HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/13/1993 Adjourned Meeting 2 209
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
APRIL 13, 1993
ADJOURNED MEETING
The City Council met in session on this date at 7:00 a.m. in the
Board Room at the Yakima Center, Yakima, Washington. Council
Members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Clarence
I/ Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Skip Semon and Bernard
Sims. Council Member Brado present after 7:30 a.m. Also present
were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, and City
Clerk Roberts.
1. INFORMAL DISCUSSION AMONG COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Berndt asked for volunteers to be on. the Rob Vickers
radio talk show. Council Member Beauchamp volunteered to be
on the show.
Council members discussed the proposed airport expansion.
The Airport Board is conducting meetings to get public
input. Union Gap is not in favor of the expansion. Staff
also provided updated information to Council on the Broadway
Fire District status. The City has annexed enough of the
District's area to create a significant loss of revenue to
the District. Union Gap is annexing property; however, it
is not providing utility services. The four -party agreement
delineated the urban service areas, under which Union Gap
agreed to provide utility services within their service
boundary.
Council Member Sims asked why minutes are taken of executive
sessions when it is not required by law. City Manager Zais
explained the minutes are a written record of directions
given to staff by Council.
Council Member Sims requested an update-of the Terrace
Heights water issue. City Manager Zais stated the developer
submitted a letter to the County requesting water service
for the industrial park they want to develop. A Council
Committee was formed to meet with the County on this
subject; however, the County had no desire to meet with us.
We are on hold until they decide where they want to go,
unless the developer requests a meeting. New Vision has
given this development its reluctant approval, due to its
being in the flood plain. They know they can't get CERB
funding.
Council Member Barnett asked if a response has been received
from the County to our jail letter. Mr. Buchanan reported
that no response has been delivered. City Manager Zais
stated the City's letter showed the cost of what staff
thinks the City should be billed, which would be about a
$200,000 cost savings. The County is aware they have a
responsibility because there is a signed agreement that the
City would provide $650,000 to help build the minimum
facility in exchange for a reduced jail rate. Apparently
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APRIL 13, 1993 - ADJOURNED MEETING
the County is billing based on an aggregate rate of the two
jail facilities, not the lower minimum security rate.
Council members discussed 911 consolidated dispatch. One
drawback to consolidated dispatch is the fact that the City
would have to bear the cost of the 911 dispatch services and 0
most likely would have to retain personnel to do the
clerical work currently performed by the dispatchers.
Another issue is the City would only have one representative
on the Board, but would fund about half the budget. Also,
the City would lose revenue from entities contracting
dispatching services from the City. The City could purchase
the equipment for consolidated police and fire dispatch
through SunCom. Mayor Berndt stated this issue is becoming
very political. She stated that Dave Atherton reports the
City is only slightly over 30% usage, rather than the 40-45%
usage we think we have. She stated Mr. Atherton is going to
provide information on his figures for the next
Administrative Board meeting. She stated she would like to
review this with the Council Public Safety Committee prior
to that meeting. Mayor Berndt also described a situation
which occurred, necessitating the clarification of the
authority of the Administrative (operations) Board, and the
County over pay raises for the director. She reported the
County is planning to remodel the former Safeway building to
house SunCom, EMS and Emergency Management. Although the
City pays for these services, they have not talked to us
about their plans, which would increase our contribution to
Emergency Management.
City Manager Zais reported that he, Mayor Berndt, Bill Brado
and Skip Semon are invited, along with Glenn Rice, to
attend a briefing with Collie Martin, CH2M Hill, regarding
the I -82 project. A County Commissioner, a DOT
representative, Gary Lukehart and Dan Hesse will also
attend.
We expect to hear about choices and options and then Council
will have to talk about what direction to take. We know we
have to look at something different. He spoke about the
discrepancies between the original estimates and those now
being given. Mr. Rice stated there is a 30 -35% difference
from the high to low range. CH2M Hill has been asked to
explain the increases.
Council members discussed the termination of the current
Dial -A -Ride contract which is on this afternoon's agenda.
Council Member Semon stated the Council Transit Committee
has met with the current provider to try to resolve the
problems, however, the problem of discourteous drivers, late
arrivals;or non -shows still occur. People- for - People, the
replacement provider, will broker the service, so it is
likely they may contract with Diamond Cab, the current
provider.
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