HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/04/1991 Adjourned Meeting 403
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING
JUNE 4, 1991
The City Council met in session on this date at 11:30 A.M. in the Red Lion
Inn - Harrah Room, for a luncheon meeting with the Downtown Area
Redevelopment .Committee (DARC). Mayor Pat Berndt and Councilmembers
Henry Beauchamp (present after 12:00 P.M.), George•Pechtel (present after
12:00 P.M.), Skip Semon and Bernard Sims present.. DARC''members present.
were Paul Campbell, Val Finlayson, Pat Gilmore, Herb Hill,'Bill Ibach,
Bert McConnell, -Mike Mercy, Joe -- Morrier, Al Royal, Lee Semon, Jr., Guy
Shinn and•Dan Tilley. City staff members in attendance were Assistant
City Manager Stouder, Community and Economic Development" Director'Rice,
Budget and Finance Director Hanson, Department Assistant Arington and
Deputy City Clerk Lovell.
On behalf of. the Council; Mayor Berndt welcomed the DARC' members to the
meeting. From a staff perspective, Community and Economic Development
Director Rice stated that the close working relationship with DARC has
been very successful in addressing areas of interest to the downtown core
area. Staff is currently compiling a list of items in the Downtown Plan
to discuss with DARC.. Councilmember Semon observed that at least three
committees involved in the Visioning 2010 process are concerned with
revitalization of downtown. A list of suggestions: from the Visioning
committees will be forwarded to DARC members.
Joe Morrier requested a status report on downtown lighting. Assistant
City Manager,Stouder replied that the lighting project will be completed
this summer. -Val Finlayson offered the professional services of Pacific
Power & Light engineers to evaluate lighting needs throughout the City,
and to develop a master plan for future development.
Paul Campbell addressed the potential for an outlying center, and
emphasized the importance of having the downtown remain the site of future
retail expansion. Mayor Berndt confirmed the Council's support of this
concept, but cautioned that the area must be_ safe_ and_ attractive""to
customers downtown. She stressed that it will take a public %private
partnership to make this a reality. Guy Shinn suggested minimum
compliance standards for real property in the downtown area._ Assistant
City Manager Stouder agreed that the downtown is overdue for design
standards, and this can be addressed in the design component of the
Downtown Plan. Mike Mercy suggested starting the process immediately
to attract and keep major tenants in the downtown area. He has received
support from the Chamber. of Commerce and New Vision for his downtown
expansion plans, but feels the City must also be involved in downtown
revitalization. Mayor Berndt reminded DARC that tax increment financing
is not an option available in the state of W
Councilmember Sims asked for an assessment of the City's role in
implementing the Downtown Plan. Assistant City Manager Stouder noted that
Chapter 6, the redevelopment study, was deleted from the Plan. This
portion of the Plan addressed land assemblage, which is the next step in
the process. ' He suggested that it is time to reexamine the Plan that was
adopted by Council last year to determine the proper course of action.
Mr. Morrier said that it is time to condemn some of the old buildings and
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404 JUNE 4, 1991
• open up sites, so they will be ready for development. Mr. Mercy suggested
that building a new City Hall /or-Police Station could be a catalyst
for significant downtown development. He felt the City will have to take
the lead in implementing laws, ordinances and urban renewal financing
before developers will be interested.
Assistant City Manager Stouder said if DARC and the Council are interested
in pursuing redevelopment, funding for acquisition; an d wi1k
be the greatest. obstacle. Councilmember Sevonifelt -,many,,downtowg -ty : 1
owners would support "friendly condemnation" proceedings. Mr. Stouder
expla‘Bed nthatsurbanl,"renew410 financing is not available in the traditional
senser, and :'the : -Council would, .require- up -front funding before- condemnation
begins to take place. Mr. Stouder explained that the land' acquisition
issue is critical. If DARC and the City are serious about looking•at land
assemblage, :he suggested that.the- process and the market testing of sites
be very thorough. It was MOVED BY DAN .TILLEY, ,SECONDED "'BY:. VAL . FINLAYSON,
THAT DARC REQUEST. se CIL TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE' AN' " OUTLINE .TO
IMPLEMENT DO • : REVITALIZATION` AND MOVE" FORWARD ON ;THE DOWNTOWN; .PLAN,
AND GIVE COUNCIL, .'A 'SET OF CHOICES ON HOW" TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS. The
motion was approved unanimously by DARC. Mayor Berndt explained that
Council members cannot vote in this forum; formal Council action must be
conducted in a general public meeting. Assistant City Manager Stouder
said that staff is already studying this issue, and preliminary material
will be available for 'presentation at the DARC meeting on Thursday. A
formal presentation should be ready for Council by July.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at P.M.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: A d , el / /
CO CIL i i:ER DATE
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COUNCIL R If1TE
ATTEST: A n_7�_. .... L c Cr^�.: �
D�CITY CLERK' J f . • MAYOR _rr . n
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Lovell • r..
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