Pasco planning commission begins comprehensive plan update; staff outlines bilingual outreach and countywide policy review

City of Pasco Community and Economic Development Director Cindy Miller told the Planning Commission the city is beginning its comprehensive‑plan update and intends extensive public outreach, including a goal that 50% of participants be Spanish speakers. Miller said staff will run a mix of in‑person and online activities, bilingual workshops, a “hidden gems” mapping exercise and youth outreach with the school district to gather community visioning input.

The work matters because the comprehensive plan guides land use, housing and infrastructure choices for the next 20 years and must show how Pasco will meet state requirements for housing capacity across income bands and address climate hazards. Miller said the city has hired consultants and will use a mix of in‑house staff and contractors to carry out fall outreach through next year and aims to present the draft plan for adoption after state review.

Commissioners discussed whether the planning commission should hold formal joint sessions with City Council. Miller said she will act as a liaison and check with the city manager on whether a smaller committee of commissioners and councilmembers could meet without violating Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act. Commissioner Pat Jones suggested a small committee of commission and council members could clarify directions before the commission’s detailed work, and Miller said she would consult the manager and note the suggestion.

On outreach specifics, Miller said the plan will include: at least two in‑person, language‑specific visioning workshops (one in Spanish and one in English), open houses to review draft elements, a Spanish‑language outreach listserve and an online activity for residents to identify and celebrate local “hidden gems.” Miller asked commissioners to expect regular email notices about workshops so they can participate.

The meeting also included a staff briefing on Franklin County’s draft countywide planning policies. Staff said the county document, last updated in 2019, is undergoing a third update and that the county will hold a public hearing in the coming weeks. The draft emphasizes coordination on urban growth areas, agricultural‑land protection, infrastructure and capacity, and new state requirements for showing housing capacity at multiple income levels, including lower‑income and unsheltered populations. Staff said one proposed change would lift an owner‑occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units, an item that will affect local housing policy and will be coordinated with city work on levels of service for streets and utilities.

Deputy Director Raymond and Miller said they reviewed the draft county policies with county staff and submitted feedback on language they recommended changing; they plan to monitor the county public hearing and will report back to the commission if additional edits are proposed. Miller told commissioners that the comprehensive plan timeline expects outreach this fall and winter, refinement next year and final adoption after required state review.

No formal votes were taken on either the outreach plan or the countywide policy draft; staff asked commissioners for comment and said they will return with refined outreach materials and an updated schedule. Several commissioners said they want to be notified in writing when specific workshops are scheduled so they can attend and help with outreach.

Ending: Staff asked commissioners to forward suggestions for stakeholder groups the city might miss in outreach and reiterated that the public will have additional formal comment opportunities during the plan’s review and at the county hearing on the draft countywide policies.