
wash and residential districts next to his property. Mr. Zabell explained the
process for moving forward on a Zoning Code text amendment and sought
Council's direction on this request.
Council and Mr. Zabell discussed the request.
Mayor Serrano noted that he attended the meeting with staff and the property
owner and was in favor of conducting a public hearing on this request to
determine if it is a traffic issue or a noise pollution issue.
Mr. Harpster and Mr. Perales were also in favor of holding a public hearing on this
topic.
Mr. Ferguson stated that the zoning code text amendment is a legislative act and
not a quasi judicial act. He explained the open record hearing process for Council
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to decide if they wish to make a (blanket) legislative change to zoning code.
MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION
Mr. Zabell reminded Council that the Business Watch meeting scheduled at
HAPO on March 18th. He announced that Darcy Buckley accepted a new position
as a Finance Training and Compliance Lead and that the City will start recruiting
for a Finance Director very soon. Lastly, Mr. Zabell announced that Haley Miller
accepted the position of Community & Economic Development Director and will
start in a few weeks.
Mr. Grimm expressed appreciation on the Graffiti Abatement program. He also
announced that both Melissa Blasdel and Leo Perales had perfect meeting
attendance in 2024.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:38 PM for 7 minutes returning at
8:45 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) with the
City Manager, Deputy City Manager, and City Attorney.
Mayor Serrano called the meeting back to order at 8:45 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on April 7, 2025.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
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