HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.06.23 Council MinutesMINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, June 23, 2025
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 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; Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; 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
Mayor Serrano reported on Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory
Committee meeting. He commented on the recent Basic Law Enforcement
Academy (BLEA) graduation and the Brisa Heights Apartment Complex grand
opening event.
Mr. Grimm reported on Wheelhouse Events, LLC grand opening and the Benton
Franklin Council of Governments (BFCOG) meeting.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Discontinue Fluoridation in Drinking Water Communications Plan and
Timeline
Mr. Zabell provided a brief overview of the proposed communications plan and
timeline to start the required 90-day notice prior to the consideration of the
discontinuation of fluoride in the City's drinking water. He asked for Council's
concurrence on the timeline and communications plan.
Council commented on the various communications platforms and expressed
concerns about the cost for providing recorded messages. Staff will need to ensure
the materials produced by the City are in a neutral tone. Council only wants to hear
from the City of Pasco residents and not from individuals outside of city-limits.
Mr. Zabell explained that without the recorded messages, it will take 4 weeks or
longer to notify Water Utility account holders and City residents through the utility
bills, which will push out the timeline.
Council agreed to keep the recorded messages.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Overview of Payment Transaction Fees
Ms. Sigdel provided a report on payment transaction fees for the City's utility billing
and permit fee payments, she explained the current practice and cost for accepting
automated payments and credit card payments. She asked if Council is interested
in passing automated payments and credit card fees to the customers. She
recommended that Council first consider the credit card payment transaction fee
for permit fee payments and to hold off considering the ACH fee until October 2025.
Council discussion ensued and three Councilmembers supported absorbing the
ACH transaction fees and to pass on the credit card fees to the customer.
Mayor Serrano expressed support that the customers that pay their City bills by
ACH and/or credit cards should also pay for the payment transaction fees.
After discussion regarding charging payment transaction fees, Council concurred
that staff should prepare an amendment to the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC)
related to passing the payment transaction fees to the customer for permit related
credit card transactions and bring it back for Council consideration within the next
few weeks. Council also concurred that the ACH fee will be brought back in October
2025 for further discussion and possible action.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Acceptance of Work for MLB Required Improvements at GESA
Stadium - Dugout Bench Additions (Phase 1-B)
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the completion of work for the Gesa Stadium
improvements for dugout benches.
Mayor Serrano asked for a status on the bid rejection from last week and Ms.
Serrano provided the updates to the rebid of that project.
Mayor Serrano called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Police Chief Roske and Fire Chief Crowley briefed Council on their plan for the
upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend to keep the community safe.
Council, Chief Roske and Chief Crowley continued discussing possible scenarios
and resources available during the holiday weekend.
Mr. Rice announced the Grand Old Fourth of July scheduled events.
Mr. Zabell announced the AWC Annual Conference will start on Tuesday, June
24th and that Ms. Serra will lead a tour for Washington State Transportation
Legislative Committee to view several of Pasco's public works projects, also
scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th.
Mr. Perales asked for Council's pulse on increasing the City's sales tax by 1/10 of
one-percent for public safety services.
Council expressed support for receiving information regarding the increased sales
tax; however, it may be prioritized down on the list.
Mayor Pro Tem Milne expressed opposition to increasing sales tax.
Mr. Zabell stated that staff will be able to provide a high-level report on the process
for a sales tax increase at the June 30th Budget Workshop.
Mr. Perales also suggested updating the PMC related to noise disturbance and
Council concurred that may be looked at in the future and add it to a list to review
down the line.
Mayor Serrano announced the Washington State Department of Transportation will
be meeting tomorrow evening to discuss the breaching of dams on the lower Snake
River dams.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:08 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on July 7, 2025.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
David Milne, Mayor Pro Tem Debra Barham, City Clerk