HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/1990 Special Meeting 41 5
,SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 15, 1990
On February 15, 1990, at 3:45 P.M. the City Council,
City and County staff members, County Commissioners,
local law enforcement officers, Frank Glaspey, Director
of War on Drugs, and U. S. Senator Slade Gorton met to
discuss the drug problems of the Yakima Valley. City
Council members present were Mayor Pat Berndt, George
Pechtel, and Skip Semon along with City Manager Zais,
Chief of Police Pleas Green, and Department Assistant
Barber. County Commissioners Alex Deccio and Graham
Tollefson, County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Sullivan,
and Sheriff Doug Blair were present. Donald Moos,
Senator Gorton's staff, was also in attendance.
Mayor Berndt called the meeting to order and welcomed
U. S. Senator Slade Gorton to Yakima to discuss the
needs of the Yakima Valley due to its serious drug
problem.
Following an informative video outlining the Yakima
Valley drug problem and actions taken to combat
trafficking, City and County officials discussed the
need to resolve the matter. City Manager Zais stated
that of the $8 billion planned for the drug program,
Washington State will get only $4 million and Yakima
County will receive only a few hundred- thousand dollars.
He presented a handout giving an update on "Crime Index
Comparisons" and pointed out that Yakima is a major
drug district with a high crime density. County
Commissioner Deccio commented that the federal money
budgeted to fight drugs.did not go to law enforcement,
it went to the State to distribute locally. Prosecuting
Attorney Sullivan and Police Chief Green stressed that
federal dollars are necessary as part of that money is
going to be allocated to law enforcement, prosecution,
and jails. Prosecuting Attorney Sullivan stated this is
a Central Washington problem, not just Yakima County,
and asked that Central Washington be designated as a
High- Density area, as there is a need' to look at the
whole distribution issue.
Senator Gorton asked for suggestions to cut down on the
number of people who are coming to the United States
illegally. Prosecuting Attorney Sullivan expressed
concern that the Naturalization Service is ineffective
in deporting illegals and the local government pays the
costs. Mayor Berndt suggested that instead of
incarcerating them here, send them back to Mexico to be
put into jail.
Senator Gorton stated he understands Yakima Area's goals
are to meet with the Eastside Senators to get a density
designation, and to help catch these these people before
they get this far.
Mayor Berndt thanked Senator Gorton for meeting with
them to discuss this problem.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting
adjourned at 4:45 P.M.
4 1 6 FEBRUARY 15, 1990
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ATTEST:
CITY CLERK MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Department Assistant Barber.