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Home My WebLink About12/05/2019 Study Session 126 4(:'-*'' ''''t.',, YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION December 5, 2019 City Hall -- Council Chambers 4 p.m. Meeting notes 1. Roll Call Council: Mayor Kathy Coffey, presiding,Assistant Mayor Dulce Gutierrez and Kay Funk. Staff: Interim City Manager Alex Meyerhoff and Acting City Clerk Jodi Stephens Absent: Councilmembers Holly Cousens (excused), Brad Hill (excused), Carmen Mendez (excused)and Jason White Due to an expected quorum of Council members in attendance, the meeting was noticed as a City Council study session; however, as a quorum was not reached, the meeting proceeded with its scheduled agenda as an Ad Hoc Committee meeting. 2. Affordable Housing and Housing Action Plan Study Session Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager, introduced Kevin Ramsey and Lisa Grueter of BERK Consulting, who presented a report outlining the scope of the Affordable Housing and the Housing Action Plan. Assistant Mayor Gutierrez spoke about the challenges around the affordable housing development approval process, as was voiced by several commenters during public comment. Councilmember Funk expressed her concern that the consultants work should include action recommendations, not exclusively planning. Following public comment, it was determined to place an item on the Council's December 10th Business Meeting Agenda to allow the entire Council to weigh in on the suggestion that the Community Integration Committee help with the community engagement process. 3. Public comment (allow 30 minutes) Jerry Mellen, City resident, spoke about the importance of planning and his concern with City government overspending. Bruce Whitmore, City resident, shared his concerns about senior housing issues. Staci Beat and Kerri Faulkner with Next Step Housing, discussed zoning challenges 127 surrounding the Bicycle Apartment project and spoke in favor of Next Step Housing. Jack Topper, President of Habitat for Humanity, spoke on behalf of and in favor of Habitat for Humanity. David Helseth with Justice Housing Yakima, talked about parking requirements in R3 zoning and issues they face with the zoning requirements. Charles Hitchcock with the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORF), discussed the financial impact of the City's review process for affordable housing projects. Nathan Poel, Design Director for the Yakima Housing Authority, reported on the need for all types of housing all over Yakima and encouraged the City to review the Strong Towns Initiative. 4. Adjournment MOTION: Gutierrez moved and Funk seconded to adjourn to the next City Council regular meeting on December 10, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m. CERTIFICATION READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY =- COUNCIL MEMBER DATE MD C'I NCI L MEMBER DATE ATTEST: _ jkliki.J1) 66--)W e-S7 tj CITY - CLERK ✓ � � �`` / MAYOR I s`....vjr",""