HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.09.08 Council Minutes
MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:20 PM - Monday, September 8, 2025
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:42 PM by David Milne, Mayor.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: David Milne, Blanche Barajas, Melissa Blasdel, Charles
Grimm, Peter Harpster, and Leo Perales
Councilmembers attending remotely:
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: Harold Stewart, 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; Haylie Matson,
Community & Economic Development Director; Arman Rashid, IT Director; Ken
Roske, Police Chief; Maria Serra, Public Works Director; and Debby Barham, City
Clerk
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Mr. Harpster reported on the City Annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon and
TRIDEC Board meeting he recently attended. He also attended a promotion event
of staff at the Benton County Prosecutor's Office.
Ms. Blasdel reported on the key-note speaker at the Annual Pasco Chamber of
Commerce Awards Luncheon. She also commented on a recent Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce's cultural event held at Peanuts Park.
Mayor Pro Tem Grimm also reported on the Annual Pasco Chamber of
Commerce Luncheon and the award he received during the event.
Page 1 of 4
Ms. Blasdel reported on another Pasco Chamber of Commerce event held at
Osprey Point.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Community & Economic Development Department Work Plan
Ms. Matson presented the draft work plan for the Community & Economic
Development Department.
Council and Ms. Matson discussed different aspects of the draft work plan
throughout the presentation.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Adjustment of Utility Tax Rate For City Owned Utilities
Ms. Sigdel explained the tax rates for utilities in Washington State and the current
percentages in the Pasco and neighboring cities. She provided three options to
increase the City-owned utilities tax rates.
Council and Ms. Sigdel discussed the need for the tax rate increases, which were
due to the imbalance of higher expenses without adequate revenues to pay for
the City services.
Mr. Harpster, Ms. Barajas and Mayor Milne expressed support for a 1.5% tax
increase.
Mr. Perales did not support a tax increase at this time.
Ms. Blasdel and Mr. Grimm were still thinking about the options and did not state
their preference.
Mr. Stewart commented on the decrease in utilities revenues, noting the tax
decreases with telephone & cable television utilities specifically. He explained the
increases due to increased costs for materials, equipment, and so forth, which
translate into the higher costs of to the City for providing its public services. The
City cannot sustain itself using these older tax models and changes need to be
addressed.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
RECESS
Mayor Milne called a five-minute recess at 9:02 PM.
Page 2 of 4
CONTINUED ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT
General Fund Monthly Report - July 2025
Ms. Garcia provided a brief report on the July 2025 General Fund Report.
Mayor Pro Tem Grimm commented on property tax rates for Pasco and compared
the rates paid in the Cities of Kennewick and Richland.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Change Order No. 4 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase 2A
Construction Contract with Apollo
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed Change Order No. 5 for the
Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase 2A improvements project.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 2 with RH2
Engineering, Inc. for Design Services for the Process Water Reuse Facility
Irrigation System Farm Upgrades Project
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed Amendment No. 2 for a
Professional Services Agreement (PSA) for the Process Water Reuse Facility
design services.
Mayor Pro Tem Grimm and Mr. Perales asked for clarification and Ms. Serra
answered the questions.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mayor Pro Tem Grimm announced the Fiery Foods Festival this coming weekend.
Mr. Stewart commented on past weeks since he joined Pasco. He announced that
there will be a change in how key information is provided to City Council and the
general public and he will be implementing a City Manager Memo. This Memo will
be provided twice a month and included in the Council's meeting packets under
the Miscellaneous section of the agenda. He also noted two key positions, one for
a City Attorney and the Finance Director will be posted soon.
Page 3 of 4
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Ferguson asked for a ten-minute Executive Session to discuss with legal
counsel about current or potential litigation per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i).
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:30 PM for ten minutes returning at
9:40 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,
and Public Works Director.
At 9:40 PM Mayor Milne announced that the Executive Session would continue
for another ten minutes or until 9:50 PM.
Mayor Milne called the meeting back to order at 9:50 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on _______________________.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Adopted Council Goals (Reference Only)
APPROVED: ATTEST:
David Milne, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
Page 4 of 4
September 15, 2025