HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.03.16 Council MinutesMINUTES
REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL MARCH 16, 2020
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Saul Martinez, Mayor.
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers present: Ruben Alvarado, Blanche Barajas, Craig Maloney,
Saul Martinez, David Milne, Zahra Roach (by telephone), and Pete Serrano.
Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager; Colleen Chapin, Human Resources
Director; Eric Ferguson, City Attorney; Bob Gear, Fire Chief; Zach Ratkai,
Administrative & Community Services Director; Ken Roske, Police Chief;
Richa Sigdel, Finance Director; Rick White, Community & Economic
Development Director; Steve Worley, Public Works Director; and Debby
Barham, City Clerk.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of Meeting Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Pasco City Council Meeting held on March 2,
2020 and Workshop held on March 9, 2020.
Bills and Communications
To approve claims in the total amount of $3,738,696.17 ($2,550,425.14 in
Check Nos. 234416-234709; $384,428.54 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 827710,
827800-827806; $30,432.57 in Check Nos. 53219-53242; $773,409.92 in
Electronic Transfer Nos. 30145039-30145545).
To approve bad debt write-off for Utility Billing, Ambulance, Cemetery,
General Accounts, Miscellaneous Accounts, and Municipal Court (non-
criminal, criminal, and parking) accounts receivable in the total amount of
$194,254.72 and, of that amount, authorize $98,274.55 to be turned over for
collection.
Arts & Culture Commission Appointments
To appoint the following individuals to the City of Pasco's Arts & Culture
Commission as to the positions indicated below:
Community Member:
Position No. 1: Eleanor Neff (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2022)
Position No. 2: Ana Armijo (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2024)
Art Professional:
Position No. 3: Nisha McSwane-Franco (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2022)
Position No. 4: Emma Barnes (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2024)
Position No. 5: Rebecca Merkley-Omeje (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2024)
Artist:
Position No. 6: Saul Martinez (Term 1/1/2020 to 1/1/2022)
Youth Representative:
Position No. 7: Calumet Kubalek (Term 1/ 1 /2020 to 1/ 1 /2022)
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL MARCH 16, 2020
Contract Amendments to Fire Capital Projects
To approve Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 1 with TCA
Architecture and, further, authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
To approve Professional Services Agreement Amendment No. 2 with TCA
Architecture and, further, authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve the Consent Agenda as
read. Mr. Maloney seconded. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote.
PROCLAMATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Census Day Proclamation
Mayor Martinez read a Proclamation for Census Day to Senior Census
Education Coordinator Sarah MacPherson. Ms. MacPherson provided the
timeline for the Census 2020, various methods available for community
members to complete the Census and explained the importance of it and how it
will help with future funding of key programs and projects within Pasco and the
Greater Columbia Basin region.
VISITORS - OTHER THAN AGENDA ITEMS:
Stephen Bowman, Franklin County resident, offered a prayer to Council, Mayor
Martinez and City Manager Zabell to help them during this time of emergency
caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr. Funfar, Communications Manager for Pasco, announced that for those
individuals watching the Council meeting online have the opportunity to submit
comments and/or questions via Facebook or they may email the City Manager
directly and responses will be provided at a later date.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS:
Verbal Reports from Councilmembers
Mr. Milne commented on the business roundtable meeting he attended on
March 12 and was excited about the exchange of information and looked
forward to speaking with Council about it when they hold their retreat.
COVID 19 Response[Update
Mr. Zabell, Chief Gear, Mr. Ferguson and Benton Franklin Health District
representatives Rick Dawson and Rick Edwards spoke to Council, as well as
the Pasco residents about the COVID-19 emergency, steps that both the City of
Pasco and the Health District are taking to ensure the continued services and
safety of the community members are met. The following topics were covered
during the presentation and discussion with Council:
• Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government
(COG) Plan status
• Overview of emergency powers
• Legislative preparedness and actions
• Review of the Washington State Governor Inslee's proclamations and
impacts to the City
• Contemplated, potential or imminent Council action needed
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL MARCH 16, 2020
Chief Gear discussed the proposed COOP/COG, after he distributed a draft of it
to Council for their review.
Mr. Ferguson spoke about the local emergency powers under Pasco Municipal
Code (PMC) Chapter 2.55, the proposed Administrative Order for allowing the
City an option for its staff to work remotely, the possibility of canceling or
scheduling special public meetings, emergency proclamations and updates from
Governor Inslee.
Mr. Zabell spoke about the current COOP structure and its policy group, legal
review, communications, the Operations and Facilities Branches of the COOP
including the designated leaders and their backups. Mr. Zabell also spoke about
the Information Systems (IS) Task Force, Human Resources policies associated
with COVID-19 testing, temporary lodging when needed, and the emergency
proclamation previously scheduled for the March 23 meeting was moved up for
immediate ratification. Mr. Zabell stated that the adoption of COOP/COG was
scheduled for next week's Special Council Meeting. Many City and community
events such as Cinco de Mayo may have to be cancelled or postponed. Remote
participation in Council Meetings has already started with Ms. Roach
participating by telephone. Lastly, Mr. Zabell commented that Council may
have to consider postponing their biennial retreat and he alerted Council that
there will likely be budget considerations related to this extraordinary event.
RECESS:
Mayor Martinez declared a ten (10) minute recess at 8:19 PM. The meeting
reconvened at 8:30 PM.
HEARINGS AND COUNCIL ACTION ON ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
RELATING THERETO:
Street Vacation: Vacating Portions of Streets and Alleys in Washington
Addition (MF# VAC2019-007)
Mr. White explained the purpose of continuing the public hearing scheduled for
tonight's meeting to June 1, 2020.
CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to continue the public hearing set in
accordance with Resolution No. 3941, to June 1, 2020, at 7:00 PM, concerning
the vacation of roads and alleys within the plat of Washington Addition. Mr.
Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATING TO HEARINGS:
Donation Policy for Acceptance of Community Donations
Ms. Sigdel explained the need for the City to have a more formal process
through the adoption of an ordinance then accepting donations from the
community for any public purpose.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to adopt Ordinance No. 4486,
authorizing acceptance of donations made to the City of Pasco for any public
purpose, and further, authorize publication by summary only. Mr. Milne
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL MARCH 16, 2020
*Resolution Ratifying an Emergency Proclamation
Mr. Maloney recommended a subcommittee of Councilmembers to work with
senior staff during this emergency.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding the duties and responsibilities, as
well as the roles and communication between and among staff and Council
during the COVID-19 emergency.
Mayor Martinez recommended that Council wait for another week before
making any decisions about creating a Council subcommittee.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 3946,
approving the ratification of the emergency proclamation signed by Mayor
Martinez on March 16, 2020, proclaiming a civic emergency within the City of
Pasco, Washington as a result of the spread of COVID-19 in Benton and
Franklin Counties. Mr. Alvarado seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
*Remote Meeting Participation Policy
Mr. Ferguson briefly discussed the purpose of the proposed Remote Meeting
Policy to ensure that the business of the City continues during times when a
state of emergency is declared or when other extenuating circumstances occur.
Mayor Martinez expressed support for the proposed policy.
Mr. Maloney questioned the mechanism about entering into Executive Session
remotely.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 3944,
creating a policy for Council and its Boards & Commissions to meet remotely
under certain conditions. Mr. Maloney seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
*Alley Vacation: Vacating East/West Alley in Plat of Sunny Acres (MF#
VAC2020-001)
Mr. White explained that this action will set the hearing for this proposed
vacation.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 3945,
setting 7:00 P.M., Monday, May 4, 2020 as the time and date to conduct a
public hearing to consider vacating the east to west alley of Block 1, Sunny
Acres. Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
*Bid Award GESA Stadium Batting Cages
Mr. Ratkai announced the bids for the Gesa Stadium batting cages project were
opened March 11, 2020 and the low bid was provided by AllStar Construction
Group, LLC.
Council and staff discussed whether this was the appropriate time to move
forward on this project and if the funding earmarked for this project could be
used to help offset expenses incurred from the current state of emergency.
Council recommended postponing this action for two weeks to allow time for
staff to determine if any of the funds set for the project may be used for other
immediate needs.
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL
MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION:
MARCH 16, 2020
Ms. Roach commented on the Ben Franklin Transit meeting she attended
recently. She also commented on a special Pasco School District meeting she
attended on Friday, March 13, 2020.
Mr. Maloney commented about the many community events that are being
cancelled due to the COVID-19 emergency and he encouraged all citizens to
support the community's non profit organizations, as well as the community's
small businesses.
Mayor Martinez announced that Washington State Small Business Association
will be offering disaster relief to business as a result of the COVID-19
emergency.
Ms. Roach stated that her husband started a Facebook page called, "Flatten the
Curve," to assist community members in need during this extraordinary time
with the message of, "put your health first."
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 9:16 PM.
APPROVED:
Saul Martinez, Mayor
ATTEST:
3tle-�7 4-- -
Debra Barham, City Clerk
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