Pasco council green-lights water loan application, legislative priorities and Boys & Girls Club lease

The City of Pasco council unanimously approved three resolutions and routine consent items at its meeting.

Public Works Director Maria Serra asked the council to authorize submittal of a Washington State Department of Health low-interest construction loan application for portions of work at the Butterfield (Battlefield) Water Treatment Plant. Serra said the loan program lists a maximum award per year per agency of $15,000,000 and an advertised interest rate of about 2.25 percent. She told council the full replacement of the Butterfield plant is estimated between $200 million and $260 million, depending on phasing. Mayor Pro Tem Grimm said the project "is a massive investment to our infrastructure" and moved to approve the resolution. The motion passed unanimously.

Council also approved Resolution 4673, the city's 2026 legislative priorities, after Deputy City Manager Risha Sadel said staff and the city's lobbyist had refined a unified agenda for the short session. Mayor Pro Tem Grimm praised staff and lobbyist efforts; the measure passed on a unanimous vote.

For the Boys & Girls Club facility at the former Emerson Elementary building, Sadel described a package of previously approved ARPA funding (about $1.26 million), a Commerce grant and a recently secured roughly $1.382 million in state funding. The city owns the building and the proposed lease and restrictive covenant would require the property remain used for youth or community purposes for 10 years to satisfy grant conditions. Council approved Resolution 4674, authorizing the city manager to execute the leasehold deed of trust and restrictive covenant, by unanimous vote.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, claims of $7,261,245.95, contract awards including Farm Well No. 4 bid #25679): approved unanimously. - Resolution 4672: Authorize submittal of DOH drinking-water state revolving fund construction loan application for Butterfield Water Treatment Plant improvements; motion by Mayor Pro Tem Grimm, seconded by Councilwoman Blaisdell; approved unanimously. - Resolution 4673: Declare City of Pasco 2026 legislative priorities; motion by Mayor Pro Tem Grimm, seconded by Councilwoman Blaisdell; approved unanimously. - Resolution 4674: Authorize execution of leasehold deed of trust and restrictive covenant for Boys & Girls Club renovation (contract 26-96645-003); motion by Mayor Pro Tem Grimm, seconded by Councilwoman Blaisdell; approved unanimously.

What happens next: Staff will submit the loan application before the end of the month and return with any follow-up items; the Boys & Girls Club project will proceed under the conditions of the lease and grant restrictions.