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MINUTES
City Council Workshop Meeting
7:00 PM - Monday, August 23, 2021
City Council Chambers & GoToWebinar
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.
Councilmembers absent: Zahra Roach.
Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager; Adam Lincoln, Deputy City
Manager; Craig Briggs, Acting City Attorney; Bob Gear, Fire Chief; Zach
Ratkai,Administrative 8�Community Services Director; Ken Roske, Police
Chief; Richa Sigdel, Finance Director; Rick White, Community &
Economic Development Director; Steve Worley, Public Works Director;
Deputy Fire Chief Dunbar, and Debby Barham, City Clerk.
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
Broadband Access within City Limits
Ms. Sigdel introduced Scott Rhees, General Manager and Ben Hooper,
Broadband Services Manager,with Franklin Public Utility District(Franklin
PUD).
Mr. Rhees and Mr. Hooper updated Council regarding Franklin PUD's
broadband infrastructure within Pasco City limits. Mr. Hopper provided a
brief history of Franklin PUD's development of broadband fiber, noting a
large spike in broadband usage in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19
pandemic. Mr. Hooper listed the internet providers within Pasco and
discussed concerns related to broadband availability throughout the City
of Pasco, as well as other areas in Franklin County.
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Discussion continued between Council, Mr. Rhees and Mr. Hooper
regarding the need to have access to broadband fiber throughout the City,
as well as ensuring that the areas where new development is occurring,
that the broadband infrastructure is built at the same time as the
properties are developed.
Update American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Ms. Sigdel provided an update related to the American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA) funding the City of Pasco has received noting that funding has
been allocated to four (4) programs at this time. She commented on the
status of the other programs and new staff positions detailed on the ARPA
List provided in the agenda report.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding the Community Resource
Specialist position, the outreach efforts made to date, the proposed
Community Health Program administered by the Pasco Fire Department
and the possibility of supporting a Trades Training Program administered
through Columbia Basin College (CBC).
Ordinance -PMC Amendment: Street Connectivity(MF#CA2019-013)
Mr. White introduced Planning Manager Gonzales who provided a
comprehensive update to the proposed amendments to the street
connectivity regulations within the Pasco Municipal Code (PMC).
Council and staff held a question and answer period regarding the
proposed PMC amendments, which included:
• Statistics from Home Builders Association on development costs,
while keeping streets connectivity accessible for many modes of
transportation
• Walkability issues in the western side of the City
• Recommended that some of the community's issues be remanded
back to the Planning Commission where the Commission can dig
a little deeper to address those community's concerns
• Discussion regarding the balance and collaboration with the local
developers and the City related to streets connectivity and the
ability to provide affordable housing
• Amendments to the street connectivity regulations are part of
Council's goals
At the conclusion of the discussion, Mr. Zabell stated that this topic will be
returned to the Planning Commission affording the opportunity for outside
entities such as the Home Builders Association to provide proposals to
refine the PMC updates to the street connectivity regulations.
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Impacts of COVID-19 on the Pasco Fire Department
Deputy Fire Chief Dunbar provided a report on the impacts the Pasco Fire
Department continues to experience specific to the on-going COVID-19
pandemic and recent spike in cases due to the delta variant of the virus.
National Community Survey
Mr. Zabell provided a brief history of the National Community Survey
conducted every two years. He noted that it is a standardized survey,
which has changed over the years to meet with the needs of the current
issues facing the City. He noted that it is an important tool, which
contributes to the development of Council's Biennial Goals. Lastly, Mr.
Zabell stated the list of potential personalized questions will be brought
back to Council at a Workshop in September 2021 for Council to review
and narrow down to three (3) questions, which is allowed in the National
Survey for no additional cost.
Council provided the following topics for the survey questions:
• The sale of Marijuana within the City of Pasco replacing the
previous industry recruitment question
• Affordable and accessibility housing
Mr. Zabell reminded Council that besides conducting the National
Community Survey, the City holds three community meetings, one which
is focused Businesses and two focused on Community residents to help
Council establish their Biennial Goals.
Resolution - 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Annual Work Plan and Allocations
Mr. White provided a brief overview of the 2022 CDBG Annual Work Plan
and proposed allocations. He recommended that Council approve the
plan and proposed allocations at the next Council business meeting.
Resolution - 2022 HOME Annual Work Plan and Allocation (MF#
BGAP 2021-004)
Mr. White provided a brief overview of the 2022 HOME Consortium's
Annual Work Plan and proposed allocation. He recommended that
Council approve the plan and proposed allocation at the next Council
business meeting.
2021-2022 Biennium Financial Update
Ms. Sigdel provided a brief report related to the current financial status of
the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget.
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Resolution - Change Order No. 2 to Columbia East Force Main
Project
Mr. Worley introduced Senior Civil Engineer Padvorac who provided a
brief report on the proposed Change Order No. 2 for the Columbia East
Force Main Project.
Mr. Worley noted that the U.S. Economic Development Administration
reimbursement for a portion of the change order.
Council discussion ensued regarding the change order and the recent
rejection of another contract.
MISCELLANEOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mr. Zabell announced the next Movies in the Park event was scheduled
for Friday, August 27th at Memorial Park and a pop-up COVID-19
Vaccination Site will also be at the park that evening. Memorial Pool will
close for the season on August 30th and August 31st is the Annual Dog
Swim Day event.
Mr. Zabell announced that the City of Pasco's Finance Department
received the"Distinguished Budget"award from the Government Finance
Officers Association for the second year. He express pride in the work the
staff has accomplished over the past years to receive this prestigious
award again.
Mayor Martinez presented the award to the Finance Department Team,
which included: Finance Director Sigdel, Finance Manager Buckley, Lead
Accountant Garcia, Staff Accountant Conn, Staff Accountant Moreno,
Staff Accountant Sandland and Administrative Assistant I I Andaya. Mayor
Martinez expressed appreciation to the Team for their efforts in receiving
this award.
Mayor Pro Tem also congratulated the Finance Department Team for
their work in receiving this award.
Mayor Martinez commented on a recent meeting that he and City
Manager Zabell participated in with the Human Resources Director and
Diversity& Inclusivity Directorfrom Darigold Agriculture Company making
note of the business and industrial grown that is occurring within the City.
Mayor Martinez encouraged community members to ask questions to the
Benton Franklin Health District staff regarding benefits of COVID-19
vaccinations in the fight against the increasing number of cases of the
coronavirus within the community. He also noted that Pfizer's COVID-19
vaccination is now FDA approved.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 PM.
PASSED and APPROVED this�tlay of , 20�.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
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Saul Martinez, Mayor Debra Barham, City Clerk
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