HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/07/1997 Adjourned Study Session 451
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED STUDY SESSION
OCTOBER 7, 1997
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 Protem John Puccinelli, presiding,
Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp (present after 7:40 a.m.), John
Klingele (present after ), and Bernard Sims. Mayor Lynn Buchanan and
Council Member Ernie Berger were absent and excused. Staff members
present were City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice, John
Hanson, Director of Finance and Budget; City Attorney Ray Paolella,
Dueane Calvin, Water /Irrigation Manager; Bert Tabayoyon, Customer
Service Manager, Dave Brown, Project Engineer, Marketa Oliver,
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, and Deputy City Clerk
Skovald.
Mayor Protem Puccinelli opened the meeting and invited comments from
staff. City Manager Zais referred to the newest draft of the
Irrigation Utility ordinance provided earlier to the Council for
discussion during this meeting. Mr. Zais reported this proposed
legislation has been under preparation for nearly two months by City
staff, the Irrigation Committee, and Preston, Gates & Ellis. He noted
some of the changes made in the final draft of the legislation, i.e.,
consideration of the utility tax is not part of this draft ordinance.
Mr. Zais thanked the Irrigation Committee members Betty Gaudette and
Bev Luby Bartz for their work on the Irrigation Committee, and
Assistant City Manager Rice then thanked Council Committee Members Lynn
Buchanan, John Klingele, and Bernie Sims for their participation.
Mr. Rice noted that there will be no discussion of the water rights
issue since it is still in litigation.
A video tape entitled Yakima Area Irrigation was shown which included a
brief history about the existing irrigation system which was
established 80 to 100 years ago. After steps to improve the irrigation
system failed, options to either convert the irrigation system to
domestic water or to maintain separate irrigation and drinking water
systems were considered. In 1996 the City Council decided to create a
single irrigation utility, to consolidate all districts into one
irrigation system, and to establish a capital improvement program to
repair the system. To meet the challenges of the current system, a
long term approach is planned; it will take 4 to 5 years to begin and
20 years to complete; there is a several year timeline for
construction. That long term approach is necessary to allow planning,
design, and capital funds to grow. The video also outlined how costs
will be spread among all utility users and a bi- monthly billing will
begin, how water will be saved, paperwork reduced, and how the use of
drinking water for irrigation will be deterred. It will require a 25-
year commitment from the community to realize the benefits.
Dueane Calvin answered several questions posed by Council Member
Barnett concerning the proposed bi- monthly assessment and the section
of the draft ordinance implementing the best approach to manage
irrigation system demand.
Council Member Barnett outlined three main objections he has within the
draft ordinance. Questions, comments, and discussion followed each
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ADJOURNED STUDY SESSION -- OCTOBER 7, 1997
issue he outlined. (1) He feels that if the City directs and
irrigation user to convert to the domestic system, then the City should
not charge a fee to connect. He requested another review and noted
this type of language appears several places in the draft ordinance.
Council Member Puccinelli also objected to this issue. (2) He opposes
shutting off domestic water if the irrigation bill is not paid. He
feels the fine and /or jail time indicated in the ordinance should
prevail instead. Council Member Beauchamp feels the landlords will not
pay for the irrigation water, but will make the tenant pay instead.
There was discussion about the costs of conversion; the billing methods
for multi- family units where the landlord would be sent the bill; and
the collection system and the percentage of delinquency. (3) On page
16 of the draft ordinance, Council Member Barnett requested a standard
be defined for "wasting the water ".
There was also discussion about how the maintenance and operation
structure works, how a dedicated capital fund works, how the utility
account structure works, and how the charge will be noted,on the
utility bill. ,
City Manager Zais provided a status report on the Incubator Project
which included the most recent information about the building size
requirement, the cost per square foot, the grant circumstances and the
matching dollars needed for the project. City Manager Zais also
explained the difference in the costs and design of the building for a
conventional style or a tilt -up structure. There was also discussion
about the property lease for the facility. Mr. Zais also reported that
the operating agreement with YVCC is still in negotiations.
John Hanson indicated a change in wording is necessary concerning the
source of funds in the Capital Improvement Program charges section of
the draft Irrigation Ordinance.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
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READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY:
7 0 / _y �w - i e le''- e
fOUNCIL MEMBER / DATE
.L.. , 91A)/9 if
COUNCIL MEMB " DATE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK 2 JOHN'PUCCTNELLIt MAYOR :'P1O TEM
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio and video tape of this meeting are
available in the City Clerk's Office
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