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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/05/1983 Study Session APRIL 5, 1983 I+ 2 9 STUDY SESSION 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 2:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington, Mayor Lynn Carmichael presiding. Council members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Shirley Doty, W. K. "Pete" Moore and Jack Sparling and City Manager Dick Zais and City Attorney Fred Andrews present on roll call. 2. INVOCATION The Invocation was given by City Attorney Andrews. 11/ 3. OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER Council member Doty informed Council of a community group effort entitled "Clean Up and Green Up Yakima" to be held Saturday, April 30, 1983. Council member Beauchamp commented on a number of citizen complaints he has received regarding the poor visibility of street dividing lines. Staff informed Council that a street lines repainting project is underway at this time. 4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Mayor Carmichael referred to the National Conference of Planning Association which is meeting in Seattle, Washington, April 16-23, 1983, and proclaimed the month of April, 1983, as Planning Month in the City of Yakima. Elsie Gregorich, 1516 Browne Avenue, was present to express her concerns regarding the lack of sidewalk construction and maintenance in Yakima. She suggested Council reprioritize the area of sidewalk construction and suggested that any funding left over from other projects, whenever possible, be allocated to sidewalk construction and maintenance. Larry Mathews, 805 South llth Avenue, was present to speak in opposition of the proposed Humane Society site being located on City property near Freeway Park. He requested Council to re-examine the purpose for which the land in question was pur- chased. (City Attorney Andrews absent after 2:30 P.M.) 5. RECONSIDERATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT BUDGET AMEND- MENTS AND CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR 1983 John Beer, Jr., Director of Community and Economic Develop- ment, began discussion, addressing the $60,000 reduction in the entitlement amount received from the Federal Government for the 1983 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program which has resulted in the current imbalance in the CDBG budget. He also addressed Council's concerns expressed at the March 22, 1983, meeting regarding current administrative costs for the Community Development Block Grant Program. Mr. Beer referred to staff's report, Exhibit I, addressing administra- tive and line staff. He pointed out there has been a signi- ficant expansion of line staff, whereas, the administrative staffing level has remained the same. He requested Council to consider the two alternatives, Option A and Option B, as out- lined in the report regarding the CDBG budget, and provide direction to staff at this time. He informed Council the 1983 Community Development Block Grant budget is out of balance at this time and further delay would cause adverse effects. Mr. Beer introduced Robert Sinclair, Chairperson, and Mary Burki, Vice-Chairperson, of the Community Development Advisory Com- mittee. Council member Barnett questioned the manner in which the $60,000 shortfall in the entitlement amount was allocated. He questioned why the first action taken wasn't to reallocate the various programs and automatically reduce the budget by n APRIL 5, 1983 $60,000. John Beer responded, informing Council of Federal requirements which require administrative costs to remain within 15% of the total money allocated to the rehabilitation program. Council member Sparling questioned which option the Advisory Committee preferred. Mr. Beer responded, informing Council the Committee supports Option A and expanded on the details of the option. Council member Buchanan requested clarification of staff's proposed Option B, questioning why the General Fund was the only funding source outlined in staff's report. Council member Buchanan suggested an Option C, wherein the General Fund would not absorb any of the funding. Council member Moore expressed his opinion that the salaries involved with the CDBG Program should be funded out of the General Fund versus any other funding source. Discussion followed regarding the philosophy of funding II/ sources for the Housing Services Center in the past and addressed future considerations, such as developing a new funding philosophy wherein an employee's time should be charged out of the particular fund which the work pertains to versus the General Fund absorbing the majority of the salary expenses. Council member Barnett expressed his concerns regarding the amount of requests to utilize the reserves in the Contingency Fund. Council member Doty suggested the possibility of using a,portion of the irrigation allocation as a partial funding source, which would alleviate the General Fund from absorbing the entire expense to balance the 1983 Community Development Block Grant budget. Council member Doty suggested an alternative option to the current CDBG budget problem, Option D, wherein rather than directing the General Fund to absorb an additional $36,043 (Option A) or $42,238 (Option B), Option D would direct the irrigation allocation to absorb $20,000 of the cost of either Option A or B, thus alleviating the General Fund from absorbing the entire amount, whichever option is selected. She commented that the irrigation allocation of the CDBG fund amounted to $300,000 of which $65,000 was earmarked for irrigation side services, leaving $235,000. She indicated that from the remaining $235,000, $20,000 could be used to help defray the expense to the General Fund, and would allow a total of $215,000 to remain in the irrigation allocation. Council member Moore questioned if this suggestion would cause any problems with HUD guidelines. Mayor Carmichael called upon Robert Sinclair and Mary Burki, questioning if they had any comments to offer. Discussion followed regarding the effects Option D would have on the different funds and staffing .positions involved. It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Doty to request staff to bring this item back to Council at the next regular Business Meeting using Option B as amended by Option D. Carried by 6-1 voice vote. Buchanan voting nay. 6. REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING AND UTILITIES REGARDING STREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND STREET REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE AND SEAL COATING ACTIVITY Dave Rhodes, Director of Public Works, provided an overview of staff's report pertaining to the residential streets program which included a review of past residential street programs and 1983 budget programs. Mr. Rhodes referred to a visual aid map which outlined past and future work on both residential and arterial streets. He informed Council of the Cify's progressive road maintenance program in the residential streets area. Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities, was present to address the past programs and 1983 budgeted programs for the City's arterial streets. He informed Council of funding sources in the past which included federal funding and the one-half cent gas tax, and described the funding sources for the proposed projects for 1983. Dave Rhodes informed Council of the proposed plan for repair of Nob .Hill Boulevard. He commented that due to a number of factors, APRIL 5, 1983 I+ 3 1 complete reconstruction of Nob Hill Boulevard is some time away, however, staff recommends to take action now to retard the erosion of the street. He informed Council that Nob Hill is underdesigned for the high volume and heavy traffic which uses the street. Mr. Rhodes recommended allocating $13,160 to perform a "quilt patch" rehabilitation of Nob Hill Boulevard. He suggested using 60%-70% of the $13,160 to perform necessary repair immediately, and save the remaining amount for future maintenance of this project. In addition to the proposed street repair, he also suggested reducing the speed limit as the current speed limit is not conducive to the life expectancy of the street. Council member Barnett questioned the proposed replacement of Union Pacific's railroad tracks; from the right side of the street to the middle of the street. e II/ Rhodes responded, clarifying that the placement of the rails in the middle of the highest point of the street would allow for more efficient drainage, and would therefore cause less erosion. Dennis Covell referred to the shaded portion of the visual aid map, addressing the priority of the arterial street work needed to be done. He discussed the proposed alternative funding sources for the recommended $1.3 million expenditure of arterial street projects proposed for rehabilitation. Discussion followed regarding verification of the three-year payback loan amount as outlined in the Councilmatic Bond Analysis included in staff's report. Council member Beauchamp questioned if staff had investigated the recent Federal one-half cent gasoline sales tax increase as a possible funding source for this kind of program. City Manager Zais referred to Table III of staff's report which addressed the status of the City's Contingency Reserve Funds. Council member Moore requested clarification regarding the different purposes for which the Capital Reserve Fund may be used. City Manager Zais responded, informing Council of staff's proposal for the bond issue which is to use a portion of the Capitol Theatre Fund for debt services in 1983 for the $1,000,000 bond issue for streets. Council member Moore suggested if the Capitol Theatre Reserve Fund is going to be considered as a viable funding source for the street program, it would be advantageous for the City to take the entire amount ($1,000,000) needed, to then be repaid to the fund. He expressed his desire to see this funding alternative rather than using a bank or finance institution, as a lower interest rate could be obtained by borrowing within the City's reserve funds. Council member Barnett expressed his concerns regarding the number of requests for expenditures to be funded out of the Contingency Fund. Council member Buchanan commented he would like the City to be looking to future needs of the contingency funds; to establish a fund from which the City can earn interest. Council member Beauchamp questioned what research has been completed regarding the City's allocation of the federal government's one-half cent gas tax. Denny Covell responded, informing Council that due to the recent implementation of the increased sales tax, it is difficult to determine the effects at this time. Addressing the manner in which the loan would be paid back to the Capitol Theatre Reserve Fund, Council member Barnett expressed his II/ support regarding the payback rate remaining the same as outlined in the Councilmatic Bond Analysis. Mayor Carmichael questioned if staff had researched the possibility of major street repairs being required in the proposed annexation area. Staff responded, informing Council that staff has investigated this possibility and did not foresee any major problems, however, the residential streets in that area are not in as good condition as those existing within the City limits. It was MOVED by Moore, seconded by Doty to direct staff to prepare the appropriate legislation to fund the proposal as outlined by staff and accomplish this by borrowing the necessary funds from the Capitol Theatre Fund; that the payback plan consist of a three year time period, with payments to be made in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Following discussion of the appropriateness of the motion pertaining to the new Council meeting format, the question was called for a 43 2 APRIL 5, 1983 vote on the motion. Council member Beauchamp commented he would vote for the motion if staff aggressively researched the possibility of receiving federal funding from the one-half cent gas tax as an additional funding source. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Buchanan temporarily absent. 7. REPORT REGARDING POLICE AND FIRE CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHING It was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Moore that Council table Item No. 7 for an indefinite period of time. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Beauchamp temporarily absent. 9. OTHER BUSINESS City Manager Zais referred to a report from Bruce Crest, Cable Communications Coordinator, regarding cable TV rate regulation, informing Council that Congress is currently reviewing federal cable television rate regulations. City Manager Zais addressed Council's prior request to the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance regulating cable television rates in the City of Yakima and requested Council's direction to staff in light of this new information. It was the consensus of the Council to postpone local legislative action until Congress has acted on the matter and Council has the option to analyze the issue. Items of Information Items of information supplied to Council were: memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development regarding Council Districts. 3/29/83; memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development and the Cable Communications Coordinator regarding recent National League of Cities (NLC)/National Cable Television Association (NCTA) Compromise on Federal Cable TV Regulation. 3/30/83; memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development regarding property management. 3/31/83; letter from Bernard M. Herring, Jr., Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Acting Commander, informing Mayor and Council members that Lieutenant Colonel Raymond C. Olmstead will be assuming command of the Yakima Firing Center on April 4, 1983. 3/24/83; minutes of the Utility Rate Advisory Board meeting of February 23, March 16, and March 21, 1983; minutes of the Yakima Center Advisory Commission meeting of 3/14/83; memo from the Director of Community and Economic Development regarding Ace Hardware Outside Utility Agreement (Water). 4/1/83, and the Council calendar for April, 1983. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING PROSPECTIVE LITIGATION It was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Moore to move into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing prospective litigation and then immediately adjourn the meeting. Unanimously carried by voice vote. 10. ADJOURNMENT II/ Following the completion of the Executive Session, the meeting was adjourned at the hour of 5:15 P.M. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE • -.a DATE/7/11113 COUNCI 00 EMBER I 0 . . eliPATE Coull mm :". ATTEST: 0 I )644/4.---763L 11110,A.A■A ._A La-L CITY CLERK MAYOR