HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.04.06 Council MinutesREMOTE REGULAR MINUTES
MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL APRIL 6, 2020
REMOTE MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:
To best comply with Governor Inslee's Emergency Proclamation 20-28
regarding the Open Public Meetings Act, the City asked those members of the
public that would like to comment regarding items on the agenda to fill out a
form via the City's website at (www.pasco-wa.mov/publiccommen ). Requests
to comment in meetings must have been received by 4:00 p.m. on the day of
each meeting. Staff received zero (0) requests to speak during the meeting.
The public was also invited to attend the Pasco City Council Regular Meeting
in "listen only" mode register at
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Saul Martinez, Mayor.
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers present: Ruben Alvarado (virtual), Blanche Barajas(virtual) ,
Craig Maloney (virtual), Saul Martinez (in-person), David Milne (virtual),
Zahra Roach (virtual), and Pete Serrano (virtual).
Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager (in-person); Eric Ferguson, City
Attorney (virtual); Bob Gear, Fire Chief (virtual); Zach Ratkai, Administrative
& Community Services Director (in-person); Ken Roske, Police Chief (virtual);
Richa Sigdel, Finance Director (virtual); Rick White, Community & Economic
Development Director (virtual); Steve Worley, Public Works Director (virtual);
and Debby Barham, City Clerk (in-person).
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEW BUSINESS:
*Resolutions - Ratify Emergency Orders Related to COVID-19
Mr. Zabell explained that Emergency Order (EO) No. 2020-005 went into
effect on March 30 and after further analysis, the EO was amended to EO No.
2020-005.1 for Council's ratification. Mr. Zabell also noted that EO No.
2020.006 relates to temporary changes when conducting public meetings.
Council and Mr. Zabell further discussed the employee leave policies.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 3952,
ratifying Emergency Order No. 2020-005.1, relating to temporary change in
leave policies. Mr. Alvarado seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 3953,
ratifying Emergency Order No. 2020-006, relating to temporary change in
conducting public meetings. Ms. Roach seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
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REMOTE REGULAR MINUTES
MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL APRIL 6, 2020
CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of Meeting Minutes
To approve the minutes of the Pasco City Council Meeting held on March 16,
2020, as well as the Special Meeting and Workshop held on March 23, 2020.
Bills and Communications
To approve claims in the total amount of $4,746,226.07 ($2,420,851.51 in
Check Nos. 234710-235114; $686,473.94 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 827551-
827616, 827721-827792, 827807-827904, 827918-828001, 828003-828019,
828067-828071; $39,365.74 in Check Nos. 53243-53282; $1,599,534.88 in
Electronic Transfer Nos. 30145546-30146569).
Tourism Promotion Area Reserve Fund Request
To approve the 2020 Special Project Expenditures for the Tourism Promotion
Area in the amount of $417,700 to be funded from the TPA Reserve Balance.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve the Consent Agenda as
read. Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously by Roll Call vote.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS:
General Fund Monthly Report - February 2020
Ms. Sigdel stated that the General Fund is on track at this time.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATING TO HEARINGS:
Issuance of 2020 Revenue Bond and Refunding of Previous Bonds
Ms. Sigdel stated that this item was discussed at the March 23, 2020 workshop
and there was not additional information to add to this item.
Council and staff held a question and answer period regarding the issuance of
the proposed waterworks utility bond.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to adopt Ordinance No.4487,
relating to the waterworks utility of the City; specifying, adopting and ordering
the carrying out of a system or plan of additions to and betterments and
extensions of the waterworks utility; providing for the issuance, sale and
delivery of not to exceed $25,500,000 aggregate principal amount of water and
sewer improvement and refunding revenue bonds to provide funds to (a) pay or
reimburse all or a portion of the costs of carrying out the plan of additions, (b)
refund and redeem outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds of the City, (c)
make a deposit to the debt service reserve account, as needed, and (d) pay the
costs of issuance and sale of the bonds and the administrative costs of the
refunding; fixing or setting parameters with respect to certain terms and
covenants of the bonds; appointing the City's designated representative to
approve the final terms of the sale of the bonds; and providing for related
matters and, further, authorize publication by summary only. Ms. Roach
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
SG Land Management LLC/Harris Road Annexation (MF# ANX 2020-
001)
Mr. White provided a brief overview the proposed public meeting for an
annexation received by petition and answered questions posed by Ms. Roach.
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REMOTE REGULAR MINUTES
MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL APRIL 6, 2020
Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved adopt Resolution No. 3954, setting
7:00 PM, May 4, 2020 as the time and date for a public meeting to consider the
Notice of Intent to annex property located near the corner of West Court Street
and Harris Road. Mr. Milne seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Bid Award GESA Stadium Batting Cages
Mr. Ratkai provided a brief report answering Council's questions regarding the
use of the funding earmarked for the Gesa Stadium. Mr. Ratkai stated that the
funding may only be used for tourism related projects and cannot be used for
General Fund projects.
Council and staff briefly discussed the project.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to award the bid for construction of
the batting cages at Gesa Stadium to AllStar Construction Group, LLC in the
amount of $403,101.48, including Washington State Sales Tax, and further
authorize the City Manager to execute the contract documents. Mr. Maloney
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION:
Mr. Zabell provided a report to Council about the Continuity of Operations Plan
(COOP) activities and actions taken in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Mr.
Zabell's update covered the following:
• City staff participating in the COOP meet three (3) times a week on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Friday morning COOP
meetings include representatives from community partners and the past
Friday included interaction with the Port of Pasco, Ben Franklin Transit,
and Pasco School District.
• COOP staff have been working diligently on ways to minimize potential
COVID-19 exposure among City staff. Council and other community
members by implementing policies and resources for staff to
telecommute, ways conduct meetings remotely, additional protocols to
protect staff with specialized skills serving in critical functions such as
the Water and Sewer Treatment facilities, as well as those serving on the
front lines in both the Police and Fire departments.
• City staff continues to demonstrate resourcefulness and teamwork on a
daily basis; examples include making face masks for employees,
deploying needed equipment (hardware/software) to allow the
operations of the City to continue uninterrupted.
• The City was able to secure two trailers full of diesel needed to run City
equipment.
• Updates continue the City's Employee polices related to the Family First
Coronavirus Response Act as more clarifications are received. Unlike
the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in which the City was given a
year to implement, the Family First Coronavirus Response Act was
implemented within a week.
• The Finance Department is reviewing the FEMA requirements for
possible reimbursement of some of the costs incurred by the City from
the COVID-19 crisis, which may include the cost of extra
equipment/software, staff time associated with dealing with COVID-19,
quarantine costs for affected or potentially affected staff and so forth.
• COOP staff continues to evaluate the staffing levels and the operational
needs and planning with different scenarios in mind.
• From an organizational standpoint, employee morale is positive and
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REMOTE REGULAR MINUTES
MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL APRIL 6, 2020
City staff is appreciate of Council's and COOP staff actions and
planning to date.
Mr. Zabell expressed appreciation to the City staff for their dedication and
willingness to work, whether in-person or from home, to ensure that the City's
services continue to operate even when staff has been assigned additional duties
well outside of their normal responsibilities.
Ms. Roach asked if there are any efforts starting at this time to hire contact
tracers within the community possibly through the Benton Franklin Health
District or the Franklin County Emergency Services to trace the virus down so
that those who have it will be isolated and those that are free of the virus may
go back to work.
Mr. Zabell stated that the COOP has been primarily taking actions that affect
the City's operations up to this point; however, Benton Franklin Health District
has moved its COVID-19 Command Post to the Pasco Fire Administration
facility. Mr. Zabell offered to connect with the Health District regarding contact
tracers.
Mayor Martinez announced that the City and other community partners will be
participating in a new public safety announcement scheduled for later in the
week. Mayor Martinez expressed thanks to the public and community
businesses for doing their part in maintaining social distancing.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:04 PM.
APPROVED:
Saul Martinez, Mayor
ATTEST:
A4o rkaw
Debra Barham, City Clerk
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