HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/28/2014 Special Meeting 37
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YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
February 28 2014
City Hall -- Council Chambers
9:30 a.m. Special Meeting regarding Discussion on Legislative Issues -- Minutes
1. Roll Call
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Council Members Tom Dittmar, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl
and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager O'Rourke, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Claar Tee
Absent: Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey (excused) and Council Member Maureen Adkison
(excused)
2. Discussion regarding legislative issues
City Manager O'Rourke apologized to Council and the Mayor for staffs error in authorizing the
Mayor's signature on the Association of Washington's (AWC) letter, without Council consent.
Additionally, Mr. O'Rourke stated there has been a lot of confusion in the community over the ban.
He clarified that individuals over the age of 21 are allowed to recreationally use marijuana in the
City of Yakima (not in public) However, the City has banned all growing, sales and processing of
recreational marijuana. City Manager O'Rourke further discussed the potential of receiving funding
from the State of Washington for marijuana sales, stating that the unintended consequences of this
new law will increase our public safety costs.
Due to the passage of this initiative related to recreational use of marijuana, Chief Rizzi reports the
Police Department expects an increase in domestic violence issues, as well as people driving under
the influence. Sergeant Belton reported in 2013 the Police Department had 360 arrests for driving
under the influence, whether it was for alcohol and /or drugs. Most of those arrests were people who
had a breathalyzer test, blowing over the legal limit of .08 percent. Of the remaining arrests for
people who did not blow over a .08 percent, 72 were given blood tests of which over half were
under the influence of cannabis alone. The average time for an officer to handle an alcohol related
DUI is 2.5 hours; however, when the DUI appears to be more than alcohol, a blood test is required,
which increases the officer's time by another hour.
Council Members Ensey and Ettl stated they initially thought it would be hypocritical to receive any
tax funding from the sales of marijuana as the City of Yakima has banned sales, etc. However, they
see the City will likely have an increase in public safety costs related to this initiative, and therefore,
will need any funding assistance provided.
Ensey moved and Dittmar seconded to support AWC's efforts and make it a policy that we
support any revenue sharing efforts in this matter. The motion carried by a 5 -0 roll call vote,
Adkison and Coffey absent.
3. Adjournment
Ensey moved and Ettl seconded to adjourn to the next meeting Council Business meeting
on March 11, 2014 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The motion carried by a unanimous vote with Coffey and
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Adkison absent. The meeting adjourned at 10:06 a.m.
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