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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/02/1999 Adjourned Meeting 409 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON MARCH 2, 199 9 AD JOURNED MEETING The City Council met in session on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the 2" Floor Training Room, at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South 3rd Street, Yakima, Washington. Mayor John Puccinelli, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, John Klingele, Mary Place, and Bernard Sims present. Council Member Henry Beauchamp absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Rice; City Attorney' Paolella, Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works; Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development; Marketa George Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; and Deputy City Clerk Skovald were also present. • Citizens Code Committee Recommendation Mayor Puccinelli opened the meeting and invited staff to bring the Council up to date on the citizen's Code Enforcement Committee recommendations. Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development, reported that the Code Enforcement Committee, after meeting numerous times since its inception in August 1998, narrowed its focus to three main recommendations. Those include establishing a complaint hotline, outlining an innovative abatement process, and writing a Good Neighbor Handbook for distribution to the public. After providing additional information about these three concepts, Mr. Cook invited the Code Enforcement Committee to begin its presentation. Teri Chacon, a member of the Hotline Subcommittee, requested that a hotline be established to receive code complaints. Those calls would then be disseminated to the proper division,.. investigated, . and the appropriate steps taken to resolve the situation. Although a significant increase in calls is expected for a period of time when this program is new, one full -time employee would man the hotline. A database would be created from processing an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 contacts per year. The hotline operator would prepare an activity report. Creating this position would free some time for the inspectors to deal with inspection- related situations. Mr. Cook explained that a potential source of funding for this position is proposed from a combination of .Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and from savings from unfilled positions in the General Fund. As a result of this, expanded code enforcement effort, the number of complaints and calls that come from the CDBG Target Areas substantiates cost sharing for this position. Mr. Cook also summarized the reasoning behind the hotline ..concept, which is to assist .code, enforcement efforts. _by documenting the abatement process, tracking the responses, and providing feedback about code complaints, compliance issues, and measuring the success of"the abatement program. 410 Adjourned Meeting - March 2, 1999 Council Members Sims and Barnett raised some questions and requested clarification about the format and design for 'the pamphlet and the layout for easy public access to the complaint hotline. City Manager Zais explained that code violation complaints would differentiate between the code and refuse accumulation complaints. He noted a word of caution to not mix utility billing complaints with code violation complaints. That separation is needed. He also suggested that the code violation complaint hotline number be included in the utility billing notices. This would be beneficial because the information will reach 22,000 accounts. This is-in addition to being handed out by landlords, realtors, home loan institutions, and to those who have violated the codes. Scott Robertson, representing the Abatement Subcommittee, referred to a flow chart and described how each new component of' the proposed abatement process would work. New to the program are a Voluntary Correction Agreement and the establishment of a Community Review Board to abate violations of the City's Property Maintenance Codes. Mr. Robertson entertained questions from the Council and urged them to endorse and support the new code compliance process. Lynne Kittelson, a member of the Good Neighbor Handbook Subcommittee, urged the Council to endorse the proposed publication. This pamphlet is necessary to resolve problems with violations of public health and safety and neighborhood maintenance. It also outlines the appropriate behavior expected in a neighborhood environment. She emphasized the importance of voluntary compliance, which is the main theme throughout the handbook. The purpose . of this booklet 'is to let the public know what the laws are so they can comply. She also described the format and prototype of the handbook'and requested authorization to continue the project. Council Member Barnett requested more information about completion and distribution of the handbook to the public. There was also continued discussion about public distribution and how much it would cost. Council Member Barnett expressed concern about the proposed abatement process where there could be a possible loss of right to appeal. He questioned whether some people might feel pressured into signing such a document as the proposed Voluntary Correction Agreement. There was additional discussion about the appeal process and the importance of retaining that right. Council Member Place suggested this topic be reviewed after one year, or sooner if necessary on some aspects. Mayor Puccinelli thanked the committee members for their participation and requested feedback from the Council to the Council subcommittee to determine what issues need to be explored further. There was further discussion and the Council was particularly interested .in several issues including: the job description of the complaint hotline operator, adding more specific language about enforcement in the handbook, the name of the hotline, writing new verbiage concerning entering posted, unsafe property to reflect the 2 2, 1999 411 Adjourned Meeting March , appropriate response for the situation; adding organizational guidelines for the home, yard, and sidewalk, providing an example of the notice and order, and the possibility that further legal review is necessary concerning condensed language on the right to appeal as part of the proposed abatement process. Mercado Project Bill Cook introduced Luz Gutierrez, President of the Washington Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (WAME); Nancy L. Spring, Development Director of California Lutheran Homes and Community Services; Ray Ruiz, President of Community Development Resources, Inc.; and Polo Aguilera, a local business owner. Mr. Cook described the Mercado Project, which is a conceptual plan for retail marketplace development, along with a senior housing project. He noted that this type of development has proven to be successful in other areas of the country. Council Member Klingele questioned whether discussing this matter was allowed if the City Council is to review it later during.a quasi- judicial. setting.. City Attorney Paolella noted that there would not be a conflict since no application has been made yet. Luz Gutierrez, Nancy Spring, and Ray Ruiz extensively summarized their respective involvement in the Mercado project. WAME will apply for a Federal 202 Grant for. the project in order to move into the pre- construction phase. The California Lutheran Homes and Community Services' subsidiary, CARING, will manage the senior housing component of the project. Community Development Resources, Inc. will coordinate development of the entire project. All three urged the Council to sponsor this project and consider adopting the draft resolution of endorsement. Members of the Council specifically asked what the City's obligation would be and whether the City is being asked to obtain land for the project site. Ms. Spring and Mr. Ruiz explained the request is for the City to partner by providing insight and collaboration from staff participation in conjunction with the Consolidated Plan to assist in looking for a site. The City is not obligated to pay for, or prepare, the site. There are 12 or 13 ways that the City can participate, such as helping with off -site improvements for public purposes, fast tracking . the application process, helping with .. the resident displacement program, or perhaps encouraging banks to invest in the economic development of the proposed marketplace. Mr. Cook noted that any request for financial assistance would be done as .a separate item at another time. Assistant City Manager Rice pointed out that by considering and adopting the proposed resolution, the Council is not lending states credit; >, there will be no diminution of the City's bonding capacity. The Federal 202 Grant Program is a pass through and the Council's support will be in an omnibus sense. If there were any relocation involved, it would be under federal or state law. 3 • 412 AdjoUrned Meeting - March 2, 1999 The Council also raised some questions and requested clarification about using the word blight in the draft resolution. Bill Cook pointed out that in the grant program, sites of blight would not be identified as the cities used to have to do in urban renewal programs. , The word blight is used strictly in a descriptive sense of the word where there is substandard housing or buildings that are abandoned or run down in any way and not fit for habitation. Members of the Council were also interested in the four sites that have been selected as viable candidates for the project. After further discussion about the City's obligation as a sponsor for the Mercado project, it was the consensus of the Council to. welcome California Lutheran Homes Services to proceed with the Mercado Project. Since this project will be discussed in Washington D. C. during an upcoming meeting, City Manager Zais requested any revisions to the project information be done by March 4, 1999. It was also the general consensus of the Council'to put the proposed resolution on the agenda for consideration during the March 16, 1999 Business Meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: .f7 AVP OUN /L MEMB R DATE COU y ' !' MEMBER DATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK JOHN PUCCINELLI, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audiotape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's office. • Ij y 4 •