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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-18 NCBC Agenda PktYakima City Council Committee Neighborhood & Community Building Committee (NCBC) Council Chambers, City Hall – 129 N 2nd St, Yakima, WA Thursday August 18, 2016 2:00 p.m. City Council City Staff Councilmember Dulce Gutiérrez (Chair) Cliff Moore, City Manager Councilmember Avina Gutiérrez Joan Davenport, Community Development Director Councilmember Carmen Méndez Councilmember Holly Cousens (alternate) Agenda 1. Public Information and Public Relations (R. Beehler) 2. Equity Assessment Status Update (J. Davenport) 3. Exploratory Committee Update - Bike/Pedestrian Committee (C. Mendez) - Ethics & Human Rights (A. Gutierrez) - Community Integration (D. Gutierrez) 4. Parks Updates (K. Wilkinson) - Millennium Water Feature - Exercise Equipment Costs - Cherry Park progress 5. Report on Truck Routes (B. Sheffield) 6. Board Appointed Reports – Standing Item - Comprehensive Plan Update (J. Davenport) - Homeless Network (C. Mendez) - Parks & Recreation Commission (D. Gutierrez) - South East Community Center (A. Gutierrez) - Historic Preservation (A. Gutierrez) - Appoint Representative to TRANS-Action Committee 7. Other Business / Requests - HOME Program Project Proposal (A. Matthews) - Approve Minutes of 5/19/2016, 6/16/2016, and 7/21/2016 - Recap of Deliverables for Next NCBC Meeting o Interpreter for Next Meeting 8. Audience Participation Next Meeting: September 15, 2016 MEMORANDUM To: Yakima City Council Neighborhood and Community Building Committee From: Joan Davenport, Director of Community Development Date: August 18, 2016 Subject: Status of Data Collection for Equity Study City staff has started the foundation of the Equity Study including data capture, reports and maps to illustrate this information. After review of efforts from other communities, it was determined that we would first focus on physical assets and events that create bench marks of information and could be measured in the future. Additionally, the Council requested that when possible, sort the data by the seven City Council districts for comparative purposes. Some preliminary data has been published and illustrated in a digital format (this is a Map Journal, or a series of Story Maps that use data from the City Geographic Information Services). At this time, we are still adding content, analysis and summaries for the data displayed. This data will available to the general public for review. The data, as available, may be viewed at: http://arcg.is/29RjCj2 At the August 18, 2016 Neighborhood and Community Building Committee meeting, staff will provide a brief presentation of this web site and data which is available on the site noted above. This site, while preliminary in nature, is available for the public to explore. The following items have been illustrated: • How we got here – Growth of the city. • Population and Housing Characteristics • Top valued properties • Public Safety calls • Street Lights • Graffiti and Pothole complaints from “YakBack” submittals • 2015 Animal Control calls • Code Compliance cases in 2015 featuring the type of cases reported such as illegal signs, dumping in alleys, weedy lots, yard debris and graffiti • Parks and investments in park properties • Sewer back-ups reported Yakima Equity Study In 2016, the Yakima City Council started a series of actions to address equitable distribution of resources throughout the City of Yakima related to social, racial and economic benefits. These actions, to date, include launching two exploratory committees: (1) Community Integration; and (2) Ethics & Human Rights. In addition, the City Council directed the preparation of an Equity Analysis Study. To support the study, data has been collected to illustrate the distribution of resources and investments in the seven existing City council Districts. This information is still in a draft form and is presented as an introduction to the issues at hand. The items displayed in this study represent information that can be measured and create benchmarks for comparative purposes in the future. In 2015, City of Yakima was divided into seven new Council Districts. The boundaries of two of the new City Council Districts (Districts 1 and 2) were specifically identified by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to create voting areas that were of a Latino voting majority. The Equity Analysis will provide data that will assist in analyzing and allocating resources to the entire City. How We Got Here The pattern of development and growth of our city provides a context to discuss public investments and sequencing of projects. This series of maps illustrates the expansion of the City limits by 10-year increments It is interesting to note that District 1 closely resembles the original Plat of North Yakima which founded the city in 1886. Due to this factor, infrastructure may be older than in other parts of the City. Also, there are many mature shade trees, original sidewalks and structures. Data is included to document the change in population composition since 1970. Public Safety Calls for Service The Equity Study data includes a series of map views that illustrate the last 30 days of police and fire calls for service. This data indicates all service calls and is sorted by Council Districts. A significant share of the City budget is used to support fire and police services. Street Light Inventory The City of Yakima maintains a total of 4925 street lights, distributed along public streets and sidewalks. The majority of the lights are High Pressure Sodium. In recent years, the City has replaced or installed new LED fixtures which are more expensive to purchase, but are low maintenance, low power and last many years. To date the City has 551 LED street lights. The distribution of street lights is consistent with the pattern of high traffic arterial streets and street intersections. There is a higher number of street lights in District 4 since it contains the Central Business District and is a traffic congested and pedestrian environment. “YakBack” Communication In 2012, the City of Yakima launched a communication tool for residents to report issues via the internet, both good and bad, to the City to address. City protocol is to respond to issues within 48 hours. This portion of the site illustrates some of the more common complaints which may be good benchmarks for future tracking, including potholes in the streets and reports of graffiti. Animal Control Calls, 2015 The City of Yakima responds to numerous requests for assistance related to animals each year. Since the City has a leash law, one of the most common calls is for a loose dog, or “animal at large”. Stray or running dogs are picked up and impounded at the Humane Shelter as part of the enforcement effort. The map series related to animal control calls illustrates the number and distribution of calls in 2015. Code Compliance Cases, 2015 Enforcement of City codes is a primary function of City government. The City of Yakima responds primarily to complaints by residents. Other obvious apparent code violation are also subject to code enforcement. On occasion, the City Council directs a topic for “focused enforcement”. For example, in 2015 a focus of enforcement was related to illegal signs. The data mapped for this series, shows this emphasis of a priority for sign enforcement. Other common code enforcement cases include dumping in alleys, weedy lots, yard debris and graffiti. Park Facilities and Investments The equitable distribution of park investment and maintenance services has been a focus of discussion in the context of this Equity Study. The map and data displayed illustrated the location, a brief history and the history of expenditures for each park location. Future Work on Data Collection and Illustration The characteristics displayed in this project represent a cross section of information about the City of Yakima. These items were selected for display because they can be sorted by Council Districts for comparative purposes. Many other features can be included in this study and will be developed as the project is advanced. Since this is a preliminary draft of the data for the Equity Study, some lessons have been learned. 1. Mapping and data representation is dependent upon good addresses. Some of the data bases do not provide adequate information to completely map data. Older data is difficult to provide correct spatial data if it is not included in the initial report. 2. Linear data such as water lines, sewer lines, streets and sidewalks is difficult to represent by Council Districts. 3. Event and point data is the most convenient type of information to divide into districts, but may not capture all the information requested for study. The Equity Study of physical characteristics is one part of the efforts started by the City Council. The Council will set goals and expected outcomes in order to help guide future study. Briefing on the Millennium Plaza Fountains To: Neighborhood and Community Building Committee From: Ken Wilkinson, Parks & Recreation Manager Date: Friday, August 12, 2016 RE: Millennium Plaza Fountains Report The Millennium Plaza project was a community initiated public art project started in 1999. Currently, the Millennium Foundation, which was established to raise funds, construct the plaza and establish an endowment to pay for the repairs and maintenance of the art, pays for repairs and maintenance of the plaza. Park maintenance staff assists with fountain repairs and other simple repairs to the plaza and some maintenance items. Block by Block takes care of the daily maintenance, for example, mowing, trash removal, graffiti abatement, etc. The Parks and Recreation Division pays for the irrigation costs for the grass and trees. The water used in the fountains is recirculated. We understand that a small amount of water is added to the fountains, as needed, due to evaporation. There is no specific water bill for the fountains. Both fountains have been repaired by park maintenance staff and a local contractor. We will continue to do research as to which organization is paying for the electricity for the lighting and the water fountain pumps. Memorandum August 18, 2016 To: Neighborhood and Community Building Committee From: Brett Sheffield, PE, Chief Engineer Subject: Report on the Status of Truck Routes The accommodation of truck movements is an important component of Yakima’s overall economy. Due to the dispersed nature of industrial and agricultural service land uses in the Yakima Urban Area, truck traffic must travel the entire classified street system to reach packing facilities, warehouses, freeways, the airport or rail service. To date, the City of Yakima has not designated “Truck Routes” as a method to limit truck traffic to certain streets. In the Yakima Urban Area Transportation Plan 2025 (Plan), Primary Truck Routes and Secondary Truck Routes within the Yakima Urban Area were proposed to be identified. The Plan proposed that the following road segments in the City be listed as Primary Truck Routes: • Yakima Avenue, from 8th Street to the Yakima River crossing; • Nob Hill Boulevard, from 64th Avenue to I-82; • Washington Avenue, from 64th Avenue to 14th Street; • Fruitvale Boulevard, from 40th Avenue to 5th Avenue; • 1st Street, from SR 12 to the southern City limits; • 16th Avenue, from SR 12 to Washington Avenue; and, • 40th Avenue, from SR 12 to Washington Avenue. The Plan proposed that the following road segments in the City be listed as Secondary Truck Routes: • River Road, from 34th Avenue to 6th Avenue; • ‘I’ Street, from 5th Avenue to 1st Street; • Lincoln Avenue, from 5th Avenue to 10th Street; • MLK Boulevard, from 5th Avenue to 10th Street; • Fair Avenue, from 10th Street to Yakima Avenue; • Summitview Avenue, from 96th Avenue to Yakima Avenue; • Yakima Avenue, from 16th Avenue to 8th Street; • Tieton Drive, from 96th Avenue to 5th Avenue; • 3rd Avenue, from Lincoln Avenue to Washington Avenue; • 5th Avenue, from ‘I’ Street to Tieton Drive; • 48th Avenue, from Tieton Drive to Washington Avenue; • 64th Avenue, from Tieton Drive to Washington Avenue; and, • 72nd Avenue, from Summitview Avenue to Coolidge Road. In 2015, the City contracted with the consulting firm, VPR Services, LLC, to determine the pavement condition index (PCI) of all of the City streets. The PCI is a rating of the condition of the pavement on a scale of 0 to 100. In October of 2015, as part of the City’s Transportation Plan update, traffic counts were done in certain areas throughout the City. Table 1 lists the average PCI of the road segments proposed to be designated as Primary Truck Routes, along with the percentage of trucks. Table 2 lists the average PCI of the road segments proposed to be designated as Secondary Truck Routes, along with the percentage of trucks. Road PCI Truck % Yakima Avenue - 8th Street to River Crossing 71 0.8% Nob Hill Boulevard - 64th Ave. to I-82 86 1.7% Washington Avenue - 64th Ave. to 18th Street 90 1.1% Fruitvale Boulevard - 40th Ave. to 5th Ave. 49 1.3% 1st Street - SR 12 to Valley Mall Blvd. 66 2.5% 16th Avenue - SR 12 to Washington Ave. 98 2.4% 40th Avenue - SR 12 to Washington Ave. 91 3.3% Table 1: Primary Truck Routes Road PCI Truck % River Road - 34th Ave. to 6th Ave. 100 'I' Street - 5th Ave. to 1st Street 81 Lincoln Avenue - 5th Ave. to 10th Street 100 0.7% MLK Boulevard - 5th Ave. to 10th Street 99 0.6% Fair Avenue - 10th Street to Yakima Ave. 79 Summitview Avenue - 96th Ave. to Yakima Ave. 76 1.9% Yakima Avenue - 16th Ave. to 8th Street 74 0.4% Tieton Drive - 96th Ave. to 5th Ave. 78 0.9% 3rd Avenue - Lincoln Ave. to Washington Ave. 93 0.6% 5th Avenue - 'I' Street to Tieton Drive 77 0.1% 48th Avenue - Tieton Drive to Washington Ave. 64 64th Avenue - Tieton Drive to Washington Ave. 87 0.7% 72nd Avenue - Summitview Ave. to Coolidge Rd. 83 3.7% Table 2: Secondary Truck Routes As these routes are reconstructed, efforts are made to increase the turn radii and improve the driving surface. The hot mix asphalt that was used to resurface the sections of 40th Avenue included in the 2013 and 2014 Street Resurfacing Projects consisted of larger aggregate and a stiffer asphalt oil. The hot mix asphalt at the intersection of Nob Hill Boulevard and 40th Avenue was replaced with cement concrete pavement. These measures were taken to reduce the rutting that occurs on 40th Avenue. Future Consideration of Truck Routes The update to the City of Yakima’s Transportation Plan is scheduled in a draft form this fall (2016). It will incorporated as a regional element of the Comprehensive Plan 2040. This process will have significant public comment opportunities. Staff recommends that the Transportation Plan include consideration and discussion about Truck Routes. Yakima City Council Committee Minutes Neighborhood & Community Building Committee (NCBC) 2nd Floor Conference Room, City Hall May 19, 2016 Committee Members Staff Others Dulce Gutiérrez (Chair) Mark Kunkler, Acting City Manager Ellicott Dandy Lowel Krueger Avina Gutiérrez Joan Davenport, Community Dev Director Phil Mattoon Steve Hill Carmen Méndez Rosalinda Ibarra Scott Schafer Lynn Buchanan Carole Folsom Hill Ken Wilkinson Jenise Sanders Raquel Ferrell-Crowley Jeff Bakers Valerie Smith Cally Price Mary Lopez Nereida Espinoza Archie Matthews Joe Caruso Francisco Fernandez Jorge Alvarez Sara Watkins Jose Castrejon Angelica Sanchez Bob Strader Chair D. Gutiérrez called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Introductions – Everyone in attendance provided a brief introduction. Spanish interpretation was available. Armory Proposal / Homeless Issues – Lowel Krueger, Executive Director of Yakima Housing Authority, provided a quick overview of a proposal to use the Armory site, located in the vicinity of S. 16th Ave & Tahoma Ave, to provide housing and services to homeless veterans in the Yakima area. Part of this proposal is a joint collaboration with Perry Technical Institute which is introducing a new program that would provide workforce training to veterans using their services. After a brief discussion about the partnership with Perry Technical and traffic concerns, the committee was generally in favor of supporting this project and recommended that it be presented to the full council at an upcoming business meeting with answers that address questions such as traffic flow, sidewalks, project timeframe, and any other anticipated needs. Exploratory Committees - Bike/Pedestrian Committee, Ethics, and Community Integration – D. Gutiérrez reminded the audience that regular meetings for these committees will be held separately once they have been established. Bike/Pedestrian Committee – Sara noted that the previous policies and procedures could be reviewed and revised for the re-instated Bike/Pedestrian Committee. C. Méndez to coordinate a meeting with Joan and Sara to discuss monthly meeting schedule and steps on how to increase public participation since staff support will be minimal. In response to inquiries about addressing transportation issues, D. Gutiérrez clarified that those concerns should be presented to the full council so that direction can be given at that level. Issues related to transportation are overseen by the Economic Development Committee at this time. Several practices are in place to ensure community engagement for equitable representation such as the city website, press releases, and announcements at public meetings. Ethics and Community Integration – Sara reported on research of what other cities have adopted for committees that focus on enforcing ordinances established by the local jurisdictions such as human rights, discrimination, equality issues, fair housing. In regards to formulating the procedures for the city ethics committee, Sara suggested evaluating present ordinances and enacting one dealing with human civil rights. Also, having a member with background or experience in the legal field would benefit the ethics committee. Sara referred to the City of Portland as an example of a starting point for the vision of the community integration committee to include components such as community programming, cultural events, immigration services, and diverse community engagement. C. Méndez suggested looking into how a human services department could potentially fit into one of these committees. The next step is to establish parameters, draft policies and procedures will be presented at the next NCBC meeting. Update on Parks Report – Ken Wilkinson reported an overview and updated the committee on the Parks Report. Reporting parameters are divided by council districts displaying parks operational costs, current staff resources, future park improvements, and fees for services being provided. Additional information was requested to be included in the report such as the year of the latest capital improvement for each park, costs to new facilities at Cherry Park, a list of facilities that have been added to the responsibilities of the Parks department, and an actual total of revenue collected due to the 2013 fee increase. Ken reported that the Parks survey is being drafted and will be sent out to random property owners. As requested by C. Méndez, he provided a copy of the maintenance contract with Perry Tech which expires in December 31, 2018. Discussion continued regarding partnership agreements with public and private entities providing recreational opportunities for the community and better ways of tracking information regarding park issues. Joe Caruso provided an update on the house that burned on the property adjacent to Cherry Park. He indicated there may be a possibility of the city obtaining it to expand that park. Steve Hill expressed concern about the inability for the general public to utilize the ball fields at Kiwanis Park. He feels that the community could have a greater benefit by using them. Ken responded that only one field remains unlocked and is available for use. Due to vandalism, access to these fields is limited to groups for tournaments, school games, and parks programs. However, Elks Parks has ball fields that are always available. Issues that affect the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhood were discussed. Equity Assessment – Joan reported that data collection is in place. Things such as street improvement and repairs, sidewalk conditions, fire and police stations, utilities, transit lines, schools, community centers, and environmental issues. The Comprehensive Plan will be reported by council district. D. Gutiérrez requested that Dr. Fraga’s comparison be utilized in conjunction with the information from the Comprehensive Plan. She shared her thoughts about drafting a letter requesting interest from a university to assist in conducting an independent research study for developing the investment and needs assessment. She wants to ensure that the existing conditions report include all the required elements of the Comprehensive Plan. A. Gutiérrez mentioned other resources available such as the Yakima School District and the neighborhood studies conducted in the late 90’s and in 2012. The timeline process was discussed; committee members hope to have some information available to them prior to the fiscal year in order to appropriate funds for the upcoming budget year, if possible. Ellicott Dandy, One America, commended the committee members for their efforts in developing a needs assessment however, recommended an oversight committee to allow community members participation in a broader perspective. She offered support by One America as a tool to assist with the communication barriers and help the public understand transparency and accountability. Committee members expressed disagreement and mentioned some of the outreach methods being utilized such as providing translation services at the committee meetings, distributing information in English and Spanish, engaging the public from their represented districts, having open discussions at public meetings. In response to Jeff Baker’s comments, D. Gutiérrez encouraged his continued participation with this committee to help identify and specify issues in the neighborhoods. The ongoing relationship between the City and the Yakima School District will contribute to address safe route to school concerns. Board Appointed Reports – Standing Item Comprehensive Plan Update – Valerie Smith reported that the Yakima Planning Commission will host a workshop with the consultant team, Berk Consulting, on Wednesday May 25, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Various topics pertaining to the land use and housing element of the Comprehensive Plan will be discussed. Anyone interested in receiving notification can be added to the list of parties by contacting the Planning Division office. Public outreach will continue throughout the update process. Homeless Network – The Homeless Network meeting was cancelled. Mark Kunkler shared a potential site for the temporary relocation of the homeless encampment. The property is located north of the new roundabout on Fair Avenue adjacent to the Cascade Mill site. Sunrise Outreach would be designated to handle the administration of the camp. Staff further explained the proposal. C. Méndez suggested this proposal to be presented to City Council along with a Letter of Intent from Yakima Valley Conference of Governments stating their contribution. Parks & Recreation Commission – The Parks department provided a tour for Council members last week. The vacancy on the Parks & Rec Commission remains unfilled. Still seeking applicants. South East Community Center (SECC) – A. Gutiérrez will be the liaison and will attend the next meeting in July. Ken reported that SECC discussed the need for a new HVAC system. Historic Preservation – The next meeting is next week. No further updates provided. Other Business/Audience Participation – Ms. Garcia expressed her concerns and inquired about immediate plans to address the current homeless situation on Chestnut Ave. D. Gutiérrez clarified the potential proposal to relocate that homeless community to a different location. Raquel Ferrell commended the council for their efforts on responding to the homeless situation in an expedited manner. She attends board meetings of various agencies and is seeking ways of helping the City capitalize on opportunities such as grants to assist in the Council’s efforts. She suggested that the Council look at Wenatchee’s United Way project regarding poverty issues. Carole Folsom-Hill appreciated all the work that City staff is doing in helping the folks at the homeless camp by providing sanitation facilities. North 6th Avenue Portion of William O. Douglas Trail – Joan provided a memo in response to Mr. Buchanan’s complaint about the status of the William O. Douglass Trail. The Streets department will post “No Parking” signs and install chevron markers at the trail entrances to prevent vehicles from parking there in the coming months. They will also utilize the curbing being removed from the Lincoln Underpass for replacing the damaged sections along the trail, as well as to comply with the requirement of the State Recreation and Conservation Office grant to provide for a separation barrier between the trail and the street. Lynn Buchanan provided pictures for the committee members. Other Business – C. Méndez requested a special meeting of the City Council on Wednesday May 25, 2016 to review the temporary homeless encampment proposal. Cally Price asked if the City Manager contract/agreement can be included as an item for approval at the same meeting; committee members agreed. Adjourn – C. Méndez motioned/seconded by A. Gutiérrez to adjourn; motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. The next Neighborhood and Community Building Committee meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on June 16, 2016. Approved by City Council on Prepared by: Rosalinda Ibarra, Community Development Administrative Assistant Yakima City Council Committee Minutes Neighborhood & Community Building Committee (NCBC) Council Chambers, City Hall June 16, 2016 Committee Members Staff Others Councilme mber Dulce Gutiérrez (Chair) Councilme mber Avina Gutiérrez Councilme mber Car me n Méndez Jeff Cutter, Interim City Manager Joan Davenport, Community Dev. Director Scott Schafer, Public Works Director Ken Wilkinson, Parks & Recreation Manager Jenise Sanders, Parks Ad min Asst Sara Watkins, Senior Asst City Attorney Archie Mathews, ONDS Manager Cally Price, Executive Secretary CMO Luz Gutiérrez Phill Mattoon Robert Strader Chair D. Gutiérrez called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Introductions – Everyone in attendance provided a brief introduction. 1. Exploratory Committees – Watkins reviewed the Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee and exploratory committees’ descriptions. The exploratory committee formats are consistent with the Bike/Pedestrian with an application process, seven members, and one of the members serving as the secretary. Bike/Pedestrian Committee – the policies and procedures for the Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee will be the same as they were in the past. No substantial changes were made. Equal Rights Committee – Watkins provided a summary of the Equal Rights Committee’s policies and procedures. The appointment term was changed from two years to one year. D. Gutiérrez stated that the committee’s temporary name should be Ethics and Human Rights Committee. Community Integration Committee – Watkins provided a summary of the Community Integration Committee’s policies and procedures. D. Gutiérrez added that the application format will be the same as it is for other boards and commissions. The City will begin advertising for the new committees immediately. 2. Update on Parks report – Wilkinson reviewed the 2015-2016 capitol project and purchases list. While several items have already been completed, a few items Wilkinson highlighted were item #7 Randall Park Restroom #2 that is on hold at this time and the climbing wall at Lions that was needed to replace the high dive. Wilkinson displayed a photo of what the new McGuinness Park playground equipment might look like. A. Gutiérrez asked if the incinerator at Kiwanis Park could be used for storage or any other purpose. She questioned if it qualifies as a historic building. Wilkinson said it could not be used for storage and offered to give a tour if people were interested. She would also like to see some multi-functional equipment at the parks. Wilkinson will research costs. D. Gutiérrez would like to see additional tables and benches in the parks. Wilkinson indicated that parks has some tables and benches they could use at McGuinness Park. Wilkinson gave the Committee an update on Cherry Park. Codes Administration has been working with the adjacent property owners to clean their property up. A. Gutiérrez asked if there could be a fence around the basketball court. Wilkinson will research costs and materials. A draft copy of the 2016 Parks survey was distributed to the Committee members for their review. Council members were encouraged to review the survey and provide any feedback. Wilkinson also distributed a copy of the agreement with Perry for soccer field use. This will be added to the next agenda so Committee members have time to review and prepare questions. 3. Equity Assessment Status – Six month timeline – Davenport reported on the equity assessment status. The timeline is identified and letters to the schools should be mailed in July. The inventory assessment should be complete in August. The equity assessment will be on the next agenda for further discussion. 4. Board appointed reports Comprehensive Plan Update – Davenport reported that the deadline for land use changes passed and 15 applications were received. Homeless Network – Méndez reported that the committee did not meet and they are looking at some other options. Davenport added that Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services are looking at a couple different projects. Parks and Recreation Commission – D. Gutiérrez reported that there wasn’t a quorum at the last meeting so she did not have anything new to report. Southeast Community Center – A. Gutiérrez reported that she is the liaison and attended the open house. The food bank is a huge success. They showed a video that should be added to the City’s website. Historic Preservation – A. Gutiérrez reported that the meeting will be the following week so she will have an update at the next Committee meeting. 5. Other business New items referred to NCBC Tree City USA – Davenport reported that the arboretum is excited about working with the City on obtaining a Tree City designation. Arboretum staff should be invited to the next meeting. Outdoor displays/mannequins – D. Gutiérrez stated that this item is going to the Planning Commission for recommendation to the full Council. Request to authorize HOME funds for rehab of multi-family housing – Mathews reported that funds are available for a couple different housing units. Yakima Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity have a couple projects eligible to receive funds under the HOME guidelines. The Council would like to see what the HOME funding requirements are. Recap of deliverable for next NCBC meeting Davenport reviewed her list of action items for the next meeting. • Send all materials out prior to the meeting • Add equity assessment to the July meeting • Update on the water at Millennium Plaza • Add the SECC video to the City’s website • Bring the Tree City representatives to the next meeting • Provide HOME program guidelines • Provide fence estimate for basketball court at Cherry Park • Provide estimate for tables and benches at parks • Tour of incinerator • Look into Transit & Transportation Committee background • Look into Choice Neighborhood HUD grant • Parks provide per capita street tree spending D. Gutiérrez stated that if interpreter services are needed they should be requested at least 24 hours in advance. 6. Audience participation Phil Mattoon thanked Council for reestablishing the Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee. Transportation and Transit should fall under this Committee. Committee members asked that the past history of the Transit & Transportation Committee be provided. Luz Gutiérrez reviewed a grant opportunity the City should consider next year. Choice Neighborhood grant funds are available through HUD and the City’s Washington DC lobbyist should be able to assist with this. Grant awards are up to $2 million. Approved by City Council on Prepared by: Cally Price, Assistant to the City Manager Yakima City Council Committee Minutes Neighborhood & Community Building Committee (NCBC) 2nd Floor Conference Room, City Hall July 21, 2016 Committee Members Staff Others Dulce Gutiérrez (Chair) Cliff Moore, City Manager Jheri Ketchum Carole Folsom-Hill Avina Gutiérrez Joan Davenport, Community Dev Director Steve Hill Maria DJ Rodriguez Holly Cousens, alternate Rosalinda Ibarra Sara Watkins Luz Bazan Gutiérrez Lynn Buchanan Carmen Méndez (absent) Scott Schafer Ken Wilkinson Phil Mattoon Randall Yaeger Jenise Sanders Chip Rognlie Robert Strader Ben Thompson Chair Dulce Gutiérrez called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. Tree City USA Presentation – Ben Thompson, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, provided a PowerPoint presentation with information about the benefits and services, risks, and costs of trees. He shared a website created by Dr. Kathleen Wolf that provides an overview of scientific evidence of the benefits to the public health, social, and well-being by the green environment. Recommendations for cities is that they have some type of resource assessment (tree inventory); maintenance program for tree planting and care; incorporating urban forest stewardship into current plans, goals, policies, and adopting ordinance to set expectations; having a professional staff person or tree board; and public outreach and engagement. The Arbor Day Foundation has set standards for a community to achieve recognition as a Tree City USA community. The city must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual budget that comprises of at least $2 per capita spending, and an Arbor Day Observance and proclamation. Avina Gutiérrez felt that this would be a good compliment to the recent All-America City designation and would also benefit the City in other ways such as grants. It seems that the City already meets or is in the process of complying with all four standards required to acquire this designation. Jheri Ketchum added that there is a volunteer tree board in Yakima and offered their services to the City through the Yakima Area Arboretum assuming the city assigns a staff person as a point of contact. Chip Rognlie works for the Parks Department and is the City’s certified arborist. In regards to meeting the monetary spending contribution of $2 per capita, Mr. Thompson described examples of how a city may fulfill that requirement. He added that on average cities spend approximately $9 per capita. A. Gutiérrez made a motion, seconded by Holly Cousens, to move this proposal forward to the full council. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Equity Assessment Status Update – Joan Davenport shared reportable data information that can be collected for the purposes of showing the growth of the city and its needs. She demonstrated a snapshot example of an animated website that staff is working on where this information will eventually be mapped. Information available through the Census data currently shows population and demographic increase through the years. Data collection will conclude in late August/early September. D. Gutiérrez requested an updated timeline for public dissemination. The committee was informed of a presentation that will be given by Benita Horn to the City Council regarding equity issues. The presentation is scheduled for Friday July 29th at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Sara Watkins advised the committee that the initial motion made by Council directing staff to perform an equity assessment did not include contracting for third party assistance. If the city wants to contract for assistance with a university or a private firm, she suggested that the full Council be aware and discussion of this topic at a future meeting is necessary to make that amendment. She also recommended that the upcoming presentation be advertised as a City Council study session in the event council members want to take any action. Committee members accepted S. Watkins suggestions. A. Gutiérrez made a motion, seconded by H. Cousens, to hold a formal study session on July 29th at 4:00 p.m. to hear a presentation by Benita Horn and discuss the equity assessment. Motion carried by unanimous vote. Due to the limited amount of time allowed for the presentation by Benita Horn, D. Gutiérrez indicated that any audience participation will be tabled to the August NCBC meeting. The committee expressed appreciation towards staff’s efforts in gathering information related to this matter. Exploratory Committees - Bike/Pedestrian Committee, Ethics, and Community Integration – J. Davenport noted that the Greenway will have a representative on the Bike/Pedestrian Committee. A. Gutiérrez provided an update on the status of the applications received for these exploratory committees. The Nominating Committee agreed to have a pool of candidates for selection before they start appointing members. The Committee expressed concern about the City’s publicizing efforts and directed staff to utilize all resources available for public outreach in the English and Spanish media. City Manager Moore indicated he will include this into his Chamber presentation and radio interviews. Estimates for the Cost of Equipment at Parks – Ken Wilkinson presented an update on the Cherry Park improvements. A fence was removed and new picnic tables added. Further paperwork processing needs to materialize in order to acquire the adjoining property to expand the park. Due to funding issues in 1999/2000, a major improvement to install a basketball court was dismissed. K. Wilkinson reported that the cost for a full size basketball court is approximately $50k. He would also like to upgrade the playground equipment. He stated that the park surveys were already mailed out and have begun to receive them back. The responses will help with the Parks Plan update. He noted that the surveys are available online and in hardcopy in English and Spanish. Examples of exercise equipment were included in the packet; however, staff was not able to obtain a pricing list in time for this meeting. Discussion continued on several issues including the potential parks to place exercise equipment; coordination a presentation to the full City Council on the Tree City USA designation; safety issues and complaints related to the slick surface material used at the Kiwanis basketball court; public outreach in English and Spanish on social media and online, specifically the City’s website. H. Cousens inquired about the foreclosure status on the property adjacent to Cherry Park. Board Appointed Reports – Standing Item Comprehensive Plan Update – The Yakima Planning Commission will hold a study session on Wednesday July 27th at 3:00 p.m. to review land use changes and citizen requests. Another open house will be scheduled for late September. J. Davenport reported that Valerie Smith, Senior Planner, has resigned and recruitment is in process to fill her vacancy. Homeless Network – C. Mendez was not present to provide an update. Parks & Recreation Commission – D. Gutiérrez reported that the vacancy for Parks Operation Supervisor will soon be filled. K. Wilkinson addressed D. Gutiérrez’s inquiry about turning off the water feature at Millennium Plaza. He will approach the Millennium Foundation and the Block by Block group to see what can be done. South East Community Center (SECC) – The next quarterly meeting is Tuesday July 26th. Historic Preservation – J. Davenport reported that a Historic Preservation Element will be included as part of the update to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff has been diligently working with the Historic Preservation Commission and the Department of Historic & Archaeological Preservation to draft that chapter. TRANS-Action Committee – The Committee agreed to postpone this appointment to the next meeting due to C. Mendez’s absence. J. Davenport informed them of the upcoming TRANS-Action meeting; either D. Gutiérrez or A. Gutiérrez will attend. Other Business/Requests – Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director of Rural Community Development Resources (RCDR), summarized and highlighted survey results conducted by her agency focusing in Districts 1 and 2. Respondents indicated that city government neglected the eastside of Yakima and was not meeting the needs of those communities. She indicated that an action plan is in progress and would like to partner with the City on addressing issues. Recap of Deliverables – J. Davenport reviewed the list of deliverables for the next meeting: • Advertise the next meeting as a full Council Study Session • Maintenance report of the Millennium Plaza water feature • TRANS-Action appointment • Promoting the vacancies for the exploratory committees and maximizing the opportunities • Translate City website link into Spanish • Updated timeline for the equity assessment study • Providing audience participation slips • Report on truck routes and private business responsibilities • Audience Participation – Luz Bazan Gutiérrez, resident, requested a protocol sheet for the various committees. She suggested press releases be sent to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce so they can forward on to other medias including Spanish radio stations. Ms. Gutiérrez also commented on proposals for small public works projects. Steve Hill, resident, commented about lack of citizens on the committee or in the audience. He mentioned that no one in his neighborhood received parks surveys and inquired about the trees that were removed in his neighborhood. A. Gutiérrez and D. Gutiérrez provided clarification about the Committee. S. Schafer explained the process of tree removal in the city right of way. He indicated that the trees removed from the vicinity of Chestnut Ave and 6th Street were going to be replanted. Carole Folsom-Hill, resident, appreciated the City’s efforts in handling the homeless camp issues downtown. After a brief discussion regarding truck routes, A. Gutiérrez requested a report on truck routes and the responsibilities for private businesses for the next Committee meeting. Randall Yaeger, resident, expressed concern regarding the lack of sidewalks on Powerhouse Road near Robertson Elementary. He will provide pictures of the area. Rob Strader, resident, pointed out the dangers kids are exposed to when walking to school on routes that do not have sidewalks. He feels prioritization should be done to address areas previously annexed into the City limits. Mr. Strader added a request for a citizen driven advisory board to address transportation issues. Adjourn – H. Cousens motioned/seconded by A. Gutiérrez to adjourn; motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m. The next Neighborhood and Community Building Committee meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on August 18, 2016. Approved by: Date Approved: Prepared by: Rosalinda Ibarra, Community Development Administrative Assistant