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
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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
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OUN L MEMBER DATE
ATTEST: 1 1/
CITY CLERK MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Lois Harris- Givens
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