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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/1990 Study Session 140 CITY OF YAKIMA,. WASHINGTON - - • OCTOBER 2, 1990 STUDY SESSION . . f , . . • 1. ROLL CALL _ -_ n The City Council met in session on ,this' date at 2:.00 P.M. - in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt,presiding, Council members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, and Bernard Sims. present on roll call.: Council member Henry . Beauchamp present :05. P.M. I Council member - George Pechtel present 2:10'P.M. member Skip Semon after 2 :12 P.M. - City Attorney Vanek, City Clerk: Roberts and, Deputy City :Clerk - -also present.. • City Manager • Zais;; ,,present - -after 2:15 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE :The Pledge of Allegiance was - led by Mayor Berndt. • 3. •OPEN DISCUSSION FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER:• - • Assistant'City Stouder introduced 19 Costa- Rican planners who•are visiting the United States for eight weeks to study rural : community development A proclamation was read by Mayor Berndt in ' and by Department Assistant Rick Ybarra in ' Spanish, to welcome ::the visitors - and td :make them honorary citizens of the City of Yakima. Delio Cespedes accepted the proclamation on behalf of the delegation, and thanked the Council for their•welcome. • Mayor Berndt read a proclamation designating October 7 -13, 1990 as Fire• Prevention Week in the City of Yakima, and urged all citizens to become involved in making their homes fire safe.' Captain Joe May accepted the proclamation and outlined the .activities planned by the Fire Department to observe the occasion. - Mayor Berndt announced that the Yakima County Coalition for the War on_ Drugs received a federal grant of •$691, 689 - , to mobilize community groups resources in- on- drugs - The..initial grant period is 15 months,,and it is renewable for a-total of five years for approximately $550,000 per year. Mayor Berndt will travel to Washington, D.C. this week to accept the grant, which was one of only 60 awarded nationwide and only two; grants issued in Washington State. 'Mayor Berndt reported that the City has also received an EPA grant for wastewater facility improvements. The Mayor was,confident that_the City was successful in obtaining these grants because of hard work and involvement by Council members. City Attorney Vanek reported that he sent a letter 'to the Assistant State Attorney General requesting payment of approximately _$10,000 that has been awarded to the City for reimbursement of additional ordinance publication costs. Mr. Vanek added that the State does not have funds to make this payment, and AAD /1 OCTOBER 2, 1990 1 4.1 the judgement will be submitted to the Legislature for an appropriation at its next session. 4. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION • None:- ' • . 5. PRESENTATION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON PUBLIC' EDUCATION PROGRAM Fire Chief Beeson introduced Captain - Joe May, who presented information 'about the Department's public education program. Captain May outlined the current programs offered by the Fire Department to _schools; businesses, health care:Ifacilities and • service 'organizations. He also mentioned the Department's willingness 'to'custom design classes to net specific community needs. Captain May 'stated that letters promoting the classes have - been mailed to many' businesses in Yakima, and the response has been overwhelming. Fire Chief Beeson thanked the Council for giving the Department an opportunity to explain some of their programs. Council 'member Pechtel thanked . the Department and the Firefighter's Association for providing a - vehicle and assistance • for the Suinfair Parade.' • 6. PRESENTATION FROM ASSISTANT' CITY MANAGER REGARDING THE METROPOLITAN .COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: • A. UPDATE OF PROCESS AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT (SHB 2929) - Assistant City Manager Stouder provided updated information on the current status of the Comprehensive Metropolitan Plan. The Plan will' address regional transportation, land use, drainage :and parks and- recreation needs for the metropolitan area. This Plan will also meet the demands.from the State regarding the Growth Management Act which became effective July 1, 1990. The - City's CIP - team and representatives from Yakima County, Conference of Governments (COG), and the cities of Union Gap, Selah, and Moxee interviewed five consulting firms for planning services.- 'Mr. stated that the City is now ready to negotiate''a contract'with HDR Engineering,!and he anticipates - completion of the Plan will requireat least 2 -3 years. Mr.- Stouder.emphasized: that -City /County cooperation is critical since SHB 2929 'requires that urban growth- boundaries be established.' It is State mandated that a comprehensive plan be • adopted by. and development - and capital improvement' :'programs:in place a. year later.• In response to • questions 'from Mayor Mr. Stouder explained that this • 'Plan will complement the interlocal transportation agreement recently signed . .with COG. _Mr. Stouder briefly reviewed specific questions and answers that had been submitted to the • consultants. 'He also mentioned that :consultants will be utilized for the'Plan rather than staff -since consultants have access to specialists who are better trained. in specific areas. The corisultant emphasizes `that the'key'step tfor the upfront Commitment to this process is for all, agencies within the metropolitan area to. take a cooperative, active and AAD /2 • 1 4 2 OCTOBER' 2, 1990 _i participatory •interest ' in the Comprehensive Plan. r:Each agency will participate din the identification 'of common needs and establishment of common goals. Mayor Berndt advised Council that the Visioning steering committeehas been formed and will meet on October: 10, 1990. She stated that response from the community has been ".overwhelming, and the committee members are. excited about the concept and anxious to proceed. The first meeting will define goals, •determine• the 'direction the process will take and decide what committees will be -.formed'. Council member Beauchamp asked if any minority members are — included on the steering committee. Mayor: 'Berndt replied that while there 'are no minority •members on the 'steering committee, many are included on•the list for `committee chairs - . Mr." Stouder stated • that it will •be the job Of staff and -consultants to. translate the ,Visioning .process. -into specific objectives for the • - Comprehensive Plan. Council member Barnett asked how the Comprehensive Plan ties into the law that establishes the County as the lead agency in • developing regional strategy. Mr-: Stouder ,:replied that the County has the responsibility for reaching and transmitting agreement with the 15 jurisdictions in the area, and a general work • program will be•set••for planning throughout the ,County. The County will determine the Urban Growth Boundary, however, the County and the cities must agree and work together to meet their mutual needs. City Manager Zais advised Council that the City has received a $50,000 check from Yakima County as their participation:in the storm drainage component of the Plan. x In summary, Mr. Stouder 'highlighted the requirements of the •.Growth Management .Act, .=and —stressed - - the importance of meeting established timetable:-" „ r B. RECOMMENDATION TO OPPOSE INITIATIVE 547 ON GROWTH MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE • Assistant' City •Manager Stouder reviewed the background of .= ! Initiative which will be • on the 'statewide ballot in November. In - contrast to the Growth Management Act, which was a process including all interest groups, Initiative 547 was > - developed by one special_interest group. Mr. .Stouder cautioned that passage of the Initiative Would create confusion and 'uncertainty, and he was concerned ' that legislation by i-Initiative would 'set a bad precedent. Before any Initiative is passed, Mr: Stouder felt'the - Growth-Management Act should be :given :a. chancevto work since it allows planning for growth at the local level. In contrast, Initiative 547. dictates to local :Y governments''fram the "top down." - t: :_Council member'Barnett was concerned‘that measure may win 'approval'- because of the official ballot:title. He felt that most people would agree -with: the concept, and the title could ".Abe misleading to citizens who are unfamiliar with the measure. r' r'.Phil Pleasant, 701 South 7th Avenue, addressed the Council with - his concerns for minority representation in the Visioning and AAD /3 • OCTOBER 2, 1990 1 4 3 planning process. Mr. Pleasant felt that qualified, local people should have been considered rather than hiring a ' « consultants •'from ` another- ,area: Mr:•cStouder :-replied .that local hiring will be done for certain.components the Plan, and women and minority business requirements were specifically included in the RFP. Mr. Stouder suggested that Mr. Pleasant contact the County with his concerns, since some of the projects he mentioned are located in unincorporated areas. Tim McGree, Yakima County Development Association Director (YCDA), stated that his organization is committed to the Metropolitan Planning process. Mr. McGree advised Council that YCAa, has gone on record in opposition to Initiative 547. City Manager Zais suggested that the Council add YCDA to the list of local organizations on their informal meeting schedule. Mr. McGree answered questions from Council members concerning the challenge of locating industrial'property in the Yakima _ area. He stated that until industrial property is place in the community, there will be limited success in placing industrial investment in .Yakima: - It was MOVED BY BARNETT, SECONDED BY SIMS, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GO ON RECORD AGAINST - INITIATIVE 547, AND THAT STAFF BRING AN APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION 10.THE NEXT MEETING. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 7. OTHER BUSINESS Mayor Berndt reported that the Council held a luncheon meeting ' today with the Community Programming Advisory Committee. It was was suggested that the Council participate in live, call -in television shows to answer questions from the public and discuss current issues. It was the consensus of .Council that staff be directed to develop the concept. Cable Communications Manager Warren will prepare a format and schedule for Council members. City Manager Zais reported that a meeting of the Task Force on City and County Finances Relating to Law and Justice is scheduled in Everett on October 9, 1990. Mr. Zais is planning to attend the meeting, and he highly recommended that at least one Council member accompany him. Council member.Pechtel, and possibly Council member Barnett, offered to attend. Mayor Berndt felt that a meeting should be held to reevaluate the local law and justice issue in light of the recent ballot issue failure. City Manager Zais added that the meeting should include discussion of the strategy of working together with the County. He suggested postponing the scheduled 7:00 A.M. meeting on October 9 to October 16 to focus on law and justice matters. Council member Pechtel suggested that the Council make an effort during Council meetings to acknowledge achievements by City employees. Council member Pechtel further requested that minutes from Council meetings reflect when a member is absent due to other Council business. • AAD /4 1 4 4 OCTOBER 2;'1990 8. ADJOURNMENT It was MOVED BY BUCHANAN, "" SD Y 9ED BY PECHTEL `THAT THE 'MEETING BE ADJOURNED. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at the hour of 4:05 P.M. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY / �y `f /g /q / C•. C L I:ER DATE • y- /G COUNCI D I:ER' • DATE ATTEST: ; • /� '%•� �' , c me CQ `CITY CLERK' ` ' MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City - • Clerk` Lovell - f . •• - r ' (T f,• -fir r. xr 1. �r f y -" r-r } ,T, 1 j`i - "r , `I + "r ''C i "n -rr '. 1 , AAD /5