HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/04/1990 Adjourned Meeting 109
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ..
SEPTEMBER 4, 1990 . -
ADJOURNED MEETING
. The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 A.M. in the
Conference Room at the Senior Citizen Center, Yakima, Washington. Mayor
Pat Berndt, presiding, Council members Lynn Buchanan, Henry Beauchamp,
,George Pechtel, Skip Semon and Bernard Sims present; Council member
,-Clarence Barnett absent and excused. Staff members present were City
Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Stouder, and City Clerk Roberts.
1. INFORMAL DISCUSSION
Assistant City Manager Stouder reported on the Metropolitan Plan
progress, focusing on the consultant interview process. He
said the interview panel has narrowed the selection to two firms,
HDR and David Evans. These firms will respond to an additional
questionnaire, and the panel will assemble to review the responses.
Council member Sims brought up the Growth Management Act (SHB2929)
as compared to Initiative 547. Mr. Stouder reported that the
Initiative is being pursued to ensure that 2929 meets its
objectives. Under SHB2929 Sea -Tac, special districts and school
districts " are not required to follow this process, however,
Initiative 547 will eliminate those exemptions.
Joedi Sanford, a citizen, asked .Council about the proposed 260
` apartment development.on 40th Avenue and Englewood. She expressed
concerns about this development, including traffic and safety of
the elderly residents. She was opposed to the financing plan,
wherein the developer receives federal or state funding to build
these apartments, in exchange for 20% of the units being rented to
the elderly (at least one 60 year -old in the unit), at a subsidized
rate. After the mortgage has been paid, the developer can rent the
apartments at any price, and no longer have subsidized rentals.
She said that an environmental impact study has not been performed.
Mayor Berndt reported this development is in an exploratory stage
by the developer to see if there is community interest, and to see
if he is eligible for the tax credit financing program. The
developer has not submitted applications to the City. Mr. Stouder
will keep Mrs`. Sanford advised of any developments on this issue.
Mayor Berndt circulated information on upcoming meetings and
- - conferences. --
.Mayor-, Berrndt reported that, while the visioning process has been
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placed in a relatively inactive mode until after the Primary
Election, she contacted Doug McFadden, Greta Bryan, Don Schussler
and Val Finlayson (Division Manager of PP &L) and they are willing
to serve on this project. Mr. Finlayson indicated that his firm
might be willing to put some resources into this project. Mayor
Berndt will meet with County Commissioners Klarich and Tollefson to
brief them on the project and to arouse their enthusiasm, because
-• - their staff -will be involved in this process. . .
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1 1` 0 SEPTEMBER 4, 1990
City Manager,.,,Zais`._reported that staff believes the City will
receive an,- :additional..,,$800,000 from DOE for the Wastewater
Treatment Plarit' project as a result of the meeting with them last
month. City Manager Zais distributed summaries of the City's sewer
service to the Yakima Urban Area.. He. said that one little known
fact is that the City spent about. $600,000 to help provide the
sewer lines to the West Valley area.
City Manager Zais gave an update on the recruitment efforts for the
Administrative Assistant position in the City Manager's Office.
Staff has made a selection, pending a final reference check. A
final decision will be made in the next couple of days.
City Manager Zais reported the Act Now Committee will initiate a
major advertising campaign this week in support of the City's anti-
crime tax ballot issue. He said the Committee would like Council
members to be available to back up their speakers when they appear
before civic- clubs and organizations. A calendar of speaking
engagements was circulated for Council members to sign up for times
they would be available to assist. City Manager Zais reported that
last week, KYVE's program, "In Focus ", aired a segment on this
.ballot issue, involving himself, Mayor Berndt, Greta Bryan, and
County Commissioner Chuck Klarich. Copies of the tape will be
made available to Council and will be aired on YCTV. He reported
that the Yakima Police, Patrolman's Association, who donated $1,000
to this campaign, plans a press conference to discuss this from a
police officer's point of view. Mayor.Berndt advised Council about
a possible racial problem this issue may be causing. She received
phone calls from citizens who objected to paying an extra tax due
to drugs being brought in by Mexicans.. She said the word needs to
be spread that it's only a small segment of Mexicans in this valley
who are - involved with drugs. Mr. Stouder said that the group
involved. with WMBE has suggested this area needs a County Community
Relations Office. Discussion ensued. regarding the cost per
individual for, incarceration versus the cost`.of educating youth to
keep them out of trouble. (Mr. ,Stouder absent after 8:35 A.M.)
Mayor Berndt commented that a benefit of having Don Schussler on
the committee is his involvement with the schools. She is hopeful
that one of the committees will be on education and schools.
The meeting adjourned at the hour of 8:45 A.M.
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