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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022.01.03 Council MinutesM i N UTES City Council Regular Meeting 7:00 PM - Monday, January 3, 2022 City Council Chambers & GoToWebinar CALL TO ORDER Pasco Washington The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Blanche Barajas, former Mayor Pro Tem. ROLL CALL Councilmembers present: Blanche Barajas, Craig Maloney, David Milne, Zahra Roach, Pete Serrano, and Nikki Torres. Staff present: Dave Zabell, City Manager; Adam Lincoln, Deputy City Manager; Colleen Chapin, Human Resources Director; Eric Ferguson, 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. SELECTION OF INTERIM MEETING CHAIRPERSON Ms. Barajas read the instructions for selecting an Interim Meeting Chairperson. Mr. Maloney nominated Blanche Barajas as the interim Meeting Chair until the Mayor is elected. Council concurred with the nomination. Councilmember Barajas was selected Interim Meeting Chairperson. COUNCIL DISTRICT NO.2 INTERVIEWS & POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT Council conducted candidate interviews for Council Position No. 2 and included: 1. Joseph Campos 2. Tanner Knighton 3. Jesse Campos 4. Alexia Estrada Page 1 of 9 EXECUTIVE SESSION Council adjourned into Executive Session at 7:53 PM for 15 minutes to discuss the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office per RCW 42.30.110(1)(h) with the City Attorney. Interim Chair Barajas called the meeting back to order at 8:08 PM. COUNCIL POSITION NO.2 CONTINUED Council's Action for Council Position No. 2 Appointment AMENDED MOTION: Councilmember Maloney move to appoint Joseph Campos to Council Position No. 2 effective from January 3, 2021 through December 31, 2023. Councilmember Barajas seconded. Mr. Ferguson stated that the term of the appointed Council is only valid through the certification of the next general election for City Councilmembers and the motion should be amended as such. AMENDED MOTION: Councilmember Maloney move to appoint Joseph Campos to Council Position No. 2 effective from January 3, 2021 through the general election certification scheduled in November 2023. Councilmember Roach seconded. Motion carried unanimously by Roll Call vote. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER City Clerk Barham administered the Oath of Office of Councilmember to Mr. Campos. Afterwards, Mr. Campos was seated at the dais for the remainder of the meeting. Motion carried unanimously COUNCIL BUSINESS Election of Mayor Interim Meeting Chair Barajas called for nominations for Mayor. Ms. Roach nominated Blanche Barajas for Mayor. Ms. Torres nominated Pete Serrano for Mayor. Following three calls the nominations were closed by interim Meeting Chair Barajas. Page 2 of 9 Roll Call Vote: Councilmember Milne - Serrano Councilmember Roach - Barajas Councilmember Serrano - Serrano Councilmember Torres - Serrano Councilmember Maloney - Barajas Councilmember Barajas - Barajas Councilmember Campos - Barajas Councilmember Barajas was elected Mayor effective January 3, 3022 through December 31, 2023. Election of Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Barajas called for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Milne nominated Pete Serrano for Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Barajas nominated Craig Maloney for Mayor Pro Tem. Following three calls the nominations were closed by Mayor Barajas. Roll Call Vote: Councilmember Milne - Serrano Councilmember Roach - Maloney Councilmember Serrano - Serrano Councilmember Torres - Serrano Councilmember Maloney - Maloney Councilmember Campos - Maloney Mayor Barajas - Maloney Councilmember Maloney was elected Mayor Pro Tem effective January 3, 2022 through December 31, 2023. RECESS: Mayor Barajas called for a five-minute recess at 8:25 PM; the meeting reconvened at 8:30 PM. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Pro Tem Maloney requested that the Bills and Communications agenda report be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed under Unfinished Business for discussion of the amount to be turned over to collections. Page 3 of 9 Approval of Meeting Minutes To approve the minutes of the Pasco City Council Regular Meeting held on December 6, 2021.Motion carried unanimously Bolls• • • • To approve Glaims 8R the tetal ame-unt of $12,237,955.31 ($7,969,973.85 •. •.• POO 70 •n• pill 1 IV P .1111 0. OR 1111110114111 1 " •�RRIF Resolution - Tri -Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce American Rescue Plan Act Funding Agreement To approve Resolution No. 4133, approving an agreement with the Tri -Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Washington Non -Profit Corporation, for the COVID-19 vaccination program utilizing the American Rescue Plan Act funds and authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary funding agreement. Motion carried unanimously (RC) MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to approve the Consent Agenda as amended moving Consent No. 3 to Unfinished Business 14(a). Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND/OR OFFICERS Verbal Reports from Councilmembers Ms. Roach commented on the Hanford Communities Governing Board meeting schedule for 2022 and the selection of its new chair. Mayor Pro Tem Maloney commented on the Pasco Public Facilities District Board meeting he attended in late December 2021. General Fund Monthly Report - October & November 2021 Ms. Sigdel provided a brief overview of the City's General Fund Report for the months October and November 2021. HEARINGS AND COUNCIL ACTION ON ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS RELATING THERETO Page 4 of 9 Q Public Hearing - Street Vacation: Portion of East Pueblo Street (VAC 2021-003) Mr. Ferguson read the quasi-judicial procedure including how the Appearance of Fairness Doctrine applies to it. Next, he asked all Councilmembers a series of questions associated with potential conflicts of interest to disclose such potential conflicts or appearance of conflicts. With no response from the Councilmembers, he asked if any members of the public were seeking to disqualify a member of Council from participating in the proceedings. No one came forward. Mr. White provided a brief report on the proposed vacation on a portion of East Pueblo Street. He stated that staff recommends denial of the vacation. Council and staff further discussed the proposed vacation. Mayor Barajas declared the Public Hearing open to consider the proposed Street Vacation for a portion of East Pueblo Street. Following three calls for comments, and there being none, Mayor Barajas declared the Public Hearing closed. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to deny the vacation request for a portion of East Pueblo Street. Mr. Campos seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Public Hearing and Ordinance - Port of Pasco - Reimann Industrial Center Annexation (ANX 2021-006) Mr. White provided a brief report on the proposed annexation. Mayor Barajas opened the Public Hearing at 8:50 PM. Steven McFadden, Port of Pasco Economic Development Director and stated that he was available to answer any questions regarding the proposed annexation or zoning determination. Mayor Barajas called a second and third time for comments and there being none, Mayor Barajas declared the Public Hearing closed. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to adopt Ordinance No.4568, relating to annexation and annexing certain real property to the City of Pasco, and further, authorize publication by summary only. Mr. Campos seconded. Motion carried unanimously. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS NOT RELATING TO HEARINGS Q Ordinance - Port of Pasco - Reimann Industrial Center Zoning Determination (ZD 2021-006) Page 5 of 9 Mr. White provided a brief report regarding the proposed zoning for the Reimann Industrial Center property annexed into the City of Pasco. Mr. Ferguson reminded Council that the quasi-judicial procedure is required for this action and no Councilmembers or anyone in audience came forward. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to adopt Ordinance No. 4569, assigning 1-2 zoning to the Reimann Industrial Center annexation area as recommended by the Hearing Examiner, and further, authorize publication by summary only. Mr. Milne seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Q Ordinance - Vinh Pham Quang/Buddhist Rezone R-2 to R-4 (Z 2021-014) Mr. White provided a brief report regarding the proposed rezone of property owned by Vinh Pham Quang from R-2 to R-4. Mr. Campos disclosed that his mother lives adjacent to the subject property. Mr. Ferguson reminded Council that the quasi-judicial procedure is required for this action and no Councilmembers or anyone in audience came forward with any objections. Council and staff briefly discussed the process of rezoning property. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to adopt Ordinance No. 4570, rezoning a parcel located at 1105 N. 26th Avenue, Pasco, WA from R-2 to R-4, and further, authorize publication by summary only. Ms. Torres seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Resolution - Setting a Public Meeting Date for Lamb 5 LLC Annexation Petition (ANX 2021-007) Mr. White provided a brief overview of the request from Lamb 5 LLC to consider a proposed annexation of their property into the City of Pasco. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to approve Resolution No. 4134, setting 7:00 PM, January 18, 2022 as the time and date for a public meeting to consider the Lamb 5 LLC notice of intent to commence annexation of property located at the northwest corner of West Court Street and Road 68. Mr. Serrano seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Resolution - 2022-2026 Hanford Communities Interlocal Agreement Mr. Zabell provided a history of the Hanford Communities organization and recommended Council approve the new interlocal agreement from 2022 through 2026. Page 6 of 9 MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem moved to approve Resolution No. 4135, the 2022- 2026 Hanford Communities Interlocal Agreement. Ms. Torres seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Resolution - Professional Services Agreement for Design of Sylvester Street Safety Improvements Mr. Worley introduced Capital Improvement Program Manager Serra who provided a brief report on the proposed design of the Sylvester Street Safety Improvements project. Council and staff held a brief question and answer period for the process for the proposed project. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to approve Resolution No. 4136, authorizing execution of the Professional Services Agreement by the City Manager with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the design of the Sylvester Street Safety Improvements Project. Ms. Roach seconded. Motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bills and Communications Mayor Pro Tem Maloney explained that he had questions regarding the bad debt write-off for $1.3M from the Municipal Court and he asked if some of the debt was due to persons losing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic that has prohibited them from paying their court fees and that can be determined then perhaps the use of ARPA funds to pay the fees for those affected by COVID-19 and reduce the bad debt amount going to collections. Mr. Zabell explained that Mr. Maloney's request is complicated, in that identifying individuals owing Court fees that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will take additional time if at all possible as the Municipal Court uses the Judicial Information System (JIS) and only Court employees have access to it. The distributions of ARPA funding must meet a litany of tests. In that, it may cause a significant burden on Court staff to research those owing outstanding/past due fees. Therefore, a meeting with Judge Stilwill is needed to determine if this is even possible. Mr. Zabell stated that in the meantime Council could refrain from approving the Municipal Court bad debt write off for a few weeks. He reminded Council of the three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial; the Municipal Court, under the judicial branch, is governed by specific laws and separate laws from the City. Mr. Ferguson stated that there the Court system has very strict guidelines related to Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs) and therefore, there may not be much, if anything that Council and do to change the bad debt write off process for Court fees. Page 7 of 9 After additional discussion, it was decided that Mayor Pro Tem Maloney and Ms. Roach would meet with Judge Stilwill and his staff to learn about the Municipal Court bad debt write-off process. Ms. Torres agreed to be an alternate if one of the other Councilmembers were unable to attend the meeting. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to approve claims in the total amount of $12,237,955.31 ($7,969,973.85 in Check Nos. 245450-245943; $1,949,802.79 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 833909-833942, 833945-833985, 833991, 833993-834230; $19,323.84 in Check Nos. 53799-53810; $2,298,854.83 in Electronic Transfer Nos. 30168909-30169960). Mr. Campos seconded. Motion carried by unanimous Roll Call vote. MOTION: Mayor Pro Tem Maloney moved to approve bad debt write-off for Utility Billing, Ambulance, Cemetery, General Accounts, and Miscellaneous Accounts receivable in the total amount of $135,556.98 and, of that amount, authorize $0 to be turned over for collection. Ms. Torres seconded. Motion carried by 6-1 Roll Call vote with Mr. Milne opposed. MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Mr. Zabell commented on recent retirements of two tenured staff within the Police Department, which included Sergeant Dave Allen and Sergeant Jamie Raebel. Police Chief Roske announced the recent promotions within the Police Department, which included Captain Brian Vaught, Sergeant Dan Ward, Sergeant Tavis Park, Sergeant Matthew Decker and Sergeant Thomas Groom. Ms. Roach commented on the issues she continues to have at her house related to internet connection, specifically in downloading and reading the agenda packets. She asked if there could be additional lead time in receiving Council meeting packets by possibly moving the packet preparation up or hold the Council meeting further into the work week. Mr. Zabell responded that the questions Ms. Roach brought up would best be discussed during Council's annual retreat or possibly at a future workshop. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Ferguson stated that the law for Executive Sessions has changed and for Council to be able to adjourn into an Executive Session for the consideration of the sale of lease of real estate under RCW 42.30.110(1)(c), staff has to provide the factors that are being included when discussing the sale of a property in an executive session. Mr. Ratkai stated the executive session discussion will include the locations, the buyers, the prices and uses of the City properties. Page 8 of 9 Council adjourned into Executive Session at 9:51 PM for 15 minutes to discuss the consideration of the minimum offering price for sale or lease of real estate if there's a likelihood that disclosure would decrease the price per RCW 42.30.110(1)(c) with the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, the City Attorney and Administrative & Community Services Director. Mayor Barajas called the meeting back to order at 10:07 PM. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 PM. PASSED and APPROVED this day of t, C✓ , 20 61 APPROVED: ATTEST: B6-ucbae BaFgjas, Mayor(all f la/, 6v Debra Barham, City Clerk Page 9 of 9