Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/23/1990 Adjourned Meeting 1 MAY 23,1990 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON . ADJOURNED MEETING --:. I/ The City Council met in session on this date at 12:15 P.M. at the Red Lion Inn in Yakima, Washington for the purpose of meeting with area State Legislators regarding funding for law and justice needs. Mayor Pat Berndt presiding, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, George Pechtel, Skip Semon and Bernard Sims present. Council member Clarence Barnett absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Stouder, Police Chief Green, John Hanson, Director of Finance and Budget, Senators Jim Matson and Irving. Newhouse, Representatives Forrest Baugher, and Shirley Doty, and Clerk Givens also present. Mayor Berndt welcomed the Senators and Representatives and thanked them for attending. She asked for a request to be made to the legislation to amend the current law and justice proposal or consider special purpose legislation for Yakima to provide additional criminal justice funding. City Manager Zais addressed the City's concerns regarding the law and justice crisis in Yakima. He stated the City requires a balanced state aid and local options funding package of $2.5 million dollars annually in new ongoing revenue to address our law ' and justice needs. He asked the Senators and Representatives to express our needs and.conce.rns, to the_State Legislative in order to get this funding. Senators Newhouse and Matson stated they felt Yakima would receive about $450,000 a year in increased revenue if state legislative leaders approve a package today designed to help with law and justice. They stated they felt if Yakima demanded more from the '.legislators'it would be like "wrecking the train" and they would be 'taking a chance on receiving nothing. They feel the best plan is to take what is offered now and wait until the next session for additional help. - Council members Buchanan, . Pechtel, and Semon, expressed their frustration that 'Yakima is in desperate need of more help now and cannot understand why the House and Senate can't perceive it and give more help since the money is available. The Council consensus was . if the_ legislators cannot help, then give the City I/ ' the authority to get the help on their own. They feel the citizens of Yakima are concerned enough that they are willing to pay .additional taxes 'to receive the help. The other side of the issue .is, why should the City have to get their own help when there is excess money in the State budget for help? The Senators indicated the awareness is there, but the legislators feel the priority is with growth management and there are just not enough votes to pass Yakima's concerns. The Council's concern was that Yakima's problem is going to have to get completely out of hand before anything is done. Representative Doty stated she believes -1- 2 the legislators do not fully believe the figures that are being given at this time.'Council "member Semon advised her that they should check with the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agencies. She feels the City needs to accept the help they can receive now, then document their needs for use in the future. The Senators and Representatives informed the Council that the chances of special purpose legislation are practically nil. It was proposed when the Law and Justice Committee meets in Yakima for a hearing next Friday, for the Police Department to take them on a tour of the City on a Friday night and show them first hand the extent of the drug problems in Yakima. The visiting lawmakers feel a study of the in -depth problems of Yakima will be an asset for the future. Representative Doty expressed concern that the Council was unhappy with the leadership of their representatives. She stated part of the problem is that the County and City are not united with their causes. The Council assured them they are happy with what they have accomplished, but feel much more is needed. Representative Baugher stated he feels there will be local options come out of this session, so the City will have this tool in the future. Senator Matson did not agree with this assessment. The Council discussed taking a portion of the existing State tax and using it for law and justice instead of raising new taxes. City Manager Zais thanked the Senators and Representatives for attending and for the work they have accomplished. The meeting was adjourned at the hour of 1:45 P.M. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY 'IUNCIL EMBER DA E bk. 0 k .A.i01422-4. t . ff c2,-11-5/ OUN L MEMBER DATE ATTEST: 1 1/ CITY CLERK MAYOR Minutes prepared by Lois Harris- Givens -2-