HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/05/1998 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 130
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
MAY 5, 1998
ADJOURNED MEETING - STUDY SESSION
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The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 a.m., at the
Wastewater Maintenance Facility, 204 West Pine Street, Yakima,
Washington, Mayor John Puccinelli, presiding. Council Members
Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, John Klingele,
and Bernard Sims present on roll call. City Manager Zais;
Assistant City Manager Rice; Don Blesio, Chief of Police;
Ray Paolella, City Attorney; Chris Waarvick, Acting. Public Works
Director; Marketa Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City
Manager; Dave Hussell, Streets and Traffic Operations Manager; Larry
Peterson, Assistant City Attorney; Don Skone, Planning Manager; Bruce
Benson, Associate Planner; Jim Simpson, Battalion Chief; and Deputy
City Clerk Skovald also present.
Annexation Planning
Mayor Puccinelli welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order.
City Manager Zais reported that there have been various changes in the
City's annexation policies during the past 25 years, with theimost
recent changes resulting from State Growth Management Laws. Since
1988, annexations have affected the City's revenue stream and 'have
changed service delivery boundaries. He requested direction from the
Council as far as reviewing the annexation policy for the City of
Yakima.
Bruce Benson, Associate Planner, provided statistics about the City's
annexation activities since 1988 when the current policy began.', The
City started with 13 square miles and has grown to 19.9 square miles
during the past 10 years. The population has increased by
approximately 9,500, or 14 percent in the same time period. He
reported that on a per capita basis the City receives money froth the
State of Washington. Revenue projections for 1998, based on the
estimated state return per capita, is $43.95 per person, or about
$417,000. As depicted on individual area maps, Mr. Benson described
some of the unique characteristics of each area and then assessed the
annexation potential for the remaining growth areas within the Urban
Area boundary. Those include the East Urban Area, which consists of •
Terrace Heights; the North Urban Area, which consists of the Cowiche
Canyon Area; the South Urban Area, which is adjacent to a portion of
the 168 -acre Union Gap Growth Area; the West Urban Area, which
includes West Valley and Congdon Orchards property; the 40th Avenue
Urban Area Island, which consists of an area from South 40th Avenue to
Washington Avenue between West Viola to South 45th Avenue.
Chris Waarvick and Don Skone entertained questions from the Council,
and there was discussion about sewer service connections and growth
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ADJOURNED MEETING - MAY 5, 1998
accommodation and service allocation. Council Member Barnett referred
to future needs for sewer service for the Terrace Heights Area and
asked whether there will be any services provided by the City of
Yakima. He requested an addendum be prepared to address the sewer
service allocation issue for Terrace Heights and Union Gap.
Bruce Benson then summarized some of the unique features of each
annexation area. He was available to answer questions about the
recent change in annexation laws that now include a referendum process
and an election provision. Also, there were questions and discussion
about assessed valuation and the revenue lost by the Fire District
when annexation takes place versus fire and police service delivery
expectations for the West Urban Area. The Council asked questions and
there was discussion about public safety's Mutual Aid Programs as it
relates, to newly annexed areas. City Manager Zais provided a
historical perspective about the City's policy concerning Outside
Utility Agreements (OUAs) and explained why the resolution was adopted
in 1993 withdrawing the Wide Hollow Annexation. The OUA is an
agreement that runs with the land and is a commitment of the property
owner. He pointed out that annexations did not occur from 1966 to
1986. When property changes ownership sometimes the newcomers have a
difficult time accepting the commitment made by previous owners or
developers, and the Council might want to revisit this issue for
possible modification.
The discussion shifted to the location of the 40th Avenue to
Washington Avenue Annexation Area. This land is clearly outside the
area designated in the 1992 West Valley Annexation initiation and is
not part of the West Valley Annexation withdrawal area included in
Resolution No. R- 93 -17. It is the consensus of the Council to provide
a clear explanation as to the location description of the South 40th
Avenue Annexation area when annexation initiation begins.
The topic of discussion returned to the issue of Mutual Aid Services.
It was the consensus of the Council to schedule a future study session
about Mutual Aid Programs. There was discussion about the concept of
automatic .response and changes in state laws pertaining to the number
of personnel required on the scene. Chief Blesio provided examples and
described the long history of mutual assistance among nearby law
enforcement agencies. It is experienced on an every -day basis.
Other Issues
Council Member Barnett referred to a proposal from Yakima County about
Nonconforming Uses and Structures, which needs clarification and
further review. \
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ADJOURNED MEETING - MAY 5, 1998
After additional discussion about the annexation strategy for the
City, Council Member Sims commended Bruce Benson on his very concise,
complete report. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: /7- ---e.? COilUNCIT'L ,
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CITY CLERK /I JOHN PUCCINELLI, MAYOR
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Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audiotape of this meeting is available in the
City Clerk's Office
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