Residents raise water-billing and animal-control concerns during Pasco public comment

At the Feb. 17 Pasco City Council meeting multiple residents used the public-comment period to both praise city emergency personnel and to raise complaints about city services.

Mary Mahoney (Pasco resident) criticized the proposed Pasco Aquatic Center budget and logo concepts, asked for a public accounting of tax dollars spent on recreation and city services, and made multiple allegations about the Tri-Cities animal shelter (TCAS), including claims of 48 counts of animal cruelty and that a veteran donor left $545,000 in a will that she alleged was misappropriated (she said "Julie Chambers siphoned off $300,000"). Those allegations were presented as citizen complaints and were not adjudicated or answered during the meeting.

James Snodgrass (Pasco resident) commended the city's fire and police departments but said he received an automated water shutoff notice, had difficulty reaching staff by phone, and "had to come down here to City Hall to get a human." He said the city’s billing process notified him his meter was "tampered with" and cited a $70 charge; council members acknowledged the concern and asked staff to follow up.

City leadership responded to the comments by thanking residents for feedback and promising follow-up on individual service and billing problems. Mayor encouraged staff to contact speakers to resolve utility-billing issues; no formal action was taken during the public-comment period.

What happens next: staff signaled they will follow up with the residents who raised utility complaints and the council directed staff to continue outreach on issues raised during public comment.