HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/16/1997 Adjourned Meeting 437
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
SEPTEMBER 16, "1997
ADJOURNED MEETING
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, presiding, Clarence
Barnett, Henry Beauchamp (present after 7:35 a.m.), Ernie Berger, John
Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims (present after 7:40 a.m.). Council Member
John Klingele was absent and excused. Staff members present were
Assistant City Manager Rice, City Attorney Ray Paolella, Glenn
Valenzuela, Director of Community and Economic Development; Leonard
Hall, Code Administration Manager; Bill Cook, Office of Neighborhood
Development Services Manager; Marvin Miller, Office of Neighborhood
Development Services; Larry Peterson, Assistant City Attorney; and
Deputy City Clerk Skovald.
Report from Legal and Code Administration Regarding Code
Compliance /Enforcement Reform
Mayor Buchanan opened the meeting and Glenn Rice began the presentation
from staff. Glenn Valenzuela provided background information about the
proposed enhanced code enforcement program developed to improve and
expedite the code enforcement process in the City. He asked for
Council direction, and staff entertained questions and listened to
comments and preferences from the Council. There was discussion about
expanded duties proposed for the Board of Appeals established under
35.80 RCW and whether it would be feasible and cost effective to have
the committee hear the one or two code violation cases expected each
month. Staff provided clarification of the appeal process outlined in
state law as well as the expanded duties proposed for the Reviewing
Board. Non compliance issues would try to be resolved informally
before setting a date of hearing to provide an opportunity for the
property owner to deal with the problem. There was a considerable
amount of discussion concerning the Notice of Compliance and whether 30
days is enough time to file an appeal, particularly for people who
travel. It was pointed out that the intent is to contact the property
owner and make sure that every possible effort to notify the property
owner is done to avoid a situation where the neighborhood would go into
decline and to also prevent putting one person's property rights above
all others. The Voluntary Compliance Agreement plays a very important
part of the process.
Other issues discussed by the Council include concerns expressed over
the proposed Cumulative Administration Fee, from $50 to $500 a day.
Staff was directed to review and compare existing laws and to increase
enforcement efforts, make recommendations on whether to reassign
enforcement and add staff to perform the work if necessary. The
Council feels staff should review the Yakima Municipal Code and
evaluate responsibilities and functions to make sure enforcement is
being done. Functions need to be reviewed to determine whether they
are already included in the Code to avoid repetition and to make sure
enforcement is being done. Excessively short response times for
affected property owners to comply needs to be redone and terms and
definitions need to be reviewed for clarity.
433.
ADJOURNED MEETING -- SEPTEMBER 16, 1997
The effectiveness of prompt cleanup efforts for Graffiti removal;
payments received for fines for abatement costs; the important part of
educating the public about the most common code violations so people
will accept their civic responsibility and fines for repeat offenders
and those who avoid the issue were also topics discussed by the Council
and staff.
Report From Neighborhood Development Services on Loan Status
Glenn Rice directed Council's attention to the staff report on the
City's housing programs and loan portfolio analysis. Council members
asked questions about the number of foreclosures and staff explained
there is a very low loss rate as indicated in the Performance Summary
in the report. Staff was requested to clarify and review inaccuracies
indicated in the Single Family Rehabilitation list and to prepare a
Median Income Guidelines Chart showing how Yakima's income compares to
the national average.
Bill Cook reported that existing housing programs are currently under
review and directed Council's attention to the Single Family Loan
Activity Attachment A -1. The average loan amount for the Single Family
Rehabilitation and Homeownership Program has been rising substantially,
from $15,000 a unit in 1991 to about $50,000 in 1997, with
rehabilitation loans being more than new construction loans. He
suggested there needs to be a $20,000 program borrowing limit and
assistance limited to true capital financing. This would lower the
amount borrowed and would enable more houses to be rehabilitated.
Mr. Cook also feels a Loan Committee needs to be established, and there
was discussion about the average loan amount since the housing programs
began.
Clarification was provided by staff on the possible consideration of
selling the City's loan portfolio and the possibility of investing in a
Housing Trust Fund which would include a review by the City Manager of
each loan request. There was discussion about certain limitations and
restrictions in place to protect the integrity of the City's funds and
the feasibility of implementing a Housing Trust Fund. A report
outlining some options to streamline the process will be brought back
to Council perhaps by next spring. There was direction from Council as
to what staff should include in that report. It was MOVED BY BERGER,
SECONDED BY PUCCINELLI, TO ADJOURNED AT 9:00 A.M. AND TO CONTINUE THIS
STUDY SESSION TO A LATER DATE. After continued discussion about what
issues should be included in the report, the question was called for a
vote on the motion. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote;
Klingele absent.
/
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: - /Z.i / 7_._%
CO CIL MEEMBE' DATE
•UNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
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
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