HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2013 Study Session 477
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YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
October 21 2013
City Hall -- Council Chambers
10 a.m. City Council Study Session regarding 1) 10 a.m. 2014 Budget and 2) 11 a.m. Downtown
Plan -- MINUTES
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Maureen Adkison (arrived at 10:18
a.m.), Council Members Sara Bristol, Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager O'Rourke and City Clerk Claar Tee
2. 2014 Preliminary Budget Presentation
City Manager O'Rourke reviewed the 2014 Preliminary Budget with a PowerPoint
presentation. He recognized the budget is balanced, prudent and responsive to the City
Council's and community's strategic priorities and needs. This budget has no tax increases, but
enhances core services and investment in capital infrastructure.
3. Discussion regarding Downtown Master Plan Report Implementation
George Crandall and Don Arambula, with Crandall Arambula, and Jeff Greg, with Thomas
Consultants, introduced themselves.
Mr. Greg presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding downtown issues. He stated on his
drive in to Yakima he noticed the City has filled empty windows with art and the Nordstrom
building is being used as a haunted house, which is a great start toward economic development
in the downtown area. He provided an overview of the retail analysis, strategic overview and
implementation strategies.
Don Arambula and George Crandall,reviewed a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Yakima
Downtown Master Plan. They discussed the Game Changer Project -- Yakima Plaza (existing
City parking lot and home of Millennium Plaza) and asked whether Council would support this
location.
Mayor Cawley and Council Members Ettl, Bristol, Adkison and Coffey spoke in favor of this
location, although they have concerns with parking. Council Members Lover and Ensey are not
in support at this time.
Council Member Ettl stated he attended the public meetings on the downtown issues and found
there was zero interest in other locations for the plaza. He asked the consultants how
they would categorize the turnout for the public hearings. Mr. Crandall responded there was a
good turnout in comparison to other cities and an overwhelming agreement to have the plaza in
this location.
Mr. Arambula discussed the highlights of the Essential Project as noted below:
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Replacement Parking -- short term and long term
Public Market
Retail Main Street
Yakima Avenue
Diversion Study
Policy Updates
Zoning Ordinance Update
Design Guideline Creation
Downtown Street Standards Creation
Mr. Arambula discussed the next steps and noted the time sensitive actions below:
Consultant led:
Plaza Design Study
Public Market Feasibility Study
Design Guidelines
Staff led:
SEPA Review of Downtown Plan
Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Zoning Amendments
Council discussed which Committee's these issues would fall under. City Manager O'Rourke
stated the Implementation or Overall Committee could be under the Council Built Environment
Committee and the Retail Task Force portion could fall under the Council Economic
Development Committee. Council Members agreed with this.
4. Audience comments -- 15 minutes.
There were no audience comments.
5. Adjournment
Ensey moved and Coffey seconded to adjourn. The motion carried by a unanimous voice
vote. The meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m. to the next Council Business meeting on November
5, 2013 at 6 p.m.
CERTIFICATION 1 _
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