HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.03.08 Council MinutesMINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, March 8, 2021
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CALL TO ORDER
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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, Zahra Roach, and Pete Serrano.
Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager; Adam Lincoln, Deputy City
Manager; Colleen Chapin, Human Resources Director; Jeff 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.
VERBAL REPORTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Mr. Milne commented on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
meeting he attended last week.
Mr. Maloney commented on the Pasco Public Facilities District Board
meeting he attended last week.
Mayor Martinez commented on the recent visit with U.S. Representative
Newhouse at the Benton County Fairgrounds COVID-19 vaccination
site.
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ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
2020 Hanford Communities Update
Mr. Zabell introduced David Reeploeg, the Executive Director for the
Hanford Communities. Mr. Reeploeg presented the 2020 Hanford
Communities Report and provided their 2021 Issue Agenda, also known
as its annual priorities list, related to the on-going clean up of the
Hanford Nuclear Reservation Site.
Council and Mr. Reeploeg further discussed specifics about Hanford
related projects.
DPDA Funding Agreement Extension
Mr. White provided a brief overview of the proposed 2021 Downtown
Pasco Development Authority (DPDA) Funding Agreement noting a
couple additional tasks added to the DPDA duties.
Council, staff and DPDA Board President Portugal and DPDA Executive
Director Gomez further discussed the responsibties and duties of DPDA
noting that active communication and outreach is a key component and
for DPDA to reach all of the businesses within Pasco's downtown area,
especially with the upcoming improvement projects within the
downtown.
Mr. Milne noted his frustration that he or the other two Councilmembers
are unable to attend DPDA Board meetings and asked if DPDA would
consider changing the meeting date of the DPDA Board so that he could
attend.
2019 City of Pasco Financial Audit Recap
Ms. Sigdel updated Council on the 2019 Financial Audit prepared by
Washington State Auditors.
Mr. Alvarado expressed appreciation to Ms. Sigdel, the State Auditors
as well as the audit process.
Ordinance - Budget Adjustment for Fire Equipment Purchase
Chief Gear provided an overview of the Fire Department's budget
adjustment request for the purchase of handheld radios and
combination EKG / Defibrillator units.
Mr. Zabell noted that this budget adjustment will come before Council
through an ordinance, which was new to the Council's approval process.
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Ordinance - Amending PMC Title 23 Related to SEPA
Mr. White reported on proposed amendments to the Pasco Municipal
Code (PMC) related to SEPA to meet the Washington Administrative
Codes (WACs) and Revised Code of Washington (RCWs) regulations.
Mr. Maloney asked how the Planning Commission duties were affected
by the current use of a Hearing Examiner.
Mr. White responded that Planning Commission has been able to focus
on the Comprehensive Plan Amendments by moving the quasi-judicial
actions to the Hearing Examiner who is versed in the law as it relates to
such actions.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mr. Zabell spoke about the following items:
• Peanuts Park & Pasco Farmers Market project ground breaking
event was scheduled on March 19 at 2:00 PM
• Criminal Justice Scholarship program at Columbia Basin College
• Reviewed the compliance of in-person meeting mandates, which
are covered under Governor Inslee's Proclamation No. 28-20.14
Council discussion ensued regarding the in-person meeting mandates.
Everyone agreed that the City is doing everything possible to ensure
that the public's voice is heard while remaining in compliance with the
meeting mandates. It was noted that if an individual is concerned about
the mandates, then they should contact the State directly to advocate for
change within the mandates and Council will continue to work with other
community leaders to reopen the Tri -Cities area. Everyone needs to do
their part to reduce the threat of the COVID-19 transmission.
Chief Gear updated Council on the COVID-19 Testing site, noting the
positive tests were down to 10.3 percent the past week. He also
commented on the COVID-19 Vaccination Site, stating that 30,000
vaccines have been administered at the Benton County Fairgrounds.
Lastly, he described the reserve waiting line for eligible in the phase 2
and not eligible in phase 2 individuals stating that when there is extra
serum at the end of the day those who have waited in the reserve line
may be vaccinated. This is to ensure that all of the serum is used and
not wasted.
Mayor Martinez and Councilmembers Serrano and Roach commented
on the Criminal Justice Scholarship program.
Ms. Roach expressed sincere condolences to the family of former Pasco
Police Department's Reserve Officer Bert Wilson due to his recent
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death. He was an upstanding community member that will be sorely
missed.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:57 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED this _ day of�i" , 20_.
APPROVED:
Saul Martinez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Debra Barham, City Clerk
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