HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/1997 Adjourned Meeting 346
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
MAY 6, 1997
ADJOURNED MEETING
The City Council met on this date at 7:30 a.m. at the Wastewater
Maintenance Facility, 204 East Pine Street, Yakima, Washington.
Council Members present were Mayor Lynn Buchanan, presiding, Clarence
Barnett, Ernie Berger, Henry Beauchamp (present after 8:00 a.m.), John
Klingele, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims (present after 8:10 a.m.)
City Manager Zais; Assistant City Manager Rice; Glenn Valenzuela,
Director of Community & Economic Development; Jerry Copeland, Director
of Public Works; Dueane Calvin, Water & Irrigation Manager; Dave
Hussell, Streets & Traffic Operations Manager; Don Skone, Planning
Manager (absent after 8:10 a.m.); Denise Nichols, Parks & Recreation
Manager; Don Toney, Equipment Rental Supervisor; Joan Davenport,
Supervising Associate Planner (absent after 8:10 a.m.); John Elsden,
Senior Project Planner (absent after 8:10 a.m.); Helen Harvey,
Assistant City Attorney; Larry Peterson, Assistant City Attorney; and
Deputy City Clerk Skovald were also present.
Mayor Buchanan opened the meeting and it was the general consensus of
the Council to discuss the GMA issue first.
Growth Management - Next Steps
Council Member Barnett pointed out that the memo from the Legal
Department, attached as part of the information distributed at the
beginning of this meeting, is very helpful and answered many of his
questions. He then referred to a chart entitled Team Structure for GMA
Implementation Tasks, also part of the distributed information, and
asked staff for clarification concerning the review of Development
Regulations. He requested that responsible agencies be brought into
the review process instead of the Regional Planning Commission being
solely responsible for review.
In an unrelated issue, Council Member Puccinelli directed attention to
the bottled water available at the Wastewater Maintenance Facility.
There was discussion among Council members and staff concerning the
quality of the City's drinking water, specifically the copper content
as it relates to the installation of the soda ash facility.
Continuation of Discussion of City's Snow Removal Program
Dave Hussell provided copies of a memorandum on Manpower Utilization
and asked for Council direction on the snow and ice removal policies
listed on the meeting agenda. Council Member Barnett reminded staff of
the consensus, reached during the April 1, 1997 Adjourned Meeting /Study
Session, to not change the sidewalk snow removal ordinance. He then
referred to Council's request to review outside agency funding and
pointed out that the memorandum from staff lacks that issue as a
discussion item. City Manager Zais provided a brief overview of how
the payments for outside agencies are handled and how the accounting is
done after the Council policies have been made: He reported that about
$100,000 has been approved for outside agency funding; nevertheless,
not all costs have been billed, such as the Ag Showcase request.
Other agencies have billed the City, either quarterly or once a year;
MAY 6, 1997 - ADJOURNED MEETING 3 4 7
it varies. Council Member Berger expressed his preference to not fund
either the Ag Showcase or the.: YCDA accounts.,
Dave Hussell stressed the importance of having reserve funds available
to pay for emergency -type programs and building up a cash flow to help
pay for seasonal repairs. Council Member Barnett feels that reducing
the Parks and Recreation Budget, by more than 3.4 %, would be a sizable
cut. City Manager Zais explained the level of operating reserves would
be reduced to 6 %, instead of the current 9% or 1O%; however, repairs
are needed at Lions Pool which is a critical priority for Council to
consider. Council Member Barnett pointed out that the pool repair
issue is a good reason for not shifting the 1% In- Lieu -of Tax from. the
Parks and Recreation Fund to the Street Fund. Council Member Klingele
asked how much has the City transferred from the General Fund to the
Street Fund during the last 20 years. City Manager Zais explained
there is a combination of revenues identified for streets including the
primary transfer from property tax which has recently leveled off.
Mr. Zais also explained there is a gas tax distribution into the Street
Fund, and he explained what constitutes the Parks and Recreation Fund
income stream, and what is included in the General Fund cash stream.
Council Member Beauchamp asked if this reserve shifting proposal would
be an ongoing commitment for the Parks and Recreation Fund. City
Manager Zais explained the requested 1% tax shift would be an on -going
commitment for a few years. It is necessary to build up the Street
Fund for snow removal and emergency reserves, most of which was
depleted during snow removal this winter. It will also take a few
years to implement the staff recommendations.
In response to a question from Mayor Buchanan, Mr. Hussell reported
that the Spring Clean -Up Program costs about $75,000, including labor
and equipment. Mayor Buchanan suggested the program be studied to
determine whether it should continue., He also suggested the Fall Leaf
Pick -Up Program be looked ;at?as however, Council Member
Puccinelli pointed out that the leaf pick -up program prevents storm
drains from clogging up in the fall.
Council Member Puccinelli requested a manpower layout report showing
how many people are involved in snow removal procedures and a snow
removal plan which includes how private contractors are utilized during
a major snow storm. There was continued discussion about the readiness
of the snow removal program. Dave Hussell explained the existing snow
plan procedure which clears the arterial system first beginning with
16th Avenue and heading west. Dave Hussell explained that maps of the
regional priority areas, including hospitals, schools, and hills are
provided to the contractors to plow from the centerline to the curb.
The contractors then plow either the residential areas where there are
hills, or they join the City crews plowing arterials. After a
considerable amount of discussion the Council provided direction to
staff as far as what details to include in the report. The topics to
be included in the report include a specific plan to plow streets in
the vicinity of schools on Summitview and 16th Avenues; to clear heavy
traffic areas first and to include 1st Street and the area east of the
City as priority areas as well as hills in the Franklin Park area; and
the clearing of Transit routes so people can get into the downtown
business area. Also discussed was whether the contractors are paid at
an hourly rate or by the job.
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MAY 6, 1997 - ADJOURNED MEETING
Council Member Sims suggested a professional consultant be hired to
review the current snow removal plan, make changes to reflect Council
policy, such as the possibility of an assessment per lot concept
recently suggested by Joe Roemer. Council Member Barnett directed
attention to the Level of Service Option III outlined on page 17 of the
Winter '96/'97 Snow Report. He suggested this option be analyzed
further. There was continued discussion about this option and the
changes utilized by staff during the second snowstorm last winter to
improve snow removal in the downtown area. This included clearing some,
sidewalks that access schools and plowing alleys only on an emergency
basis. There was a considerable amount of discussion about
prioritizing snow removal efforts. Council Member Klingele pointed out
an important factor to consider is the time of day the snow falls.
Mayor Buchanan reiterated his preference that arterials and streets
with the heaviest traffic be plowed to the middle of the streets.
Council Member Barnett endorsed implementation of Agenda Issues To be
Discussed, Nos. 4, 5, and 6 because it would be beneficial to the City
during the next snow storm.
Mr. Hussell summarized the new Anti - Deicing program technology and
described the impressive snow and ice melting characteristics of new
chemicals on the market which can be used to help reduce the use of
sanding rock. Council Member Barnett suggested the details of this
program be developed this summer. Mr. Copeland pointed out, however,
that the new chemical will not remove four feet of snow on the
sidewalks. Plowing to the center will help to solve the sidewalk
problem if homeowners are required to clear their sidewalks.
Discussion again centered around sidewalks within a few blocks of the
school where children walk. Council Member Berger shared Council
Member Puccinelli's concern about the problem on Lincoln and Summitview
Avenues when children walked in the street because the sidewalks were
buried in ice and snow. They feel a plan is needed which deals with
pedestrian crossings near schools. Mr. Copeland reiterated his concern
about the high cost to remove snow from sidewalks, and Mayor Buchanan
suggested plowing the snow to the middle of the street to avoid that
problem. Mr. Copeland pointed out that last winter sidewalks were not
considered until other snow removal efforts were completed.
Jerry Henderson pointed out that if the snow was plowed to the center
of the street, businesses would then be responsible for sidewalk snow
removal, and the business owners would not have to pay for numerous
plowing charges. He also felt that bus routes should be cleared to
encourage citizens to ride the bus and also that no- parking areas be
designated and enforced by parking checkers working at night with the
street department when there is snowfall. Mr. Henderson felt the PBIA
mechanism should be considered to clean the business areas from extreme
snowfall.
Council Member Sims feels a snow route should be established and
designated on a map which should be printed in the paper and announced
on the radio to help people know how to travel during the snow.
Council Member Berger felt that safety should be the main
consideration.
It was the consensus of the Council to direct staff to identify a
funding source and prepare final, specifications to implement Agenda
Issue 4, (Authorization to acquire additional plows for new patch truck
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MAY 6, 1997 - ADJOURNED MEETING
and hook lift truck - cost approximately $15,000. See page 21 (Winter
'96 - '97 Snow Report]) , Agend'a':'Issue 5,,.. (Enter into a liquid Anti and
Deicing Program - See pages 10, 11, 12 and attachment 4 (Winter '96 -'97
Snow Report], and Agenda Issue 6, (Retrofit Flush Truck to deal with
Anti and Deicing Chemicals. Cost approximately $20,000). Also, staff
was directed to prepare a report to Council Member Puccinelli to
include routing, scheduling, and how arterials will be targeted. Staff
was directed to enforce the ordinance to keep snow from being plowed
from private property into the street, since several businesses did
that last winter. City Manager Zais indicated that cost information to
provide the Option III services will be brought back for Council
consideration; however, the reserves- issue needs further Council
consideration for budget preparation. Mayor Buchanan directed staff to
develop funding alternatives on shifting of reserves for funding.
It was MOVED BY BARNETT, SECONDED BY BERGER, TO ADJOURN AT 8:50 A.M.
The motion carried by a 6 -1 voice vote; Klingele voting nay. -
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY:���
0 C I L EMB'R DATE
COtJI CIL MEMB DATE
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK ;;MIUCHANAN, MAYOR.
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Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this meeting is available in the
City Clerk's Office
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