Pasco moves to let public facilities district hire own counsel as city considers operating new aquatic center

City staff on the workshop agenda recommended amendments to the interlocal agreement between the City of Pasco and the Pasco Public Facilities District (PFD) to give the PFD the option to hire its own legal counsel and to authorize a separate interlocal agreement for the city to manage operations of the new aquatic center. Director Jesse Rice presented the request and said the current city-provided legal services will end this year and the PFD needs the flexibility to procure counsel.

The PFD’s construction team also gave a construction update and a management proposal. Matt Watkins, a former Pasco mayor and staff presenter, said walls and exterior concrete are in place, the project includes added amenities from the design-build process (a larger natatorium, upgraded chlorination, skylights, a retractable “ninja” course), and the team is “still aiming” for a Memorial Day 2026 opening. Watkins described facility features and called out the need to begin commissioning, branding and marketing.

Why it matters: the PFD is funding construction and operating costs through a sales-tax measure; how operations are managed will affect program schedules, staffing and user fees. The PFD asked the city to be the…