Pasco outlines 2025 state legislative priorities; seeks funding for MLK center, parks and major road projects

Pasco City Council hosted a 2025 Washington State legislative pre‑session update during which city staff and council members laid out a package of capital funding requests and policy priorities to visiting state lawmakers.

The city presented top grant requests that included $900,000 for phase 2 renovations of the Martin Luther King Community Center, $500,000 to develop a new three‑acre neighborhood park near Massey Drive and Road 80, $5 million to begin design and right‑of‑way acquisition for the proposed Road 76 overpass, and funding to study safety improvements at the U.S.‑12/A Street interchange. City staff also flagged a need for additional acreage to expand the Processed Water Reuse Facility used by regional food processors and detailed a request to demolish the old Lewis Street underpass tied to the recently completed Lewis Street overpass project.

Why it matters: Pasco officials said the requests reflect growth pressures and gaps in the city’s capital budget as they balance a $520.5 million biennial budget. Several items — especially transportation projects — would affect traffic flow, economic access and safety across Pasco and the Tri‑Cities region.

What the city asked for

• Martin Luther King Community Center Phase 2 — $900,000: Council member Prowls introduced the request, noting the center was built in 1976 and that a prior state appropriation of $1,000,000 (secured in 2021) funded initial renovations focused on Benton‑Franklin Head Start spaces. Phase 2 as described by city staff would enclose an existing open atrium as a public gathering space, create a library, and add ADA‑accessible restrooms. “This is a capital funding request,” Council member Prowls said, adding that the city will pair the state ask with grant and local funds.

• Neighborhood park at Massey Drive & Road 80 — $500,000: The city described a three‑acre site adjacent to 3 Rivers Elementary intended for playgrounds, pathways, courts and other amenities to address what staff called a local “park desert.” Parks staff said Pasco currently dedicates about 3% of city land to parks versus a 15% national median figure cited during the presentation.

• Road 76 Overpass — $5 million (design & right‑of‑way); total project estimate $35 million: Council members asked the Legislature to help fund initial planning and property acquisition. Council member Grimm summarized travel delays in West Pasco and said the project would connect residential and commercial zones and reduce congestion on Road 68. When asked about total cost, the council replied the full project is estimated at roughly $35 million, with about $30 million for the bridge span and $5 million for early planning and right‑of‑way work.

• U.S.‑12/A Street safety and interchange analysis — $3,000,000 (study): Council member Harpster described a history of high‑speed and freight collisions at the US‑12/A Street area and said the work includes outreach and coordination with Federal Highway Administration and state DOT. Staff stressed the estimate reflects multi‑agency involvement and a lengthier planning process beyond purely technical analysis.

• Lewis Street underpass demolition — $3.3 million (planning + demolition) or reduced state match if federal grant awarded: Public works staff explained a last‑minute condition in the city’s agreement with BNSF requires removal of the top six feet of the old underpass. The city has applied for a federal grant that, if awarded, could reduce the state request to approximately $250,000–$500,000 for matching funds.

• Broadmoor Boulevard bike/ped path (construction) — $8,000,000: Council members described the project as multimodal infrastructure to improve safety for students and residents near the I‑82 corridor and the Delta High School area.

• Processed Water Reuse Facility (PWRF) — land and siting awareness: Staff briefed council that the PWRF currently irrigates about 14 farm “circles” and needs about five additional circles to serve incoming processors. The primary barrier is available acreage; conversations with the Department of Natural Resources were ongoing about lease or acquisition options.

Lawmakers’ response and next steps

Several visiting legislators attended and offered to evaluate project requests within the constraints of a tight state budget. Representative April Connors said she will work on floor strategy and budget items from her role on House leadership, explaining, “I’m April Connors … I was elected by my caucus to be the floor leader.” Senator Curtis King, who serves on transportation committees, said, “My door is always open. If there’s an area that you think I can help you with, please give me that opportunity,” and indicated he would look for state opportunities to help prioritize regionally significant projects.

City staff noted that Pasco’s redistricting has placed portions of the city into multiple legislative districts and that staff would lean on relationships across those delegations to advance regionally significant projects. Staff also said they would continue negotiations with DNR and private landowners for acreage related to the PWRF and would pursue federal grants for the Lewis Street demolition if eligible.

Public comment and community context

During public comment, residents raised local service concerns ranging from snow/ice removal priorities to animal control and the proposed Pasco Aquatic Center costs. Several commenters praised completed or ongoing city improvements — for example, public remarks thanked staff for Road 100 improvements and for community events.

Votes at a glance (council actions later in the meeting)

- Consent agenda (approval of minutes, claims and write‑offs): Motion to approve consent agenda passed by roll call (unanimous). The consent agenda included approval of claims totaling $24,278,924.58 and write‑offs totaling $15,405.76. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 4752 — zone change (Lot 3 of BSP 2019‑3): Adopt ordinance to rezone parcel from C‑1 (retail business) to R‑4 (high‑density residential). Motion and roll call vote passed unanimously. Outcome: ordinance adopted.

- Resolution 4550 — set public hearing for final assessment roll, Local Improvement District (LID) 152 (Sewer East UGA): Council set March 3 public hearing to consider final assessments; motion passed unanimously. Outcome: hearing set.

- Resolution 4549 — interlocal agreement with Port of Pasco for airport police services: Authorized city manager to execute agreement; motion passed unanimously. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 4753 — amend 2025–2026 operating budget to add four Pasco Police Department FTEs (airport staffing): Motion to adopt amendment passed unanimously. Outcome: ordinance adopted.

- Resolution 4551 — Fire Training Center use agreement with Franklin County Fire District No. 3: Authorized city manager to execute agreement for use of Tri‑City Regional Fire Academy facilities; motion passed unanimously. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 4552 — set public meeting for Urbach annexation notice of intent: Council set Jan. 21, 2025 meeting to consider annexation notice; motion passed unanimously. Outcome: meeting set.

- Resolution 4553 — assignment and assumption of lease for Gesa Stadium: Authorized assignment of the stadium lease from Northwest Baseball Ventures to DBH Tri‑City LLC (Diamond Baseball Holdings); motion passed unanimously. Outcome: approved.

What was not decided

Council did not adopt any new policy changes during the pre‑session update; the legislative briefing was presented for information and to solicit partnership from state legislators. Staff indicated some requests are contingent on federal grants or on interagency negotiations (for example, land for the Processed Water Reuse Facility and potential federal funding for the Lewis Street underpass demolition).

Context and next steps

City staff and the council asked legislators to consider Pasco’s capital requests through the 2025 legislative session. Staff will follow up with legislative offices, continue DNR and private landowner discussions, pursue federal grant opportunities where applicable, and notify property owners and stakeholders about upcoming hearings (for LID 152 and annexation). Senator and representative offices present said they would evaluate the requests in the context of statewide budget constraints and regional priorities.

Ending note: Pasco officials framed the agenda as a set of regionally important projects designed to address growth, safety and service equity; legislators present pledged to review the funding requests but cautioned that the statewide budgeting environment will be tight this session.