HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/10/2018 Special Meeting/Adj to Executive Session300
YAKIMACITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
April 10,2018
City Hall -- Council Chambers
5p.nm.—MINUTES
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, Council Members HoIIy
Cousens, Kay Funk, Brad Hill, Carmen Mendez and Jason White
Staff: City Manager Moore, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Claar Tee
2. Reconsideration of a previous motion regarding a letter to Yakima VaIIey Conference of
Governments
Mayor Coffey stated she asked for this special meeting to reconsider a previous motion from the
April 3, 2018, Business Meeting regarding a letter to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments.
City Manager Moore clarified that it takes a motion and a second with a mjority vote to move forward
on this issue.
MOTION: Coffey moved and Hill seconded for reconsideration. The motion carried by a 6-1
vote, Funk voting no.
Council Member Mendez stated it was advised by the City Attorney to have an Executive Session.
Council Member Funk stated there hasn't been any filings and doesn't feel this meets the criteria for
Executive Session. City Attorney Cutter stated it does in fact meet the criteria, which he would
explain in Executive Session. Council Member Funk stated she doesn't feel that is an adequate
reason and Assistant Mayor Gutierrez agreed.
MOTION: Mendez moved and Cousens seconded to ato Executive Session for up
to 30 minutes to discuss prospective litigation. The motion carried by a 5-2 vote, Gutierrez and
Funk voting no.
Executive session was held and adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Council Member Funk reiterated that she believes the Executive Session was a violation of the Open
Public Meetings Act and then distributed a letter, which she read to Council outlining her distress
about data collection by YVCOG and Transform Yakima Together, as well as other concerns. After
further discussion, Assistant Mayor Gutierrez raised a point of order that Council Member Funk
should be allowed to finish her statement and members should not interrupt other members. Mayor
Coffey stated the point of order was not well taken. Assistant Mayor Gutierrez requested an appeal.
The Mayor's ruling was overturned by a 5-1 vote, Coffey voting no, Mendez momentarily absent.
Council Member Hill stated he is unsure where the concerns are coming from because as the
Council |iaison, he is expressing the Council's concerns to the YVCOG Board.
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After further Council discussion,
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MOTION: Cousens moved and Mendez seconded to withdraw the letter to
YVCOG. MOTION: Funk moved and Gutierrez seconded to amend the motion that instead
of withdrawing the letter, that the programs and specific sentences can be removed, the
sentences that refer to Transform Yakima Together can be struck off. The motion to amend
failed by a 5-2 vote, with Coffey, Cousens, Hill, Mendez and White voting no. The motion to withdraw
the letter to YVCOG carried by a 6-1 vote, Funk voting no.
Council Member Funk stated there are claims that there are programs that are not required to provide
data. Council Member Cousens raised a point of order that the discussion is not germane to the
motion. Mayor Coffey stated the point was well taken.
MOTION: Gutierrez moved that the subject of this meeting be moved to a committee for
further discussion on redrafting. The motion failed due to lack of a second.
City Manager Moore noted at the last meeting Council requested a Study Session on homeless
issues; however, before scheduling he is waiting to hear the specific questions from Council
members in order to invite the appropriate outside agencies.
3. Adjournment
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to a City Council Briefing
on April 12, 2018, at 4 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The motion carried by
unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m.
CERTIFICATION
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