public meetings are broadcast live and rebroadcast the following weeks, so you have much more opportunity to know exactly what the City Council, Planning Commission and the Code Enforcement Board are doing on your behalf. As 2007 unfolds, we intend to add a variety of informational programs, particularly those we can produce to better inform you about city services.

We are pleased to have accomplished much over the past year, and prepare for 2007, while reducing the city share of your property tax bill – for the fifth consecutive year. The city’s property tax rate is now 26% lower than it was in 2002!

Despite all the progress, of course, challenges remain before us: down-town revitalization, traffic congestion, auto thefts, just to note a few. But just as the Pasco community has confronted past challenges, we can certainly succeed in further improving the quality of community life in Pasco – and continue to reflect Progress, Pride, Prosperity.

AMessageFrom the City Manager’sOffice

The past year brought a welcome sign of approaching relief from the torrid pace of development the city has experienced over the past six years. Although we issued permits for more than 700 new homes last year, that represents a 30% decline in new home construction – and we expect that to level out in the 500 range in 2007 (representing only half the rate experienced in 2004 and 2005).

Accompanying the residential decline last year, however, was an equally welcome increase in commercial/industrial investment. The Road 68 industrial corridor sprouted retail outlets like crocuses in spring and the community finally welcomed a “big box” hardware store, as Lowes opened its doors (and reduced our weekly gasoline consumption!).

Equally important, however, we made progress in our quest to foster a larger industrial tax base (which will help the school district finance new schoolfacilities in the future). Bybee Fresh Foods relocated and expanded its Yakima Valley operations to a new processing facility in Pasco last year (attracted by the city’s unique “Process Water Reuse Facility”), adding $10 million to the tax base. And, several key public investments

City of Pasco Annual Report 2006

were initiated last year to build a better foundation for future private industrial investment, including a new truck route connecting the 600-acre industrial area south of East “A” Street with the East Lewis Street interchange at SR12.

The City Council identified 15 new goals to be fulfilled – or realize measurable progress on – over the next two years; all are aimed at improving the Pasco community, but some will require difficult decisions – like what to do about three aging swimming pools? We found a way to open Chiawana Park for the summer season and, in doing so, found the cost to be lower than expected; we hope to work out an acceptable long-term lease agreement with the Corps of Engineers in time for the 2007 summer season. We oversaw completion of the new Ainsworth overpass of the BN railroad lines, aptly named for recently deceased and former Mayor and Councilmember Charles Kilbury.

The City Council helped to initiate a study, in collaboration with their counterparts in Kennewick and Rich-land, to identify the best approach to accomplish “regional centers” (such as an aquatics center or a performing arts center) if the Tri-Cities community wants to support such major public facilities in the future.

We made a major commitment to improve communication by launching PSC-TV, Channel 12 – our very owncable TV channel. All of the city’s

Public Works

at Road 100 and Chapel Hill Blvd., accomodates the burgeoning traffic flow from the Loviisa farms neighborhood south of I-182. Both of the signal installations (total-ing $300,000) were fully paid for by the benefitting developments through their payment of traffic impact fees.

Charles Kilbury Overpass

Completed installation of the $7 million Ainsworth Overpass of the Burlington Northern Railroad mainline, eliminating the frequent 15-minute delays to employee and truck traffic through the Port of Pasco and greatly improving safety. The new overpass, mostly paid for by $6.2 million in state transportation grants, was named in honor of the former Pasco Mayor and 16th District State Representative Charles Kilbury who was a tireless champion for transportation improvements.

Clean Water Capacity Increased

Replaced and expanded the 50-year old intake piping which draws Columbia River water to our water filter plant, thus increasing our capacity to provide clean water to the Pasco community for decades to come.

2007 GOALS

Pedestrian PathwayReconstruct Court Street between Roads 68 and 84, to include a pedestrian pathway on both sides (taking advantage of a $231,000 state grant for safety improvements).

Water TransmissionInstall large water transmission line near the Blue Bridge to provide a second loop supply to the water reser-voirs on the plateau, thus improving reliability of supply and stabilizing pressure throughout the system.

Signal InstallationWork with the state highway department to install signals at the Road 100/I-182 interchange to improve traffic flow, particularly at peak commute times. The federal funding for this $1.2 million project was obtained through the efforts of Congressman Hastings.

Service Standards To maintain all city streets, maintain and operate all water and sewer facilities. To construct new facilities to ensure the highest level of public satisfaction and safety.

STAFF: 68

Director Bob Alberts 543-5738

City Engineering 545-3444

Street & Water Maintenance545-3463

Water Quality 545-3469

Sewer Backup & Maintenance544-3083

After Hours Emergency545-2737

2006 AccomplishmentsNew Traffic Signals

Installation of two new traffic signal systems, one at Road 68 and the other at Road 100. At Road 68 and Wrigley, traffic flow through-out the new commercial area is much improved and those residing in the neighborhoods on either sideof Road 68 have much-improved commute options. The new signal

Community andEcomonic Development

Code Enforcement Nearly 3,000 code enforcement infractions were addressed this year.Over 85% of these were voluntarily corrected, with no need for further action after the owner was informed of the violation. The Code Enforcement Board, made up of Pasco residents, heard cases concerning unsafe housing, weeds, delinquent business licenses, and junk vehicles.

Historic Preservation Commission

The City of Pasco Historic Preservation Commission wasorganized and the Commission processed its first Historic Property Tax Special Valuation application for the Moore Mansion.

Community Housing Improvement ProgramRehabilitated 6 homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the Franklin County Historical Museum and Longfellow School, with 12 additional homes in the approval process for 2007.

2007 GOALS

Railroad MuseumWork with the Railroad Historical Society to secure funding for the acquisition and renovation of the downtown BNSF depot building. The building and surrounding lands will house exhibits of historically significant rail cars and equipment and will contribute to the effort to revitalize downtown.

BusinessDevelopment

Expand the community’s tax base by encouraging development of additional commercial and industrial enterprises and work with the Port of Pasco and owners of industrial land to prepare plans, facilitate infrastructure improvements, and assure zoning necessary to facilitate industrial development in south-eastern Pasco. Work with property owners in the I-182 corridor to assure appropriate zoning and adequate infrastructure to attract additional commercial enter-prises. Continue to support owners of properties and businesses in the downtown in their efforts to stabilize and revitalize the downtown area.

SERVICE STANDARDTo promote and oversee economic and community development and to administer land use, housing, property maintenance and construction regulations.

STAFF: 14

Director,Richard J. Smith 545-3441

Code Enforcement 545-3441

Building Permits 543-5726

Business Assistance 545-3441

Planning & Zoning 545-3441

Housing / Urban DevelopmentCoordinator 543-5739

2006 Accomplishments

Steady Trends Issued more than 3,800 construction permits for the year, representing more than $200 million dollars of new investment and involving more than 16,000 construction inspections (averaging more than 60 each business day!) to assure new structures meetminimum safety standards. 723 of those permits were for new homes last year, representing a 28% decline from the 1,008 issued in 2005.

New commercial and industrial projects valued at more than $56 million were permitted in 2006 including: seven industrial buildings, seven office buildings, another bank, seven food establishments, a medical clinic, a dental office, a vet clinic and 19 new retail spaces. The most visible of these projects was Lowes, the “big box” home improvement store on Road 68.

Administrative &Community Services

SERVICE STANDARDTo provide a wide range of external services in the community...including leisure and recreation, public facilities and customer service...and to provide internal support to all departments.

Staff: 46

Director Stan Strebel 543-5757

Administrative Services 544-3096

Information Services 545-3419

Facilities 543-5757

Finance 545-3420

Recreation 545-3456

Customer Service 545-3488

SERVICE The Administrative and Community Services Department provides a wide range of services to the community, including: leisure and recreation, public facilities, customer service, and internal support to all city departments.

Administrative Division includes:records management, risk management, purchasing, contract administration and legal services.Staff : 6

Facilities Division manages Pasco public park grounds and performs facility maintenance for all city buildings and properties.Staff: 13

Finance Services Division consists of accounting, budget administration, utility billing and customer service.Staff: 14

Information Services Division manages ongoing computer and telephone systems maintenance for city-wide operations. Staff: 5

Volunteer Park A new restroom was completed adjacent to the parking lot at Volunteer Park. The new facility, located in Pasco’s oldest park, replaces an aging facility that was taken out of service several years ago.

Golf Course The lakes in the northeast corner of Sun Willows Golf Course have been renovated, as they have become silted in, unattractive and difficult to maintain over the years. The project represents the final step in renovating the municipal golf course; it is an important city asset, as it generates nearly $300,000 for the city each year, helping to support many other recreation activities.

SERVICERecreation Services Division manages all city recreation programs, special events, Senior Citizens Center, Martin Luther King Center and swimming pools. Staff: 8

2006 Accomplishments

2 New Parks Two new neighborhood parks near completion at the end of 2006. The new parks include picnic areas, playgrounds, and areas for portable restrooms, playfields and basketball facilities. The parks were paid for by the fees assessed to new homes in the area.

The first park is a 5-acre park located in the Casa del Sol subdivision, on Laredo Drive, west of Road 44, north of Burden Blvd. The second is a 3-acre park in the Pasco Heights sub-division, south of Wrigley Drive and east of Road 60, north of Burden Blvd.

New Facilities The facilities division completed construction of a new maintenance facility to house all of the equipment and materials necessary to maintain all of the buildings, grounds and parks owned by the city. Also a new sales office was completed at the City View cemetery.

2007 GOALS

Sacajawea Heritage Trail Phase II

Phase II of the trail project will extend the trail from 13th Avenue (just west of the Cable Bridge) to connect with the existing trail at the Big Pasco Industrial Center (just east of the Pasco Boat Basin). This is the final segment of the trail on the Pasco side of the Columbia river and, when completed (hopefully by October), will present a continuous trail from Sacajawea State Park on the east end to Chiawana Park on the west end and even across the bridges to connect with the rest of the 23-mile regional trail throughout the Tri-Cities.

New WebsiteThe new website focus is to serve our citizens in an efficient manner, providing them with additional ways to do business with the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Traditional municipal governmentwebsites generally organize information based on departments. The new design eliminates the need to know the structure of the organization and instead organizes material based on a function or topic. For example, if a user is looking for a particular type of form, they don’t need to know which department created the form, they just simply go to our forms page.

The new website will offer a wide array of expanded on-line services including utility bill payment, business license and permit applications, agendas with full back up material and submission of citizen complaints for topics ranging from traffic concerns to animal control. The city’s goal is to enhance citizens’ online government experience with services and information.

Chiawana ParkThe City Council has included funding in the city budget for the assumption of maintenance and operation of Chiawana Park and adjacent portions of the Sacajawea Heritage Trail in 2007. Anticipating a long-term lease agreement with Corps of Engineers, the facilities staff is making prepara-tions to open the park by May.

Dust Devils Stadium In conjunction with a grant from the state legislature, the city is preparing to construct a shade structure at the Dust Devils baseball stadium. The structure will provide shading of the third base bleachers in the late afternoon and early evening during prime time for Dust Devils games. This will improve the comfort and enjoyment of spectators at stadium events.

SERVICE STANDARDTo reduce crime, the fear of crime and improve the quality of life in the City of Pasco.

STAFF: 75

Police Chief, Denis Austin 545-3481

Non-Emergency Dispatch545-3510

EMERGENCY 9-1-1

Records Information 545-3421

Detective Division 545-3484 Mini-Stations: Downtown 544-3085 Alderwood 545-3415 Kurtzman 545-3411 Broadmoor Square 547-5740

2006 Accomplishments

Noise Reduction Program

In 2005 a citizens’ survey revealed that loud music was one of the top 5 concerns among citizens. To lower the number of citizen complaints regarding loud car stereos,

we initiated a combination ofeducation and enforcement to elicit voluntary compliance with the city’s noise ordinance. During the first six months of the program, 312 citations were issued to violators, (more than double the previous year) and a marked reduction in citizen complaints was noted.

Community Involvement

To enhance community policing efforts, developing rapport with the community you serve is crucial. Our Mini-Stations held community activities to promote public safety and awareness. These activities included such events as blood drives, public safety day, and even Child ID/public safety day where parents could create an identification kit with invaluable information should a child go missing or be abducted.

Emergency Management Training

The Police Department participated in “Incident Command System” training to improve interagency and emergency response service to the community. This training is designed to prepare local law enforcement officers to work with state and federal emergency man-agement systems.

2007 GOALS Communications

The Police Department will upgrade and improve our existing radio and mobile communication systems. The enhancements will provide additional response information from dispatch to officers in the field, improving safety for citizens and officers alike.

Strategic PlanCommunity and neighborhood meet-ings will be held to solicit input from our citizens regarding public safety. The department will incorporate citizen input into its updated strategic plan, helping to guide service delivery over the next five years.

Traffic EmphasisTwo new officers will be dedicated to full time traffic enforcement in the city. These officers will create a visible impact on traffic violations. The officers will conduct periodic DWI traffic check points, respond to neighborhood traffic concerns, and supply additional backup manpower to other officers in the field.

Pasco Crime Drops8% over last year!

Police Department

SERVICE STANDARDThe Pasco Fire Department’s mission is to provide rapid mitigation of fire, hazardous materials and provide res-cue, and medical emergencies with compassion, integrity, and respect for the people we serve. To be the premier provider of public safety services, utilizing our people as the critical resource to accomplish our goals.

STAFF: 50

Fire Chief, Gregory L. Garcia 545-3246

Burn Information 544-3098

EMERGENCY 9-1-1

2006 Accomplishments

New Fire Station The city teamed with the Port of Pasco and the Federal Aviation Administration to replace Fire Station 82 located at the Tri-Cities Airport with a new state-of-the-art facility, saving Pasco taxpayers more than half a million dollars by sharing the construction costs!

New Fire EngineA new fire engine was placed in service at the Oregon Ave. fire station as part of the city’s ongoing effort to replace equipment at the end of its useful life. The city focuses on

fiscal responsibility through long-term budget planning; the city is prepared to replace these “big ticket items” without asking voters for special bond monies to replace basic operating equipment.

Public Safety Education

The Fire Safety House is a FREE fire safety education program designed to teach children important aspects of fire safety. Firefighters visited with over 1200 students teaching them what to do in case of a fire including how to stop, drop, and roll!The Fire Safety House contains the three rooms where fires start most frequently in a home: the kitchen, the living room and the bedroom. Dem-onstrations are conducted to teach life-saving procedures including:•How to crawl low under smoke, •How to feel a door before opening it, •How to use a fire escape ladder, •What a smoke alarm sounds like, and •How to call 911. Participating adults are reminded of theimportance of developing a homefire escape plan,including alternateescape routes fromeach room of theirhome for their family’s safety.

2007 GOALS

Continue Training All Fire Department personnel are being trained to meet National Incident Management Standards (NIMS) requirements. Areas of specialized training include:-Incident Command (several layers of command functions)- Continuity of Government- Hazardous Materials Awareness- The National Response Plan - Multi-Area CommandThis training is to prepare for an act of terrorism or any major incident that would include multijurisdictional disciplines and responders. The “integration” of community functions, resources, organizations and individuals in all phases of emergency management, is stressed throughout this training. The training stresses use of the incident command system, multi-agency coordination systems, and public information systems of NIMS. The benefits include a unified approach to incident management and the ability to work with state and fed-eral emergency management systems.

New Fire Rescue Truck A new fire/rescue truck with state-of-the-art equipment specializing in rescue operations and vehicle extrication with the “jaws of life” is targeted for delivery in 2007.

Fire Department

City of PascoP.O. Box 293Pasco, WA 99301-0923

City of Pasco

2006Annual ReportA Publication for the Pasco Community

City of Pasco

2006Annual Report

Elected & City Officials:

Mayor Joyce Olson (Dist. 4) 545-4936, pascojoyce@charter.net

Mayor Pro Tem Matt Watkins (At Large) 545-4916, councilmatt@mattwatkins.net

Councilwoman Rebecca Francik (Dist. 5) 545-6134, rfrancik@charter.net

Councilman Mike Garrison (Dist. 2) 545-9743, alcg@urx.com

Councilman Bob Hoffmann (Dist. 3) 547-7373, Hoffmann_council@yahoo.com

Councilman Joe Jackson (Dist. 1) 547-3753, jjack55167@aol.com

Councilman Tom Larsen (At Large) 545-9916

City Manager Gary Crutchfield 545-3404, zunkert@ci.pasco.wa.usVisit our website: www.ci.pasco.wa.us.

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