HomeMy WebLinkAbout3389 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2 %9
A RESOLUTION establishing primary goals of the City of Pasco for the
ensuing calendar years 2012-2013.
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco organization desires to focus the allocation of its
resources toward primary goals selected to fulfill the vision of Pasco's future, as held by its
elected representatives; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted Community Forums on February 7 and 9 to
elicit the concerns of residents about the present condition of the City, as well as thoughts and
suggestions for Pasco's future and, on March 6, the Pasco Chamber of Commerce conducted a
forum for business owners to identify issues; and
WHEREAS, the City managerial staff has shared with the City Council its concerns for
the present as well as visions for the future of the Pasco community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council conducted a goal setting retreat on Saturday, March 31,
2012 to discuss all the various concerns for the present as well as visions for the future;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON,DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the following goals shall be considered primary goals for the City of
Pasco for the ensuing two years (calendar years 2012 and 2013):
• DNR: the Department of Natural Resources controls the western half of the property
adjacent to the City's busiest freeway interchange — I-182 and Road 68 — and gateway to the
center of commercial activity in Pasco. As DNR's experience/focus is largely on rural
property, it is ill-equipped to manage property within an urbanizing area. While limited
commercial development has been established in the quadrant north of I-182, the property
lease required by DNR effectively discourages retail developers, indirectly harming the
Pasco community. Continued DNR control of the property (and its use for farming) at this
high traffic interchange neither benefits the state nor allows the City the advantage of
urbanization (highest and best use) of the property in this area and conflicts with objectives
of the state's Growth Management Act. To address this issue, the City will endeavor to
initiate urban infill development of the DNR property at the Road 68 interchange.
• Industrial Development: the Pasco community relies on one of the lower "per capita"
assessed values (total taxable property value divided by total population) in the state. The
City needs to foster more industrial investment to increase the non-residential tax base and,
in turn, improve the ability of local public agencies to deliver needed services. The City has
worked diligently with its partners (Port, PUD, County, etc.) to create "development ready"
industrial sites, particularly the Heritage Industrial Center, Foster Wells area and along the
SR12 corridor. The City will continue to partner with the Port, TRIDEC and others to
focus on the development of "professional wage" jobs and to actively market the
particular development opportunities offered by those industrial areas.
• Lewis Street Overpass: the existing underpass (now 75 years old) continues to show signs
of deterioration, posing an eventual threat to public safety as well as potential harm to the
BNRR system which has mainline tracks over it. The City has secured most of the necessary
right-of-way and has completed final design, thus making the project "shovel ready" but
cannot afford to finance construction of the project. Thus, the City will work to obtain state
and federal funding commitments for at least 85% of the estimated $27 million project
construction cost.
• Road 68 Congestion: the extent and nature of urban growth on the plateau, combined with
the limitations imposed by the current configuration of the Road 68 interchange at I-182,
have led to a pattern of intolerable congestion at the intersection of Road 68 and Burden
Blvd. Though the City has made numerous improvements, and has plans to make additional
improvements, the most promising solutions require modification to the I-182 freeway and
are, therefore, subject to approval of WSDOT and FHWA. The City will obtain necessary
approvals for at least one major impact project in addition to implementation of the
recommendations of the Road 68 corridor study.
• TRAC Conversion to Regional Aquatic Center: the TRAC facility has served the
community for nearly 20 years. While the facility itself is nearly paid for and has provided a
quality venue for a number of events in the region, significant ongoing operational losses and
the prospect of significant future maintenance and upgrade costs cannot be ignored. With the
approaching expiration of the City's agreement with Franklin County to share the expenses
of the TRAC, re-purposing of the facility as a regional aquatics facility provides a win-win
opportunity to enhance the established sports and recreation complex surrounding the facility
and reduce, if not avoid, continued financial subsidy of the facility. To that end, the City will
foster an agreement with Franklin County and the Pasco Public Facilities District to
allow the project to be considered by the Regional Public Facilities District.
• Emergency Communications: for more than 30 years, the City has relied on the Franklin
County Sheriff for emergency communication services (police and fire). Operational and
technological constraints along with growth of the City represent an increasingly ineffective
emergency system. Regionalization of call processing and dispatch services has been
evaluated and promises to be the most cost effective and reliable way to assure future
emergency communication services for the public as well as emergency responders. To that
end, the City Council will diligently work to fulfill the regional emergency
communications recommendations.
• Gang Prevention/Suppression: Pasco has managed its gang problem relatively well, but the
problem requires constant vigilance. The growth of gang activities in the region could lead
to escalation of criminal and nuisance activities in Pasco. In addition to the deployment of a
new street crimes police unit, the City will encourage gang prevention programs by
assisting the provision of program facilities while improving the effect of its graffiti
abatement program.
Primary Goals—2012-2013
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• Oregon Avenue: Oregon Avenue is a major arterial serving a primary industrial area of the
City. Recent efforts with WSDOT have produced an agreement on concepts for development
of the roadway to more adequately accommodate traffic and better serve adjacent property
which is intended to encourage more private investment in that vicinity. To that end, the City
will complete Phase 1 of the Oregon Avenue Improvement Plan.
• Downtown: as have many older urban centers, the downtown business district continues to
struggle in its effort to revitalize itself. The formation of the Downtown Pasco Development
Authority in 2011 and the recent appointment of an executive director for the organization
accomplishes an important first step toward revitalization. To further encourage downtown
improvement efforts, the City will complete a downtown street plan (anticipating the
construction of the Lewis Street Overpass) and assist the Downtown Pasco
Development Authority with its building facade program and revitalization plans.
• Police Station: the explosion of residential growth in the City over the past decade has led to
a corresponding increase in City staff necessary to sustain and improve municipal services.
The Police Department has outgrown available space at the civic center which is at capacity
for virtually all departments. Voter approval of a sales tax for public safety purposes in 2011
provides the City with a funding source which should allow the issuance of bonds for the
construction of a new police station. To that end, the City will prepare design and
financing plans for construction of a police station in 2015.
• Waterfront Plan: over the past decade, the City has made notable improvements along the
Columbia River shoreline. Both the City and the Port of Pasco control a significant amount
of shoreline property east of the Cable Bridge. Given the unique opportunity to develop the
area as an economic and recreational asset, the City will work in partnership with the Port
of Pasco to develop and implement a common plan for redevelopment of the waterfront
area between the Cable Bridge and Osprey Point.
• Code Enforcement: Pasco citizens' satisfaction levels with code enforcement and animal
control services appear to have declined over the past several years. Quality programs,
which effectively deal with perceived problems, should appeal to most citizens. The City
will evaluate the objectives and effectiveness of its code enforcement and animal control
programs.
• Water Use: while, over the last few years, the City has been able to clarify the picture on its
water rights and is relatively assured of adequate water rights to accommodate its growth
projections, there is no longer an abundance of low cost water available to cities. In this
"new era" water must be utilized much more carefully and purposefully. In order to promote
the wisest use of its water resources, the City will develop an action plan to ensure
optimum utilization of limited water resources.
Primary Goals—2012-2013
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• Neighborhood Revitalization: residential areas in the central portion of the City include
many homes approaching 60-75 years of age. Designed for a different age, the
neighborhoods often lack adequate off-street parking and experience higher population
densities while they are frequently characterized by planting strips with large (and often
problematic) shade trees. To address these issues, the City will undertake an effort to
develop and implement a neighborhood revitalization plan for the area east of 10th
Avenue and west of the BNRR mainline.
• Historic Preservation: the City has a unique history and has acknowledged the importance
of preserving artifacts of historical significance by establishing a Historic Preservation
Commission. A variety of concepts have been suggested to highlight historical elements of
the community. In order to best evaluate what future action plans may be most desirable, the
City will assist the Historic Preservation Commission with the development of a Historic
Preservation Plan for the City.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed and authorized to formulate appropriate
implementation strategies to achieve the goals set forth hereinabove, consistent with
appropriation policies and procedures.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco at a regular meeting this He day of
April, 2012.
Matt Watkins, Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Clark Leland B. Kerr
City Clerk City Attorney
Primary Goals—2012-2013
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