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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/1978 Business Meeting 728 MARCH 13, 1978 The City Council met in session on this date at 2:30 P.M. in the Conference Room at City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Henry Beauchamp, Don Hinman, Jack Sparling, Nadine Walker and Gordon Wonder. Council member Ralph Holbrook absent and excused. - - Mayor Edmondson reminded those Council members who serve on the Health District Board of the meeting on Tuesday, March 14, at 2:00 P.M., and requested that Henry. Beauchamp, the alternate, be available if needed. Mayor Edmondson reported that Mary Hersey, AFSCME representative, had requested time to meet with Council in an executive session to discuss a grievance charge. Councilman Wonder questioned if it would be legal to do so. Mary Hersey stated that the purpose of the meeting in Executive Session with Council would be to make a statement regarding a personnel 1 1/ matter for employees in a labor form regarding a grievance. City Attorney Fred Andrews stated that he would advise going into Executive . Session, as he would be hard pressed to defend this as a purpose for Executive Session. After discussion, Mary Hersey stated that she would make a statement during the regular Council meeting today, and it was the general consensus of the Council not to go into Executive Session. Council members next discussed the appointment of a member to.serve on the Housing Authority Board. Tom Bostic, Chairman of the Housing Authority, spoke in support of reappointing Mamie Morrison, stating that she has made a valuable contribution during her many years of service on the Board. It was then MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Walker to reappoint Mamie Morrison to serve on the Yakima Housing Authority: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sperling, Walker and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Holbrook absent. Willis White, Public Works Director, gave a preliminary review of the West Valley Comprehensive Sewer Plan, stating there are several policy . issues which need Council action. The first policy issue that would have to be resolved is how is the. City going to recoup the million dollar outlay for the West Valley sewer? Staff recommends that the City adopt a "late-comer connectioncharge" for those areas outside the City limits as of January 1, 1978. This charge would be in addition to any local improvement district costs, and would be figured at .0176 per square foot. Council needs to reaffirm the Outside Utility Agreement policy. Also, the City should encourage the County to require placement . of a dry sewer line for those areas in the,County who will be serviced by septic tank. The City would charge a minimum monthly fee for maintenance of these lines. Mayor Edmondson reiterated that the City has already spent the money for this sewer line, and now needs to recoup the money. Mr. White explained the revenue bonds, which the City will sell, and must be retired on time. The City can only receive money from existing users. Concern was expressed by several Council members because it appears that the financial burden placed on existing users would be too great. Mr. White stated that as theservice area expands, more revenues would be received, and existing users rates would not increase. Alan Bushley, consultant with R. W. Beck, stated that the rates.would probably increase about one dollar more per month. He also stated that when the new people hook onto the sewer, they would then help pay for the new sewer treatment plant. At 3:00 P.M., the City Council meeting commenced, Mayor Edmondson presiding, Council members Beauchamp, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder, City Manager Eastman, and City Attorney Andrews present on roll call. Council member Holbrook absent. It was MOVED by. Wonder, seconded by Beauchamp to excuse Councilman Ralph Holbrook from this_meeting: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. The Invocation was given by Councilman Hinman. MARCH 13,1978 729 Mayor Edmondson referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there were any additions or deletions from either Council members or citizens present. Councilman Walker requested that Item No. 9 be deleted from the Consent Agenda. It was the general consensus of the Council that the deletion of Item No. 9, as requested, be made. The City Clerk then read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions by title. It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman, that the Consent Agenda, as read, be passed:, carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sperling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook, absent. (Subsequent paragraphs preceded by an asterisk (*) indicate items on the Consent Agenda to be handled under one motion without further discussion.) It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that the minutes of February 27 and 28, 1978, havirig been duly certified accurate by two Councilmen and no one present wishing to have said minutes read publicly, be approved: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Holbrook absent. This being the time fixed for the hearing on the Irrigation Maintenance II/ Assessment Roll for 1078, Willis White, Public Works. Director, explained that the assessments are based on the maintenance costs incurred the previous year for each district. Magnolia Rentz, 1001 South 6th Street, inquired why they have to raise the rates if the property owners own the irrigation district. Mayor Edmondson stated that she had heard that the owners own the water and the rights, but they have. to pay for the delivery of the water to their property. Councilman Wonder questioned the legal fees being charged to the general. district. City Attorney Andrews stated that the City gets a direct source of water and the protection of those water rights are the responsibility of the City. The other districts go through other canals and those water rights are being looked after by them. The water is not free. The City has to pay for the water and the rates will go up to the City by the other canal companies to help pay their share of the legal fees of the water rights case. Mayor Edmondson then read into the record a letter from Loyola Siep, 610 North 4th Street, and a letter received from*John Klingele, 1312 West Walnut, both.. protesting their assessment. Mayor Edmondson stated that staff will investigate all complaints which have been. received in the form of a protest to this assessment. It was then MOVED by Walker, seconded by Beauchamp that Ordinance No. 2162, confirming the Irrigation Maintenance' Assessment Roll for 1978, be passed: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walk le r and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. ORDINANCE NO. 2162, AN ORDINANCE confirming the Irrigation Maintenance Assessment Roll of the City of Yakima for the calendar year of 1978, and 1 levying irrigation maintenance assessments according to such roll; and declaring an emergency. Terry Jones, owner of property at 1407 Carr Avenue, explained the problem he has with the storm ' 'drain system in his area. He stated that when the 1 Hamilton Park Development was approved the plans allowed a 10 inch storm drain to connect to an 8 inch storm drain. He stated that this causes flooding to his home. The storm drain belongs to the County, however, the City approved the connection. After discussion, it was the general consensus of the Council to refer this matter to the City Manager for further'information. Mr. Jones stated that he now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, and only came to try to.resolve this problem. City Manager Eastman stated that in that case, staff will get together with Mr. Jones right now. Inez Rice, 4409 Arlington, gave Council warning that they are departing from the City Council/City Manager form of government and read Section 13, Article 2, from the'Yakima City Municipal Charter,' and ' Section 11 which states that the City Manager ls'authorized to appoint or dismiss employees. Mary Hersey, AFSCME Union Representative, reported that the grievance procedures were properly followed when certain employees filed a grievance against Dan Wais, she stated that the grievance was not filed under duress. Larry Robinson, a citizen, stated that he agrees with Mrs. Rice. He stated that the City Manager is responsible for the running of the City. * Inadvertently ommitted: John Klingele objected to the method of assessment for the irrigation assessments. MARCH 13, 1978 730 Janet Snodgrass, 407 North 40th Avenue, spoke in support of the management of the City and of their quick action, to resolve a problem she had brought to their.attention: She stated that the system can work. *As part of the public disclosure requirements regarding employees of the City and their relations, applying for Community Development grants, and a conflict of interest not apparent, it was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that the application filed by Linda Ritch, be approved: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Walker that Resolution D-3866, ratifying an amendment to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Police Patrolmen's Association and the City, be passed: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. RESOLUTION NO. D-3866, A RESOLUTION ratifying an amendment to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Yakima and the City Police Patrolmen's Association, and authorizing the execution of an amendatory agreement. Judy Sheridan, Transportation Director, reported that when General Electric gave a quote for repairs .to the trolleys, it was an estimate until they could evaluate necessary repairs to the compressors. General Electric Company informs us that additional work is required to put the two trolleys in satisfactory operational condition. This additional work will cost $6,789, making a total outlay of $29,422. Asked by Councilman Beauchamp about the guarantee, Mrs. Sheridan stated that there is a 90 day guarantee from the time the trolley is put to use. Councilman Hinman inquired if staff had sought support from the community in the form of donated labor, as he had some people indicate to him that they would be willing to donate labor. Mrs. Sheridan reported that they had sought this type of help a couple of years ago, and did not get any local interest. She stated that the repair work that is necessary for the compressors is very complicated. City Manager Eastman reported that the Trolley Committee had informed him that there were people interested in repairing the bodies of the trolleys. Councilman Wonder expressed concern about spending moretiobney oni-the trolleys. It was. MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Beauchamp that Resolution No. D73867, authorizing General Electric Company to perform additional repair work on trolley cars without calling for bids, be passed: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. RESOLUTION NO. D-3867, A RESOLUTION authorizing General Electric Company to perform additional repair work on two trolley cars operated by the City, without calling for further bids. *It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that Resolution No. D-3868, authorizing payment of $110.36 to Robert S. Fuchs, for damages which occurredAdieni" clogged, causing sewer water to back up into his basement, be passed: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on rolI call. Holbrook absent. RESOLUTION NO. D-3868, A RESOLUTION authorizing payment of $110.36 to II/ Robert S. Fuchs, in settlement of a claim for damages filed with the City of Yakima. Mayor Edmondson distributed a letter received from Howard Cole regarding the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG). Carol Darby, Director of Community Development, reported that HUD has recommended that we wait until we get the results of the first go around and see what types of applications were funded. Then we could submit another application towards the end of the year, possibly coupling it with our Community Development Grant. The results should be available to us by end of next week. Councilman, Wonder stated that Council needed information on the grant, before a policy can be established. Evelyn Pleasant, 1202 South 10th Street, stated that they want all the information on UDAG MARCH 13, 1978 731 that is available. Mrs. Catherine Melfort, 907 Central Avenue, speaking for the Up and Ready.Property Owners and Concerned Citizens Group, requested that Council appoint a. planning consultant to work with them to draw up a proposal to meet UDAG's deadline of April 30, 1978. Councilman Wonder suggested that the members of the Up and Ready Property Owners and Concerned Citizens Group meet with Ken Crawford, Chief of Housing and Neighborhood Conservation. *It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that the out-of-state travel for Tom Klingele, Fire Department, to attend a Fire Mechanics Academy in Cupertino, California, March 26 through April 1, 1978, at a cost to the City of $420.00, be authorized: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. *It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that the out-of-state travel for Delmar Kary, Transportation Department, to attend the Northwest Region Airport Manager's Conference, in Boise, Idaho, April 5 through 7, 1978, at a cost to the City of $251.00, be authorized: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. Council members discussed the proposed amendment to the ordinance governing the impoundment of abandoned vehicles, City Attorney Andrews stating that the proposed ordinance authorizes the application of this law to cover abandoned vehicles in the City parking lots also. The City has to give notice to the owner of the car before the car can be impounded. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Sparling that Ordinance No. 2163, . authorizing impoundment of vehicles abandoned on City parking lots, be passed: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman Sparling, Walker and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Holbrook absent. ORDINANCE NO. 2163, AN ORDINANCE relating to traffic control, public safety and morals, authorizing impoundment of abandoned vehicles on City streets and City operated parking lots; placing venue for impoundment hearings •in the District Court for Yakima County; amending Section 6.84.085 and Sub-Section 6.84.035, A and E, and enacting new Sub-Section 9.50.675 D, all of the City of Yakima Municipal Code. City Manager Eastman explained the merits of the seats proposed for use in the Capitol Theatre. He stated that they are coming from the D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., and allow plenty of room between the rows for passing. He stated that the seats come in three different. widths, 19, 20, and 21 inches. It was MOVED by Walker, seconded by Hinman that Resolution No. D-3869, authorizing execution of a contract for seats for the Capitol Theatre without calling for bids, to Country Roads, Inc. RESOLUTION NO. D-3869, A RESOLUTION authorizing a contract for work, labor and materials for installing seats in the Capitol Theatre without calling for bids. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Edmondson declared this meeting to be adjourned at the hour of 5:00 P.M., to then meet at 9:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 14, 1978, in the Council Chambers, to reconvene as a Board of Equalization, to consider protests to the Central Business District, L.I.D. 100 Assessment Roll. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY 7 7cf 4 00 OUNCILMAN ho e DATE j k 4 / 1 7, C. LMAN 4001" ATTEST: 0 Al ga. 1 - 4 - 0.411.1M6: /dE7 tes-they/d7,2442(....■ CITY CiRK "#AYOR