HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.10.19 Council MinutesREMOTE REGULAR MINUTES
MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 19, 2020
REMOTE MEETING INSTRUCTIONS:
Governor Inslee's Proclamation No. 20-28.11, made in response to the COVID-
19 emergency, continued to prohibit members of the public from attending City
meetings in-person but required agencies to provide options for the public to
participate in remotely. To best comply, the City asked all members of the
public that would like to comment regarding items on the agenda to fill out a
form via the City's website (www.pasco-wa.gov/publiccomment). As of 4:00
p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2020, zero (0) requests to speak were received.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Saul Martinez, Mayor.
ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers present: Ruben Alvarado, Blanche Barajas, Craig Maloney,
Saul Martinez, David Milne, and Pete Serrano. Zahra Roach was excused from
attending the meeting.
Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager; Colleen Chapin, Human Resources
Director; Craig Briggs, Acting 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 remote Workshop and
Meeting held on October 5, 2020, and remote Workshop held on October 12,
2020.
Bills and Communications
To approve claims in the total amount of $3,954,930.89 ($2,825,520.25 in
Check Nos. 237946-238189; $281,709.55 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 829794,
829801, 829804; $11,662.88 in Check Nos. 53439-53448; $832,888.78 in
Electronic Transfer Nos. 30153198-30153721; $3,149.43 in Electronic Transfer
Nos. 715-721).
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
$109,017.35 and, of that amount, authorize $0.00 to be turned over for
collection.
Resolution - Interlocal Agreement with Port of Pasco for Sewer Main
Installation
To approve Resolution No. 3999, approving the Interlocal Agreement with the
Port of Pasco extending the sanitary service line at the Fire Training Center at
1011 E. Ainsworth Avenue and further, authorize the City Manager to execute
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the agreement.
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PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 19, 2020
Resolution - Interlocal Agreement with Emergency Management Services
To approve Resolution No. 4000, approving the proposed Interlocal Agreement
with Emergency Management Services and further, authorize the City Manager
to execute the agreement.
Resolution - Sole Source Purchase for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA) Purchase
To adopt Resolution No. 4001, waiving the competitive bidding requirement
and approving the purchase of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus from LN
Curtis & Sons and further, authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase
agreement.
Tourism Promotion Area Update and 2021 Budget & Marketing Plan
To approve the 2021 Marketing Plan and Operating Budget for the Tourism
Promotion Area in the total amount of $1,795,986.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve the Consent Agenda as
read. Mr. Maloney seconded. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS:
Verbal Reports from Councilmembers
Mr. Alvarado commented on the Benton Franklin Council of Governments
(BFCOG) meeting he attended recently.
Mayor Martinez commented on the Tri -Cities National Park Committee and the
weekly COOP meetings he attended recently.
General Fund Monthly Report - September 2020
Ms. Sigdel briefed Council on the current trend of the sales tax revenue relating
to the General Fund.
Mr. Maloney and Ms. Sigdel discussed the projected 2020 General Fund ending
balance based on the current trend.
Ben Franklin Transit 2019 Annual Report
Mr. Zabell highlighted the Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) 2019 Annual Report and
the COVID-19 precautions that BFT is currently administrating.
Discussion regarding the ridership of BFT ensued between Mr. Serrano and Mr.
Alvarado.
HEARINGS AND COUNCIL ACTION ON ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
RELATING THERETO:
Ordinance - Street Vacation: A Portion of South Cedar Ave (MF# VAC
2020-005)
Mr. White described the location and purpose of the proposed vacation.
Mayor Martinez declared the Public Hearing open at 7:20 PM to consider the
proposed street vacation of a portion of South Cedar Avenue. Following three
calls for comments, and there being none, Mayor Martinez declared the Public
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MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 19, 2020
Hearing closed at 7:20:59 PM.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to adopt Ordinance No. 4499,
vacating a portion of South Cedar Avenue, and further, authorize publication by
summary only. Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution - 2019 Annual Action Plan Amendment for Use of CDBG-CV3
Funds for COVID-19 Response (BGAP2020-006)
Mr. White provided a brief update on the proposed 2019 Annual Action Plan
Amendment and noted that a written public comment from the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties was also included in the agenda packet.
Mayor Martinez declared the Public Hearing open at 7:23 PM to consider the
proposed 2019 Annual Action Plan Amendment for the use of Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) CV3 funds for COVID-19 response.
Following three calls for comments, and there being none, Mayor Martinez
declared the Public Hearing closed at 7:24 PM.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 4002,
amending the CDBG Program Year 2019 Annual Action Plan for CDBG-CV
Supplemental Funding in response to COVID-19. Mr. Maloney seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATING TO HEARINGS:
Resolution - Local CARES Utility Assistance Program
Ms. Sigdel explained the need to provide local CARES funds to cover utility
assistant grants for those utility customers that have been negatively affected by
COVID-19 and unable to pay their utility bills. She explained the three options
for processing the grants available for Council consideration.
Mr. Briggs noted that Option A likely does not meet the federal requirements
and therefore, may expose the City when an audit is conducted.
Mr. Serrano, Ms. Sigdel and Mr. Briggs further discussed the options, as well
as the current amount, of nearly $550K, delinquent utility payments.
Mr. Maloney asked Ms. Sigdel to described the outreach program to notify
those customers that may benefit from this grant program.
MOTION 1: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 4003,
authorizing four hundred thousand dollars of the Department of Commerce
Coronavirus Relief Funds for utility assistance. Mr. Milne seconded. Motion
carried unanimously.
MOTION 2: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to direct the City Manager to
implement the Utility Assistance Program using the local criteria as discussed,
and the Option B criteria for compliance with federal guidelines. Mr. Maloney
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution - Interlocal Agreement with Franklin County for Jail Services
Police Chief Roske explained that the proposed Interlocal Agreement (ILA) is a
renewal agreement; he highlighted the bed rate increases and the added benefits
to those increases.
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MEETING PASCO CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 19, 2020
Mr. Maloney asked for additional information related to the jail services and the
Public Safety Tax of 0.03 percent enacted a few years ago that Franklin County
receives for the use of criminal justice purposes and for public health and
safety. Police Chief Roske stated that an analysis conducted by the City's
Finance Department resulted in no duplication of funding for jail services
through the Public Safety Tax and the ILA between Franklin County and the
City of Pasco.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to adopt Resolution No. 4004,
authorizing the City Manager to execute a four-year interlocal agreement with
Franklin County for the use of jail facilities. Mr. Milne seconded. Motion
carried unanimously.
Resolution - Setting Public Hearing for Vacation of Public Access
Easement on Coca Cola Property (formerly Henry St.)
Mr. Worley explained the process for vacating a public access easement.
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve Resolution No. 4005,
setting a public hearing date of November 16, 2020 for the Vacation of Utility
and Public Access Easements across Coca Cola's property east of Road 34. Mr.
Milne seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Recommendations for 2021
Ms. Pashon provided a brief history of the Lodging Tax funding and then
explained the proposed funding recommendations for 2021. Based on the
Committee's review of allowable uses and individual requests, the LTAC
recommended fund allocations as outlined below:
• $250,000 (est.) TRAC (HAPO Center), 50% of actual operating costs
• $130,000 Baseball Stadium Improvements Debt Service (20 -year
obligation on $2 million beginning 2019)
• $148,000 (est.) Visit Tri -Cities Promotion Services (50% of 2%)
• $ 3,900 Fund Administration and Expenses
• $ 10,000 Water Follies Event
• $ 5,000 Arc of Tri -Cities Event
• $ 20,000 Franklin County Historic Society Facility Improvements
• $ 20,000 Pasco Chamber of Commerce Events
• $589,900 TOTAL
MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Barajas moved to approve the allocation of 2021
Lodging Tax receipts as recommended by the Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee. Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION:
Mr. Zabell announced the City of Pasco's Communications Division was the
recipient of the Award of Distinction and two Awards of Honor from the
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA)
for Governmental Programs.
Mayor Martinez presented the Award of Distinction to Communications
Program Manager Jon Funfar and congratulated Mr. Funfar for the excellent
programing he provides on behalf of the City.
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Next, Mr. Zabel updated Council on the City's COVID-19 testing site and
provided test statistics.
Lastly, Mr. Zabell announced that on Saturday, October 17, 2020, he and
Councilmembers Alvarado, Milne and Maloney walked along downtown Pasco
and had meaningful conversations with many business owners/managers
regarding their business needs and concerns.
Mr. Maloney also noted that the business owners located in downtown Pasco
want to be heard.
Mayor Martinez reminded the community to stay safe and do their part in
reducing the COVID-19 count.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:14 PM.
APPROVED:
r
Saul Martinez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Barham, City Clerk
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