Pasco council approves rezoning, water-rights fee changes, conservation-district annexation and other measures

The Pasco City Council adopted a package of ordinances and resolutions addressing land use, utility fees and several operational items during its meeting.

Council voted to adopt Ordinance 4823 to rezone property at 1734 North 5th Avenue from commercial (C‑1) to R‑1 low‑density residential. Staff said the parcel had been a former church site and rezoning would align the parcel with surrounding residential uses. Legal counsel advised council on appearance-of-fairness disclosures before deliberations. Mayor Pro Tem Milne moved the ordinance; Council member Parales seconded, and the motion carried.

The council also adopted Ordinance 4824 to amend Pasco Municipal Code sections dealing with water‑rights acquisition fees and assignment of water rights for extensions of city water service. Staff explained the city had raised the in‑lieu fee to $4,150 per acre‑foot in 2023 and removed commercial/industrial exemptions; moving water rights off a parcel after November 2023 can trigger a 50% surcharge. Staff said grandfathering was being applied only to the previously lower fee, not to the 50% surcharge. The ordinance was moved and passed.

On intergovernmental matters, council approved Resolution 3711 to include the City of Pasco territory in the Franklin County Conservation District and separately approved an interlocal agreement (ILA) to enable shrub‑step mitigation and technical assistance. Staff estimated an average annual parcel cost of about $5.03. While one council member registered opposition citing property‑tax sensitivity, the resolution and the ILA were approved.

Council authorized the purchase of Franklin County parcel 124710063 to expand the Process Water Reuse Facility’s land treatment system (Resolution 3714). Environmental compliance manager Michael Henao said the city negotiated the asking price from $2,400,000 to $2,250,000 and that the parcel would add roughly 225 acres toward acreage goals for future reuse capacity. Council approved authorization for the city manager to execute closing documents.

Other approved items included Resolution 3715, setting a public hearing at 7 p.m. on April 6, 2026, to consider a fiber‑optic franchise with NFC Northwest LLC; and Resolution 3716, accepting construction work completed by Ellison Earthworks LLC on the Court Street and Road 68 roundabout and authorizing release of retainage. Staff reported the roundabout’s final construction reconciliation reduced the contract to roughly $2.4 million.

Where votes were taken, council recorded motions and standard roll‑call/voice votes; no recorded procedural irregularities were noted during the meeting. Several items (public‑hearing scheduling and executive‑session topics) will return to future agendas per staff notes.