Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026.05.26 Council Minutes MINUTES City Council Workshop Meeting 7:00 PM - Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Pasco City Hall, Council Chambers & Microsoft Teams Webinar CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Charles Grimm, Mayor. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present: David Milne, Charles Grimm, Joe Cotta, Leo Perales, Calixto Hernandez, Abel Campos, and Mark Figueroa Councilmembers attending remotely: Councilmembers absent: None Staff present: Harold Stewart, City Manager; Richa Sigdel, Deputy City Manager; Angela Pashon, Interim Parks & Recreation Director; Kevin Crowley, Fire Chief; Kevin Hebdon, Finance Director; Drew Pollom, City Attorney; Haylie Matson, Community & Economic Development Director; Brent Cook, Interim Police Chief; Maria Serra, Public Works Director; and Krystle Shanks, Deputy City Clerk The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. RECESS Mayor Grimm called a 5 minutes recess at 7:02 PM to resolve technical issues in the Council Chambers. VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Cotta reported attending a tour of the Pasco Aquatic Center and expressed appreciation for the quality of the facility, noting its potential to attract visitors from throughout the region. Councilmember Perales also attended the Pasco Aquatic Center tour and praised the facility's design and family-oriented features. He reported meeting with the Benton- Franklin Health District regarding a potential Franklin County split, thanked Pasco Page 1 of 6 Police Department staff for increased patrols and targeted enforcement efforts, and recognized staff for addressing concerns related to an overgrown tree impacting a local business. He also met with residents regarding accessibility concerns. Councilmember Figueroa reported attending a tour of the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery with Councilmembers Campos and Hernandez and spoke positively about the services and resources the facility will provide. He also attended the Columbia River Gardens Memorial Day celebration. Councilmember Hernandez reported attending the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery tour and highlighted the importance of the services available at the facility. He also attended a Memorial Day event at Pasco Cemetery and shared appreciation for the ceremony honoring veterans and fallen service members. Mayor Grimm reflected on the community’s Memorial Day observances and the importance of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service. He also reported on recent Benton-Franklin Transit activities.. He also attended a ribbon cutting for Tri-City Endodontics and participated in the ICSC shopping center convention in Las Vegas, where discussions were held with developers, landowners, and prospective retailers regarding future commercial development opportunities in Pasco. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Tri-Cities National Park Committee Presentation Ms. Pashon introduced Becky Burghart, Hanford Site Manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, who provided an overview of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park and the Tri-Cities National Park Committee. Ms. Burghart described the Tri-Cities National Park Committee as a collaborative group consisting of local governments, community organizations, educational institutions, and federal partners working to promote and preserve the region’s historical resources and highlighted accomplishments. The presentation also emphasized the broader historical significance of Pasco and the Tri-Cities, including connections to the Manhattan Project, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and Hanford Reach National Monument. Council discussed opportunities to further promote the region’s history and heritage resources within the community. Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. Police Department Technology Overview Page 2 of 6 Interim Police Chief Cook presented an overview of technology currently utilized by the Pasco Police Department. The presentation highlighted technologies designed to improve response times, officer and public safety, investigations, accountability, and operational efficiency. Interim Chief Cook reviewed tools used by patrol operations, including Taser 10 systems, body-worn cameras, in-car camera systems, digital evidence management platforms, interview room recording systems, real-time crime center technology, community evidence submission tools, virtual reality training systems, AI-assisted report writing software, and automatic license plate reader technology. He the while remains functionality inactive plate license that noted reader department works to ensure compliance with state law and policy requirements. The presentation also included discussion of drone operations, crime scene scanning for used systems software tools, forensic digital technology, and accreditation, policy management, training, scheduling, and personnel that have deployments reported drone Chief Cook Interim accountability. improved situational awareness, reduced the need for some officer responses, and enhanced investigative capabilities. Council of life useful the needs, future on focused discussion technology equipment, artificial intelligence applications, compliance requirements for license plate reader technology, privacy protections, immigration-related concerns, public safety benefits, and the importance of balancing technological capabilities with individual liberties and constitutional protections. Interim Chief Cook stated that the Police Department does not use technology to enforce immigration laws and emphasized responsible and lawful use of all department technologies. Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. Revision to Water Rights for Irrigation Purposes Presentation Ms. Sigdel presented proposed revisions to the City’s water rights dedication requirements for commercial and industrial development. Staff explained that the current methodology is based on residential development assumptions and may not commercial and industrial on reflect irrigation actual accurately needs properties. Staff proposed transitioning to a site-plan-based approach that would calculate water rights dedication based on actual irrigated areas rather than applying a standard formula. The proposal would require irrigation metering, deed restrictions or similar agreements, and compliance mechanisms intended to support water conservation while reducing barriers to economic development. Additional reductions could be considered for certified xeriscape properties. Page 3 of 6 Staff discussed the benefits of the proposal, including improved fairness, economic development opportunities, and water conservation. Challenges identified included long-term monitoring, enforcement responsibilities, and the administrative resources necessary to ensure compliance. Staff recommended establishing both proposed tracks, requiring deed restrictions, irrigation metering, and future compliance triggers, and requested Council direction before returning with ordinance amendments. Council discussion focused on balancing predictability for developers with requirements, metering feasibility the of usage water accurate calculations, alternative approaches based on irrigated area, and methods for ensuring long- term compliance. Several councilmembers expressed support for a site-plan- based approach and further refinement of compliance mechanisms before formal adoption. Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. Resolution - Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 4 with RH2 Engineering, Inc. for Design Services for the Process Water Reuse Facility Phase 4 Irrigation System Farm Upgrades Project RH2 with agreement City's the amendment an presented Serra Ms. to Engineering for construction administration and inspection services related to the Process Water Reuse Facility Phase 4 Irrigation System Farm Upgrades Project. Staff than and anticipated longer has extended construction that explained additional engineering support is needed to review submittals, coordinate technical provide and orders, change evaluate requirements, permitting assistance during construction. The proposed amendment would increase the contract financial City's the discussed Council $54,300. approximately by challenges associated with the Process Water Reuse Facility and the importance of ensuring adequate project oversight during construction. Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. Resolution - Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 6 with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for Butterfield Water Treatment Plant Improvements Ms. Serra presented an amendment to the City's agreement with Jacobs Engineering to complete design and pilot testing services associated with the next phase of improvements at the Butterfield Water Treatment Plant. Staff explained that the project includes electrical upgrades, intake facility improvements, and testing of treatment technologies to ensure compatibility with Columbia River water prior to full implementation. The amendment would fund final design and engineering services necessary to advance the approximately $15 million project toward bidding and construction. Council received the presentation and no public comment was provided. Page 4 of 6 Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. Resolution - Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 9 with RH2 Engineering, Inc. for Design Services for the Process Water Reuse Facility Phase 2 Project Ms. Serra presented an amendment to the RH2 Engineering contract for continued inspection and technical support on the Process Water Reuse Facility Phase 2 Project. Staff reported that newly installed infrastructure has shown signs of corrosion and additional engineering analysis is needed to identify the cause and may costs that noted be recommendations. corrective develop Staff recoverable if the corrosion is determined to be related to prior disinfection activities. The proposed amendment would increase the contract by approximately $74,890 and provide support through project completion. Mayor Grimm called for public comments three (3) times and no one came forward to speak. MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION Mr. Stewart reported on the successful Memorial Day ceremony, which was attended by approximately 150 people and included the placement of 977 flags. He also provided attendance figures for the opening weekend of the Memorial Aquatic Center and announced upcoming events, including a Fire Department academy graduation and Police Department community meetings. Councilmember Perales raised concerns regarding accessibility ramps located within the public right-of-way and shared constituent concerns related to code enforcement actions. He indicated he would continue discussions with staff regarding potential policy considerations. Councilmember Perales also discussed reports that Franklin County may consider withdrawing from the Benton-Franklin Health District. He expressed concern regarding potential impacts to public health services, food vendor permitting, and regional partnerships, and requested that the City engage in discussions with County officials regarding the proposal. Councilmembers discussed the importance of regional collaboration and receiving additional information from Franklin County regarding the potential Health District separation. Staff reported that previous attempts to schedule discussions with County officials had not been successful and recommended that Council consider sending a formal letter requesting participation in future discussions. Council expressed support for drafting a letter and continuing efforts to engage County leadership on matters that may significantly impact Pasco residents. Council also discussed prioritizing future joint meetings with regional partner agencies and supported moving forward with a joint meeting with the Pasco Chamber of Commerce. Page 5 of 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. PASSED and APPROVED on _______________________. APPROVED: ATTEST: Charles Grimm, Mayor Krystle Shanks, Deputy City Clerk Page 6 of 6 June 15, 2026