City of Pasco planning staff gave an overview of three major planning efforts planned for 2025–26: a periodic update to the comprehensive plan, an update of the transportation system master plan, and a new energy resilience study funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Staff said the city advertised requests for proposals and qualifications in early December with a Jan. 13 submission deadline and that multiple firms submitted proposals. For the comprehensive plan update staff reported two submittals: Framework Consulting (Seattle) and LDC Consultants (Woodinville). For the transportation system master plan staff listed three submittals: a firm rendered in the slides as "Fair and Pierce," Ardura (Spokane), and DKS Associates (Portland). For the energy resilience study staff reported multiple submittals, including ScottMadden, Siemens PTI, Digital Energy Solutions, EcoNorthwest and New Moogrid, and said staff would complete evaluations and aim to select consultants by the end of the month.

Nut graf: The three efforts are funded by state periodic‑update and climate planning grants and are intended to align Pasco's policy and regulatory documents with state requirements while creating an engagement process that reflects local priorities; commissioners urged staff to prioritize accessible engagement tools and to carry forward recent park and shoreline planning into the comp‑plan update.

Commissioners emphasized public engagement and local context. Commissioner Kim Lerman asked that any online engagement tools be mobile friendly and easy to use so more residents can participate; another commissioner praised a past downtown visioning workshop that used in‑person boards and noted those methods drew broad participation. Commissioners also asked staff to ensure consultants understand Pasco's shoreline and riverside aspirations so visionary goals (for example increased access to the Columbia River and additional recreation along the levee) are carried into regulatory and implementation strategies in the comprehensive plan.

Safety and maintenance issues on existing streets emerged as related, near‑term concerns. Commissioners raised a question about guardrails and the outer corner on a northbound curve on the Road 100 corridor roundabout and asked staff to pass the concern to public works; commissioners also noted recent loss of some pavement striping and reflective tape after storms and asked staff to follow up.

Staff said all three planning efforts will include public engagement, periodic reporting to the Planning Commission and presentations to the City Council once consultants are selected. The work is fully funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce through a periodic‑update grant and climate planning grants.

Ending: Staff expects to return in February with consultant recommendations and then to begin public engagement and workshops led by selected consultants.