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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/1997 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 320.: CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON APRIL 1, 1997 ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SE The City Council met on this date at 7:30 a.m. in the Second Floor Training Room at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South 3rd Street. Council Members present were Mayor Lynn Buchanan, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Ernie Berger, John Klingele, and John Puccinelli. Council Member Bernard Sims was absent and excused. Staff members present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, Jerry Copeland, Director of Public Works; Dave Hussell, Streets & Traffic Operations Manager; Denise Nichols, Parks & Recreation Manager, and Deputy City Clerk Skovald. Mayor Buchanan opened the meeting and there was a brief, informal discussion among Council members about the deadline to remove studded tires which the State Patrol extended to April 15. Review Of City's Snow Removal Program Dave Hussell summarized portions of the draft Winter '96/'97 Snow Report. He directed attention to last winter's record breaking snowfall and its significant impact on government resources as well as how this 100 -year event affected the community. Mr. Hussell reviewed some existing snow removal policies and practices. A few new techniques are being considered such as using de -icing agents or anti - ice chemicals to reduce or eliminate dust created by rock salt and sanding rock. Mr. Hussell asked the Council for direction concerning the future level of service expected by the community in light of recent public criticism of snow removal efforts while at the same time working within money limitations. Mr. Hussell did not feel it would be practical to buy a lot of extra equipment which would only be used during heavy snowfall years and then sit idle for most of the year. He directed Council's attention to several Level of Service Options included in the report. Mr. Hussell recommended a reserve of $500,000 be established transferring a portion of the In- Lieu -of -Tax from the Parks and Recreation Reserve Fund to the Street Fund. Jerry Copeland provided a memorandum utilizing recent budget figures to the Council. Discussion followed concerning this option. The Council talked about snow areas and plowing patterns and procedures. There was a considerable amount of discussion about the current practice of utilizing the services of private contractors along with existing staff to plow designated primary routes within each snow area. When to plow is determined by the depth of the snow. The arterial street is plowed first and then secondary arterials along with streets around hospitals and schools, hills and other critical areas; then the Central Business District and residential streets are plowed. The west side of the city is plowed first due to the increased amount of snow that normally accumulates there. Council discussed some of the, staff recommendations outlined in the report concerning operational strategy, with Council Members Berger and Puccinelli speaking in favor of recommendation 5 on page 21. There was a considerable amount of discussion about snow removal at the City's various facilities, particularly the Transit Division and the Police Department. It was the consensus of the Council that the 3 21. APRIL 1, 1997 - ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION •r} Transit Division, the Police Department, City Hall, and the Convention Center would be responsible to'Pcontract'snow•removal services for those respective facilities. The Council also discussed staff's request that private vehicles not be on the street during snow plowing operations because of the problems with parked cars hampering successful snow removal. Although Council discussed the possibility of setting up snow routes and schedules for plowing each side of the street, and prospective problems that could arise, there was no consensus reached or direction given concerning this request. Concerning the issue of snow and ice covered sidewalks near schools, specifically -a-situation which occurred on Summitview Boulevard and 16th Avenue, there was discussion about pushing snow to the middle of the street instead of covering the sidewalks. This would only be practical to do near schools. The existing plowing procedure was discussed briefly. Cec Vogt suggested plowing the Transit routes first so people could ride the bus which would reduce traffic and get some of the cars off the streets. Plowing the snow to the middle of the street, utilizing small blowers to clear sidewalks, and clearing 1st Street first to keep the freeway traffic moving were all suggestions Council discussed. Dave Hussell referred to the staff recommendation to repeal portions of the Municipal Code dealing with snow and ice removal and the property owner's responsibility for sidewalk snow removal if snow plows plow snow on the sidewalk. After a considerable amount of discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to leave the wording in the Code as it is. If the snow was. plowed to the center of the street instead of piling it on the sidewalk, there would not be a problem. It would not be practical to plow the snow to the center of the street by businesses because the pile of snow woul°d;block•'ac to businesses. There was also discussion about the staff recommendation that enforcement of the sidewalk snow removal ordinance be turned over to the City Code Enforcement personnel with enhancement by the Police Department. Council discussed setting up a reserve fund to provide adequate resources for future snow removal costs. Council members expressed their preferences for funding -- to either transfer from the In -Lieu- of -Tax in the Parks Fund -- or from the General Fund. City Manager Zais explained the minimum reserve level for the General Fund and the amount of reserve available in the Parks Fund. Council Members Barnett and Berger questioned the feasibility of continuing funding for outside agencies and suggested funding basic services instead. Council Member Beauchamp also felt outside agency funding should be reconsidered. Council Member Puccinelli requested a draft report on manpower utilization during snow storms to include how existing staff from Irrigation and Wastewater Divisions are utilized as well as how cross - training is utilized, i.e., CDL endorsements, etc. The Council also discussed equipment in use throughout the City and whether there is any backup plows utilized from the airport. Mr. Hussell explained the airport does not support any plowing effort. There was also discussion about snow pushed into streets or alleys which created safety hazards for both the walking and the driving public. 2 3'2 APRIL 1, 1997 - ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION The meeting concluded with discussion about the contingency reduction plan in place and the need to utilize a tax shift or an elimination of outside agency requests as options to consider. The need to bring down existing spending as well as finding new revenue sources to the General Fund should also be considered. Mary Place expressed concern about schools and the need to plow the streets by the schools where there are ruts that student drivers, who probably have the least experience in driving, have to drive through. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m. J READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: Op COUN I - - EMBER -� DATE •SUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: / . ��, /gam rr CITY CLERK LYNN BUCHANAN, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office 3