HomeMy WebLinkAbout2812 Resolution RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING PRIMARY GOALS OF THE CITY OF PASCO
FOR THE ENSUING CALENDAR YEARS 2004-2005.
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 a Community Forum on February 26, 2004 to
elicit the concerns of residents about the present condition of the city, as well as thoughts and
suggestions for Pasco's future; 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 13,
2004 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 2004 and 2005);
• BROADMOORINTERCHANGE:
In view of its geographic setting, the vacant and underutilized lands in the vicinity of the
Broadmoor (Road 100) I-182 Interchange represent a great potential for regional scale
development. The city will employ an experienced consultant to help define the best land
use options for that area, providing the city and affected property owners a common picture
of that potential.
• INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT:
The Pasco community and its school district rely on one of the lowest "per capita" assessed
value (total taxable property value) in the state. The recent surge in residential growth has
increased demands on the school district in particular without a correspondingly sufficient
increase in property tax base. The city will work with the Port and other entities to foster
more industrial development (rather than residential), thus increasing the non-residential tax
base and, in turn, expanding the school district's financial capacity.
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
While Pasco's overall crime rate has declined dramatically over the past decade (it is now
well below the state average), domestic violence has reflected an increase over the past
several years and the community has experienced some notable domestic homicides. Nearly
1600 domestic disturbance calls (one of the most dangerous for police officers) were handled
last year alone, representing an average of four every day of the year (and nearly one-third of
those calls resulted in arrest). The city will define an action plan to markedly reduce the rate
of domestic violence in Pasco.
I
• WATER MANAGEMENT:
After several years of concerted effort with our neighbors,the city was rewarded with a grant
of additional water rights from the state, which is expected to accommodate the community's
growth for decades to come. With the permit, however, comes the obligation to be good
stewards of that precious resource; consequently, the city will develop and implement a
comprehensive plan to manage its water resources.
• INTERNET SERVICES:
The ability to offer municipal services electronically continues to mature, as the internet
increasingly becomes part of our daily lives. To take advantage of the opportunity to both
save dollars and increase convenience to our citizens, the city will establish interactive
electronic (internet-based) service capability (such as licenses, registrations, document
retrieval,etc.).
• AQUATIC FACILITIES:
The three swimming pools owned and operated by the city are in need of complete
renovation or replacement, either of which is expense. Yet there is an on-going regional
effort to determine the feasibility of a regional indoor aquatic facility. Within the next two
years the city intends to adopt an aquatic recreation action plan which will define what to do
with the existing pools and what Pasco's role should be (if any)in a regional aquatic center.
• RIVERSHORI;ENHANCEMENT:
After years of negotiation with the US Army Corps of Engineers,the city is prepared to lease
the levee between the Blue and Cable Bridges. Within the next two years,the city will lower
that levee by six feet (to coincide with the levee immediately west of the Blue Bridge),
extend the bike/pedestrian path to the Cable Bridge and enhance the public lands along the
levee for recreation use.
• PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT:
The Public Facilities District (PFD) created by the city in 2002 has already affected its
relationship with the Kennewick PFD by assisting in the development of the Three-Rivers
Convention Center. The Pasco PFD may be able to assist in the expansion and/or operation
of one or more major community facilities in Pasco (like TRAC or the baseball stadium) or
development of a new facility (like an aquatic center). It is the intent of the city that it
collaborate with the Pasco PFD to develop a comprehensive "regional facilities"plan.
• MEDIA CAMPAIGN:
In the rush of daily life, most citizens do not have the time to research the use of city
resources; yet a better informed citizenry is essential to good public decisions. It is the intent
of the city that it use a variety of media to better inform Pasco citizens how the portion of
their tax dollars collected by the city are being used in the community.
• IRRIGATION:
To promote use of ground water for lawn irrigation (and thereby reduce future reliance on
treated river water), the city acquired a private irrigation system on the plateau. It is the
city's intent to expand the irrigation system to serve as much of the plateau as possible. To
guide that objective, the city will develop a comprehensive irrigation management and
capital improvement plan for the plateau.
• NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT:
Several small neighborhoods, particularly in the center of the city, contain pockets of decay
in the form of substandard structures, declining property values and a general trend toward
disinvestment. Within the next two years, the city will implement a planning and financial
assistance program within one of the neighborhoods aimed at increasing homeownership and
improving substandard housing conditions as well as public improvements and reinvigorating
neighborhood vitality. The successes of the initial effort will be used as a template for other
similar neighborhoods in ensuing years.
• DOWNTOWN:
As many older urban centers have, the downtown business district continues to struggle in its
revitalization effort. The city will continue to work collaboratively with downtown business
interests to generate the necessary consensus and support for continued (and enhanced)
downtown revitalization.
• LEWIS STREET UNDERPASS:
The underpass (now nearly 70 years old) continues to age and a replacement overpass
structure has been planned to compliment downtown revitalization. The price tag of this
project, however, is such that it will require both state and federal assistance; yet, it is a
"local" street, which does not qualify for existing grant programs. It is the intent of the city
to define an appropriate funding strategy to finance construction of the new overpass.
• LINEAR PARK:
The Franklin County Irrigation District (FCID) irrigation canal, which extends from Road 36
westerly to about Road 108 is expected to be enclosed in pipe over the next several years.
Once the canal is enclosed, the FCID canal right-of-way (nearly five miles long) represents a
unique opportunity for the community to develop and enjoy a linear park and trail; it is the
intent of the city to investigate the feasibility of such a project.
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 5th day of
April 2004.
CITY OF PASCO-
gzr
r
ichael L. Gar ison, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sandy Ke rthy Leland B. Kerr
Deputy City Clerk City Attorney