HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.10.27 Council MinutesMINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, October 27, 2025
Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by David Milne, Mayor.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: David Milne, Charles Grimm, Blanche Barajas, Melissa
Blasdel, Joe Cotta, and Leo Perales
Councilmembers attending remotely:
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: Harold Stewart, City Manager; Richa Sigdel, Deputy City Manager;
Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Scott Mihalik, City Attorney; Arman Rashid, IT Director;
Ken Roske, Police Chief; Maria Serra, Public Works Director; and Krystle Shanks,
Deputy City Clerk
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Ms. Blasdel attended the Visit Tri-Cities monthly board meeting, the Pasco Police
District No. 1 Business Watch meeting held at the Franklin County Historical Society
and the Domestic Violence Memorial Candlelight Vigil held at the HAPO Center,
honoring those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.
Mr. Perales attended the Elijah Family Homes Annual Breakfast Fundraiser held at
the HAPO Center.
Mr. Cotta attended ribbon-cuttings for Greer Steel and Top-Notch Driving School.
Mayor Milne attended the Crispy Cones soft-opening.
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ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
2026 Legislative Priorities
Ms. Sigdel introduced Briahna Murray, State Lobbyist at Gordon-Thomas
Honeywell, who presented the 2026 Legislative Priorities and answered questions
from the Council.
The Council expressed appreciation to Ms. Murray and stated they were in
agreement with the proposed priorities, requesting that staff return this item for
Council approval as presented.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Peanuts Park North - Conceptual Design Presentation
Mr. Rice provided a brief overview of the project’s history and introduced Brent
Kubalek, Parks & Recreation Manager, and Michael Terrell, with Landscape
Architects, who presented the final draft concept plan for Peanuts Park North.
Council discussed and asked questions regarding the following topics:
Lighting
Safety and encouraging positive activities in the area
Public restrooms
Fencing or gating
Artwork and murals
Concept options and the hybrid approach, including space for athletic
courts, a skating rink, and social areas
Costs and maintenance
Public feedback, with a request for additional opportunities for community
input
Parks & Recreation Board input
Mr. Rice then summarized Council's feedback, noting opportunities for additional
public outreach, and said that this item would come back to Council for final
approval of a conceptual plan and funding source allocation.
Thomas Granbois, a Pasco resident, spoke in support of the proposed concept,
noting that it would help attract positive activity to the area and shared
suggestions regarding lighting options.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one else came
forward to speak.
Basin Disposal Inc Presentation
Ms. Francik, with Basin Disposal, Inc. (BDI), provided a presentation on Basin
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Disposal, Inc. that included an overview of the garbage disposal system, Pasco’s
contract with BDI and related services, illegal hauling, recycling operations,
upcoming legislative and regulatory changes, contract financial structure, and
community partnership efforts.
Council discussion ensued with the following takeaways:
Promote citywide cleanup weeks and improve public awareness of the
unlimited garbage service.
Clarify recycling processes, including accepted materials, costs, and
contamination issues at recycling drop boxes.
Address options for electronic waste disposal.
Pasco’s garbage collection is locally managed, providing flexibility and
unlimited service to residents.
Upcoming state mandates for recycling and green waste collection will
impact operations by 2030.
The City and BDI plan to enhance communication and community
participation in cleanup and recycling initiatives.
Illegal hauling remains a concern, affecting city revenue and rate stability.
BDI continues to demonstrate strong community engagement and
collaboration with city staff.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
The New Heritage Project Update - Presented by Stephen Bauman
Mr. Bauman, representing the developer, provided an update on the New
Heritage Project, the next phase following Tierra Vida, Phase 3. He thanked the
Council members who attended the recent groundbreaking event and conveyed
appreciation from the Broetje family.
Mr. Bauman shared the project vision and described the long-standing
commitment of the Broetje family to fostering homeownership and community
development, noting their success in helping families build generational wealth
through accessible 20-year home loans.
He reported that a community visioning workshop was held on August 7th to
guide design principles and define the project’s community vision. The design
phase is now underway, with conceptual layouts in progress and continued
coordination with nearby property owners, public agencies, and utility partners to
ensure cohesive development.
Council briefly discussed the presentation, noting the project’s emphasis on
walkability and neighborhood-scale design features such as small shops and
gathering spaces.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
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to speak.
Boulevard Maintenance Program
Ms. Sigdel presented an overview of the Boulevard Maintenance Program,
outlining its history, funding structure, maintenance challenges, and policy
considerations. She thanked Parks & Recreation Director, Mr. Rice, who has
been working with Mackay Sposito, who is contracted to look into existing
challenges with the program.
Ms. Sigdel highlighted the following key issues:
The existing fee model is financially unsustainable.
Lack of consistent landscape standards creates challenges for both
developers and maintenance staff.
Many existing plantings are inappropriate for local conditions, leading to
infrastructure damage such as sidewalk lifting and fence damage.
Maintenance requires extensive labor and resources.
Staff is exploring xeriscaping (drought-resistant landscaping) and updated
design standards to reduce long-term costs.
Council and staff discussion ensued on the following:
General support was expressed for drought-resistant or minimal
landscaping, including the use of decorative elements such as boulders or
public art instead of live plants.
Emphasis was placed on ensuring the program’s financial sustainability
and reducing reliance on general fund subsidies.
Council discussed exploring neighborhood or HOA-level maintenance
options where feasible.
Several Councilmembers supported discontinuing or scaling back the
existing program if sustainable funding cannot be achieved.
A balanced approach was recommended—maintaining landscaped and
shaded corridors in key areas for aesthetics and livability, while
transitioning to xeriscaping or drought-resistant treatments elsewhere.
Council agreed that consistent landscape standards are needed to ensure
predictability for developers and maintainability for staff.
Staff was asked to evaluate potential fee adjustments, alternative
maintenance models, and policy options for future consideration.
Rebecca Francik, Pasco resident, recommended considering the heat impact of
xeriscaping, noting that reduced vegetation can increase heat in neighborhoods.
Thomas Granbois, Pasco resident, suggested offering incentives for property
owners in older neighborhoods to convert traditional boulevards to xeriscaping to
reduce water use and maintenance needs.
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Council directed staff to develop updated boulevard standards, including
xeriscaping and hybrid design approaches, and return with cost analyses and
policy recommendations for further discussion.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one else came
forward to speak.
Resolution - Awarding Bid No. 25679 for Farm Well #4 Installation
Ms. Serra provided a brief overview of the award for Bid No. 25679 – Farm Well
No. 4 Installation. She explained that the existing well, which is associated with
the Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF), was failing, prompting the project to
be put out for bid. Two bids were received, and staff recommended awarding the
contract to the lowest bidder, Carpenter Drilling LLC, as the bid amount was
within the engineer's estimate.
The Council agreed to bring this item back for approval.
Resolution – Sole Source Contract for Citywide Wide Area Network (WAN)
Services with Telco Wiring & Repair, Inc.
Mr. Rashid provided a brief history and overview of the proposed sole source
contract with Telco Wiring & Repair, Inc., the City’s long-standing WAN provider,
and discussed the growth and evolving needs of the services provided.
The Council expressed support and recommended bringing this item back for
approval.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mayor Milne discussed the resignation of Councilmember Harpster and requested
Council’s input on filling the vacant position.
Council expressed appreciation for Mr. Harpster’s service and agreed to move
forward with filling the vacancy before the end of the year. Staff confirmed that the
position must be filled within 90 days and has two years remaining in the term.
Council agreed to reopen the application process, welcoming previous applicants to
reapply. The position will be posted with a deadline at the end of November, with the
goal of making an appointment by December 8th.
Mr. Stewart wished everyone a safe and Happy Halloween and announced that
Spooky Hall will be held on Friday, October 31, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is
open to the public.
Mayor Milne shared that he and his wife plan to attend Spooky Hall and invited other
Councilmembers to join.
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Mr. Stewart also noted that staff has received an update on the Lead and Copper
Rules, in relation to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation.
Ms. Serra added that the recent notices sent out regarding the mandatory Lead and
Copper Rules were part of a required regulatory process and that there is no cause
for concern at this time. She noted that staff is continuing efforts toward 100%
identification.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on November 3, 2025.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
David Milne, Mayor Krystle Shanks, Deputy City Clerk
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