HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/26/2019 03 City Manager UpdateBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
ITEM TITLE: City Manager update
SUBMITTED BY: Cliff Moore, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
City Manager Update Items
• Olympia legislative trip update
• Request for Attorney General's opinion
• Police Chief search
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
Item No. 3.
For Meeting of: March 26, 2019
City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date
• legislative visit 3/22/2019
• email 3/22/2019
Type
Cover Memo
Cover Memo
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To: City Council Members
From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler
Subject: Visit to Olympia to meet with legislators
Date: Monday, March 18th, 2019
Council members,
On March 14th and 15th, City Manager Cliff Moore, Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy
Beehler, and the City's contracted Olympia lobbyists, Luke Esser and Nick Federici, met in Olympia
with Yakima Valley legislators and other state legislators.
During legislator visits, discussion focused on key state legislative priorities adopted by the City Council
in fall 2018. Particular attention was paid to increasing state funding to support local efforts to provide
homeless services and affordable housing, legislation designed to address the high rate of domestic
violence in Washington State, state funding to support local gang prevention, intervention, and
suppression programs, and legislation intended to increase funding available for local airport
infrastructure.
The meetings began one day after the cutoff date for bills to be passed out of their house of origin.
Because many bills did not pass prior to the house of origin cutoff date, the meetings with legislators
primarily concerned only legislation that is still alive during the 2019 session. Upcoming cutoff dates
include April 3rd (last day to pass non -budget related legislation from the opposite house), April 9th (last
day to pass legislation out of House fiscal committees, the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and
House and Senate transportation committees), and April 17th (last day to pass legislation from the
opposite house, except certain budget -related bills, initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, differences
between the houses, and matters regarding the interim and closing of the session). The 2019 session
of the Washington State Legislature is scheduled to end on April 28th
Following are summaries of the legislator meetings that took place on March 14th and 15th
Thursday, March 14th
- le District Rep. Gina Mosbrucker — Representative Mosbrucker discussed a bill she has prime
sponsored (SHB 1919) that would increase penalties for crimes associated with dog fighting. SHB
1919 passed the House unanimously (94-0) on March 1st and was referred to the Senate Law & Justice
Committee. Representative Mosbrucker asked for the City's support of three domestic violence -related
bills she prime sponsored, all of which have passed the House. Specifically, Representative
Mosbrucker asked the City to sign in "pro" during upcoming Senate committee hearings on 2EHB
1713, which would improve law enforcement response to missing and murdered Native American
Women. Representative Mosbrucker discussed a Capital Budget request to add more mental health
rooms at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital in Yakima to increase local behavioral health capacity. City
Manager Moore discussed the City's efforts to join the already -established El Nuevo Camino mentor
program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso), which is designed to decrease youth
involvement in gangs, and the City's securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti-
gang efforts.
- 15t" District Rep. Bruce Chandler — City Manager Moore discussed the progress of the City's Gang
Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, which is being funded by a proviso that was included in the
state's 2019 supplemental budget, the City's efforts to join the already -established El Nuevo Camino
mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso), which is designed to
decrease youth involvement in gangs, and the City's securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in
the City's anti -gang efforts. Representative Chandler encouraged the City to discuss the proposed El
Nuevo Camino budget proviso with House Speaker Frank Chopp and House Appropriations Committee
Chair Timm Ormsby. City Manager Moore told Representative Chandler the City's Olympia lobbyists
would speak to Representative Chopp and Representative Ormsby about the proposed proviso. City
Manager Moore also mentioned a reported multi -month delay in the processing of blood samples from
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suspected DUI offenders by the state's crime lab. No legislation has been introduced regarding the
reported testing delay, but City Manager Moore asked for Representative Chandler to explore potential
solutions to the testing backlog.
- 14th District Senator Curtis King — City Manager Moore discussed several transportation -related
funding requests important to the Yakima area, specifically state funding to extend Yakima Transit
service to the PNWU campus and other Terrace Heights areas, state funding to expand the Cowiche
Canyon Trail, and legislation to enhance available state funding for airport infrastructure. City Manager
Moore also discussed more equitable distribution of marijuana excise tax revenue between the state
and cities, which is an "Actively Pursue" state legislative priority for the City. City Manager Moore then
discussed the progress of the City's Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, which is being
funded by a proviso that was included in the state's 2019 supplemental budget, the City's efforts to join
the already -established El Nuevo Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020
budget proviso), which is designed to decrease youth involvement in gangs, and the City's securing of
a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti -gang efforts. The visit concluded with City Manager
Moore mentioning a reported multi -month delay in the processing of blood samples from suspected
DUI offenders by the state's crime lab. No legislation has been introduced regarding the reported
testing delay, but City Manager Moore asked for Senator King to explore potential solutions to the
testing backlog.
- 15th District Rep. Jeremie Dufault — City lobbyist Luke Esser discussed SHB 1456, which concerns
the state's aviation revitalization revolving loan program. As written, SHB 1456 would allocate funding
to airports with fewer than 50,000 enplanements annually. The Yakima airport has more than 50,000
enplanements annually, and therefore would not be eligible to participate in the loan program. Esser
asked if Representative Dufault would be supportive of increasing the annual enplanements threshold
to 75,000, which would make the Yakima airport eligible to participate in the loan program.
Representative Dufault indicated he would have to gather additional information before determining
whether he could support an enplanements threshold increase. City Manager Moore discussed the
City's support of a $2.5 million state Capital Budget request from the Yakima Housing Authority to
assist in building the Veterans Housing and Services Center in Yakima. Representative Dufault
indicated strong support for the Capital Budget request. City Manager Moore then discussed the
progress of the City's Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's efforts to join the
already -established El Nuevo Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget
proviso), which is designed to decrease youth involvement in gangs, and the City's securing of a
federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti -gang efforts. The visit concluded with City Manager
Moore mentioning a Capital Budget request to add more mental health rooms at Virginia Mason
Memorial Hospital in Yakima to increase local behavioral health capacity.
- 15th District Senator Jim Honeyford — City Manager Moore discussed the City's support of a $2.5
million state Capital Budget request from the Yakima Housing Authority to assist in building the
Veterans Housing and Services Center (VHSC) in Yakima. Senator Honeyford, who is the assistant
ranking member, Capital Budget, of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, said he will be including
funding for the VHSC in his Capital Budget request. City lobbyist Luke Esser discussed SHB 1456,
which concerns the state's aviation revitalization revolving loan program. As written, SHB 1456 would
allocate funding to airports with fewer than 50,000 enplanements annually. The Yakima airport has
more than 50,000 enplanements annually, and therefore would not be eligible to participate in the loan
program. Esser asked if Senator Honeyford would be supportive of increasing the annual
enplanements threshold to 75,000, which would make the Yakima airport eligible to participate in the
loan program. Senator Honeyford indicated he would have to gather additional information before
determining whether he could support an enplanements threshold increase. City Manager Moore then
discussed the progress of the City's Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's efforts
to join the already -established El Nuevo Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a
2020 budget proviso), which is designed to decrease youth involvement in gangs, and the City's
securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti -gang efforts. The visit concluded with
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City Manager Moore mentioning a request for state funding to extend Yakima Transit service to the
PNWU campus and other Terrace Heights areas.
- 14th District Rep. Chris Corry — Representative Corry discussed his efforts to enhance the state's
foster care system. City Manager Moore encouraged Representative Corry to let the City know how it
may be able to assist in those efforts. City Manager Moore discussed the City's support of a $2.5
million state Capital Budget request from the Yakima Housing Authority to assist in building the
Veterans Housing and Services Center in Yakima. Representative Corry stated strong support for the
Capital Budget request. Representative Corry asked about two affordable housing projects in Yakima,
one being built by Next Step Housing for permanent supportive housing on 50th Avenue and the other a
tiny house project near Milroy Park proposed by Justice Housing Yakima. City Manager Moore
provided Representative Corry with details about the two projects. City Manager Moore then discussed
the progress of the City's Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's efforts to join the
already -established El Nuevo Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget
proviso), which is designed to decrease youth involvement in gangs, and the City's securing of a
federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti -gang efforts. The visit concluded with City Manager
Moore mentioning a request for state funding to extend Yakima Transit service to the PNWU campus
and other Terrace Heights areas and a reported mufti -month delay in the processing of blood samples
from suspected DUI offenders by the state's crime lab. No legislation has been introduced regarding
the reported testing delay, but City Manager Moore asked for Representative Corry to explore potential
solutions to the testing backlog.
Friday, March 15th
- 13th District Rep. Tom Dent — City Manager Moore discussed the progress of the City's Gang
Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in
the City's anti -gang efforts, and the City's efforts to join the already -established El Nuevo Camino
mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso), which is designed to
decrease youth involvement in gangs. Representative Dent, who prime sponsored the original El
Nuevo Camino legislation several sessions ago and prime sponsored HB 1895 in the 2019 session,
which would have expanded the El Nuevo Camino program (HB 1895 did not pass this session),
encouraged the City to discuss the proposed El Nuevo Camino budget proviso with House
Appropriations Committee Chair Representative Timm Ormsby and House Appropriations Committee
Ranking Minority Member Representative Drew Stokesbary. City Manager Moore told Representative
Dent the City's Olympia lobbyists would speak to Representative Ormsby and Representative
Stokesbary about the proposed proviso. SHB 1456 (prime sponsored by Representative Dent), which
concerns the state's aviation revitalization revolving loan program, was discussed. As written, SHB
1456 would allocate funding to airports with fewer than 50,000 enplanements annually. The Yakima
airport has more than 50,000 enplanements annually, and therefore would not be eligible to participate
in the loan program. Representative Dent said increasing the annual enplanements threshold in order
to make the Yakima airport eligible to participate in the loan program is not likely to happen this
session, but is possible to occur in future sessions. The visit concluded with City Manager Moore
mentioning a reported multi -month delay in the processing of blood samples from suspected DUI
offenders by the state's crime lab. No legislation has been introduced regarding the reported testing
delay, but City Manager Moore asked for Representative Dent to explore potential solutions to the
testing backlog.
- 13th District Senator Judy Warnick — City Manager Moore discussed the progress of the City's
Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to
assist in the City's anti -gang efforts, and the City's efforts to join the already -established El Nuevo
Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso), which is designed to
decrease youth involvement in gangs. Senator Warnick, a member of the Senate Ways & Means
Committee, said she is supportive of Yakima being added to the El Nuevo Camino mentor program.
Senator Warnick prime sponsored SB 5945 (a companion bill to HB 1895), which would have
expanded the El Nuevo Camino program. Neither SB 5945 nor HB 1895 passed this session. Still,
Senator Warnick said she intends to write Yakima into a budget proviso this session that would expand
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the El Nuevo Camino program. Senator Warnick mentioned she prime sponsored ESB 5573, which
concerns traumatic brain injuries resulting from domestic violence incidents, and asked the City to
support the bill. City Manager Moore mentioned the City had signed in "pro" during a committee
hearing on ESB 5573 earlier this session and will continue to be supportive of it. City Manager Moore
mentioned a reported multi -month delay in the processing of blood samples from suspected DUI
offenders by the state's crime lab. No legislation has been introduced regarding the reported testing
delay, but City Manager Moore asked for Senator Warnick to explore potential solutions to the testing
backlog. The visit concluded with City Manager Moore mentioning a Capital Budget request to add
more mental health rooms at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital in Yakima to increase local behavioral
health capacity and the City's state legislative priority to increase the number of annual classes at the
state's Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA). Senator Warnick said she hears concerns
expressed by almost every city representative she talks with about how the current number of BLEA
classes is not enough to meet the demand and indicated she is supportive of increasing the number of
annual classes at the facility.
- Senior Policy Advisor, Public Safety, to Governor Inslee Sonja Hallum — City Manager Moore
discussed the progress of the City's Gang Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program (funded by a
proviso added to the state's 2019 supplemental budget by the governor), the City's securing of a
federal SAMSHA grant to assist in the City's anti -gang efforts, and the City's efforts to join the already -
established El Nuevo Camino mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso),
which is designed to decrease youth involvement in gangs. Hallum encouraged the City to develop key
messages to address concerns and answer questions that may be raised by legislators during
consideration of the 2020 El Nuevo Camino budget proviso. By developing key messages, Hallum
said the City will be well prepared to provide information to legislators who are supportive of the budget
proviso as well as to help educate legislators who are unfamiliar with the El Nuevo Camino program
and its many benefits. City Manager Moore assured Hallum key messages will be developed.
- 22"a District Rep. Beth Doglio — City Manager Moore discussed the progress of the City's Gang
Reduction & Intervention (GRIT) program, the City's securing of a federal SAMSHA grant to assist in
the City's anti -gang efforts, and the City's efforts to join the already -established El Nuevo Camino
mentor program (proposed to be funded through a 2020 budget proviso), which is designed to
decrease youth involvement in gangs. While not a member of the Yakima Valley state legislative
delegation, Representative Doglio worked with City Manager Moore in her previous professional
capacity. Representative Doglio is vice chair of the House Capital Budget Committee. City Manager
Moore asked Representative Doglio to be supportive of the El Nuevo Camino budget proviso.
Representative Doglio indicated she will be supportive of the budget proviso.
Please let me know if you have questions or need additional information regarding the visit to Olympia
by City Manager Moore and me or any legislative issues.
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Price, CaIly
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From: Lisa Cox <disawohk@gmai|zom>
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2019 2:40 PM
To: Funk, Kay
Cc: Moore, Cliff; Cutter, Jeff; Jones, Gary
Subject: Re:1-639
}{ello-lueededanozetinctoonozpooe myself and be civil. Obviously 1 was not completely clear and you all
are hesitant to click on links lest they lead to malware or something viscous, so 1 am pasting from the
Washington State Attorney General's osite what needs legally:
What is the rolemf the Attorney General's Office with regardto Initiative 1639?
It is our practice to provide members of the public with information of a general nature whenever possible, but we
cannotpnovide|ega|advicetoprivateindividua|sorbusinessovxnem.
When an initiative is placed on the ballot, the Attorney General is required by law to prepare an Explanatory
Statement The Attorney General's Statemenk that was included in the Voter's Pamphlet with Initiative 1639 may
provide you with some useful information.
Once voters pass an initiative, the Attorney General's Office has three primary roles:
1. Provide legal advice to our state agency clients that have a new or expanded role under the initiative or whose
operations are affected by the initiative;
Z. Uphold the will of the voters and defend the initiative against lawsuits; and
3. Provide inresponse to a requestfp ral opinion. An opinion representsthe Attorney
General's ruec retaion on a point of Iaw.Opinions are not issued at the request of private
individuals. Only the following people can request an opinion:
Members of the Washin:ton State Le:islature.
• Statewide elected officialsi
• A00ointed heads of state a t encies boards or commissions. or
Cotmtvprosecutine attorneys.
The Washington Attorney General's Office issues official opinions on questions of law when requested to do so by
these designated public officials on issues that arise in the course of their duties. The opinions are not binding but
can be given "great weight" by courts. Opinions are not issued on every topic, but the office has issued opinions
related to firearms.
To date our office has not received any o°inion re
°
Initiativeuests re
1639.
| have added red highlighting andbo|d. So as you can see the next step would be yours. Someone elected or
appointed needs to request an opinion from the attorney general. You may assume that you know what his office
thinks, but that is not official. | am politely request your help in your capacity as elected officials, whom | voted for,
to please take this next step. One pre -written step from your lawyer will not satisfy my request. If you do not
know the answer to this, do not understand this, please ask someone else. This is not going away. Have you
Ipoked at the news lately? If not try this link. 1 would answer the question in the headline with one word:
1
Yakima. We can't pass laws because of what is happening here. Right here. Where you are sitting, what you are
doing. The actions that are taking or not taking - that is why.
Thank you,
Lisa Cox
On Wed, Mar 20, 2019 at 6:35 PM Funk, Kay <Kayrqink"ti) akimawa. /ov> wrote:
I completely agree that 1-1639 should be enforced, and I believe that the position of the Yakima Police Department and
our city attorney is that it will be enforced within the city limits. I will forward your message so that they can respond to
you directly.
I think that we already know that the state Attorney General supports enforcement.
Thank you for your vigilance.
Kay Funk
Yakima City Council Representative, District 4
509-571-3549
Messages on this email account are Public Records, belonging to the City of Yakima, and subject to Public Records
Information requests. Messages must also comply with the Public Meetings laws of the State of Washington.
From: Lisa Cox [clisawork0gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 4:19 PM
To: Coffey, Kathy; Gutierrez, Dulce; White, Jason; Mendez, Carmen; Funk, Kay; Hill, Brad
Subject: 1-639
Dear Yakima City Council,
I am a citizen of Yakima. Thank you for your service. I am asking you, in accordance with the Washington
State Attorne General's latest u date on 1-639 to ask for an opinion on the legality of 1-639 - specifically on
the enforcement of 1-639 and the prosecution of 1-639 since our prosecutor does not deem it fit to prosecute
anyone under this new law. I cannot request an opinion from the attorney general or I would. I voted for this
law. It is my right as a citizen to have full due process regarding this matter. You are my representatives. You
can, and in my opinion should, request an opinion from the attorney general. Very specifically the citizens of
Yakima need to have this settled. A young man was shot 2 blocks from where I lived not long ago - I hear gun
shots on a regular basis. I am not kidding when I say I will not let this go. I realize you may disagree with my
politics, but you cannot disagree with my request to access our system of government.
At the very least if someone would please contact me and let me know if you are willing to honor my request.
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Thank you,
Lisa Cox
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