HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/2019 Special MeetingYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
January 12, 2019
City Hall -- Council Chambers
9 a.m. - MINUTES
1. Roll Call
465
Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding, Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, Council Members Holly
Cousens, Kay Funk, Brad Hill, and Jason White
Staff: City Manager Moore, City Attorney Cutter, Assistant City Manager Cortez, Director of Finance
and Budget Groom and City Clerk Claar Tee
Absent: Council Member Carmen Mendez (excused)
Assistant City Manager Cortez suggested reversing the order of the agenda, which was approved by
Council consensus.
2. Review requests from Council during the 2019 budget process
Assistant City Manager Cortez reviewed Council requests from the 2019 budget process. Steve
Groom, Budget and Finance Director, reviewed the levy lid lift and property tax capacity. Council
Member Funk stated she is supportive of the levy lid lift in addressing the problem that property tax
revenue increases don't keep up with inflation for survival of City services.
City Attorney Cutter briefed Council on the process to repeal a Charter amendment. It was Council
consensus not to take any action on this issue at this time. Council members confirmed that with the
elimination of the public education officer in the Fire Department, that no further budget reductions
are necessary. Mr. Groom reported briefly on the Regional Fire Authority. It was Council consensus
for staff to create an executive summary on this issue as an information item for Council.
City Manager Moore reported on the Transportation Benefit District and noted an annual report will be
coming to Council. Additionally, it was Council consensus to bring the levy lid lift forward and report
quarterly on the budget to Council.
3. Review Economic Development Plan
Assistant City Manager Cortez provided a brief summary of the City's Economic Development Plan.
4. Review 2013 Downtown Master Plan
Assistant City Manager Cortez provided a brief summary of the City's Downtown Master Plan. City
Manager Moore provided an update on the Downtown Master Plan action steps since 2014.
5. Review Strategic Plan
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Council members discussed Strategic Priorities and agreed, by Council consensus, to change the
priorities as follows:
• Remove the YMCA aquatic facility
• Replace the plaza with downtown destination
• Change MLK pool to City community facilities with pools and community
• Add Yakima Airport as an economic development engine
• Add homelessness and affordable housing
• Add long term fiscal sustainability — target: by 2022 meet 16.7% reserve
budget to meet reserves at 14.6-14.8%
• Keep the remaining strategic priorities
centers as targets
level and in 2020
Additionally, it was Council consensus to bring the levy lid lift forward and bring quarterly budget
reports to Council.
6. Adjournment
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to the next Council
Business meeting on January 15, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
The motion carried by unanimous vote, Mendez absent. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
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