HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.05.27 Council Meeting MinutesMINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:10 PM - Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:19 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; Griselda Garcia, Interim
Finance Director; Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; Sara
Matzen, Human Resources Director; Haylie Miller, Community & Economic
Development Director; Jesse Rice, Parks & Recreation Director; Ken Roske,
Police Chief; Maria Serra, Public Works Director; and Debby Barham, City Clerk
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Mr. Grimm commented on on the Memorial Day event held at City View Cemetery
Mayor Pro Tem Milne commented on the Memorial Day event and also reported
on the Chiawana school event.
Ms. Blasdell commented on the Memorial Day event's keynote speaker. She
attended Coffee with a Cop earlier in the day. Lastly, she has been participating in
the Pasco's Police Academy.
Mr. Harpster reported on the TRIDEC Board meeting he recently attended.
Mayor Serrano expressed appreciation to staff for hosting the Memorial Day
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event. He reported on the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for Franklin County
meeting, as well as his recent travels with Mr. Zabell to the annual ICSC
Conference held in Las Vegas, NV.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Resolution - Tri-Cities HOME Consortium's 2025-2029 Assessment of Fair
Housing Plan
Ms. Miller provided a brief report regarding the proposed 2025-2029 Fair Housing
Plan for the Tri-Cities HOME Consortium and explained this goes hand-in-hand
with the Consolidated Plan that was previously approved by Council in March
2025. She explained the next steps when the plan is approved.
Mr. Perales asked for metrics to ensure the program is meeting its goals in the
housing plan and Ms. Miller responded explaining the program requirements.
Presentation - Potential Changes to Inspection Services
Ms. Miller stated that this topic has been presented to Council twice and staff is
seeking direction from Council. She explained the potential updates to the
inspection services provided by the City of Pasco including the benefits and
challenges for those changes.
Mr. Grimm expressed appreciation to staff for working on this issue and for
reducing the regulatory burden on residents.
Mr. Perales asked for clarification on reroofing and re-siding houses and when a
permit would be required. Ms. Miller clarified the requirements for reroofing/re-
siding that will not require a permit; she also stated that any right-of-way work
would need to be reviewed.
Mayor Serrano confirmed that this item will be brought back for Council approval
at the next meeting.
Presentation - Introduction to Amending PMC 3.65 Utility Billing
Management
Ms. Garcia presented potential updates to utility billing management via the
Pasco Municipal Code (PMC) Chapter 3.65. She noted staff conducted a LEAN
process with the focus on key processes and recommendations to increase
efficiencies and improvements in utility billing processes. She discussed the
regulatory challenges, the financial impact if the PMC amendments were adopted,
which also includes cleaning up old and outdated PMC sections. Ms. Garcia
asked for Council direction on the proposed amendments to the Utility Billing
PMC.
Council and staff discussion ensued and included:
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Clarification of apartment complexes utility meter as compared to single-
family residents
Additional research regarding the processes from other cities was
requested
Explanation of current process for setting up utilities for tenants as well as
the issues when collecting on delinquent accounts
Further explanation of software needs and changing the utility billing
responsibility from the tenant to the property owner was discussed
New customer deposit amount adjustments
Meter turn off/turn on
Mr. Harpster expressed opposition to changing the responsibility to property
owner and prefers keeping it the tenant's responsibility.
Mayor Serrano stated that the general City residents should not have to pay
increased utility fees to cover the delinquent accounts.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments.
Mr. Granbois, Pasco resident and landlord, expressed his opposition to the
proposed change to charge the property owner and suggested using the model
that the Franklin PUD uses.
General Fund Monthly Report - March 2025
Ms. Garcia provided a brief overview of the March 2025 General Fund Report.
Council and staff briefly discussed the budget and the funding of a specific
contract.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Ms. Blasdel invited everyone to the Juneteenth Parade scheduled for Saturday,
June 14th.
Mr. Zabell announced that two fire department recruits were graduating on Friday,
May 30th.
Mr. Rice announced the possibility of the City of Pasco being one of the FIFA
2026 Fan Zones and asked for Council direction.
Mayor Serrano stated that he brought the FIFA 2026 Fan Zones item forward
from Visit Tri-Cities and expressed support of staff's request for $90K to be the
host City for the six events.
Mr. Harpster asked if this event would cause a strain on City resources and then
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expressed support to move forward on it.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne also expressed support for the event.
RECESS:
Mayor Serrano called a five minute recess at 8:35 PM.
Mr. Grimm left the Workshop at 8:35 PM.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 8:40 PM for 15 minutes returning at
8:55 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, City Attorney,
Public Works Director and Community & Economic Development Director.
At 8:54 PM Mayor Serrano announced that the Executive Session would continue
for another 10 minutes or until 9:04 PM.
Mayor Serrano called the meeting back to order at 9:04 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:04 PM.
Council held a Closed Session after the workshop adjourned to discuss Collective
Bargaining Unit negotiations per RCW 42.30.140(4)(a) with City Manager, Deputy
City Manager, and Human Resources Director.
PASSED and APPROVED on June 2, 2025.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Pete Serrano, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
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