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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.06.15 PPFD MinutesPASCO PUBLIC FACILITIES DISTRICT BOARD JUNE 15, 2021 MEETING MINUTES Call to Order: Pasco Public Facilities District (PPFD) Board President Morrissette called the meeting to order at 4:04 PM the in the Council Chambers at Pasco City Hall and via GoToMeeting. Roll Call: BOARD MEMBERS CAROLINE BOWDISH LEONARD DIETRICH MARIE GILLESPIE SPENCER JILEK MARK MORRISSETTE COUNCIL & STAFF ZACH RATKAI CRAIG MALONEY ERIC FERGUSON DAVE ZABELL KRYSTLE SHANKS Board Member— Secretary/ Treasurer Present Board Member Present Board Member — Vice President Absent Board Member Present Board Member - President Present Admin. & Com. Services Director Present City Council Liaison Present City Attorney Present li City Manager Present Deputy City Clerk Present Recognition of Visitors/Public Comments: None Approval of Minutes: Board Member Dietrich moved and Board Member Bowdish seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the May 25, 2021, meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Old Business: 1. November Election Update Mr. Ratkai provided a brief update on the schedule to get the sales tax initiative on the November Ballot: • 7/6/2021 — PPFD Board Meeting (Could be a Special Meeting or replace Regularly Scheduled July Meeting) • 7/12/2021 — City Council Workshop (Presentation) • 7/19/2021 — City Council Regular Meeting (Hearing) June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 1 • 8/03/2021 — Filing Deadline with Franklin County Auditor • 11/02/2021 - Election Discussion ensued between Board Member Dietrich and staff regarding the timeline. Mr. Ratkai stated that the July 6th PPFD Board Special Meeting is when the Board would draft the Resolution to take to Council. The Board members were all in agreement with the schedule to get the item on the November Ballot. 2. Supplemental Funding Request Mr. Ratkai discussed the negative fund balance for the PPFD Board based on professional services and legal spending the PPFD would incur for the election. The estimated amounts were: • Election Costs — $14,000 to $15,000 • Legal Costs — $25,000 • Professional Services (Ballard King renderings or marketing materials) — $60,000 At the July 6th PPFD Board Special Meeting, the Board will be presented with the 2nd Quarter Financials. Mr. Ratkai proposed using the supplemental funding to see what the PPFD Board needs to request from the City. Board Member Dietrich asked if the Board would be reviewing the Ballard King feasibility study revisions prior to the presentation to Council. Mr. Ratkai stated he would check on the status with Ballard King. Mr. Dietrich added that it would be helpful for their July 6th PPFD Board Special Meeting. Board Member Dietrich asked if the Washington State review needed to be completed prior to the July 12th Council Workshop presentation. Mr. Ratkai stated that the Washington State Department of Commerce review doesn't have to be done until the PPFD Board takes out debt or the bond; therefore it doesn't have to be done prior to the election. Further discussion ensued on the process, with Mr. Ratkai stating that the review is an additional cost that he will add to the predicted costs the PPFD Board will incur. Board Member Jilek asked about the bond amount relating to the draft resolution the Board would be presenting to Council. Mr. Ratkai answered the draft resolution would be addressed as its own item later in the meeting. Board Member Jilek asked if there have been any changes to the initial Ballard King project of $33M that would require going out for a higher bond. Mr. Ratkai said he didn't believe anything had or would change with the design concept that has been developed. Board Member Bowdish asked if the bond amount figured in the land. Mr. Ratkai replied that it could. There was no further discussion. June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 2 3. Proposed Facility Amenity Update and Presentation Mr. Ratkai provided a brief presentation on the Amenity Update from the Ballard King concept plan and reminded the Board that it was purely conceptual. The concept plan was based on industry standards in the Ballard King study and involved two phases: • Phase 1 — Indoor and outdoor facilities • Phase 2 — Competition lap pool with spectator seating Mr. Ratkai discussed the details and proposed amenities of the conceptual plan and how they were unique to the region. Concepts included: leisure pools with slides, a competition pool with spectator seating, locker rooms, storage, administration, rental space, and concessions which would provide additional revenue. The facility would be for public access rather than based on membership, as other facilities are in the region. Mr. Ratkai then provided examples of other similar aquatic centers across the country. Board Member Dietrich mentioned the City of Yakima's Aquatic Center. Staff stated they had not visited the facility. President Morrisette asked staff to bring back to the Board a list of the aquatic centers and their addresses that Mr. Ratkai used in his presentation so that the Board members could visit them. Mr. Ratkai said he would work on getting that list for the Board. Board Member Jilek asked about the size of the outdoor leisure pool contained in the concept plan. Mr. Ratkai replied it was proposed to be 19,800 square feet. Board Member Jilek discussed leisure pool options, in particular a wave pool, and asked if that was in the conceptual plan. Mr. Ratkai replied that the wave pool was scaled back due to the initial costs; however, it could be added back into the plan should funds become available. Brief discussion ensued on the history of various conceptual plans and costs associated. President Morrisette discussed the draft resolution as a guide to use during the presentation to Council on the July 12th workshop meeting. He stated it would be helpful for Council to connect the resolution with what they will be seeing conceptually. Mr. Ratkai stated he didn't believe there were any legal prohibitions on adding language pertaining to specific designs in the resolution, though it may not be advisable to do so. President Morrisette clarified that he meant that it would be beneficial during their presentation to Council to discuss or connect what the funds would be used for in the concept plan and provide examples of what they are trying to communicate to the voters. Mr. Ratkai cautioned the Board not to tie specifics of the designs into the resolution in case June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 3 plans change. The Board is required to act within in the scope of the resolution, and their hands should not be tied. President Morrisette agreed and stressed to the Board the use of the word "conceptual" in the presentation to Council. He added that it would be helpful for staff to review prior meeting minutes to explain to Council the options previously considered and how the current concept was determined. President Morrisette advised the Board members to read the resolution not just for accuracy, but also to explain to Council how they arrived at their recommendation to Council. Board Member Jilek asked if the tribal casino water park previously proposed in King City was still planned. Mr. Zabell responded that if the Tribe still had plans for a water park, it would be a long time out and no commitments have been made. He explained that at the moment, only the casino and "fuel" have been discussed. Further discussion ensued between the Board and staff regarding the tribal casino project and potential water park. Council Member Maloney added that he spoke with Tribal Council members regarding this topic, and at the time of their conversation the project was several years out and nothing had been confirmed. Nonetheless, Council Member Maloney believed that there was enough demand for both facilities to exist, especially given the growth rate in the Tri -Cities projected for the next 20 years. There was no further discussion. New Business: 1. Draft Resolution: Setting November Election Date Mr. Ferguson provided an overview on how the election process works, how it will look legally and outlined content in the draft resolution, such as: • The authority of the Board and municipal corporation formed pursuant to RCW 35.37 and adopted by the City of Pasco. • Specific powers the Board has to tax under the RCW 82.14. • Specific powers of the Board to utilize the statute. • The amount of tax under the statute that the Board could institute (2/10 of 1 % sales and use tax). • The desire to place 2/10 of 1 % sales and use tax imposed to the voters. • In the event of majority voter approval, the imposition of an additional 2/10 of 1 % sales and use tax to be used to fund [insert action being taken refunding costs associated with PPFD public facilities current/future]. June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 4 Mr. Ferguson addressed a phrase that was repeated multiple times in the draft resolution that stated, "[insert action being taken refunding costs associated with PPFD public facilities current/future]." Mr. Ferguson explained that this was an abbreviated description of what the PPFD Board would like to define in the resolution and present to Council. It should be specific enough to define the intent of the taxes, but not so defined that the project loses flexibility. Board Member Jilek asked if they need to specify how long a bond would be. Mr. Ferguson said that could be an issue, as the financial environment at the time the bond is issued is still unknown. The Board should not get itself hemmed into a specific timeline. Mr. Zabell concurred. Mr. Ferguson outlined items, such as: • What a general/special election will look like. • Where the full amount of the funds will be used. • What action the Board will be taking if they move forward with the vote. • That the Board would be seeking the 2/10 of I% for the purpose of paying costs of the improvements identified in the resolution. • That the tax would sunset upon the repayment of bonds issued to fund these improvements. • Request for the Auditor to move forward with the general/special election and certify the results of the election. • The Board would then have the authority to begin collecting that tax. Mr. Ferguson explained the two-step process and that prior to the election the resolution needs City of Pasco Council approval to be in compliance with the charter. Mr. Ferguson will confirm if this language needs to be placed in the resolution. Board Member Dietrich asked if the resolution would need to contain both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Mr. Ferguson replied that the resolution needed to include both phases. If it does not, the bond will sunset and Phase 2 funding would have to be approved by the voters separately in another election. Further discussion ensued regarding the phases and funding relating to the bond. Council Member Maloney stated that the language in the resolution will end up on the ballot; however, additional information, such as graphics, concepts and the intent of the PPFD Board would be provided outside of the resolution. Mr. Ferguson agreed that the language of the resolution just needs to be specific enough to show credibility of the PPFD Board to support the project to Council, and the Council will have the accountability to the voters. Although it is not a legal requirement for the statute, it is a credibility issue with the Council and public. June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 5 President Morrisette stated that at the City Council presentation on July 12th, he wants to connect the resolution with the work and consideration the Board has done. Council Member Maloney stated that Council is used to reviewing resolutions that are more general and looks for intent rather than specific details of the resolutions and that the presentation would provide the additional information that Council is used to seeing. President Morrisette added he would like more preparation in order to anticipate Council's questions. Mr. Ferguson reminded the Board that Council can support their resolution but will not be able to change it, so it needs to be the resolution the Board wants Council to support and approve. President Morrisette discussed the upcoming special meeting on July 6th to approval the draft and approve the resolution. There was no further discussion. Other Business: There was brief discussion on the timing of the packet prior to the July 6th special meeting. Mr. Ratkai stated that he would work with Mr. Ferguson to get the packet out prior to July 6th Adjournment: There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 5:04 PM. APPROVED this (o day of i A , 2021. rk Morriss tte, President Krystle Shanks, Pasco Deputy City Clerk June 15.2021 PPFD Minutes Page - 6