HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.11.24 Council Minutes
MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, November 24, 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: None
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; Scott Mihalik, Assistant City Attorney; Haylie
Matson, Community & Economic Development Director; Sara Matzen, Human
Resources 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
Mayor Pro Tem Grimm reported on the Benton Franklin Councils of Government
BFCOG meeting he attended. He also reported on the Pro Made Homes and
Summer's Hub ribbon cutting events he attended on behalf of the Mayor.
Mr. Perales reported on the Pro Made Homes and Summer's Hub ribbon cutting
events he attended. He also commented on a Tri Cities Prep High School football
game and the Benton Franklin Health District Town Hall Meeting he attended.
Mayor Milne reported that he and Mr. Cotta participated on the Finance Director
interviews Board. He also attended the State of the Cities annual event and
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thanked staff for preparing his speech and the video for that event.
Ms. Barajas reported on the State of the Cities event and the commented on the
City's video. She participated in the first Women's Leader Conference held in
Spanish language sponsored by Gonzaga University. Lastly, she expressed
appreciation to staff to change the City code to allow for mobile vending that
allowed the opening of Summer's Hub.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Zone 3 Reservoir Storage Tank Dedication Plaque Presentation
Ms. Serra introduced Michael Uhlman, PE - Principal form HLA Engineering and
Surveying, Inc. who presented a dedication plaque for the Zone 3 Reservoir
Storage Tank to City Council.
Mayor Milne called for public comments.
Mr. Eyman commented on car tab fees.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Visit Tri-Cities 2025 Annual Report, 2026 Workplan, and Tourism Promotion
Area Reserve Fund Request
Mr. Stewart introduced Kevin Lewis, President and CEO, Visit Tri-Cities who
presented the 2025 Annual Report, 2026 Workplan, and Tourism Promotion Area
(TPA) Reserve Fund request.
Council and Mr. Lewis continued discussing the 2026 Workplan, TPA Reserve
Fund request, the Ironman event, how the tourism revenues are collected through
the Tourism Promotion Area assessment and the Lodging Tax assessment
included in the charges at hotels & motels.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
2025-2026 Proposed Mid-Biennium Budget Adjustment
Ms. Garcia presented the proposed 2025-2026 Mid-Biennium Budget adjustment
and she answered Council's questions.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Ladder Truck Replacement
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Deputy Fire Chief Mortensen provided a brief report on the request to purchase a
Fire Ladder Truck, which will take 730-day build time, meaning the replacement
will be in the City's possession in early 2028 and he answered Council's
questions.
Mayor Milne called for public comments.
Lori Thompson expressed support for the purchase of the Fire Ladder Truck and
submitted a copy of her comments to City Clerk Barham.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Awarding Bid No. 25635 - Butterfield WTP Raw Water
Permanganate System
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed bid award to Apollo, Inc. for the
Butterfield Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Awarding Bid No. 22396 for Sylvester Pipe Repair - 5th Ave to
10th Ave to Big D's Construction of Tri-Cities
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed bid award to Big D's
Construction of Tri-Cities for a Stormwater pipe repair project.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Ordinance - Amending PMC Section 10.70.080 Schedule III - Parking
prohibited at all times on certain streets (5 minute staff presentation)
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed amendment to the Pasco
Municipal Code (PMC) prohibiting parking along Buckingham Drive near
Broadmoor Boulevard and she answered Council's questions.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Change Order No. 4 Sandifur Pkwy/ Broadmoor Intersection
Improvements with Tapani
Ms. Serra provided a brief report on the proposed Change Order No. 4 with
Tapani for a pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
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Octavio Rodriguez Project Concerns (5 minutes)
Mr. Stewart announced that at the advise from the City Attorney, any questions
that Council may have after Mr. Rodriquez speaks, should be asked in Executive
Session at the end of the Workshop.
Mr. Rodriquez expressed concern regarding the application he submitted prior to
June 12, 2025, and the charges he was assessed for the project due to the
updated fees were enacted in the Pasco Municipal Code.
Mayor Milne called for public comments.
David Cortinez, Latino Business Association (LBA) Representative, commented
on Mr. Rodriquez's concerns.
Update - 2026 Fourth of July, Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America -
Presentation
Mr. Rice provided options for City Council to consider for the 2026 Fourth of July
Celebration.
Council majority supported purchasing flags and poles and discussed how many
and where to display them. The second choice was related to the potential Torch
Run.
Mayor Milne called for public comments.
David Cortinez, LBA, expressed concern about paying for the additional options
for the Fourth of July events.
Lori Thompson, Pasco resident, requested Council to promote the safe use of
legal fireworks and transportation along Burden Boulevard. She expressed
support for the Drone show and transfer some of the Fireworks funding to the
support the Drone show.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
Resolution - Agenda-Setting Policy for Regular and Special City Council
Meetings and Workshops (5 minute staff presentation)
Mr. Stewart provided a brief report on creating an Agenda-Setting Policy for
Council meetings and Workshops. He asked for Council consideration for the
draft policy. He also asked for Council consideration to place some agenda items
directly on a Council meeting without first placing it on a Council Workshop.
Council and Mr. Stewart continued discussing how the policy would work.
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Overall, Council supported the proposed Agenda-Setting Policy.
Mr. Stewart stated that a resolution would come back for Council consideration at
the next meeting.
Mayor Milne called for public comments.
David Cortinez, LBA Representative, commented on the proposed Agenda-
Setting Policy.
Resolution - Office Closure to the Public for Christmas Eve Day
Mr. Stewart asked for Council consideration on Office closure to the public at
noon on Christmas Eve Day this year.
Council supported the the half day closure.
Mayor Milne called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward
to speak.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mr. Stewart asked for Council consideration to approve an employee paid day off
at City Manager discretion on an annual basis and specifically to allow a paid day
off on December 26, 2026 for this year.
A majority of Council agreed to providing this paid day off on December 26, 2026.
Mr. Stewart stated that an ordinance will come back to Council for approval to
create a new section in the Pasco Municipal Code for this discretionary day off, as
well as confirm the paid day off on December 26th.
Mr. Stewart expressed appreciation to Alyssa Warner and Nicole Edwards for
their contributions for producing the State of the Cities video and speech. He
announced that the City will be closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving
Holiday. He also announced the upcoming Business Watch meeting and the
status of the Wreaths Across America, and the Memorial Pool Dome. Lastly, he
expressed appreciation to Ms. Blasdel for her service on the City Council.
Ms. Blasdel expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve on the City
Council in the past two years It has been a privilege and she has grown both
personally and professionally.
Council expressed appreciation to Ms. Blasdel.
Mayor Milne asked for a feasibility study to close a portion of 4th Avenue between
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Lewis Street and Columbia Street for semi to permanent closure for special
events and further development of the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.
Council majority expressed support to conduct a feasibility study to close that
portion of 4th Avenue.
RECESS
Mayor Milne called for a seven-minute recess at 9:53 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Council adjourned into Executive Session at 10:00 PM for 30 minutes returning at
10:30 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) and
discussion with legal counsel about current or potential litigation per RCW
42.30.110(1)(i) with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Assistant City
Attorney and Community and Economic Development Director.
Ms. Matson left the Executive Session at 10:28 PM.
At 10:28 PM Mayor Milne announced that the Executive Session would continue
for another 10 minutes or until 10:40 PM.
Mayor Milne called the meeting back to order at 10:41 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:41 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED on _______________________.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
David Milne, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
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December 1, 2025