City of Pasco: A future of great promise for our residents, businesses, and investors
At the time of this writing, we are working together in responding to a global crisis, and doing our best to protect ourselves, our families and one another. With each day, it is becoming increasingly apparent that it will be some time before the nation and our community return to “normal.” Even then, there is a good chance it will be a “new normal.”
The focus of local governments across the Tri-Cities right now is taking proactive measures that will allow us to continue providing the essential services on which the community relies. Under the current conditions, it is a bit of a challenge to focus on recent milestones being achieved or what the future holds; however, it is important we do so because there is a future. Our nation and our community will endure the current crisis, and we will enter into a future of great promise for our residents, businesses, investors, and future investors. With these thoughts in mind, below are some Pasco highlights that are representative of our progress and the direction the City Council is leading us:
Outreach is a hallmark of the Pasco City Council, and in that vein, the city recently concluded community forums, where the City Council and staff heard from a wide variety of Pasco residents, business/landowners, and other concerned community members on a range of issues. The City Council will use this critical feedback, along with the city’s biennial survey (and surveys from our agency partners), as they update their long-range goals that drive the city’s policies, budget, programming and capital investment.
Goals make a difference, and the current City Council goals have most recently resulted in:
• The Police Department achieving national accreditation in 2019 and recertification for state accreditation, making Pasco only one of two cities in the state to hold both levels of accreditation.
• For the second year in a row, the city was a finalist for “All-America City;” only 20 cities in the nation are finalists.
• The city moved to a biennial budget, which helped the city achieve the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” from the Government Finance Officers Association.
• The city continues to be rated as one of the safest cities in the state and ranking favorably along with our area communities.
• The establishment of an Arts and Culture Commission to harness our diverse local talent for public art initiatives.
• Completion of such significant public works projects as phase 1 of the Oregon Avenue improvements, the Columbia Water Supply facility and the 20th Avenue Overlay project.
• The completion of Chapel Hill Boulevard, a long-missing multi-modal corridor link connecting Road 68 and Road 84, is now open. This project connects booming residential areas, allows for new commercial opportunities and improves safety and options for travelers in the surrounding area.
• Continuing work on a new animal shelter.
• Streamlining processes to keep city utility shutoffs at historically low levels.
• Stable property tax and utility rates. With the population of Pasco expected to increase to approximately 125,000 within the next 20 years, an increase of roughly 50,000 new residents, the city has put a significant emphasis on planning and infrastructure investment. The city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan is underway and will be completed this fall. The update is a 20-year look forward to what Pasco will look like, including quality of life and infrastructure issues such as open space, parks, density, development standards, public safety, transportation, utility infrastructure, affordable housing, walkability, employment and community amenities.
Pasco continues to experience steady growth, adding approximately 1,500 single-family homes in just the past three years. In the coming years, Pasco will experience considerable residential and commercial growth, particularly in the Broadmoor area. With a major sewer trunk line completed, a large Local Improvement District project underway, as well as plans for transportation improvements, the Broadmoor area is primed for significant commercial, mixed-use and residential development.
Some noteworthy capital initiatives that have been in the works for years are currently coming to fruition:
• Funding for the $32M Lewis Street Overpass has been secured, and this long-awaited project will be under construction by late spring. Once completed, the facility will provide a safe and welcoming gateway to downtown.
• A $6.5M investment to remake Peanuts Park/Farmers Market into the image generated through considerable public input will be under construction in late spring.
• Two new fire stations are coming soon with construction over the next 18 months; Station 83 is currently under construction at the corner of Road 76 and Sandifur Parkway with Station 84, going out to bid, at Road 48 and Court Street in April.
It is no simple task to describe all that is happening in Pasco in a few hundred words. We encourage the public to access our website (www.pasco-wa.gov) or follow us on social media to stay up to date on city news, initiatives and other significant happenings in our community.
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:01 PM with the headline "City of Pasco: A future of great promise for our residents, businesses, and investors."