HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/30/2019 Study Session 53
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YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
July 30, 2019
City Hall --Council Chambers
5:30 p.m. -- MINUTES
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding,Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez, Councilmembers
Holly Cousens, Kay Funk, Brad Hill, Carmen Mendez and Jason White
Staff: City Manager Cliff Moore, Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins, Community
Development Director Joan Davenport, Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun and City Clerk
Sonya Claar Tee
2. Affordable Housing Issues
Joan Davenport, Community Development Director, presented a PowerPoint regarding
affordable housing. City Manager Moore reported the City had applied for a grant on the
Housing Action Plan but did not receive it; however, there may be additional grant
opportunities available. Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins briefly explained urban
renewal districts. Planning Manager Joseph Calhoun reviewed the Planning Commission's
work on this project. Joe Schmitt, Director of Business Recruitment at Yakima County
Development Association, discussed Opportunity Zones and the possibility of utilizing SI ED
funding to incentivize Opportunity Zones. He stated guidelines for the zones are still being
determined at the federal level.
3. Downtown Master Plan Study Session
Colleda Monick, Community Development Specialist, presented a brief summary of the
Downtown Master Plan. Councilmember White reported the Council Economic Development
Committee recommends focusing on the downtown area and parkway. Councilmember Hill
indicated he would like to see the City focus on a smaller area and suggested 1st Street to
4th Street. Councilmember Mendez asked about the status of the east/west corridor
interchange. Community Development Director Davenport estimates the east/west corridor
work will begin in 2021 and possibly be completed in 2025. After Council discussion,
MOTION: Hill moved and Cousens seconded to direct staff to reconvene the
implementation oversight committee, as described on page 43 of the Downtown
Master Plan, to determine the viability of the plan and bring back a
recommendation to Council. MOTION: Funk moved and Mendez seconded to
amend the motion that the assessment and viability of the plan, or which features
are viable, be examined through the lens of what is financially viable in the short
term. After Council discussion, the motion to amend failed by a 4-3 vote with Hill, White,
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Coffey and Cousens voting no. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
Assistant Mayor Gutierrez suggested diversifying this committee to include community
members that have not previously been involved, have no property or business interests
downtown and may not be downtown enthusiasts.
4. Public comment (allow 15 minutes)
Joe Morrier, downtown property owner, discussed his concerns with changing the traffic
pattern on Yakima Avenue and reported his company will be making an announcement
about another hotel and restaurant to be built downtown.
Andrew Holt, Executive Director of the Downtown Association of Yakima, believes there are a
lot of good aspects to the Downtown Plan and supports narrowing Yakima Avenue for foot
friendly traffic.
Verlynn Best, President and CEO of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce, shared her
strong support of the Downtown Plan and added the Chamber would be happy to help
generate more participation on the implementation oversight committee.
5. Adjournment
MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Cousens seconded to adjourn to the next City
Council regular meeting on Monday,August 5, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The
motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
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