Pasco council hears regional fire deployment and scheduling items; staff to host HAPO Center master-plan open house

The council’s miscellaneous reports covered regional mutual-aid deployment, upcoming public engagement on the HAPO Center master plan, and local transit and snow/ice concerns.

Adam Lincoln, representing regional emergency coordination, told the council that the regional task force deployed one Pasco captain, Captain Brandon Burton, to assist with fires in the Los Angeles area. Lincoln said the captain "is expected to be down there for approximately 18 days to start" and noted personnel deployment limits (about 14 continuous days) mean rotations will be evaluated based on the incident status.

Council members and staff also announced community engagement opportunities for the HAPO Center master plan: Council member Perales asked council members and the public to attend an open house on the master plan scheduled for the 22nd of the month at 5 p.m. in the Happel Center Cascade Room, with additional presentation opportunities anticipated at the Jan. 21 council meeting. Council members noted the city is coordinating with the school district and other stakeholders on upcoming projects.

Councilman Grimm and others said the transit provider has updated service plans for 2025 to connect new routes to the opening of Stateview High School this fall and that route changes will begin in the summer to help students establish travel patterns. Council member Kelsey Braus asked staff to re-examine snow-removal and de-icing protocols in light of neighborhood demographics, urging prioritization for blocks with high numbers of older residents and residents on fixed incomes.

These items were informational; no formal action was taken.