It’s been called an insult and a hand grenade, but Pasco’s two-thirds proposal will get a vote

Unseemly — that’s how Pasco Councilwoman Rebecca Francik described a colleague’s request for the board to put a two-thirds vote requirement into place in the final days of the current term.

Francik, along with two colleagues and several citizens, questioned the timing of Bob Hoffmann's proposal less than one week after losing his re-election bid.

As the city’s outgoing mayor pro tem, she said it didn’t seem right to change the rules now when the longtime city representatives never imposed a supermajority requirement on themselves.

“There’s absolutely no indication that the new council members coming in are not responsible, intelligent individuals who could take the same type of data that we take from our staff,” she said at the Nov. 27 council meeting. “… I am unwilling to try to bind new council members to rules that we did not live under ourselves.”

A supermajority requirement means that five of the seven council members would need to approve an increase in municipal taxes, rates and fees. Currently the council operates on a simple majority system, meaning four affirmative votes are required for passage.

Yet, as Francik pointed out, four members voting “yes” is 57 percent on this board, and that’s more than a simple majority.

Hoffmann defended his last-minute proposal before the turnover, saying there have been a fair number of increases in his 12 years on council, and few of them would have failed if a supermajority had been in place.

He added that the newcomers lack the history of increases over the last decade or two, and said “the perspective of the past is useful in evaluating increases in the future.”

Hoffmann suggested they take it to the Pasco voters.

Councilman Al Yenney was the only one who sided with Hoffmann.

Yenney said he has great faith in city staff and the incoming council members and doesn’t think there is anyone who wants to tear the city apart, but added that it might not always be that way and the voting requirement would be “a nice thing to have in place.”

Councilman Tom Larsen remained silent through the 40-minute discussion, and Councilman Chi Flores was not at the meeting.

So when Mayor Matt Watkins declared it a dead issue due to lack of support, Hoffmann pushed to advance it to a council vote at the regular meeting this coming Monday.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 525 N. Third Ave.

The resolution is the last item on the agenda. If approved, it calls for a Feb. 13 special election for the ballot proposition.

“Owing to the numerous questions and uncertainties regarding the effects of the proposed resolution, staff recommends against its passage,” according to the staff report prepared for council members.

The cities of Yakima, Spokane and Spokane Valley, along with Pierce County, have adopted local supermajority requirements.

Councilman Saul Martinez, who is not in favor of the proposal, noted that if the resolution is passed it can just be changed by the new board before an election.

Re-elected to a four-year term, he said he hopes his colleagues in the coming years will do their due diligence in evaluating any proposed increase. “I don’t see that this will be a benefit to anybody,” he said.

Watkins said it is the “soberest of responsibilities” for first-year members to potentially levy a tax or fee on residents, and that voters choose the representatives to make those tough decisions.

“I’m going to cut to the point that we shouldn’t do this at the last minute with this body, and at the same time I think that it’s probably something that the new council might consider,” he said.

A Pasco resident who did not give his name said he lives with his mother and helps her out as she’s in her 90s and on a fixed income.

After listening to another agenda item about raising ambulance fees, the man said he supports putting the supermajority issue to a vote by the people.

“I think it shouldn’t be easy to raise our fees, so I think a supermajority would be a good idea,” the man said.

Pete Serrano was one of four councilmen-elect in the audience at the meeting. He said they should let the issue play out in the right order — first with the passage of a resolution by council, then with a ballot proposition.

“I do take offense to the fact that this was thrown in as a last-minute measure. That is quite bothersome,” he told the council. “But that aside, I do agree with what the last speaker said. If there is a concern it should be put to the people.”

Jeff Robinson told council members that if they approve a supermajority requirement, it is telling well-informed voters their opinion really doesn’t matter.

“You have operated with a simple majority on the most major of issues since pretty much the city’s inception,” Robinson said.

“I think that a lot of you are great men and women, but I beg you not to do this. I beg you to put your trust in the public, as you so often do. … Please don’t taint all you have done by taking away the liberty to trust in officials.”

Felix Vargas, a longtime Pasco resident, agreed with Watkins’ remarks.

“The new members we have for city council are very capable. Yes, they bring new ideas, but what’s wrong with new ideas,” Vargas said.”I think to do anything like what Councilman Hoffmann is suggesting is tantamount to throwing a hand grenade into a room full of people as you walk out the door.”

This story was originally published December 2, 2017 at 1:08 PM with the headline "It’s been called an insult and a hand grenade, but Pasco’s two-thirds proposal will get a vote."