HomeMy WebLinkAbout2944 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. Z TI 4.
A RESOLUTION establishing primary goals of the City of Pasco for the ensuing
calendar years 2006-2007.
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 23, 2006 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 25, 2006
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 RESOL VE 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 2006 and 2007);
■ State Infrastructure: the Pasco community is bisected by the state highway system (SR-395 and
I-182). Although both highways are assets to the community, they also can present functional
challenges. The city will work with its legislative representatives to obtain the financial
assistance necessary to accomplish the following improvements to the state's highway system:
o Pasco has designed (at city expense) and obtained WSDOT's approval for a pedestrian
overpass of SR-395 at Court Street and the city has pledged partial funding to its
construction; the balance of construction costs needed to accomplish this project should
be provided by the State of Washington as soon as possible to fulfill its responsibility to
eliminate a hazardous condition for pedestrians and bicyclists.
o Working through the offices of US Congressman Doc Hastings, Pasco has been awarded
a direct allocation of$1.6 million toward capacity improvements to the Broadmoor Blvd.
interchange and the city has paid WSDOT with local funds to design the project; the
balance of construction costs needed to accomplish this project should be provided by the
State of Washington as soon as possible to alleviate current and growing congestion
hazards at the interchange.
■ 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 particularly on the school district, 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. In
particular,the city will focus effort in the following areas:
• Sacajawea Industrial Park: approximately 600 acres of land lying south of East "A"
Street is classified for industrial use. The city will work with other entities, particularly
the Port and Burlington Northern railroad, to create a new truck route connecting this
industrial area with the East Lewis interchange at SR 12 and to install rail improvements
so as to assure availability of rail service to future industries.
• Broadmoor Interchange: in view of its geographic setting in the region and its ease of
access afforded by the adjacent I-182 freeway,the vacant and underutilized lands north of
the Broadmoor interchange present great potential for regional scale development,
particularly for technology-related investments. The city will define and market a
development plan reflecting an investment vision common to the city and affected
property owners.
• Foster Wells Area: approximately 400 acres of land lying east of SR-395 between
Hillsboro and Foster Wells is served by a new interchange and zoned for industrial use.
The city will collaborate with other entities, particularly grant agencies and affected
property owners, to extend Commercial Avenue and associated utilities north to Foster
Wells Road,thus fostering industrial investment in the affected lands.
■ Chiawana Park: Franklin County has terminated its lease of Chiawana Park, a facility owned by
the federal government and managed by the US Corps of Engineers. The Corps has indicated it
will not open the park to the public, but many Pasco and Franklin County citizens want to see it
open for public use. The estimated annual cost for operating the park exceeds $150,000 per year;
however,the city's recurring revenue stream cannot absorb the additional expense. The city will
strive to determine an appropriate means of making the park available for public use without
harming its ability to sustain existing municipal service levels.
■ Sewer Extension Program: the city contains many small areas (older residential neighborhoods
as well as those recently annexed) which do not have municipal sewer service available and
which have substandard and/or deteriorating neighborhood streets. In order to make sewer
service available in a cost-effective way and to address the need for street improvements in a
timely and cost-effective manner, the city will implement a sewer extension program whereby
the municipal sewer system is extended to un-served portions of the city and affected streets
improved, providing for recovery of the cost over time as adjacent properties choose to connect
to the sewer system.
Primary Goals—2006-2007
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• Lewis Street Overpass: the underpass (now 70 years old) is showing signs of deterioration,
posing an eventual threat to public safety as well as potential harm to the BNRR system
extending over it. A replacement overpass has been planned, representing not only a solution to
the public safety and railroad integrity concerns, but a significant positive influence for
downtown revitalization. As Lewis Street is a "local" street but the overpass project cost ($15
million) is well beyond its capability to finance locally, the city will work diligently to obtain
federal and state assistance to construct the overpass as soon as is practicable.
• Aquatic Facilities Action Plan: the three swimming pools owned and operated by the city are in
need of complete renovation or replacement, either of which is expensive. Within the next two
years, the city intends to develop and adopt an aquatic recreation action plan which will define
what to do with the existing pools and how best to fulfill the aquatic facilities needs of Pasco's
citizens.
• Communication Program: the Council has recently determined to broadcast various public
meetings (Council, Planning Commission, Code Enforcement Board, etc.) via cable TV. The
city's franchise agreement with Charter Communications provides for a "government access
channel" (#12) which can be dedicated to delivery of a broad range of governmental information
for the benefit of Pasco citizens, in addition to broadcasting public meetings. The city will
expand its traditional communication program to include full utilization of the government access
channel,providing pertinent local government information to Pasco citizens.
• Internet Access Center: the computer and high-speed internet have become the principal
activity engagement at the Pasco Library, particularly for neighborhood youth. As many Pasco
households do not possess a computer or high-speed internet access, associated educational and
recreational opportunities for neighborhood youth in this arena are limited. The city will develop
and implement, as a pilot project, an"internet access center" in the East Pasco neighborhood and
evaluate its effectiveness for possible replication in other neighborhoods of the city.
• Rivershore Trail: the Sacajawea Heritage Trail, a 22 mile pedestrian/bike trail along the
Columbia River offers a unique recreational experience for citizens of Pasco as well as
Kennewick and Richland; however, one link in Pasco remains unfinished. The city will complete
its portion of the regional trail, thereby linking Sacajawea State Park and Chiawana Park via the
trail.
• City Website: the internet has become a primary means for communication for business,
citizens, and government alike. An organization's website is now often its image to others,
particularly those otherwise unfamiliar with the organization. The information shared via the
website can be not only a convenient resource for citizens, it can influence economic
development efforts as well. To those ends, the city will redesign its website to reflect a
contemporary style and take advantage of"portal"technologies.
• Downtown Revitalization: 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.
Primary Goals—2006-2007
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• Municipal Center Space Needs: the extraordinary growth of the Pasco community over the past
decade has far surpassed original projections, thereby causing commensurate growth in city
employment and associated workspace requirements. The city will develop a contemporary
analysis of the work space needed to efficiently and effectively accommodate the projected
growth of municipal service functions and associated employees over the next 20 years.
• "Regional Centers" Plan: each of the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland and Pasco) has created
its own Public Facilities District(which are authorized to develop and operate"regional centers,"
such as convention centers, stadiums, performing arts centers, aquatic centers, etc.); however,
none of the PFDs possesses the financial capacity to individually finance the kind of regional
facilities which represent substantial impacts to the quality of life within the region. It is the
express intent that Pasco work collaboratively with its neighboring cities to jointly plan for
development of"regional centers"through the existing PFDs.
• Neighborhood Improvement Action Program: many older Pasco neighborhoods show signs of
aging, in the form of deteriorating infrastructure and, in some cases, substandard streets and
significant gaps in the sidewalk system. These physical conditions tend to have a deleterious
effect on the quality of life in that neighborhood and can adversely affect associated property
values. Working with individual neighborhoods to define appropriate improvements, the city
will foster code compliance and improvement of neighborhood infrastructure while minimizing
impact on low-income households.
• Bikeway Policy: the city contains two primary (separated) bicycle pathways, both on an
east/west axis (the Rivershore Trail and the I-182 bike path); however, there are no separated
bike paths on a north/south axis to connect the two east/west routes. Additionally, growing
vehicular traffic presents increasing difficulty for bicyclists throughout the community. To
assure adequate and appropriate accommodations for bicyclists, the city will adopt a definitive
policy to express where, how and to the extent to which the city will provide for bicycle use on
public ways.
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 3rd day of April
2006.
CITY OF PASCO:
<LV-(-4
Joyce,! oVVayor
ATTEST:
TSandy Ken rthy Leland B. Kerr
Deputy City Clerk City Attorney
Primary Goals—2006-2007
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