HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/19/2020 Business Meeting178
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
May 19, 2020
City Hall -- Council Chambers
5:30 p.m. Regular Meeting -- This meeting will be conducted via speakerphone and is live
streamed at www.yakimawa.gov and telecast live on Y -PAC, Spectrum Cable Channel 194.
There will be no opportunity for oral communications at this meeting; however if you wish to
provide written comment to the City Council, please email ccouncil2@yakimawa.gov. Written
comments received by 3 pm on May 19 will be provided to the City Council prior to the
meeting -- MINUTES
Roll Call
Council: Mayor Patricia Byers, presiding, Assistant Mayor Holly Cousens,
Councilmembers Kay Funk, Brad Hill, Soneya Lund and Eliana Macias and Jason White (all
but White and Funk attending via speakerphone)
Staff: Interim City Manager Alex Meyerhoff, City Attorney Jeff Cutter and City Clerk Sonya
Clear Tee
2. Open Discussion for the Good of the Order
A. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Interim City Manager Meyerhoff provided an update on COVID-19's effect on City services
and finances.
B. Proclamations
i. Pride Month proclamation
Assistant Mayor Cousens proclaimed the month of June 2020 as "LGBTQ Pride Month."
ii. Older Americans Month proclamation
Councilmember Lund proclaimed the month of May 2020 as Older Americans Month.
3. Council Reports
A. Discuss interim and permanent city manager review process and template
Interim City Manager Meyerhoff introduced the item. After Council discussion,
MOTION: White moved and Hill seconded to use city manager evaluation form #3 to
evaluate the Interim City Manager. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
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4. Consent Agenda
Mayor Byers referred to the items placed on the Consent Agenda, questioning whether there
were any additions or deletions from Council members present. There were no changes. The
City Clerk read the Consent Agenda items, including resolutions and ordinances, by title.
(Items on the Consent Agenda are handled under one motion without further discussion—see
motion directly below.)
MOTION: Cousens moved and Hill seconded to approve the consent agenda. The
motion carried by unanimous vote.
A. Approval of minutes from the May 5, 2020 City Council regular meeting
B. April 2020 lnvestment Transactions Report
C. Approve payment of disbursements for the period April 1 - 30, 2020
O. Project Completion and Contract Acceptance for Ken Leingang Excavating, Inc. -
P'mct SC3499/SVV2500 Sewer Trunk Line Installation & Stormwater
Pipe Realignment
E. Resolution accepting and approving lst Quarter 2020 Claim Report
RESOLUTION NO. R-2020-053, A RESOLUTION accepting and approving the 1st Quarter
2020 Claim Report for the City of Yakima.
F. Resolution authorizing acceptance of Passenger Facility Charge revenues from
U.S. Department of Transportation
RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION authorizing acceptance of Passenger
Facility Charge revenues from U.S. Department of Transportation.
G. Resolution authorizing an agreement with Road Products, Inc. to rehabilitate
Runway 9/27 High lntensity Runway Edge Lights and to perform asphalt
maintenance at the Yakima Air Terminal -McAllister Field
RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION authorizing an agreement with Road
Products, Incto rehabilitate Runway 9/27 Hih Intensity Runway Edge Lihts and to perform
asphalt maintenance at the Yakima Air TerminaI-McAiIister Field.
H. Resolution authorizing designated representatives to execute FEMA -related
contnactm, request payments, and approve required documentation to obtain federal
and/or state emergency or disaster assistance funds
RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION designatingauthohzedaoantsonbahalf
of the City of Yakima for the purpose of preparing and executing all documents necessary to
apply for and receive funding from federal and/or state emergency disaster assistance sources.
Resolution authorizing a Mutual Aid Agreement between all Yakima County Fire
Protection Districts and cities located within Yakima County
RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION authorizing a Mutual Aid Agreement
between all Yakima County Fire Protection Districts and Cities located within Yakima County.
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J. Ordinance amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code Sections 8.40.010 and
8.40.080 regarding Truck Routes
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-012, AN ORDINANCE relating to the regulation of Truck Routes;
amending Sections 8.40.010 and 8.40.080 of the Yakima Municipal Code regarding the
established weight of qualifying trucks and the associated violation penalty.
DEPARTMENT ITEMS
Public safety and police budgetary concerns related to illegal cruising
Police Chief Matt Murray briefed Council on public safety and budgetary concerns related to
the recent illegal cruising activities, stressing the Police Department is not anti -cruising. After
Council discussion,
MOTION: Hill moved and Lund seconded to add repealing of the cruising ordinance to
the next business meeting. City Attorney Cutter stated he believes the public will want to
provide comment and will not have the opportunity if this is added to the June 2 agenda. The
motion carried by a 5-2 vote, Funk and Cousens voting no.
6. Parking enforcement review and discussion — current Ordinance and past Council action
regarding parking enforcement
Brooke Goosman, Senior Assistant City Attorney, briefed Council on the item and stated
the Legal Department proposes including a 48 hours notice requirement before towing, in order
to avoid constitutional challenges, as well as including language describing the procedure for
contesting a tow impound. Further, it will be proposed that the language directing that parking
officers "shall" impound a vehicle be amended to "may" to allow for officer discretion and
consideration of reasonable alternatives to vehicle impounds. After Council discussion,
MOTION: White moved and Macias seconded that Council suspend parking
enforcement until the Stay Home Order is lifted. The motion failed by a 6-1 vote,
Cousens, Funk, Hill, Lund, Macias and Byers voting no.
MOTION: Funk moved and Hill seconded the Council suggest to the Mayor an
emergency powers proclamation, which would provide for more lenient enforcement
of our current parking ordinance. The motion carried by a 5-2 vote, White and Cousens
voting no.
Mayor Byers stated she will declare an emergency proclamation regarding parking
enforcement, which will need Council approval within 72 hours. Steve Groom, Director of
Finance and Budget, reported the City recently increased its parking enforcement officers to
two. He stated that during the month of April, the total dollar amount of citations was just under
$8,000. In terms of enforcing expired registrations, parking enforcement officers are only
enforcing the ordinance on 2019 and older expired licenses that are pre-COVID.
MOTION: Lund moved and Byers seconded to proceed with staffs proposal. The
motion carried by a 6-1 vote, Funk voting no.
Small business assistance options due to COVID-19
Senior Assistant City Attorney Sara Watkins briefed Council on the item and stated staff
proposes the following program with the COVID-19 CDBG funds:
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1. Allocate$480,000 for grant assistance for small businesses meeting the micro-
enterprise criteria,with the remaining funding staying with the City for oversight,
technical assistance and administration as allowed by HUD.
2. Determine if there are any requirements that the Council would like to add to the
applications in addition to the regulatory requirements.
3. Enter into a contract with YCDA to operate the grant assistance program. City staff
will provide technical assistance to YCDA regarding application materials, data
collection, etc. to ensure HUD compliance.
4. The City helps promote the program, criteria and application process through press
releases, social media, the website, and other means available.
Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of YCDA, clarified uses of the grant.After Council
discussion,
MOTION: Hill moved and Lund seconded to adopt staffs recommendations and work
in coordination with YCDA to begin the grant process. The motion carried by unanimous
vote.
8. Discussion of draft plan for utility bill relief in COVID-19 emergency
Steve Groom, Director of Finance and Budget, reported on the item and stated the City has
not seen an increase in unpaid utility bills, although there has been an increase in payment
arrangements.
Scott Schafer, Public Works Director, reported on the status of capital projects earmarked
utilizing enterprise funds.
Ryan Bleek,Assistant City Attorney, briefed Council on the legality of utilizing city funds to
assist rate payers. After Council discussion,
MOTION: Cousens moved and Hill seconded to direct staff to monitor uncollectable
balances over the next 60 days and report back if there is an increase in accounts that
would normally have been disconnected for nonpayment and to report back on the
dollar amount of uncollected balance that could be considered for deferral. The motion
carried by a 5-2 vote, Funk and Byers voting no.
MOTION: Macias moved and Funk seconded to direct staff to explore using CARES
act money for utility relief of those impacted by COVID-19. We will document adverse
impact for 1) Individuals: unemployment, reduced employment hours, increase child
care expenses, etc., 2) Small Businesses: Closure or reduced revenue, 3) Landlords:
nonpayment of rent by impacted renters. The motion carried by a 4-3, Hill, White and
Cousens voting no.
9. Other Business
MOTION: White moved and Byers seconded to direct staff to read all public emails in
regards to topics on the agenda. Councilmember Funk raised a Point of Order that this
issue was not on the agenda, and therefore, no action can be taken. Mayor Byers ruled the
point was well taken. MOTION: White moved and Byers seconded to amend the motion
to put this topic on the next regular business meeting agenda. After Council discussion,
the motion to amend failed by a 5-2 vote, with Cousens, Funk, Hill, Lund and Macias voting
no. The motion failed by a 5-2 vote, with Hill, Cousens, Funk, Lund and Macias voting no.
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MOTION: Funk moved and Macias seconded to place on the next agenda discussion
of reopening more city business meetings, particularly the Planning Commission
meetings. After Council discussion, the motion carried by unanimous vote.
MOTION: Byers moved and Hill seconded that staff prepare a time-limited or one time
exemption of fees for outside seating permits for local eateries that comply with
zoning ordinances for outside seating. The motion carried by unanimous vote.
10. Adjournment
MOTION: Cousens moved and White seconded to adjourn to Executive Session
on June 2, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion carried by
unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
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