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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/1998 Study Session 201 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AUGUST 4, 1998 STUDY SESSION The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the 2nd Floor Training Room, at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South 3 Street, Yakima, Washington. Mayor John Puccinelli, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, John Klingele, Mary Place, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. City Manager Zais; Assistant City Manager Rice; City Attorney Paolella; Don Blesio, Chief of Police; Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development; Chris Waarvick, Director of ,Public Works; Shelley Willson, Acting Streets and Traffic Operations Manager; Leonard Hall, Code Enforcement Manager; Rick Pettyjohn, Information Systems' Manager; Bert Taboyoyon, Customer Services Manager; Jeff Cutter, Assistant City Attorney; Larry Peterson, Assistant City Attorney; Marketa George Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; and Deputy City Clerk Skovald also present. Also attending were members of the Westside Merchants Association, including Jack Cannon, Brad McMillan, Jim Engebretson, Doug Picatti, Jerry Henderson, Jackie Parke, Lana Burwell, and Mark Peterson. Discussion with the Westside Merchants Association Regarding Code and Parking Enforcement and Snow Removal Maintenance Shelley Willson, Acting Streets and Traffic Operations Manager, summarized snowplowing practices used in the past and new snow removal Operations used last winter for the west side of the Central Business District. She reported that a mailing list has been developed, and a letter will be sent to each property owner within the Central Business District reminding them of their snow removal responsibilities to keep sidewalks clear of ice and snow. Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director, reported amore detailed record - keeping format has recently been implemented which will be helpful to track snow removal efforts. Also, a new chemical pre- treatment process will be implemented on a trial basis. The anti -icing treatment can only be used before it snows because it reduces the freezing level of the water. That program will include up to four arterials, including Yakima Avenue, 16 Avenue, 40 Avenue, and North 1 Street. Staff also responded to additional questions about the anti -icing treatment program that is expected to be successful on both asphalt and concrete surfaces. Members of the Westside Merchants Association agreed with the snow removal plan. Mrs. Willson provided a status report on the sealcoating and sweeping , process currently underway on Yakima Avenue. Members of the Westside Merchants Association requested that street closure notices be provided earlier than the day of the closure. 202 AUGUST 4, 1998 - STUDY SESSION Mr. Waarvick directed attention to the Westside Merchants' sidewalk evaluation where issues were noted for repair on some of the arterial • sidewalks. He explained the 50/50 Sidewalk Repair Program is mainly for residential areas. Apparently there is a slot within the arterial street maintenance fund, but the amount in that account is somewhat limited in terms of the City's ability to do a major arterial sidewalk repair program. That funding is not particularly promising at this time. - Jerry Henderson requested a small business sidewalk repair and maintenance plan be developed, such as a short term Limited Improvement District (LID). He also asked who is legally liable for damage to sidewalks when the curb and gutter breaks down and damage occurs from water seepage. There was discussion about what causes damage to sidewalks, including salt application during the winter, trees damaging sidewalks, and the fact that some sidewalks are just plain old. Council Member Sims asked why a Public Benefit Improvement Area (PBIA) hasn't been formed in this area. Doug Picatti indicated there has been a lack of support from the local businesses, and there is a lot of non - business property in this area. Perhaps the group could try again by establishing priorities and special program needs. Council Member Klingele asked about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to facilitate handicapped parking as it relates to sidewalks. Mrs. Willson explained upgraded improvements are required to be done as part of any sidewalk project. Marked spaces for handicapped parking require a ramp near the parking space. Centralized spaces are placed in large projects, as well as the installation of a number of van accessible spaces. Parking Enforcement Bert Tabayoyon, Customer Services Manager, provided some background information about parking enforcement on the West Side. When-Diamond Parking quit managing downtown parking lots several years ago, the City's two Parking Enforcement Officers took over those duties. That job has become bigger than anticipated, and Mr. Tabayoyon urged the Council to consider hiring a third parking officer with a scooter to provide parking enforcement on the West Side. Council Member Barnett referred to the current process used to gather information and track parking infractions. Jerry Henderson suggested that problem streets be made the main focus. He also requested some two -hour parking places on South 5th Avenue be redesignated half -hour' parking. There was discussion about the public hearing process to consider changing the parking space designation, as required in the Yakima Municipal Code. George Pechtel pointed out that this is the same old issue about people who work downtown, employees' parking. He suggested consideration be given to a west Yakima parking lot. Mayor Puccinelli commented about not allowing employees to park in two -hour spaces and not allowing, them to leave work to move their car every two hours. He 2 203 AUGUST 4, 1998 - STUDY SESSION feels areas should be identified and a plan developed to deal with the parking situation. Public Safety Enforcement Lt. Roy Willson explained the community policing effort includes various police department districts and calls for history; the number of calls for service in the area determines police districts. Some areas have more police officers assigned than other areas. The number of small crimes has decreased in the Westside Downtown Area since the implementation of the anticruising and curfew ordinances in 1993 and 1994. Officers have worked with the Westside Merchants to resolve issues throughout this area, and the statistics speak for themselves with a notable drop in the percentage of small crimes. In the future more coordination with the Bicycle Patrol Division is planned. He directed attention to a new juvenile justice program being implemented across the country. It involves community panels to resolve the issue. This program is something being considered, and perhaps this is a program that can be implemented in our area in the future. Jerry Henderson commended the Police Department for doing a good job.. He reported that the Westside Merchants Association would be addressing the County about Juvenile Justice accountability issues. Jim Engebretson expressed frustration about the Juvenile Justice System priorities. Council Member Sims explained the new Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, which expedites execution of justice, but the County Prosecutor does all the rest. He has to set budget priorities, and higher crimes have a higher budget priority. George Pechtel asked if there is still an emphasis patrol utilizing the police reserves and the Explorer Scouts. Chief Blesio explained the Park Patrol handles and assists with sports events and assists in vandalism cases. He indicated the number of calls for service was over 58,000 in 1994, stretching beyond the department's ability. The number of calls went down to 54,000 in 1996, and then went up again this last year. The more volunteers that are utilized, then the better it is for those areas. Council Member Place reported that the Mayor's Taskforce on Juvenile Crime has been working on this problem. She encouraged the Westside Merchants to help by contacting the local legislators to change state laws associated with youth being able to work. This is important because work provides them a place to go and something to do. There was discussion about the importance of police.officer presence in the community. Code Enforcement Activities As referenced in his report, Leonard Hall, Code Administration Manager, noted that there have been over 2000 inspections performed since 1993 in the area between Yakima Avenue and Front Street to 9th 3 204 AUGUST 4, 1998 - STUDY SESSION Avenue. He directed attention to two properties on the West Side that suffered fire damage within the last five years. Mr. Hall was available to respond to questions concerning those two properties, as well as recent criticism of the City's code compliance process. Jerry Henderson expressed concern about the length of time that the Club Cafe building and the Butler Building were left standing when they should have been torn down. He considered these sites as blighted areas. He also directed Council's attention to property located adjacent to the Savoy Hotel on West Yakima Avenue. Leonard Hall explained that this property is the subject of. an upcoming appeal hearing before the Hearing Examiner. Council Member Sims requested a plan be developed to alleviate the problems associated with vacant lots, abandoned and burnt out buildings. In other words, should properties be black topped or a groundcover planted at the owners expense, or perhaps other options should be explored. Brad McMillan reported that on the west side there appears to be a willingness to make those problems go away. City Manager Zais provided a historical perspective about failed attempts in the 1960's when the City was entertaining the possibility of urban renewal for the entire Central Business District corridor. One of the key factors of that would have been for the City to have this area designated as a blighted area in order to qualify for the funding. The Central Business District business community did not like that term and was not comfortable with being designated as a blighted area, and for that reason urban renewal funding was not pursued at that time. However, many other communities across the country did apply for it. This came up again in the early 1970s and 1980s with the Central Business District (CBD) corridor. There were similar discussions that took place with the downtown business merchants; they also did not want to have the area declared blighted because of the negative image. From a Codes standpoint to be able to strengthen the codes, the Council would have to consider and adopt a blighted area designation. Mr. Zais questioned whether there is willingness among the businesses to change that view to address this long- standing problem. Additional enforcement authority would be through the Community and Economic Development Department and the City Attorney's office. Council Member Beauchamp supports City Manager Zais' suggestion to follow through with the Targeted Area Committee to consider ways to strengthen the codes to address the problem. There was discussion about the neglect of absentee owners or those who just don't care about their property. Brad McMillan noted the intense scrutiny of First Interstate Bank's property, even though it is fenced off securely and maintained every year. But the goal is, from an economic development point of view, to improve the appearance of the downtown area to encourage people and businesses to locate here. The preliminary draft Code Enforcement Program, which was started by Glenn Valenzuela, was met with a lot of resistance and opposition from the Council. It had to do with a lot of issues_ such as cleaning up weeds and removing graffiti, all of which need to be dealt with in a timely manner. There was a lot of 4 • 205 AUGUST 4, 1998 - STUDY SESSION opposition because it tended to penalize property owners for being victims. Larry Peterson reported the graffiti concept issues have been deferred because of a lack of consensus; however, the 35.080 RCW process- for unfit or dangerous buildings is available to abate a problem and tax lien the property to those costs if the property owners won't do it first. This would be an effective step and would protect the City. City Manager Zais pointed out that the Target Area Committee needs representatives from all the participating business associations including Front Street, Westside Merchants, DARC, North 1 and South . 1 as well as community groups. It was the consensus of the Council that Mayor Puccinelli and Council Members Place and Sims would also sit on this committee. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.' READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: / COUNCIL M , ':ER DATE , / .1:/ F,.IJ111) Ir ' L MEMBER DATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK JOHN PUCCINELLI, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office • • 5