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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/2010 08A Draft Minutes 11/17/2009 Special Meeting - Study SessionYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING — STUDY SESSION NOVEMBER 17, 2009 — 5:00 — 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS — YAKIMA CITY HALL 1. Roll Call Present: Council., Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council Members Maureen Adkison, Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Bill Lover, and Sonia Rodriguez (arrived late) Staff: City Manager Zais, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Kloster 2. Regional Planning Issues Present were Community Development and Economic Director Bill Cook and Planning Manager Joan Davenport. Mr. Cook reviewed the current agreement with the County whereby the City provides wastewater service to unincorporated areas beyond the city limits. The County agrees to share one Regional Planning Commission to carry out the public process, which is critical to long range planning and consistent recommendations to guide both the City Council and the County Commissioners in making capital investment decisions. He advised that the County has put the City on notice that effective January 1, 2010 they will no longer participate in the Regional Planning Commission. That decision provides the City Council with an opportunity to re-evaluate the City's current policy on growth and capital investment. Currently, the County planning process unilaterally commits the City to extend wastewater service to new development adjacent to but outside city limits. Now the questions being asked are: • Is that the way it should be done in the future? 0 What policy decisions for the City are in the best interest of the citizens of Yakima? • Does our ' current growth policy support or perhaps even encourage sprawl? • Are we investing the limited capital resources in projects that provide-the greatest benefit to the entire city? Do we have the general fund resources to continue to expand our police and fire services to meet an ever growing geographical area? The Intergovernmental Committee has been reviewing options. Mr. Cook asked Council for direction on the recommendations of the committee so we can notify the public and.the County, Joan Davenport reviewed a matrix that had been provided to Council showing the options reviewed by the Intergovernmental Committee and their recommendations. Following is a list of those recommendations: Issue: Regional Planning The City and County '.'go their own way" and the City establish their own planning. commission, although Union Gap's role becomes problematic. NOVEMBER 17, 2009 STUDY SESSION — REGIONAL PLANNING Issue: Wastewater Services Outside City Limits Redirect some of the funds to serve properties currently inside the city limits that are not being served. Issue: Annexation Continue to accept small 1 -2 lot annexations but accept no large annexation in West Valley until the West Valley Neighborhood Plan is completed. Issue: 4 -party agreement Continue to pursue a renegotiated 4 -party agreement. (Terrace Heights Sewer District, Union Gap, County and City of Yakima). The discussion covered a request of the County by the City to continue participation for a year to allow for completion of the West Valley Neighborhood Plan. City Manager Zais commented that the 4 -party agreement has been under legal scrutiny and should be renegotiated. In the meantime, the attorneys recommend it be continued through a tolling agreement while we continue to renegotiate, which could take some time. Discussion continued on duty -to -serve versus discontinuing service in the non- duty -to- serve areas. Council Member Ensey commented that he is hoping we can create in -fill and get the people inside the city limits hooked up to sewer. We will continue to annex and provide sewer on the outer edges but we should do it in an orderly and consistent way. Mayor Edler opened the floor for audience comments. John Hodkinson, Regional Planning Commission Chair, had a number of questions: • How does this affect Terrace Heights and Moxee? Mr. Cook responded that the withdrawal would mean the Terrace Heights Planning Commission would be the County Planning Commission. In terms of the sewer and annexation policy, because they are wholesale agreements, we don't believe they would be impacted at all by the Council's decision in terms of expansion to the west. He doesn't believe our duty -to -serve in Moxee is the same as outside the urban growth area. Mr. Cutter clarified that the proposal for the tolling agreement is because there are expectations and reliance on those agreements. It is not the intent to walk away from those. • What is the reason that the County wants to withdraw from the RPC? It was suggested that the County answer that question. • He referred to the airport overlay noting that the RPC provided the forum for the three entities to hold public hearings. He expressed concern on how that would now be handled. He also referenced ongoing issues that affect the urban area such as Title 12. No one else came forward to speak. Mr. Cook reiterated that this is an opportunity for Council to review the annexation and wastewater policies. We have to start preparing an outline and structure for a City Planning Commission, hopefully right after the first of the year. Decisions need to be made so people can plan their developments. ENSEY MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE AND DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 93 NOVEMBER 17, 2009 STUDY SESSION — REGIONAL PLANNING Joe Walsh with the Central Washington Homebuilder's Association said the building community would be glad to play a role in pulling the city/county together. Adjoumment MAYOR EDLER RECESSED THE COUNCIL AT 5:45 P.M. TO RECONVENE AT 6:00 P.M. FOR THE REGULAR BUSINESS MEEETING. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ATTEST: CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER DATE COUNCIL MEMBER DATE DAVID EDLER, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CID and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office.